This week Sam and I are in Montreal. This is a city where I was born, so it is always
really fun to come and revisit. We are going to be showing you some of the main attractions
around town.
For our summer getaway we decided to visit Montreal. Located in the province of Quebec,
this city offers world class festivals, arts, entertainment and dining. We wanted to highlight
what makes this city so special, so here are 30 things to do in Montreal.
Our first stop was the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts for a look at some of the current
exhibitions. One of the nice things about this museums is that admission to the permanent
collection is free at all times.
Well, it is time to burn off all of that Poutine. We're here at Park Mount Royal and we're going
to walk around and explore to see what is going on. This is one of the biggest parks
in the city.
We just spotted a woodpecker up in the tree.
This is where locals come to escape the bustle of the city. You'll find many people picnic-ing
here on a weekend.
We've been walking around Mount Royal for a while now and we've finally reached one
of the many lookout points of the city and there are some amazing views.
On a clear day you can see the whole city.
During our visit to Montreal we chose to stay in the neighborhood of Le Plateau-Mont Royal.
The area is quite lively with lots of bars and restaurants, and the residential streets
are lined with spiral staircases. There were also lots of friendly cats who came out to
greet us in the morning.
Summers in Montreal are a lot of fun. On Sunday afternoons you'll find a huge drumming circle
on the east end of Mount Royal.
We're now here at McGill University, one of Canada's oldest and most prestigious universities.
It is a gorgeous day outside so we're just going to wander around campus and show you
around.
McGill University is one of the most prestigious universities in all of Canada. Even if you're
not a student, the campus is worth a little stroll.
There is one dish that you absolutely have to try when you come to Montreal and that
is poutine. This is a French Canadian dish and for those who aren't very familiar with
it. It is basically french fries with gravy and cheese curds on top. Now it sounds a little
bit gross and it doesn't look that appetizing at first sight but trust me it is delicious.
It is time for the big reveal. Look down here. This is the standard one. Look at all of the
cheese curd. It is melting. And the gravy. These fries are swimming in a pool of gravy.
That is amazing.
Time for the first bite of the classic poutine here. Let's get lots of gravy on it. Woah,
stringy cheese. Oh, I got it on my mouth. Wow! That is so good. I just wish this was
healthy so that I could eat it more often.
For a taste of French charm, wander down the cobbled streets of Old Montreal. It'll feel
like you've traveled back to France several centuries. There are lots of great restaurants
to try in this area.
For fine dining and shopping in trendy boutiques, you can pop into the Bonsecours Market.
Habitat 67 is a unique housing complex and one of the most interesting architectural
landmarks in the city.
Whether you visit Montreal in the summer or winter, there are always festivals going on.
Be sure to check them out!
Tonight we're at the Cirque du Soleil here in Montreal and we're going to be watching
their latest show Curious.
While we can't bring you inside the tent, we can tell you that it is a fascinating performance
that takes you into a different world.
This roman catholic basilica is located on the Westmount Summit and you'll have to climb
283 steps to reach the top.
The biodome is a popular attraction for families with children. It allows you to walk through
replicas of four ecosystems found in the Americas.
We're here now at Olympic Stadium. This used to be the former stadium of the Montreal Expos,
a baseball team that has since moved to Washington. I was fortunate enough in the 90's to come
and watch them play when they had such great players such as Larry Walker who is considered
to be by many the best Canadian baseball player ever.
Originally though this stadium was built for the Olympics in the 70's and this is still
the largest stadium in Canada in terms of seating capacity.
Because there was some landscaping work being done, we didn't get to walk the extent of
the gardens, however, there is plenty to see here. The botanical gardens are home to Japanese
Gardens, Chinese Gardens and even Alpine Gardens.
Right now I'm here at the Bell Center, home to the Montreal Canadiens, one of the most
historic and celebrated franchises in all of sports - not just in the NHL but all of
sports.
They have such a storied history but as a Blackhawks fan my team has been doing better
lately so I've got bragging rights right now.
You have to eat smoked meat if you come all the way to Montreal and there's not better
place to do so that at Schwartz. This restaurant is an institution and it's worth lining up
for.
The Notre Dame Basilica is located in the historic district of Old Montreal. Step inside
to be wowed by the blue ceilings and gold-adorned altar.
If you enjoy checking out graffiti and street art I would highly recommend the area around
Saint Catherine's in the East end of the city. It is just so colorful. You can wander down
the lanes. So many artists have taken over the area, so check it out.
Next up we're heading to St. Catherine street which is the place to go shopping. The street
is lined with different stores and boutiques and I know Sam is going to love this.
This is the main commercial artery of the city.
Montreal has long, brutal winters and this is when the underground city plays an important
role. Most of the downtown area is interconnected by underground paths and underground shopping
areas so you don't have to be out in the cold.
Parc Lafontaine is located in the borough of Le Plateau Mont-Royal and it's a popular
hangout spot on weekends. Friends come to play sports and enjoy a picnic by the pond.
Le Village is a vibrant neighbourhood which is home to many bars, clubs, and theatres.
In the summertime the street is lined with 200,000 pink balls over the pedestrian only
street.
So now for a little afternoon pick me up we have St. Viateur bagels, which are really
famous here in Montreal. I got myself the cinnamon raisin one. That smells really nice.
What makes these bagels unique is that they are hand rolled and they are made in a wood
burning oven. This store is so popular that they actually produce twelve thousand bagels
a day.
Alright, time for the first bite. I don't know if you can see it well with the camera
but there are huge chunks of apples. Look at that. Wow! Are you in your happy place?
I am. This is like ultimate dessert for me.
A
great way to get around the city is by bike. Bixi stations let you hire out bikes for a
few hours or for the full day, and you can return them at any bike station in the city.
This is another popular cathedral in the city. It is the third largest church in the province
of Quebec.
Montreal's Old Port is worth a wander. You can enjoy a quiet stroll along the waterfront
or stop for a mid-afternoon nap and one of the many little parks found in the area.
The best way to get around Montreal is by hopping on the metro. If you're going to be
in the city for a few days we suggest you get a pass so that you can zip around from
one neighborhood to the next.
This Canal is popular with cyclists. It runs 14.5 kilometers starting from the Old Port
of Montreal.
So there you have it - a quick little glimpse at this beautiful French city. From festivals
to live entertainment, and dining to shopping, Montreal has plenty to offer for travellers.
Hey guys, as part of my plan to embrace winter while being back in Canada, I'm in Montreal
for the weekend. And this is the view from the guesthouse I'm staying at in the Latin
Quarter area. I'm stoked about going outside. I'm going to be doing all kinds of crazy stuff
today. Hopefully some dog sledding, snowshoeing and maybe some skating. I'm also going to
be devouring poutine and I can't wait to show you what a cool city Montreal is in the wintertime.
It is seriously cold out today guys. I'm all bundled up but apparently with windchill it
is almost minus thirty. Woo hoo!
Check out those icicles. I'm starting to get some on my beard. I don't know if you can
see it or not?
I'm at Parc Lafontaine and there is just this incredible skating rink. Outdoors skating
rink. And nobody is out here using it. If only I had my skates. What a fool for me not
to bring them. I can't believe I didn't bring them.
Oh, this is the best. There is a guy out there with his dog just gliding along the ice with
his boots. He doesn't actually have skates on. Look at him sliding out there. That's
awesome.
I'm in serious need of some comfort food to warm up. It's time to head over for my morning
poutine brunch. Oh, my precious - La Banquise - open twenty four seven for all your poutine
needs.
Now comes the hard part. There is such an extensive menu here that I don't know even
know which one to choose.
It is just seriously so nice to be warming up right now. My toes were starting to freeze,
my beard as all frosty. This comfort food is going to do wonders for me. I think it
is going to allow me to go outside and play around in the snow all day long.
Oh my, the moment I've been waiting for. Everything I expected and more. La Banquise has the best
poutine in Montreal.
Woah, that seriously did not last long - pure gluttony over here.
So this is one of the more unique entrances I've ever seen towards a subway station.
Mickey Mouse is in the house.
Hey guys, my life would not be complete without a Montreal bagel.
Okay, now the million dollar question is should I go for a bagel sandwich or just go with
spread on a bagel? Decisions, decisions.
Alright, it's a raisin cinnamon bagel and apple cinnamon cream cheese for the win.
Alright guys, time for the first bite. Mmmm. Amazing.
So it appears we've got some snow cricket going on over hear. It doesn't get too much
more Canadian than this.
Oh. Yes, yes!
Alright, it is time to complete the trifecta of must have foods when you're in Montreal.
I'm going for - of course - a smoked meat sandwich.
And when you want the best you come to Schwartz's. Seriously it pays to come here in the winter.
The is the first time I've ever been here where there hasn't been a massive lineup.
Now that really hit the spot. One thing to keep in mind when eating at these popular
restaurants in MontrÃ©al is that some of them are cash only. You can only pay with
cash. Some allow debit card but very few take credit card.
Now it is time to burn some calories guys. It is kind of embarrassing thing for me to
admit is that I consumed most of those calories within a two hour period.
I'm at Mount Royal Park right now and there are all kinds of people doing totally different
types of exercises from snowshoeing to cross country skiing to skating.
So this is the reward for the long climb up Mount Royal. I'm near the top of the peak
here and there is going to be some spectacular views. I just know it.
And the last stop of the day is at FÃªte des neiges de MontrÃ©al.
There is one dish you absolutely have to try when you come to Montreal and that is Poutine.
This is a French Canadian dish and for those who aren't very familiar with it, it is basically
french fries with gravy and cheese curds on top. Now it sounds a little bit gross and
it doesn't look that appetizing at first sight but trust me it is delicious.
There is absolutely nothing redeeming about this meal from a nutritional standpoint. It
is pure grease and no better way for us to sample it than in this park right here.
We went to one of the most famous restaurants in Montreal for Poutine - La Banquise – and
in this bag here I've got two different kinds.
One is the regular poutine and one is the premium kind. We're going to show you what
is inside.
It is time for the big reveal. Look down here. This is the standard one. Oh, look at all
of the cheese curd. It is melting. And the gravy. It is like these fries are swimming
in a pool of gravy. That is amazing.
You've got a premium kind. What did you get? I went for something a little bit fancier
and mine has bacon and goat cheese instead of the regular cheese curds. Alright, let's
open this. Oh, wow! Look at that goat cheese. This is going to be amazing.
This is the kind of meal we're going to have to walk off for hours and hours and hours
upon end.
Look at that cheese. My goodness.
First bite of the fancy poutine. That is just as good as imagined it would be. The goat
cheese is warm, it is gooey, it is soft and the bacon is amazing. It is greasy, salty.
It is amazing! How about the gravy? Mmmmm.
Time for the first bite of the classic poutine here. Let's get lots of gravy on it. Woah,
stringy cheese! I got it all over my mouth. Wow!
That is so good. I just wish this was healthy so I could eat it more often.
It is like a heart attack on a plate. We've been having this every day since we've been
to Montreal and I don't see us stopping until we leave.
Out of the two poutines that we had, my favorite of course was the one with goat cheese and
bacon because those ingredients are just stellar.
Even if you don't like bacon there is a whole variety of toppings that you can choose over
at La Banquise. There are mushrooms, green peppers, hot chilly and anything that you
can think of.
So how much does a poutine cost? The regular one was just under seven dollars and the premium
one was about nine bucks, so it is quite an affordable meal.
I'm really excited right now. Montreal smoked meat along with things such as Poutine, is
something you absolutely have to try when you're in Montreal. I'm going to go sample
a sandwich right now.
Montreal smoked meat is made from brisket and the meat is allowed to cure for one week
with peppercorn and lots of other spices. It is really flavorful by the end of that
week. I'm going to take a bite over here. Let's see what this tastes like. Wow, look
at all of that meat. Oh my, this is falling apart and it smells great. You can see the
mustard as well. Look at that. Oh my, oh my gosh. Keep that sandwich together there.
Okay, I'm going to need a huge napkin after this. Wow. Oh my gosh. That is so tasty. The
meat is really juicy and tender. It is served on rye bread with mustard and I just love
that combination. Really simple flavors, the meat is smokey and it is great.
Look at that massive piece of meat. The thing is a bohemoth. I can barely keep it together
in my hands. It is time for my first bite. It is so tender and delicious. That is one
of the best sandwiches I've had in a long time.
There is one establishment in Montreal that is really well known for its smoked meat.
That is a little deli placed Schwartz's and it has been around since the 1920's. However,
that is not the only place where you can get smoked meat. There is actually restaurants
and little shops across town that serve almost the exact same recipe, so it is not difficult
to track it down.
In a place that specializes for Montreal smoked meat, such as Schwartz's, you can order it
lean cut, medium or fatty. We've tried a few different ones and medium is our favorite
so far.
Some of the popular side orders that you can also get with your smoked meat sandwich include
poutine, french fries or pickles.
For a typical smoked meat sandwich in Montreal you are looking at roughly six to eight dollars
and it is well worth the price to try.