Quebec: Montreal

Lots of times it is hard to get your friends excited about leaving New York City to visit a nearby destination. There just aren't too many cities that have the attractions, amenities or character that can compare with the Big Apple. Montreal is my best bet for a reasonably close destination that offers something different for the jaded New Yorker. It's full of character, what with the majority of the population speaking French rather than English and the city maintaining a very European sensibility. Montreal also has some great sights and attractions, and is a wonderful place to check out the changing colors of autumn.

I went up to Quebec to attend an annual gay dance party, but probably enjoyed the weekend more due to the town's sights and unquestionable charm than from any night out at a club. On the other hand, one of the reasons that I probably loved Montreal so much is that it is quite gay-friendly. Regardless of your orientation, I think almost anyone would enjoy visiting this city, which seems like a small town but has a little something to offer everyone.

Quick Tips:

Try to stay in a hotel or bed & breakfast that's located downtown so that you can park your car once and then go sightseeing by foot or by subway train.

Best Way To Get Around:

It's my belief that by paying a little bit extra and staying at a Hilton, Westin or Sheraton can make a huge difference on how you enjoy your vacation. So when I found an inexpensive promotional weekend fare for Hilton's Montreal airport location I figured it was worth staying just outside of town. Well, contrary to what the Hilton phone representative told me, Dorval is not just a quick trip to the city's center.

Travelling fifteen to twenty minutes by car each way wasn't so bad, but finding parking downtown was a real challenge. I also felt frustrated in the evenings when I wanted to linger or have a drink, but realized that I had to get myself back to the hotel somehow. Next time I will definitely stay in downtown Montreal, regardless of the cost.

The hotel itself was nice, as most Hiltons are. The room was tastefully designed and clean, while the staff was unobtrusive and polite. The large pool area was notable, though the small gym was seriously lacking in equipment. The outdoor unattended parking lot required validation each time you came and left, which quickly grew annoying.

Despite its corny name, Club Sandwich is an okay eatery that is conveniently located to the gay bars and open 24 hours. Located in the Hotel Bourbon complex, it is thematically decorated with a southern touch and is as cheery as your average amusement park dining option. The servings are quite large and rather inexpensive, making this a great place to grab a bite and save money for the bars later on. The food is just good, comparable to an American chain like Ruby Tuesday's or TGIFriday's.

This is probably the most popular gay bar in Montreal, situated in the heart of the Village along Saint Catherine street. It was packed every night that I visited, though I was in town for the Black & Blue weekend, Montreal's premiere gay event, which accounts for much of the heavy traffic. With a well lit and wide open cruising bar downstairs and a more intimate space upstairs that can be used for shows, Unity has a lot of space with which to entertain its customers.

The crowd was fairly mixed, but a number of young and attractive men were seen on the lookout. Drinks are measured in Canada, and pretty weak at that. Coming from New York, where you are served rather stiff cocktails, I was surprised at how often I was returning to the bar for another order. Then again, it was another chance to check out the cute bartenders…

I guess you wouldn't really classify a cemetery as a "park" but I went to see Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, supposedly the largest cemetery in North America, to check out the natural splendor rather than visit any French Canadian relatives of days gone by. The cemetery is beautiful, with many fanciful Victorian tombstones and mausoleums. There are quite a few obelisks as gravimeters, which certainly doesn't seem very Catholic. I would guess that these folks were , but it seems strange for such a Catholic town...

From the top of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges you are afforded spectacular views of Montreal. The cemetery is located on the north west summit of Mont Royal, which also contributes to the relative silence of the grounds. Hearing birds chirp rather than cars buzzing by is a nice break from the sometimes loud and unpleasant cemeteries of cramped New York City. I probably seem weird writing about multiple cemetery visits... This is perhaps accurate, but I think most folks who enjoy the outdoors will find the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges to be a pleasant diversion in Montreal.

Crammed with tourists who navigate from one souvenir shop to another, the historic center of Montreal is still worth checking out for its grand old structures and cute sidewalk cafes. It's also a departure point for many other activities located on the Parc des Isles, including outdoor sports, a casino, museums and an amusement park.

The Place d'Armes piazza is flanked by the Basilique Notre-Dame and the domed Bank of Montreal. Place Jacques-Cartier leads down to the waterfront from Champs-de-Mars with cute little restuarants and shops lining the route. Montreal's City Hall and older court house are also due south of the Champs-de-Mars.

I didn't climb up it, but apparently the Clock Tower on Bonsecour Street has good views. On the opposite side of vieux Montreal is an archaeology and history museum that didn't seem to be attracting too many visitors.