Montreal, Summer 2026

Afternoon: Home by 2pm. Get settled — unpack, show the kids the house, the pool, the canal out front. Let everyone decompress after the flight.

Late afternoon: Walk to Marché Atwater (10 min). Grab charcuterie, Quebec cheeses, baguette, fruit, salad, hummus, crackers. Let the kids explore the market stalls. Quick canal-side walk on the way back.

Dinner: Charcuterie board + Quebec cheese + hummus + salad on the terrasse. Nothing to cook, everyone is wiped.

Safari: Start Core Words — "Hello", "Hi", "Yes", "No".

Morning: Everyone will be up early (jet lag). Walk to Atwater Market for coffee and pastries. Then along the canal — rent bikes or scooters if the kids are up for it, or just walk to the locks and watch the boats.

Midday: Pool. Pickleball for anyone who wants it (courts right there). Splash pad at Parc Cartier for the little ones.

Afternoon: Rest at home. Kids will crash. Baking project if they’re wired — cookies or brownies.

Dinner: Pasta at home — Bolognese or Cacio e Pepe. Easy and kid-proof.

Safari: Finish Core Words — "Please", "Thank you", "Wow". Unlock the Parrot!

Morning: Brenner pancakes at home. Then pick one: Mont Royal (hike the short trail to the lookout, squirrels, the tamtam drummers if they’re there) or Old Port (La Grande Roue Ferris wheel, splash pad, harbour walk).

Afternoon: Diperie for dipped ice cream (the kids will love picking their toppings). Pool. Pack bags for Quebec City tomorrow.

Dinner: Pizza night — buy dough at Atwater, kids make their own. Toppings bar on the counter.

Safari: Start a branch — "I can see…" fits perfectly at the Mont Royal lookout or on the Grande Roue.

Grab bagels and fruit at Atwater for the road. Car packed night before. 3h drive — stop at Trois-Rivières halfway if kids need a break.

Morning: Arrive back in Montreal. Fridge is empty — big Atwater Market run. Blueberries, rotisserie chicken, cheese, bread, fruit. Stock up for the week (see shopping list).

Midday: Pool. Pickleball. Let the kids run it off — everyone’s been in the car.

Afternoon: Canal walk or splash pad at Parc Cartier. Low-key — no one wants to drive anywhere.

Dinner: Cacio e Pepe at home (4 ingredients, 20 min). Salad on the side.

Safari: Review Core Words from July. Pick up where they left off — progress saved from the first visit.

Morning: Brunch at Arthur’s Nosh Bar (Mile End, great shakshuka and challah French toast) or L’Avenue (Plateau, famous eggs benny, expect a wait). Book ahead — both fill up.

Late morning: Drive to Mont Royal. Short hike up (20 min with kids). The lookout over the city. Squirrels everywhere. Pack snacks for a picnic at Beaver Lake.

Afternoon: Diperie for dipped soft-serve on the way back. Pool at home.

Dinner: Light — kibbeh & hummus at home. Everyone’s full from brunch, so no heavy cooking.

Safari: "I see the city!" and "I see the whole big city!" from the lookout. Perfect moment.

Morning: Cottage cheese waffles at home. Then pedalo on the canal right outside the door — 30–45 min, the kids drive. Atwater locks are beautiful in the morning.

Midday: Drive up to the Plateau. Walk rue Mont-Royal — murals, little shops, Parc La Fontaine (ducks, playground, wading pool).

Late afternoon: La Banquise on Rue Rachel for poutine. Go at 5pm to beat the line. “La Classique” for the kids (small, just gravy and cheese curds, not overwhelming). Adults can go wild — they have 30+ varieties.

Evening: Drive north to Laval for dinner/hang with cousin Alexia. Route flows naturally: canal → Plateau → La Banquise → north to Laval, no backtracking.

Safari: "Let’s row the boat!" on the pedalo. Sing Row Your Boat. "I want poutine!" at La Banquise.

Morning: Breakfast at home. Drive to Old Port (15 min). Start with Basilique Notre-Dame — stunning inside, the light show amazes kids. Then Le Petit Navire boat ride around the harbour.

Late morning: La Grande Roue (big Ferris wheel) — buy tickets online to skip the line. Great views of the river and the city.

Midday: SOS Labyrinthe maze — the kids will run through it multiple times. Grab lunch from the Old Port food stalls (crêpes, hot dogs, poutine).

Afternoon: Walk up to Sainte-Catherine — window shopping, the big stores, street performers. Diperie for ice cream on the way. Head home for pool.

Evening: Last real dinner — meatballs at home. Let the kids roll them. Flour tortilla buns if you’re feeling fancy.

Safari: "I see the big wheel going round!" on the Grande Roue. Final push — try to unlock the Treasure if they’re close.

Morning: Up early. Quick walk to Atwater for fresh bagels (St-Viateur if you want the best). Pack the car. House tidied up.

10:30: Out the door. Car rental return by 11am — need buffer for airport check-in.

Lunch: Bagels and fruit in the terminal. No time for a sit-down.

Safari: If they finished — hand over the Elephant in the car. "We are the Montreal Explorers!" Final celebration. If not, progress saves for next time.