We just reopened our EC Montreal school and we already have a long weekend to enjoy! Monday, September 7 is a national holiday in Canada. It is Labour day! The school will be closed and the weather is supposed to be warm and sunny all weekend long! There are so many ways to enjoy a long weekend in Montreal. We are happy to share some ideas of how you can explore the city and take advantage of the very few warm summer weekends before the temperature drops.
Montreal is a nature lover’s paradise. There are over one thousand parks on the island of Montreal. You can hike up to the top of Mount Royal to get a spectacular view of the city and head down to Beaver Lake to have a picnic. Pack some delicious snacks and a blanket and enjoy the day! Parc Lafonaine and Parc Jean Drapeau are also great parks to enjoy.
If you are looking for a little adventure, head over to the Old Port and go ziplining! You can add a ride on Le Grand Roue to your agenda! If you want to make it a triathlon, why not also do a little boating activity! There are so many activities to enjoy at the Old Port. When you are done with your activities, there are many restaurants with outdoor patios to enjoy a meal or drinks. We recommend dining outside to stay safe.
If you want to visit some cool tourist attractions, we recommend you head over to the Olympic park area and visit the newly renovated Biodome. You must purchase your tickets in advance online. They are limiting the number of participants as part of their safety measures. The Biodome showcases the five ecosystems of the Americas; from the Amazon rain-forest to the sub-Antarctic. You can see exotic birds, aquatic life and the cutest penguins from the Antarctic islands.
The Botanical Gardens are located right next door to the Biodome, so you can take advantage and stroll through the beautiful gardens. Montreal’s Botanical Gardens are one of the largest in the world.
If you are into art, the Mural Art festival is still taking place. This festival celebrates Montreal’s graffiti art. It is located in a very trendy neighborhood called Le Plateau Mont-Royal. This area has a lot of one of a kind shops and restaurants to enjoy. If you are into vintage shops, you can find some really great ones there. The Plateau also has great brunch spots. Some very popular ones include L’Avenue and Beauty’s. If you don’t mind waiting in line, they are worth trying out!
If you are able to rent a car with your friends, you can head out of the city and into the countryside to visit the Laurentian mountains. You can hike up the top of Mont-Tremblant, which is the tallest mountain in the province of Quebec or visit an apple orchard and go apple picking! It is apple picking season! The farms usually have picnic tables set up so you can enjoy a day out with your friends and family. Some orchards are located right next to vineyards, so you can schedule a wine tasting activity and tour of the wineries.
We will be posting some of these Labour Day suggestions on Microsoft Teams where you can access your Online English Courses or Online French Courses.
Whatever you choose to do this long weekend, have fun and please be safe! Practice social distancing and wear a mask.
