Imane’s three favorite places in Montreal
Montréal is a city of contrast blending concrete, asphalt, greenery and big trees. We often run into small animals, especially in the many parks spread out across the city. Whether you’re spending a quiet afternoon in the big Maisonneuve park, strolling downtown or just hanging around the Old Port, Montréal is a city of many faces.
Today, I want to talk to you about my three favourite spots in Montréal, which I mentioned earlier: Maisonneuve park, the Old Port and downtown. First, if you want to relax, enjoy nature, or go cycling and do some exercise, Maisonneuve park is just right for you. Located in the Rosemont area and stretching from Viau station to Pie-IX station, Maisonneuve park is one of the largest parks on the Island of Montréal. The park has a bike path and what appears to be an endless green space. It also includes the Montréal Botanical Garden and the Montréal Insectarium. You can even go cross-country skiing in the park in the winter. Personally, it’s one of my favourite spots in the city. I’ve been going there for years—it’s the go-to spot for relaxing and having picnics. Furthermore, you can easily maintain social distancing since the park is very big.
My second favourite spot is the Old Port of Montréal. It’s a must! The Old Port is especially pleasant in the summer as there are tons of activities such as zip lining and the famous labyrinth. There are also lots of restaurants where you can enjoy different foods, to suit every taste. Moreover, the architecture in the Old Port reminds you of Europe. It’s a great place for your Instagram shots! A big Ferris wheel completes the view and it’s certainly worth taking a ride to admire the surrounding landscape. I especially enjoy eating a nice poutine in the Old Port and finishing it off with a beaver tail. It’s quite a happy meal! Don’t worry, it’s not actually a tail from an animal, but rather fried dough in the shape of a beaver tail.
Lastly, the place where you need to go shopping is downtown Montréal. The area stretches from Beaudry metro station to Atwater station and you can easily walk it in the summer. Downtown is full of skyscrapers and it makes you feel like you’re in a mini Manhattan. With three universities located downtown—Université du Québec à Montréal, Concordia and McGill—the student population wandering the neighbourhood throughout the year is huge. I really enjoy shopping downtown since all the shops and major brands are there. And I often end my summer shopping trips with a good ice cream.
