This week, after the first day of summer heat in Montreal—27 degrees Celsius, a scorching sun that reddens arms and noses—we have a burning desire to take a dip in a very, very largeglass ofnitro brew.
Summer—the real one—officially begins on June 21, with the summer solstice. In old England, astronomy enthusiasts go dancing barefoot in the grass with flowers in their hair or gather at Stonehenge to celebrate. Here, we tend to celebrate it on June 24, Saint John the Baptist Day—which is Quebec’s national holiday. Beer andbonfires—it’s kind of our North American Stonehenge.
So, for ourBucket List, let’s say we start summer on June 21 and end it at the end of September. That’s about 14 weeks (and 14 weekends) for a glorious Montreal summer…
The iconic Montreal bagel is a must-try for those who take to heart the title of “world’s best bagel,” which is hotly contested between Montreal and New York delis.
For everyone else, it’s just a really, really good bagel—to be eaten with a large black coffee, and at the Plateau location there’s a terrace where you can dip your bagel in cream cheese with a book in hand.
Summer in Montreal is music festival season, and it’s the perfect time to dance in the streets under the stars—while staying well-hydrated, of course. And, come August, we’ve already bought our tickets for our favorite festival: Osheaga.
Whether you want to dance to ’80s music, are a raver, a classical music lover, or know all the moves to Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” you’ll find something to your liking—and dance the night away…
Sleeping in a tent
Montreal is great in the summer, but even if we don’t go on a long vacation to a cottage, we still want to take a trip to the forest—why not go camping (or glamping) with friends, a partner, or family?
For destinations that are fairly easy to reach if you’re only going for a weekend (or three days), we have a few recommendations;
- To sleep under the stars, we’regoingcampingatMont Mégantic, becauseits observatory (the most advanced in the country) makes the mountain aNational Dark Sky Reservewhereyou can see the stars without light pollution.
- To sleep among the berry fieldswhere you can pick your ownfruit, we’re going camping inFrelighsburgatthe Ecological Campground
- To sleep in the mountains, by the river, and for those who want to rent a micro-cabin to camp in comfort,head to Baie-Saint-Paul.
- To camp on a natural beach, head toOka Nature Park
Have a coffee on the terrace—on the terrace of the Galerie FOIL
There’s really nothing more romantic than having an afternoon to kill (which happens less and less often as we get older) and spending itin a café or on a terrace, lost in a book. Plus, we stay hydrated.
For coffee, iced sencha tea, and an exhibition, head to the super-cool FOIL Gallery (Finer Objects In Life) and its super-cool little terrace. Everything is sleek and sophisticated, and it’s also the place to mingle with Montreal’s designers, artists, and fashionistas.
In recent years, we have learned just how important bees are to nature and humanity. They are responsible for pollinating plants and are therefore particularly worthy of protection.
To help the city of Montreal remain one of the greenest cities in the world and to nurture the region’s biodiversity, we have a few tips for living in harmony with Montreal’s bees…
- planting honey-producing flowers
- building a hotel for insects
- use mineral sunscreens and natural mosquito repellents
- providing water for the bees
Head to the (farmers’) market in the countryside—at the Sutton Farmers’ Market
Every Saturday morning, we’ll be able to go to the market in one of the region’s most beautiful mountain villages, Sutton.
At the Sutton market, you’ll be able to find wildflowers, honey from local beekeepers, fruits and vegetables, locally made eucalyptus mosquito repellent, meat, and wooden bowls crafted by local artisans.
Bring a picnic basket, a tube of sunscreen, and a great playlist, because the region is perfect for exploring by car or bike.
Go see a rodeo – Ayer’s Cliff Rodeo
Quebec is a region of farmers and cowboys, andWestern andcountryculture plays a very significant role in theQuebec zeitgeist.
And the best time of year for everyone involved and for allcountry music loversis summer—the season of Quebec rodeos…
This summer, we recommend checking out the Ayer’s Cliff Rodeo, a 1 hour and 20 minute drive from downtown Montreal.
In addition to the rodeo events, which draw crowds, it’s a big party for all the cowboys (and cowboy lovers) in the region. Line dancing, live music, and a local craft fair are on the program. There’s also a strongman demonstration, and if you really enjoyed it, a photo op with themafterward…Yee-haw!
Website / rodeoayerscliff.com
Winter was looooong and frooooooid, and we’ve hibernated long enough. This summer, amidst Montreal’s signature summer vibe—construction in full swing, scorching concrete, century-old trees swaying in the breeze, children screaming (with joy), music blaring from invisible speakers on every street corner—we’re going to need to indulge in every ice cream flavor possible…
We conducted a very thorough survey to compile a list of Montrealers’ favorite ice cream shops, and we have the results here to help plan all our ice cream stops this summer…
Our guide to Montrealers’ favorite creameries