DESTINATION CANADA:
HIKE,
BIKE, WALK IN QUEBEC
Quebec Province’s Portneuf area abounds in beautiful trails
for
recreation or adventure. Noted as an environmentally
conscious tourist
destination, the beauty of its nature charms hikers, bikers and walkers
alike. The
attraction this year is the gorge in Riviere Sainte-Anne, where hikers
enjoy
many impressive…and sometimes rocky…trails along the river on the site
of the
eco-chalet.
Six new
cycling routes now take
you along secondary roads of Portneuf’s Saint-Casimir, where the beauty
of
nature will enchant. Vallee Bras-du-Nord has 80 kilometers of hiking
trails where
nature lovers get up close and personal, and 50 kilometers of mountain
biking
trails for adventurers. It’s also possible now to practice canyoning on
this
spectacular site!
Cycle
routes are easily accessible
by train from Montreal to Riviere-a-Pierre. The multipurpose
Dansereau
route, ideal for families, follows the meandering Jacques Cartier River.
Quebec visitors can now download three new podcast
routes,
available in English, from the Tourisme website listed below. Take a
bicycle, a
bus, or drive your car, and immerse yourself in the historic boroughs
of Beauport, Charlesbourg and Sainte-Foy-Sillery, You’ll find more
than a half dozen interesting
attractions in each district. www.quebecregion.com
MONTREAL ON A BUDGET
Montréal
is, first and foremost, an island located midstream in
the Saint Lawrence
River. Not surprising
then that water is the playground of
choice. Just 15 minutes from city centre, the Lachine Rapids provide a
challenging
course for surf, kayak and stand-up paddle board aficionados. Kayak Sans Frontières offers
adventurers a broad selection of kayaks and boards, classes for
beginners and
seasoned water lovers, and a host of thrill-based experiences. www.ksf.ca
Montrealers
affectionately call it “the mountain,” that famous hilltop with the
lighted statue
visible from major parts of the city. To get the most out of your Mount
Royal trip, take
advantage of a personal and
virtual guide. The interactive map points out nature, museums, works of
art,
landscape and architecture. It’s all there, thanks to slideshows,
videos and
riddles that can be downloaded on your MP4 reader. Don’t have your own?
Then
borrow one from Mount Royal’s Smith
House.
Nespresso, the city’s
hottest new coffee café, is a boutique for java tasters
where you can taste some 16 different varieties and get advice from a
professional on an array of accessories, including cappuccino kits or
cocoa
shakers. Coffee lovers, make your way among more than 46
state-of-the-art
coffee machines!
Calling
all
vegans to Crudessence, where you
can enjoy
buffets and lunch boxes in house, to go or delivered to your doorstep.
All
dishes are free of animal products, are made with organic ingredients,
are
pesticide- and radiation-free and come from neighboring farms. Another
wonderful Montréal restaurant rises to be recognized!
For
a few more excellent ways to enjoy Montreal without
busting the
wallet: Catch shows at greatly reduced prices with last-minute tickets
from the
city's Vitrine Culturelle.
Enjoy discounted rates at 33 different
Montréal
museums, and on select evenings at some museums, take advantage of free
admission! Create a winning new look for yourself with designer,
vintage or
decidedly funky clothes at a fraction of the regular price in second
hand
shops. Chinatown is full of
mega
delights at low, low prices. And when the day is over, spend the night
at a
youth hostel or in a university residence for next to nothing. www.tourisme-montreal.org
ROMANTIC MONTREAL
Although
there is no place more conducive to
a dreamy step back in time than the romantic district of Old Montreal,
this vibrant city
is not living in the past by any means. Its cobblestone streets and weathered stone
architecture surrounding the harbor have survived for more than 360
years. Today, the area
teems with art galleries, cafes, boutiques and quaint inns...many
within the walls of gracious buildings that are centuries old. Blending in with the charm of
this
older part of town are busy commercial centers, modern office
buildings, and
the very new look of Old Port’s waterside park with its rows and rows
of colonial-style
lamp posts.
As
the sun begins its slow slide below the horizon, joggers, cyclists,
skaters and
mothers pushing prams are replaced by discerning diners heading toward
their
favorite restaurants with eager anticipation. After all, Montreal is
French,
and nothing makes French people happier than good food, fine wines and
a little
romance.
Begin
your day like a true Montrealer, having breakfast at one of the city’s
many
markets. Marche Atwater, near Canal Lachine, is a typical Pandora’s Box
of
everything to delight the palate. Choose from display cases of freshly
laid out
baked goods, meats and cheeses. Add a latte or rich coffee blend, and
claim
your space at a table. Later, shop the aisles for crusty French bread,
delectable
desserts, all sorts of fresh meats, and on the lower level…a feast of
cheeses
and wines. Even if you don’t buy anything, the aromas and camaraderie
encountered here are worth a visit as you send the city off to work.
Shopping? Descend to the famous
Pedestrian
Underground that snakes under the city streets for 21 miles, with an
amazing
string of metro stations, medical clinics, libraries, a chapel, plus
hundreds
of shops, fast food outlets and restaurants. When it's time for a
break, go for a
whirl around the skating rink; take a bateau mouche river cruise right
through the
hub of Montreal and admire the captivating panorama, dominated by
Alexandre
Calder’s sculpture L’Homme;
or stroll hand in hand through Montreal
Botanical
Garden.
Every September, the Chinese Lantern Festival
takes over these gardens, and
the most spectacular viewing time is at night. A stunning display of
swaying, floating
and stationary lights and colors depict Chinese characters, flora,
fauna or
moments in history…all done with lanterns. The effect in this beautiful
setting
is unbelievable.
Keep
that heady feeling alive by specialty shopping for two items all
females consider
the most romantic…jewelry and the bridal dress. Window shop on Saint
Hubert, an entire
street
dedicated to wedding gowns of all descriptions. Birks Jewelry,
downtown, is the place to find that unique ring set
or a pendant
with special meaning. The store exudes elegance, clerks are quite
helpful without being intrusive, and the designers are
internationally
recognized.
Montreal's many ethnic neighborhoods provide
all types of
cafes, delis and restaurants serving foods from around the globe. Altitude
737, atop Montreal's tallest building, provides that 'king of
the world' feeling, while the cuisine is the complete opposite of this
restaurant’s
minimalist decor.
For ‘candlelight cozy’ with cool jazz in the background, there’s no
better place than Narcisse
Bistro-Bar a Vin
at Auberge du Vieux-Port in Old Port. And there’s no more intimate way
to
arrive than by horse and carriage. C’est romantique!
While
that ‘lucky in love’ feeling prevails, stop by the casino on its own
island off
Old Port. If the slots or tables don’t cooperate, amour will
blossom in the
elegant setting at Nuances, a AAA/5-Diamond restaurant on the fifth floor with
impressive skyline views. The chef guarantees fresh seasonings, picked
daily
from a lovingly tended herb garden on the roof.
For further details
and
places to stay,
visit www.tourisme-montreal.org.
