The forested peaks, serene lakes, and quaint villages of the Laurentian Mountains (Les Laurentides) are where Montrealers go to escape the city. In winter, resorts such as Mont-Tremblant and Mont-Sainte-Anne (Beaupré) cater to snow sports enthusiasts, while in summer, the region is a playground for hikers, climbers, paddlers, and white-water rafters.
Montreal’s Barbie Expo is the world’s largest permanent exhibition of Barbie dolls. It displays more than 1,000 famous figurines, from historical Barbies to J.Lo and Beyonce versions. Inside an upscale shopping mall, the exhibit keeps “Barbie fever” alive, and it dresses her to the nines. Designers on display include Armani, Vera Wang, Christian Louboutin, Christian Dior, and more.
Originally intended for the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the Montreal Tower (La Tour de Montréal) is world’s tallest inclined tower, standing at an unprecedented 45-degree angle. A funicular cable ride to the observatory offers panoramic views of up to 50 miles (80 kilometers), from beyond the St. Lawrence River to Mount Royal.
Among Canada’s largest inland ports, the Port of Montreal (Port de Montréal) sits on the St. Lawrence River and is home to the Iberville Passenger Terminal, where cruises dock. Located in the francophone Quebec province, the port is the gateway to Montreal—the country’s second largest city—and offers easy access to Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) and the wider downtown area.
Black bears, arctic foxes, and lynx are just some of the species you’ll find at the Ecomuseum Zoo Montreal, an open-air wildlife park that houses rescued, orphaned, injured, and captive-born animals native to Quebec’s St. Lawrence Valley. In addition to outdoor enclosures, the zoo has an indoor space housing reptiles, amphibians, and nocturnal creatures.
Devoted to all things creepy and crawly, the Montreal Insectarium (Insectarium de Montréal) houses about 250,000 insects, some living, others dead. Examine stick insects, cicadas, beetles, and tarantulas up-close, and observe a leafcutter ant colony hard at work. Displays explain the feeding, breeding, and behavioral habits of various species.
First time rock climbers who want to experience the thrill of climbing without heading to the mountains should head to Escalade Clip 'n Climb Laval. Enjoy this reinvented climbing experience that has walls designed for climbers of all skill levels, automatic belay devices, and convenient, wait-free climbing.
Mount Royal Cemetery (Cimetière Mont-Royal), overlooking Montreal from the top of Mount Royal, is one of the oldest rural cemeteries in North America and often missed by visitors. At a sprawling 165 acres (67 hectares), the cemetery is the final resting place of historic figures, including Canadian writer Mordecai Richler.
