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Have a Ball in Montreal!
Affordable Family Fun in Canada
By Maria T. Olia
During our last trip to Montreal there was something for everyone. The clown-like antics of the penguins at the Biodome delighted my 6-year-old daughter. My 10- and 11-year-old sons decided that Montreal's Science Museum was "awesome." And my 14-year-old couldn't wait to get home and tell his buddies about the James Bond-like speedboat ride we took on the St. Lawrence River.
Montreal is a sophisticated city where the food and shopping are world class. In Montreal, English is spoken everywhere but so is French, making a trip to Montreal a great first introduction to foreign travel for kids.
But best of all for parents, a trip to Montreal is easy on the wallet. Hotel rooms are plentiful, and the vast majority have an indoor pool (key when traveling with kids!) and most offer attractive deals for the leisure traveler. Attraction admissions are inexpensive by U.S. standards and many sites bundle family admissions for additional savings.
Family-friendly AccommodationsThe Hilton Bonaventure, located at 1 Place Bonaventure, has a rooftop garden and outdoor pool (and a flock of resident ducks!). Room rates start at $125.
The Holiday Inn Select, located at 99 Viger Ouest, boasts a terrific location at the edge of Chinatown and Old Montreal. There's an indoor pool, and along with a paying adult, kids under 12 eat free from the children's menu. Room rates are from $130.
After arriving in the city, walk through Old Montreal so that the kids can get that "foreign country" feeling. With its cobblestone streets, Sainte Paul Street is a quaint, pedestrian thoroughfare. Although mostly filled with cafes and galleries, the kids will find it easy to part with their allowance money at the Intuit Indian souvenir shops that dot the area. Walking Sainte Paul Street is also a convenient way to get to the Montreal Science Center.
