Montreal: An Introduction to the Other Paris

So you’ve decided you need a vacation and started to narrow down the options. Now all you need is a good destination. With so many enchanting places to go, finding the right one isn’t as easy as it sounds-after all, destinations come in many shapes, sizes, and personalities.

You may want to consider Montreal. It has the feel of Europe without the distance or prices. The largest city in Quebec, Canada, Montreal is has a relaxed atmosphere and is easy to navigate. With the second largest French-speaking population in the world, is has a distinctly French flavor. But there’s more than Francais here. Home to immigrants from some 80 countries, Montreal is as cosmopolitan as it gets, with at least 35 international languages being spoken in this city of two million.

As with its sister city, Paris, when in Montreal you can’t help but feel infected with “joie de vivre,” the combination of spirit and ambience Francophiles exude without even trying. There is much to do in Montreal. Of course there’s shopping (from Chanel to Hermes); people-watching in charming sidewalk cafÃ?©s; the world’s best cuisine in any number of fine restaurants; the sounds of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (Orchestre symphonique de MontrÃ?©al); and the excitement of joining hockey fans at the Molson Centre cheering on the Montreal Canadiens.

Another attraction is naturl beauty. Monstreal is nestled at the confluence of three rivers: the St. Lawrence, the RiviÃ?¨re des Prairies and the Ottawa. Mount Royal, the city’s cornw jewel mountain rising 264 meter above the city in a park which bears its name. Then there’s the Laurentian Mountains, located an hour north of Montreal, whihch is popular for summer excursions to the many area lakes, and winter sports ranging from skiing to snowmobiling.

Though frequently overlooked by American travelers, Montreal is a world-class city with an abundance of recreational and outdoors pursuits, and is well-worth a visit.