Side Trips from Montreal
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Side Trips from Montreal - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Abbaye St-Benoît-du-Lac
Built by the Benedictines in 1912 on a wooded peninsula on Lac Memphrémagog, the abbey is home to over 50 monks. They sell apples and sparkling apple wine from their orchards, as well as cheeses: Ermite (which means "hermit"), St-Benoît, and ricotta. Gregorian prayers are sung daily, and some masses are open to the public; call for the schedule. Dress modestly if you plan to attend vespers or other rituals, and avoid shorts. If you wish to experience a few days of retreat, there are guesthouses for both men and women. Reserve well in advance. Overnight visits cost C$65–C$70 per night, which includes three meals. Guided tours of the abbey cost C$12.
1 rue Principale, St-Benoît-du-Lac, Québec, J0B 2M0, Canada819-843–4080Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed major holidays and on July 11th, aka the Feast of Saint Benedict, there are no guided tours. -
2. Brome Country Historical Museum
Here's a wonderful opportunity to learn about the Loyalists who settled the area after fleeing the American Revolution. Several buildings, including the former county courthouse dating back to 1859, the old firehall (fire station), and a former school, house an eclectic collection that include 19th-century farm tools, Native Canadian arrowheads, and a military collection that includes uniforms and a World War I Fokker aircraft. The museum also maintains the Tibbits Hill Pioneer School, a stone schoolhouse built in 1834 to serve rural families—kids can find out what education was like in the mid-19th century.
130 chemin Lakeside, Knowlton, Québec, J0E 1V0, Canada450-243–6782Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$8, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
3. Parc National du Mont-Tremblant
This vast wildlife sanctuary has more than 400 lakes and rivers and is home to nearly 200 species of birds and animals, so it’s great for wildlife watching. Cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers enjoy the park's trails in winter and camping, fishing, canoeing, and hiking are the popular summer activities. The park was once the home of the Algonquins, who called this area Manitonga Soutana, meaning "mountain of the spirits."
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4. Route des Vins
Make sure you bring along a designated driver for this Wine Route, which includes 22 wineries. Map out your chosen stops then travel from one to the next to learn about their history, local products and, best of all, sample the wine. Most wineries have an area outdoors where you can enjoy a picnic. Call for hours as they may change from one season to the next.
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5. Astrolab du Mont-Mégantic
Both amateur stargazers and serious astronomers head to this observatory, located in a beautifully wild and mountainous area that in 2007 became the first-ever International Dark Sky Reserve. The observatory is at the summit of the Townships' second-highest mountain (3,601 feet above sea level and 1,890 feet above the surrounding landscape), whose northern face records annual snowfalls rivaling any in North America. A joint venture of the University of Montréal and Laval University, the observatory has a powerful telescope, the largest on the East Coast. In the Astrolab's welcome center at the mountain's base, there is an exhibition and multimedia display to provide visitors with information about the night sky. Hours vary depending on the season, so check the website for updated information.
189 Rte. du Parc, Notre-Dame-des-Bois, Québec, J0B 2E0, Canada819-888–2941Sight Details
Rate Includes: Observatory and Astrolab: C$19.75 daytime, C$22–C$25.75 at night. Free for visitors 17 and under. Additional fee of C$9 charged to enter Parc Mégantic, Reservations essential -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Au Pays des Merveilles
Fairy tale characters such as Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and Alice in Wonderland wander the grounds, playing games with children. Small fry may also enjoy the petting zoo, amusement rides, wading pool, and puppet show. A ride called Le Petit Train des Merveilles (the Little Train of Wonders) is a nod to the historic train that launched the tourism industry in the Laurentians. There are 45 activities, enough to occupy those aged two to eight for about half a day. Check the website for discount coupons. The theme park is completely accessible to strollers and wheelchairs.
3795 Chemin de la Savane, Ste-Adèle, Québec, J8B 2H4, Canada450-229–3141Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$24 -
7. Canadian Museum of History
Formerly known as the Canadian Museum of Civilization, this superb institution officially changed its name in 2013 when it received C$25 million in funding from the Canadian government in order to renovate and expand. More than 50,000 square feet of the existing museum has been renovated, and a Canadian History Hall showcasing the people and events that have shaped Canada over the last 15,000 years. Other highlights include the First Peoples Hall, which has some 2,000 objects on display, and the Children's Museum.
View Tours and Activities100 rue Laurier, Gatineau, Québec, K1A 0M8, Canada819-776–7000Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$20 -
8. Gatineau Park
This massive park—nearly 364 square km (140 square miles)—brings nature lovers from all over throughout the year. You can hike up King Mountain on a challenging trail that takes you 300 meters (980 feet) above the Ottawa Valley, explore Lusk Cave, go camping, view the Luskville Falls, or swim at one of the six beaches here (there are also 50 lakes). In winter, the cross-country skiing trails cover approximately 200 km (125 miles) of the park. From June to mid-October, you can use the park's south entrance on Taché Boulevard; stop at the reception center for visitor information.
Gatineau, Québec, J9B 1R5, Canada819-827–2020Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free admission but C$13 per vehicle (parking) -
9. Hudson
A quick detour on the ferry (C$12 one-way) across Lac des Deux-Montagnes brings you to this small town with old houses now used for art galleries, boutiques, and Christmas shops. In winter there's an "ice bridge": basically a plowed path across a well-frozen lake. Taking a walk across the bridge is a singular experience. If you happen to visit on a Saturday from May to October, make a stop at the popular Finnegan's Market. Open from 9 to 4, the flea market sells antiques, jewelry, crafts, and preserves, among other goods.
Hudson, Québec, J0P 1H0, Canada -
10. La Diable Vistors' Centre
The park entrance closest to Mont-Tremblant is at La Diable Vistors' Centre, just beyond the village of Lac-Supérieur and about a half-hour drive from the resort.
3824 chemin du Lac Supérieur, Lac Supérieur, Québec, J0T 1P0, Canada819-688–2281-visitor center -
11. Le Cep d'Argent
The Scieur brothers, Jean-Paul and François, are sixth generation winemakers originally from France, who have created their own "Champagne universe" in Quebec. Their Selection range of wines includes sparkling, white, and rosé. Red, fortified, flavored, and ice wines are also available. From mid-June to end-October, they offer the Bubbles, Wines, and Champagne guided tour (but only in French due to the extensive vocabulary of the subject) as well as a la carte tastings of over 10 of their finest wines all for the price of a C$5 souvenir glass. Visitors may also tour the Traditional Method Interpretation Center to learn about the history of the Scieur brothers or just wander the vineyard and experience a little bit of France in Quebec.
1257 chemin de la Rivière, Magog, Québec, J1X 3W5, Canada819-864–4441Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$28 for the Bubbles, Wine, and Champagne tour, Reservations are essential and should be made well in advance to guarantee a spot as space is limited. -
12. Mont-St-Sauveur Water Park
Slides, a giant wave pool, a wading pool, and snack bars will all keep the kids occupied here. The river rafting attracts an older, braver crowd; the nine-minute ride follows the natural contours of steep hills. On the tandem slides, plumes of water flow through figure-eight tubes and make for a great time. But if you'd rather stay dry, take an adventure through the trees on their zip line or enjoy a fast ride with the Viking Alpine Coaster.
350 rue St-Denis, St-Sauveur-des-Monts, Québec, J0R 1R3, Canada450-227–4671Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$49.99 -
13. Musée de la Nature et des Sciences
Fun and educational for the whole family, this natural history museum utilizes imaginative multisensory displays with state-of-the-art light and sound effects—the buzzing of mosquitoes may be too lifelike—and hands-on displays to enhance the experience. Long-running exhibits include Terra Mutantes, a geological experience portraying the birth of the Appalachian Mountains, and AlterAnima, a mythical forest featuring hundreds of animals and providing viewers a unique perspective on the world as these animals see and experience it, showing us that it's not always what you see, but what you don't.
225 rue Frontenac, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 1K1, Canada819-564–3200Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$13 -
14. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Sherbrooke
This fine-arts museum has a permanent exhibit on the history of art in the region from 1800 to the present. More than 10 exhibits per year are staged in its three galleries, with an emphasis on artists from the Eastern Townships.
241 rue Dufferin, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 4M3, Canada819-821–2115Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$10, Closed Mon. and Tues. -
15. Musée du ski des Laurentides
The Laurentians are one of the oldest ski regions in North America, and ski buffs will enjoy this little museum tracing the long history of this area with great photos, artifacts, and some interesting models of early ski lifts. It also houses the Temple de la Renomée du ski (the Ski Hall of Fame).
30 rue Filion, St-Sauveur-des-Monts, Québec, J0R 1R0, Canada877-227–2564Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, though donation of C$3 suggested -
16. Parc d'Oka
Beautifully surrounded by low hills, this park has a lake fringed by a sandy beach and plenty of opportunities for outdoor sports, including hiking and biking trails, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and, in winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Locals also consider it to be one of the top camping destinations. Administered by the province along environmentally conscious lines—they implemented the Ecological Integrity Monitoring Program (EIMO) in 2004—it has nearly 900 campsites, and you can rent bicycles, cross-country skis, snowshoes, canoes, and kayaks from the office. Note that the strip at the far eastern end of the beach is "clothing optional," or, in effect, "clothing nonexistent."
2020 chemin Oka, Oka, Québec, J0N 1E0, Canada450-479–8365Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$9 -
17. Parc du Mont-Mégantic
If you're short on time or don't feel like a hike you can take a shuttle bus to the top of Mont-Mégantic for spectacular views of Québec, Maine, New Hampshire, and on really clear days, Vermont. But if you want the full experience, make the trek by foot. The park has 50 km (31 miles) of hiking trails that are also open in winter to snowshoers and cross-country skiers. For a real adventure, you can stay overnight in one of the park's rustic shelters.
189 Rte. du Parc, Notre-Dame-des-Bois, Québec, J0B 2E0, Canada819-888–2941Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$9 -
18. Parc du Mont-Orford
The amount of activities seems almost endless at this 58-square-km (22-square-mile) park. Summertime sees hikers, campers, beach lovers, and canoers enjoying the grounds and in winter, showshoers and cross-country skiers take over. White-tailed deer and blue herons share the park with tourists. The scenery in the fall is spectacular, with vibrant orange, yellow, and red hues spreading across the landscape.
3321 chemin du Parc, Orford, Québec, J1X 7A2, Canada819-843–9855Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$9 a day -
19. Parc Équestre Olympique Bromont
If you love horses and competitions, the Bromont Equestrian Center is the place to visit. Once an Olympic site, it hosts show jumping, dressage, and pony club events, and, in late July, the annual International Bromont Equestrian competition.
450 chemin de Gaspé, Bromont, Québec, J2L 1A9, Canada819-437–5548 -
20. Parc Omega
In the 1,800 acres of hills, valleys, rivers, and streams that make up the park, visitors drive along designated trails to view wild animals roaming free in their beautiful natural environment. These include bear, Alpine ibexes, buffalo, wolves, elk, and more. There are also walking trails among nonaggressive species like white-tailed deer, with caged golf-cart rental available in summer to save the legwork. Also in summer, you can visit farm animals in the restored 19th-century Léopold's Farm and see a birds of prey show.
399 Rte. 323 N, Montebello, Québec, J0V 1L0, Canada819-423–5487Sight Details
Rate Includes: C$33
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