I am the lucky mom of girls. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Girls are an amazing responsibility and also a joy to parent. They move through life with hearts wide open, sometimes needing tiny reminders to guard their emotions. They absorb experiences and breathe them forward at school, at home, and as they grow outward into the universe of possibilities. This summer our universe took us to Montreal girl’s trip.
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Our First Trip to Montreal
This week, right before my girls abandoned me for an awesome overnight summer camp experience I spirited them away to Montreal. It was our first time ever to Quebec, and it was a very short trip, but I am pretty certain we will be back.
Need a Guide Book Before You Visit? Here’s one I love Fodor’s Montreal and Old Quebec.
Here’s an idea for a Great Montreal Walking Tour too.
A Great Opportunity to Practice French
Both of my girls speak French well.
French immersion has been a good space for their language to grow. Travel to nearby Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario are great opportunities to practice what they learn.
Montreal with Two Tweens
My kids are great little travellers and at the age where we can easily walk together and explore new destinations, boutiques, events and restaurants. That is a fantastic side effect of travelling with them when they were younger.
Together, we now get to indulge in many wonderful girly things. Today we shopped and hit some good restaurants. My girls love to sample Japanese food, French food, Chinese, Italian and Mexican, and treats from other cultures. But spicy, is not their thing. That still leaves a fair number of options.
International Foods
Today we hunted down crepes because that was on my must do list for Montreal. We found decent Japanese food and more than a few incredible sweets and pastries.
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| The Illuminated Crowd |
Musee d’Arts de Contemporain de Montreal
We visited the Musee d’Arts de Contemporain de Montreal (Museum of Contemporary Arts) and then walked to the Just for Laughs Festival which actually has a fair bit to offer for families, during the day.
Just for Laughs Festival
Free amusement park rides and games were set up near Place Des Arts, off Rue Saint-Catherine. Payton, my oldest daughter insisted on seeing a museum while we were here. The kids both love to draw and paint and they are very involved in the arts. So, museums were a must. The public art displays here have made our trip memorable and may have been featured in a few of my Instagram posts.
The service was great, the surroundings memorable and even in such a short time it has felt like this is a place that lives and breathes family friendly as a philosophy.
The only thing we are not fans of – the smoking! So many people smoking on the streets in Montreal that it’s a small shock for my Ontario family.
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| The other side of Illuminated Crowd
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Both art and travel have the ability to open your mind and help you to understand the world while inspiring you to live. These are all things I value as a Mom, a travel blogger, and an arts graduate. It is a thrill to share this city with two of my favourite people in the world. I can’t wait to share where our family travels take us next.
McGill University campus
Together, we took the time to briefly explore McGill University Campus too. I enjoyed seeing my kids react to the art and the wide open spaces on campus.
I loved that my girls have had a chance to practice their French this last couple of days. Our Montreal girl’s trip was a great opportunity to do some of that. When they confidently engage strangers in a conversation in French, it is a beautiful thing to witness. Merci, Montreal.
Montreal Girl’s Trip in a Nutshell
It was a brief visit but definitely one that reminded me we need to return and spend more time exploring. Eating too, of course! With endless museums and art installations, plus a wide variety of international flavours to draw from, there’s no time to be bored in Montreal.
what a fun time you had with the girls. It’s always nice to have a girls day out.
That is awesome! I have three girls and I’ve often wondered what I did so bad to my mom as a child. Hee Hee.. Girls are great, but can be tough. Yours look like they had a fabulous time though.
It’s so strange. I’ve been to Montreal for years and I have yet to go visit those status! lol I’ve seen them lots when driving by but never really stopped to look/admire them. Glad you all got to enjoy my home town! =)
Girls trip? I want to go on one with my daughter – only when she is older 😉
girls trip you forgot to take me lol just joking. I was born and raied in Toronto Ontario and now I live in Michigan and you would think being a Canadian I would have been to Montereal by now but I have not and I’m 31. some day I’ll go but not any time soon. It looks like you girls had a fun time together.
Cute girls! I love the idea of combining a fun trip with an educational experience. What a treat to be able to share your interests with your girls. Looked like a lot of fun.
It sure was Connie! Thanks for the comment.
I had a daughter too and enjoyed almost every minute of her and I …. there were days when she was on my list… but, now that she is grown, we are like best friends. Great trip you had with your girls.
My daughter is my life, she is so much fun. What a great day you had with your girls!
I haven’t been to Montreal in many years, but I keep saying to my husband that I want to get back. It’s a GREAT city and there is a ton to see and do there.
Wow, it looks like you had a wonderful time. This will be a trip everyone will cherish! Amber N
Oh wow what a lovely trip – I always enjoy girls time with my Mum 🙂 x
I visited Montreal on a school trip in college. I was blown away by how clean that city was – just beautiful!
Your girls look like they are having a lot of fun. I am sure they enjoyed the amazing trip.
I actually have family in Montreal but have never visited. I’ve only been to London and Toronto and planning another trip to Canada sometime in September. Maybe I can take my daughter there. Looks like you had fun.
What a great visit. We talk about visiting, it’s on our list of places.
Looks like you guys had a good time! I remember visiting Montreal at about the same age!
That is great. Languages are great skills to have too.
Looks like a wonderful time! I would love to take my kids to Montreal.
I really want to go to Montreal. We were in Puerto Rico last week and found ourselves in an art gallery owned by a man who had moved to San Juan from Montreal. He would not stop trying to convince us to visit Montreal.
Lance: I highly recommend it. The public art and muses are stellar.