Montreal Bed And Breakfast Inns

Though not quite as aged as Old Quebec, the historic square in the heart of Vieux-Montreal is home to musicians, magicians and acrobats that entertain the crowds at every opportunity. Horse drawn caleshes, or carriages clip clop along the winding streets in all seasons. Indulge in escargot, authentic French onion soup or the more calorie laden but popular poutine (fries with cheese curds smothered in gravy) in open air cafes that provide excellent seats for the art of people watching. Try some authentic Montreal smoked meat on rye with the obligatory dill pickle, or chewy, crunchy bagels fresh from an oven that has been delivering these treats for over a century. Warning: both of these culinary treasures are addicting!

Downtown Montreal has its unique and fascinating underground city, perfect for escaping the bitter cold of winter or the humidity of summer. Beneath the traffic and pedestrian flow of the downtown core this entire second city makes it possible to spend an entire week in downtown Montreal and never see the light of day. The quiet, rubber wheeled Metro (subway) system services seven hotels, 1,600 boutiques, 30 movie theatres, 200 restaurants, three universities, two colleges, two train stations, a skating rink, 40 banks, a bus terminal, an art museum, concert halls, the home ice arena of the Montreal Canadiens (hockey) and a cathedral. Downtown's topside city is also home to a number of boutique hotels as well as luxury hotels.

The residential areas surrounding the site of the 1976 Olympics areas offer bed and breakfast venues, apartments and condominiums. The one time biking stadium now houses the Biodome with its natural history exhibit. Nearby the Jardin Botanique (Botanical Garden) and the Insectarium (all you ever wanted to know about bugs) attract visitors of all ages. Kids especially love to sneak peeks at the creepy crawlies. EasyRez offers information and summer packages on many of Montreal's popular visitor attractions.

Bed and breakfast properties may be found many parts of Montreal and offer a unique opportunity to mingle with the locals as well as travellers from around the globe. Ranging from the comfortably modest with shared or private bath to luxurious suites housed in vintage Heritage mansions, a B&B can be a delightful alternative to a hotel stay and a great way to really get to know a destination.

Find your own bit of history in a one time lawyer's office then print shop creatively restored as a unique B&B. Built in 1760, it retains its original architectural features and is the only remaining commercial building from the 18th century left in Old Montreal. It now offers guest rooms and suites featuring the original wooden beams and stone walls from that era. Historical monument meets the modern age: Old Port Heritage Inn offers free wireless internet access.

Indulge yourself with a morning coffee on an outdoor patio overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Located only five minutes from Old Montreal this European Style B&B can almost be considered a boutique hotel. The 24 rooms are luxuriously appointed and for those who so inclined, the bed and breakfast inn can provide meeting space for up to sixty-five guests. For those more intimate celebrations, a honeymoon suite with private jetted tub is available.

Beautiful Plateau Mont Royal has its own share of B&B gems. Resplendent in shades of ivory and creams, an elegant 1912 French Renaissance Mont Royal Mansion has been restored to create an artfully decadent retreat. At the edge of Parc Mont Royal this century old gem weds the gingerbread elegance of the past with clean lined contemporary furnishings of the modern age. It is a study in contrasts and the effective use of colour...in this case, less is most definitely more.

The arts are well represented in a restored early 20th century home near Montreal's Botanical Gardens. High ceilings and Doric columns of that decadent age vie with modern comforts including a cinema room in which to enjoy the extensive movie collection. The Contemporary B&B Inn offers two luxuriously appointed themed rooms, named for French comic book artists. Check out the comic book collection as well.

Montrealers love to celebrate their snowy clime. On weekends in late January to early February, the entire Ile Ste-Helene is transformed into a winter playground. Explore the massive snow castle, take a dog sled or horse drawn sleigh ride, or coast a toboggan down one of the many hills. Try ice skating on the island or at one of the 195 outdoor and 21 indoor rinks throughout the city, including the huge outdoor venue in Vieux-Port. Montreal offers both cross country and downhill skiing either in city limits or within an hours drive. Cross country ski trails can be found in most city parks, including Mont Royal. The Lachine Canal is a local cross country ski favourite. Though Parc du Mont Royal has a small downhill ski slope, Mont St-Bruno with a vertical drop of 443 feet, it does include Quebec's largest ski school, a high speed lift and offers night skiing. Mont Tremblant Ski Resort is about a two hour drive and Ste Sauveur is less than an hour. Combine your Montreal visit with a trip to Quebec City and also explore skiing at Mont Ste Anne. Check with EasyRez for winter packages.

Summer brings the chance to golf both locally and on scenic courses scattered throughout the Laurentians including Mont Tremblant Resort and Mont Ste Anne. Biking is also popular. There are more than 350 kilometers (217 miles) of cycling trails throughout the city. Visit La Ronde amusement park that is home to the Monstre, one of the tallest wooden roller coasters in the world.

Take to the water and experience the impressive skyline from a different perspective. Of particular interest are the romantic night cruises where the city lights rival the stars for your attention, or cruises during the summer International Fireworks Competition that offer the best view in the house, so to speak. . Check with EasyRez about these popular venues as well as available summer packages and last minute discounts.