T Riman
, , , ,

4 Best Parks To Visit In Montreal This Winter

View of Montreal Skyline from Park Jean Drapreau

Top Parks To Visit on the Island of Montreal This Winter

View of Montreal Skyline from Park Mont-Royal

View of Montreal Skyline from Park Mont-Royal

  Ah, Montreal parks. The perfect setting for people watching, romantic strolls, picnics with friends, quirky activities like slack-lining, quidditch, extreme frisbee or practicing cartwheels because, why not? At least they’re great for all that (and more) in the summer and fall. But, what about winter? Don’t despair, folks. The parks stay open year round, and there’s plenty to do at Montreal’s parks throughout the long winter months!

Here are 4 of the best parks in Montreal to visit in winter:

 

1. Parc la Fontaine

Located in le Plateau, Parc la Fontaine is bordered by Sherbrooke, Avenue du Parc La-Fontaine (obvs), Rachel and Papineau. It’s a great park for a stroll, a picnic, chilling by the duck pond or kicking back with a good book. In the winter, it transforms into a snowy wonderland, surrounded by some of the city’s trendiest hotspots. Why it’s awesome for winter: The skating! There’s something truly romantic about this park, so while you can definitely take the family skating, or go for a pick up hockey game, it’s a really special spot for an evening skate with your special someone. Don’t have skates? No worries! You can rent skates at the onsite chalet. You can also get your own skates sharpened there if you quite literally had to dust yours off. There’s also a little restaurant onsite to grab a snack or a hot drink, but…  Kick it up a notch: In case you weren’t aware, you can drink alcohol in Montreal’s public parks! The catch is, you have to be consuming a meal if you’re drinking. Ah, but there’s another catch! There’s really no definition of what constitutes a meal. So, if you were to bring a few yummy pastries or holiday baking alongside your thermos of spiked hot chocolate or egg nog, you’re probably good to go! If that isn’t the perfect budget-friendly, yet romance-packed date night, we don’t know what is! More awesomeness: Though the park is known more for its beautiful skating rink in the winter, you can also use the cross-country skiing or snowshoeing trails throughout the winter. Even just a snowy stroll through the park can be pretty special. Park la fountaine in downtown montreal  

2. Parc Mont Royal

Pretty much all of the mountain (note to non-Montrealers: it’s more of a large hill than an actual mountain, but to Montrealers it is 100% “the mountain”) is Parc Mont Royal and since that’s a lot of ground to cover, there’s an awful lot to love about it. Montreal's lake - Beaver lake in the park of mont royal Why it’s awesome for winter: Snow tubing! There are a few spots on the mountain where you can bring your own sled and coast down the hill, but the groomed tubing tracks overlooking Beaver Lake are hands down some of the most fun you can have in Montreal during the winter! You rent a tube onsite (prices for this year have not yet been announced, but have always been extremely affordable in the past) and if you bring your own lock, you can make use of one of the onsite lockers so you can whoosh down the hill at top speed without a care in the world! This is obviously an awesome activity for kids, but if you’re an adult or semi-adult and feeling nostalgic for the days when snow felt thrilling and magical, trust us… there is no joy quite like tubing! So slap on your snow pants and get ready to yeehaw! Kick it up a notch: Scrap the office Christmas party this year and take the whole team out to the hills for a day of totally unprofessional fun! When was the last time you fell into a fit of giggles with your coworkers? Forget the team building exercises. Nothing bonds a team together like tubing! More awesomeness: Like we said, this is a BIG park. Aside from tubing, there’s also snowshoeing, cross country skiing, bird watching, skating, hiking and more!  

3. L’Escapade in Rigaud

So this one’s actually outside the city and – bit of a bummer – not accessible by public transportation. It’s about a 45 minute drive away in the town of Rigaud, but it makes our list because…  Why it’s awesome for winter: The cross country skiing! L’escapade is a linear park. Yes, that is a boring description, but what it means is that the park is a lot longer than it is wide. Because of that, it’s the perfect layout for trails! There are about 27 kms of groomed ski trails in gorgeous l’Escapade park. The 27 kms are divided into five distinct trails, rated from easy to difficult. Given the length of the trails, you can really make a full day of it. Kick it up a notch: Combine your ski day with a little history! Rigaud is a town packed with historic sites and rich in quebecois culture. Sure, there’s plenty of history in Montreal as well, but this is a little different and immersing yourself in the roots of Quebec culture is an experience every Montrealer should have. So, spend a morning skiing the trails, then stop for lunch before visiting one (or more) of the many stops along the heritage and cultural circuit. More awesomeness: If you’ve never tried snowshoeing, this might be the perfect opportunity as you can rent the equipment onsite. There are also walking trails open year round, and while dogs are not allowed on the ski trails, they are more than welcome to join you for some furry fun on the walking and snowshoeing trails.  

4. Parc Jean-Drapeau

This is probably the most action-packed park the city has to offer. Year round, there are all kinds of events and activities happening at Parc JD. Located on Île Sainte Hélène, Parc Jean-Drapeau is surprisingly easy to get to with plenty of parking and access via the metro’s yellow line. In the summer, you can even take a river shuttle from the Old Port. But in winter…  Why it’s awesome for winter: Fȇte des neiges! For the 37th year in a row, this event will be bringing the joy of winter to Montrealers for four weekends in a row. This year’s festival will include the ice boat (a giant pirate ship made of ice), snow tubing, a refrigerated skating trail, boot hockey games to join, a human foosball game, an “alpine adventure” activity organized by Cirque Éloize acrobats and much more. There’s even a mini-hill and equipment for kids to take their first shot at downhill skiing or snowboarding! This is definitely a family friendly festival, with plenty of activities for kids of all ages, but it is by no means exclusively for kids and families. The ice slides are fun for everyone, there are plenty of activities to join in, and last year’s festival had amazing food trucks to sample some of the best cuisine in the city. This year’s food truck lineup is gearing up to be just as delicious. Kick it up a notch: Access to just the festival is free, but some activities require a ticket. Opt for the ridiculously affordable pass and you get unlimited access to all activities for ALL 4 WEEKENDS of the festival! Skate one day, go tubing the next, eat yourself silly at the food trucks, take a snowshoeing lesson, join a game of boot hockey, then do it all again! More awesomeness: If you opt for the festival pass, you also get free admission the Stewart Museum, which has great exhibits and programming for all ages, as well as 25% off admission to the Biosphere. If you’re tired of hearing “I’m bored” from your kids… or partner… or friends… there’s four straight weekends packed with activities! View of Montreal Skyline from Park Jean Drapreau

What’s your favourite Montreal (or nearby) park to visit in the winter? Share it in the comments!

Read more about some activities that you can do this winter in Montreal. Also make sure you are all set for winter, and see what we recommend for a Canadian winter Jackets
/by
T Riman
, ,

The Best Indoor Things to do in Montreal for Winter 2020

Museum hallway in Montreal with white walls and paintingsPhoto by Deanna J on Unsplash

Indoor Activites to do in Montreal for Winter 2020

Baby, it’s cold outside! And as much as we strive to embrace the snow – it is here for long enough, after all – sometimes embracing the cold means enjoying all the amazing indoor activities Montreal has to offer. So, if you’re looking to spend some time not freezing your baguettes off, here are some of our favourite indoor activity spots for the 2019/2020 winter season: Nerf gun in hand

Get Physical

Here is list of activities that require physical effort in Montreal.

If staying active is important to you, there’s no reason to give that up in winter. There are plenty of indoor activities that go beyond your neighborhood gym, but still get your heart (and muscles) pumping:
  • Climbing: This is a great activity for almost all ages and is fun solo, or with a group. And two great climbing gyms are super close by: Allez Up and Centre Vertical.
  • Nerf: Yes, you can have an all out Nerf war with your friends, family or coworkers. It must be pretty popular because there are several highly rated places including Sports de Combats, Combat Nerf and Nerf Hero. Look out, Aunt Ida! The family reunion’s about to get wild!
  • Trampoline: Get your bounce on at your choice of Sky Zone (Dorval), iSaute (multiple locations), Sky Tag (DDO) and more.
  • Escape rooms: So you can “escape” winter! Sorry. Unavoidable dad joke. You can find our top 5 escape rooms here.
  • Axe throwing: Do you get angry in the winter? Angry at the ice? The snow? The traffic? The cold? The 4pm darkness? The 12 layers you have to put on before leaving the house? Get that rage out, axe style! Try Rage Axe Throwing (Montreal and St. Hubert), Combat d’Archers (Montreal) or Maniax (St. Leonard).
 

Get Artsy

Here is a list of artistic and creative activities to do in Montreal.

Not everyone wants to throw axes (or at least, not all the time). Some people want to create! If arts and crafts are more your thing, check out these activities:
  • Ceramic Cafe: With locations in Montreal, DDO, Laval and Greenfield Park, there’s bound to be one not far from you. Ceramic Cafe is also a true cafe, so you can get food and drinks to enjoy while you work on something special for yourself or as a gift.
  • Paint Night: Unleash your inner Bob Ross and a few “happy little trees”! A lot of people feel intimidated by painting, but Paint Night isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about having fun and trying something new. There are events held all over the city, so check out the website to see what’s coming near you.
  • Museum workshops: Did you know that many of Montreal’s museums offer workshops? Check out the art workshops available at le Musée d’art contemporain, the many workshops and programs available from the Fine Arts Museum, or some of the arts and crafts activities at the McCord.
  • Take a pottery class: Lose yourself in clay! Check out the upcoming winter session at Atelier Spirale (starts January 2020), sign up for a workshop at Atelier Forma, or choose a workshop or course at Atelier Make (new session of courses begins every 8 weeks).
Girl painting Ceramic cups

Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash

Expand Your Mind

Here is a list of Educational Activites to do in Montreal:

  • Museum exhibitions: There are always great exhibits to check out. Happening this winter is: 
  • Science time: There’s plenty to learn and experience at the Planetarium, the Science Center, the Environment Museum at the Biosphere, or leg it out to Laval for a trip to the Cosmodome.
  • Grow your career: Why not take advantage of the winter to learn a new skill or expand your knowledge? Both McGill and Concordia universities offer a range of workshops to help expand your career possibilities as well as your professional network.
museum hallway

Photo by Deanna J on Unsplash

Get Musical

Here is a list of Musical Activites to do in Montreal:

There is live music all over this city, and it doesn’t disappear with the sun. It just moves indoors! Here are a few hotspots where you can take in live music, often for free or very little cost:
  • Hurley’s Irish Pub – Live music and entertainment 7 nights a week
  • Bistro a Jojo – Live blues & jazz 7 nights a week
  • Casa del Popolo – Live shows most nights for a small ticket price – be sure to check the calendar!
  • The Rialto Theatre – While not free, and sometimes a bit on the pricey side, there are some really unique shows at the Rialto, while the venue itself is something to be experienced as well. If you really want to get decadent, they’re holding a “Party Like Gatsby” event in April 2020 (which, let’s face it, is still winter in Montreal).
  • Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill – Live shows 7 nights a week – check their calendar as they have some great folks lined up!
People playing jazz music in montreal

Photo by Jens Thekkeveettil on Unsplash

Get Board

Here are some places to play board games in Montreal:

As in, board games! Check out your local independent cafe, as many of them have board games on site. Most will allow you to bring your own board or card games, as long as you’re also purchasing something. Aside from that, there are actually dedicated board game cafes in Montreal. Our top pick is La Récréation on Ontario street, but there’s also Randolph’s with several locations in and around the city.  Whether you’re looking for things to do in Montreal in December, January or the many more long months of winter, there is plenty to choose from that doesn’t end with a case of frostbite.
Board game on a table in a bar in montreal

Photo by Christopher Paul High on Unsplash

What’s your favourite indoor activity in or around Montreal? Share it in the comments!

 
/by