One of the friendliest cities I have ever visited. I love the mix of French and English cultures…read moreand architectures. Throughout the year, there are always festivals and cultural events. Not to mention the great restaurants and cafes all over. The French culture brings great bakeries (Pâtisseries) all over the city, from local chains to small mom-and-pop stores. The past few years, there have been more and more pedestrian areas for people to enjoy the businesses without the hassle of car traffic. A city for all seasons.

What a great city! So much food, art, and culture to enjoy. Centre Bell is such a wonderful…read moreplace to see hockey and the views from Mount Royal and the Biodome to view animal habitats were unmatched experiences as well. Montreal is a city that is quite bilingual although some neighborhoods are more francophone and others more anglophone. The modern areas as well as the old city are worth seeing. In fact it even beat London, DC, Chicago, and Seattle as our favorite city once we went but that got surpassed by Quebec City. Be sure to go to both

Sunday's at Tam Tams is a given. If you're here in the summer, it's always a blast…read more Two drum circles for your free entertaining pleasure. On a side note, that pink inflatable chair looks comfy. This was the second drum circle, a little smaller but just as feisty and frantic. I was also watching two guys have the most intense hacky sack session. I ventured up (north) through the woods and walked through people doing yoga, acro yoga, slack lining, throwing frisbees, etc. Just lots of chilling, picnicking and hanging out with good food and drinks. I even found my way to the elusive/exclusive medieval sword fighting battle grounds. All I can say is you can't help but stare. Grown adults and kids combine to battle (ie. play fight) with full on gear and costumes.

A must see event if you're in Montreal on a Sunday. You'll love the feeling you get losing yourself…read morein the music and dancing... or maybe that's just a contact high. It definitely feels like a step back into the 60's with the barefoot dancing, hempen clothing, smell of marijuana, Hare Krishnas, and all. If you like people watching, this is definitely a place to go. Hippies and squares alike can come together in enjoyment of a pleasant afternoon and dance to the music. Maybe try your hand (foot?) at slack line walking, if you're brave try the free cookies from the Hare Krishnas, check out the many wares people sell - mostly jewelry, clothing, pipes and other tchotchkes. Downsides: I didn't see any facilities (not that I think one could accommodate the hundreds of people present) and as a result, a number of people took care of business in the wooded area. There is also a good bit of second-hand smoke (tobacco and pot) floating around, so if you're sensitive to that or are concerned about your children being near that, maybe enjoy from afar. Easy to find/hear from the area surrounding east Mont Royal. If walking's a bit much for you, the #11 bus will take you there from Mont-Royal Metro. Definitely check this out on Sundays!

Every time I spend time in Montreal, I go to the Quartier des Spectacles because most Ville Marie…read morefestivals take place in this area. In the summer, it's pedestrian only on the area right around St Catherine, so it's easy to get around on foot and see all the stages and sights. The present-day Quartier des spectacles largely overlaps the site of Montreal's former Red Light district, whose history extends back to the beginning of the 19th century. Between the 1920s and the start of the 1960s, the neighborhood was home to an impressive number of cabarets that headlined famous artists. Montreal garnered a reputation as a fun-loving city, and tourists started to arrive in great numbers. The American Prohibition (1920-1933) increased Montreal's popularity, but also created conditions that led to the growth of organized crime, prostitution and illegal gaming houses. It is during this time that the neighborhood was christened the Red Light district. Beginning in the 1950s, professional theatre started to take hold.... in this neighborhood, the new energy took shape in the construction of Place des Arts, the metro system (three stations service the Quartier) and in the establishment of Hydro-Québec's headquarters. The following decade was marked by the building of Complexe Desjardins, which spurred commercial activity in the area, and the campus of the Université du Québec à Montréal, a university founded on the values of the democratization of knowledge and culture. In 1982, the Montreal International Jazz Festival presented outdoor concerts in the neighborhood for the first time. The natural vibrancy of the downtown area along with the many empty lots supported the proliferation and expansion of festivals over the years. Important cultural events became one of the Quartier's motors and one of the principal attractions of the city for tourists and locals alike.

There is so much going on at the Quartier des Spectacles especially on a weekend or even on…read moreweeknights. You will find a lot of tourist in the area. We arrived on a Tuesday night to Montreal and because we were staying 13 mins walk from Quartier des Spectacles, we came here for a visit. We didn't expect that there would be performance happening at night in the center of Quartier des Spectacles (near Desjardin Complex). At the Quartier des Spectacles, you will find a lot of restaurants and as mentioned before the entrance to the beginning of the Underground Tunnel is located at Desjardin Complex. This part of the city is quite busy after 10 am to 11 pm. Places des Art is also located smack center at the Quartier des Spectacles for those who wants to watch any live orchestral performances. https://www.quartierdesspectacles.com/fr/carte/#places-publiques-animees

Mile end is so much fun. There are tons of stores and restaurants to discover. Talking walks around…read morethe area is my favourite thing to do. This is where I used to hang around and eat with my friends back in high school, it's where I discovered tons of stores with quirky and special products, it's where I spent the majority of my time since moving to Montreal! There's also a summer festival hosted here and it's top notch!

Short North meets Italian Village, times 10! Bikes everywhere (PS, this city is very bike friendly…read moreand eco conscious!), not to mention murals on sides of buildings. Everywhere. And they are wonderful representations of this area. This neighborhood is Short North meets Italian Villlage, with a splash of Franklinton mixed in. This district is the place to stroll if you're looking for any kind of a foodies. Poutine, coffee shops and cafes, vegetarian, vegan, fine chocolates, breweries, wine, fine dinning, or just excellent cheap eats, it's all here! There are several mainstay restaurants and businesses in Mile End that are a historical significance for Montreal. Bagel, anyone? Perhaps some ice cream to cool yourself? The district is flush with character and charm. From the murals abound, to the abandoned and revamped warehouses, you can't come to Montreal and not head west to spend a day, or two, or three perusing the sidewalks!

Vieux-Port de Montréal, or the Old Port, is part of the Vieux-Montréal area of the city. Along with…read morethe adjacent area that's filled with shops and restaurants, this is one of the top destinations for tourists visiting the city. There's a lot to see and do here; the promenade is quite long, and is filled with great views of the water and surrounding architecture. One of the main focal points here is La Grande Roue de Montréal - a large Ferris wheel that sits right on the water's edge. Additionally, there are carnival rides, food trucks, ziplining, and a beach that's open seasonally. Since I was there in autumn, most of the attractions and beach areas were closed for the season. It was still a great experience though because there were clear views of the water and foliage in the background. I also found myself sitting, people watching, and soaking in the aesthetics. No matter what time of the year, though, it's definitely worth stopping here during your time in Montreal.

During our last visit, we spent some time just relaxing and hanging out around the Old Port. My…read morehusband and stepson got on the ferris wheel (La Grande Roue de Montréal) and had a great time, being able to see far from atop. The tickets were $28CAN per adult. There are also places to rent paddle boats and many benches to sit and enjoy the scenery. There are food trucks in one area of the Old Port and shops in another section A great place, day or night to hang out and people watch...

RESO, also called the Underground City, is a network of interconnected tunnels in downtown Montreal…read morethat house a variety of attractions. I've seen something like this similar in Houston, partly for people to escape the heat - so I'm assuming RESO is a way to escape the cold Montreal winters. RESO has evolved to somewhat of a tourist spot; it wasn't on the top of my to-do list but I had some time before heading to the airport and figured it would be a good place to check out. I think RESO has a lot going for it - part of its infrastructure is attached to the Metro, so it's easily accessible once you get off a station. The network contains a decent variety of shopping and dining, though from a food perspective most of the options are quick-service; if you're looking for something sit-down you should look elsewhere. Shopping is typical mall offerings, and they also have a lot of seating areas. Since part of RESO's function is to protect from the cold, I can see people utilizing this as a place to convene. Overall, RESO was just fine. It's confusing to navigate, and I'm sure I didn't see all of it - so a return visit may be warranted. It's not at the top of my list, though, as I feel there are more exciting things to see as a tourist in Montreal.

Google's location for the Underground City took us to Centre Eaton, which is technically part of…read moreit, but not the whole thing. Centre Eaton is good for shopping. The World Trade Center is better for sightseeing. The information center gave me this map. It was so freaking helpful.

I walked by the cookie vendor and everything looked amazing if I chose to go with the cookie…read morebutter, it was crispy on the outside yet gooey on the inside. It also had a mound of cookie butter cream in the middle which was incredible, a decadent treat most definitely!

A great marketplace with a variety of items all around. This was just a short walk from the train…read morestation and had fruit stands right outside. We got big green grapes that were quite pricey, nearly $20 USD but they were just grapes, they were more juicy though. There are also a few places to eat, we ended up at a bakery cafe at the end upstairs. They had different sandwiches and focaccia similar to a pizza type. They heat these up so it was perfect to eat right away. *Warning* There was a an issue of not being labeled nut and asking the worker if there was any and they said no but after confirming with the cook there was walnut in the bread. So I would be extra careful about that. Other than that they had foie gras for sale as well as many other places that had it as well. There were a few grocery stores and butcher shops so there is a lot to choose from if you are looking for different types. There were a few dessert places but the place isn't too big with more variety for grocery food items.

I came here to get a sense of the Local Flavor and people watch. Village did not disappoint. This…read moreplace was reminiscent of SPOT in Quebec City---a local hangout, and perfect for grabbing a drink and people watching. Hammocks, swings, picnic tables, bar, plywood cabanas, kale garden, and a DJ pumping out some beats. Great way to spend Happy Hour on a gorgeous summer Friday. I like that this place seemed well-though out. There was someone at the entrance checking bags. There were porta potties, bike parking etc. Even though Village au Pied-du-Courant is a bit out of the way, I would love to be back with some grub in tow and have a few drinks with friends.

The vibe on the Friday night I went was so chill and fun. The place is absolutely beautiful. From…read morethe boardwalk to the small artisanal houses on the side of it to the funky art/function structures on the beach. When we went, there were massages for tips available and a great music DJ line up. Would go again just to chill with friends.

We visited Saint Laurent boulevard in particular to go to Eva B's vintage clothing store which was…read moregreat but the area is also great for street art and cool quirky cafes and bars. We enjoyed this area.

In Old Montreal Rue St. Laurent runs from the river toward down town…read more Starting at King Edwards Quay on the river, cross Rue Commune (the road that follows the river) and you are on Rue St. Laurent. It's a busy road with lots of traffic lights, but follow it and you will cross under the Chinatown Arch. Keep following it, and you will arrive at Schwartz Deli. Walk on, and you arrive in Little Italy. Granted, that is a *lot* of walking. I should know, I did it. But you see a lot of Montreal along the way. Plenty of shops, restaurants, pubs and businesses. The city is very bike friendly, so watch that you are not walking into an oncoming bike from one of the cross streets. Montreal also has a good public transit service, so you might want to hop on a bus and see it all from your seat. In any event, if you find yourself on Rue St. Laurent no matter which direction you walk, you're bound to find something interesting.

While walking from Old Montreal/the Old Port to Westmount recently, my kid and I walked through…read moreGriffintown and Ste-Henri and the outskirts of downtown. We encountered so many new city features and funky enclaves, it's so interesting to see all the changes in the city and to be present during the ever-evolving city scene. One of many cool and new features we stumbled across was this enormous sculpture/art installation titled "Dendrites", created by Montreal artist Michel de Broin and installed in 2017. The oversized work is located on Rue Nôtre-Dame at the intersection of the Bonaventure Expressway (or the local road, Blvd. Robert Bourassa). If you're walking or driving by this intersection, there's no way you can miss this piece, it's so large, and it resembles actual dendrites (for those of you who've studied anatomy and physiology). It appears to be two organic, freeform staircases comprised of weathered steel. The distressed patina of the metal along with the twisting shapes are reminiscent of tree trunks rising up and branching out from the ground. I love the interactive nature of art installations like this. To me, this is what makes them successful. I love that one can walk up the branched staircases integrated in this work and get various perspectives of the urban landscape surrounding us.