Montreal in a Blizzard

Even though 3 of our 5 days in Montreal were in blizzard-like conditions, we had a blast. I can't wait to go back (maybe not in the winter) to see everything that I missed. Make sure you visit Crescent Street for the nightlife, shop on St. Catherine Street, and check out the shops in the underground. The city was beautiful, and the people were really great.

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Personally, I try to avoid renting a car if I can help it. I don't want to deal with the traffic while I'm on vacation. Renting a car in Montreal is totally unnecessary. We took a taxi to and from the airport (with a set rate each way), then between walking and the metro, it is a breeze to get around. The metro was a bit confusing the first time we used it, but after that, it was a piece of cake. We saved money by purchasing a multi-day ticket, and make sure you ask the ticket office for a map!

Because of the outrageous deals, due to the strength of the dollar when we went, we were able to get a junior suite here for about $50. Although the hotel was a bit rundown, the location was so perfect that we really didn't care.

The hotel is located in Montreal City Center, within blocks from the subway, excellent shopping, bars, clubs, and the Molson Center. The hotel was located near the intersection of Crescent Street and Rue St. Catherine. Crescent Street is known as a bit of a party street, with many bars and clubs along it, while St. Catherine is a shopper’s haven. It is very convenient for people who like to stumble home at the end of the night or shop in blizzards!

The room itself was pretty rundown, but everything was clean and it came with a separate bedroom, living room, and kitchen. There was a balcony, but it was caulked shut (pretty disappointing!). We were on the top floor, and the views of the city were pretty great. Some noise could be heard all night long due to the adjacent bars and clubs, but it wasn't too bad.

The staff was really wonderful. They were eager to help with any questions we had and made our experience with them exceptional. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again (although the dollar is pretty weak, so I am unsure if it would be a bargain).

This restaurant was down the street from our hotel, so we walked through the snow to eat here for lunch.

It was almost completely empty of customers (probably because it has a pub/bar atmosphere and was lunchtime during the week), but it was a great meal just the same. The interior was quite nice, with dark wood and a long bar. It was nicer than I would have imagined. The lighting was low, but the snow outside lit it up! Our waitress was extremely kind and talked at length with us about Montreal. She was more than willing to give us tips on what to see and do. If it had been busy, I'm sure she wouldn't have had the time, though.

The food wasn't anything spectacular, but it was a really good meal for the price. I was expecting the food to be burgers and other pub fare, but they had some great chicken dishes, appetizers, and desserts. Overall, it was a good experience.

Crescent Street is wild! There are numerous bars and clubs along the street, and it's a lot of fun to go from bar to bar. They all have a different feel and atmosphere, so keep looking until you find one that suits your taste.

We made it a point to go to each one to at least have a drink. It was fun either sitting at the bar chatting with locals and tourists (although we didn't meet many of those) or dancing the night away. The people were really friendly, and everyone just wanted to have a good time.

The Biodome is made up of four distinct but very different ecosystems. Visitors walk through each ecosystem (desert, tropical rainforest, polar, etc.) and encounter plants, flowers, and animals native to those environments. It was a fun way to spend a couple of hours, and I thought it was pretty unique. The macaroni penguins were quite a hit! If you are planning on seeing the Insectarium and Botanical Gardens, be sure to get an all-in-one ticket.

We didn't go through the entire Insectarium, as we were most interested in the butterflies in the free special exhibit. I'm not too into bugs, so the other creepy-crawly things didn't interest me much.

The special exhibit, however, was wonderful. You walk into a huge room and follow a path, completing a circle of the room. There were thousands of butterflies just flying around, sitting on plants, and actually landing on people. I was told that the exhibit usually happens once a year, so if you are there during the right time, stop and see them. The only downside was that it was so crowded, you could barely move and had to travel at the crowds pace or risk being pushed.

I'm a huge hockey fan, and you can't possibly go to Canada without catching a game if you love the sport.

We walked to the Molsen Centre from our hotel on Crescent Street (yes, through the piles of snow) and found that it was easy to navigate to (of course, that's because it's so big that it was always in our line of sight!).

The Molsen Centre building was great. The game was a bit of a disappointment (at least for the Canadians!), but it was just great being in the crowd. The beer was pretty expensive, but what is a hockey game without a frosty beverage? It was a great way to spend a night, and we met a lot of really great people.