Montreal Magic: A Weekend of Adventure, Pride, and Poutine! 🌈🍟

This past August, we spent a weekend in Montreal, and it was everything we needed—a mix of fantastic food, relaxation, and exploration. We took a VIA Rail train to get there, but our trip hit a bit of a snag. Due to heavy rain in Montreal, the tracks were flooded, causing a delay. 🚂🌧️ Though we arrived much later than expected, we still made it safe and sound, ready to enjoy our weekend! 🙌

Night 1: Checking In and Indulging at Hôtel St-Thomas 🏨🛁✨

After our delayed arrival in Montreal, we headed straight to Hôtel St-Thomas, our home for the weekend. One of the first things Jean-Luc noticed was the luxurious bath in our room, and it quickly became the highlight of our stay! Since we don’t have a bath in our condo (something Jean-Luc always reminds us of), this was a real treat. There's just something about slipping into a warm bath after a long day of travel that makes you feel instantly relaxed. 😌💦

The hotel itself was the perfect blend of modern comfort and classic charm, with beautiful decor and warm service. Even though it was late, we could feel the stress of the day melting away as soon as we settled in. 🌆

Day 2: A Beautiful Surprise and Speeding Through the Rapids 🚤💦🍕

The morning after we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to discover the lovely balcony in our room that we hadn’t noticed the night before. It offered breathtaking views of the city! 🌄✨ We enjoyed a delicious breakfast included with our stay, which was the perfect way to start the day.

After fueling up, we set off for an adventurous speed boat ride through the Lachine Rapids aboard Sautes-Moutons! 🛥️💦 It was an unforgettable experience! The boat zipped and splashed through the rapids, giving us an adrenaline rush and soaking us with laughter. If you want to see how much fun we had, check out the video below! 🎥👇🤩💧

After drying off, we headed to La Grande Roue 🎡, which was a special treat for Nick as he had never seen his birth city, Montreal, from this vantage point before. The views from the giant observation wheel were stunning, offering a whole new perspective of the city, and it’s an experience we highly recommend. 🌇👀

We then took a leisurely walk through the old streets of Montreal, admiring the historic charm of the cobblestone lanes and beautiful architecture. 🕰️✨ By the time our stomachs started rumbling again, we made our way to Montreal Poutine, a popular spot in the Old Port. Here, we indulged in some classic Quebec poutine, complete with gooey cheese curds, along with steamed hotdogs. 🌭🍟 It was the perfect, delicious way to refuel after our busy day of exploring!

After lunch at Montreal Poutine, we headed back to our hotel for a short break before making our way to Pride Montreal. 🌈 The entire St Catherine Street was closed off during this time of year for the festivities. We walked around, soaking in the lively atmosphere, watching some incredible performances, exploring booths, and just enjoying the vibrant energy of the celebration. 🎉🎶

For dinner, we made our way to Piazzetta for some delicious pizza and Caesar salad. 🍕🥗 Our waiter, Adam, was absolutely wonderful, making the experience even more enjoyable! If you're in Montreal and craving some good pizza, Piazzetta is definitely the place to visit. 😋👌

You can catch our video below about our time at Piazzetta! 🎥👇

Day 3: Scenic Views and Winding Down 🏞️☕🛣️

On our final day, we started with a peaceful morning walk, soaking in the last bits of Montreal’s charm before heading back home. The weather was perfect, making our stroll through the beautiful streets a relaxing farewell to the city. 🌳🏙️

Afterward, we gathered our luggage and walked to the Montreal Train Station to catch our train back to Toronto. 🚶‍♀️🧳 While we waited in the lounge, we had a delightful surprise—we ran into Lisa from Rustic Mama Retreats! 🎉 It was such a pleasant coincidence to see a familiar face while traveling, and we took a moment to catch up and share our adventures.

Once we got home, we were welcomed with lots of love from Saba! 🐾❤️ It was the perfect way to end our weekend getaway—snuggling with our furry friend and reminiscing about the amazing experiences we had in Montreal.

Montreal was exactly what we needed—a weekend full of great food, relaxation, and exciting adventures. Whether it was enjoying our beautiful balcony with amazing views, speeding through the Lachine Rapids, taking in the sights from La Grande Roue, celebrating Pride Montreal, or savoring poutine at Montreal Poutine and pizza at Piazzetta, every moment felt like a little adventure. If you're thinking of a weekend away, Montreal should be at the top of your list. 🗺️✈️

Until next time, Montreal! 👋😊

Jean-Luc and Nick