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Excursions For a Half Day Le Pôle des Rapides: Leading west from the Old Port is the historic Lachine Canal (1825), which originally allowed boats to bypass the Lachine Rapids. Today, there are 14km (nine miles) of bicycle paths along the canal (see Bicycle Hire in the Getting Around section) and a couple of interesting historic sites. The Maison St-Gabriel (tel: (514) 935 8136; website: www.maisonsaint-gabriel.qc.ca) which dates from the end of the 17th century offers tours (cost: C$5) on the hour from Tuesday to Sunday 1100-1600 in summer (mid-February-late June and early September-mid December, Tuesday to Sunday 1330, 1430 and 1530). The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site (tel: (514) 637 7433; website: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/fourrure; cost C$2.50), open from April to mid-October (Monday 1300-1800 and Tuesday to Sunday 1000-1800) and mid-October to December (Wednesday to Sunday 0930-1700), houses a permanent exhibition on the fur trade. The most popular options, though, are the jet-boat and rafting trips on the Lachine Rapids offered by Saute-Moutons (tel: (514) 284 9607; website: www.jetboatingmontreal.com; cost: C$53) and Les Descentes sur le St-Laurent (tel: (514) 767 2230; website: www.raftingmontreal.com; cost: C$41-48). The former departs from the Clock Tower Pier at the Old Port; the latter offers a shuttle from the Centre Infotouriste on Square Dorchester to the rapids. For a Whole Day Cantons de l’Est: The Eastern Townships lie some 80km (129 miles) to the east of Montreal, on the border with New England. Some of the province’s most picturesque countryside is here, dotted with 19th century villages settled by Loyalists, from the United States, who refused to rebel against King George III. In the winter, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and downhill skiing are all possible. The town of Magog and nearby Mont Orford make a good base for exploring; the best way to get there is by car along Highway 10. Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est, at exit 68 off the highway (tel: (819) 820 2020 or (800) 355 5755; website: www.tourisme-cantons.qc.ca), can provide more information. Laurentides: Better known in English as the Laurentians, this region, to the north of Montreal, along Highway 15, is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world and now a major North American skiing centre and popular spot for hiking and cycling. Despite recent tourist development in the region, there is still a huge amount of untouched wilderness to be explored – particularly in the Parc du Mont-Tremblant, about 130km (81 miles) from Montreal. At 935m (3068ft), Mont-Tremblant (website: www.tremblant.ca) is the highest mountain in the region and a major ski and outdoors centre. Trendy Mont St-Sauveur (website: www.montsaintsauveur.com/english/stsauveur.htm), offers terrific night skiing and is popular for its proximity to Montreal – about 60km (37 miles). The Association touristique des Laurentides, 14142 rue de la Chapelle, exit 39 of Highway 15 (tel: (450) 436 8532 or (514) 990 5625 or (800) 561 6673; website: www.laurentides.com) can provide more information. |
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