Activities in Québec
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Old Québec Tours
This tour operator has a variety of tours from three-hour walking tours (adult/child $22/11) to 4½-hour tours out of town that take in the Montmorency waterfall and Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré (adult/child $49/23) or Île d’Orléans (adult/child $65/38). There are also adventure excursions, including whale-watching from June to October and dogsledding and visits to the ice hotel in the winter. You’ll be given the rendezvous point when you make your reservations.
reviewed
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Ghost Tours of Québec
Local theater actors or storytellers lead you through the streets of the Old Town by lantern recounting the hangings and hauntings of Old Québec. The 90-minute tours are great fun and usually finish with a visit to the city’s most haunted building. Tours leave from the sitting area (98 Rue du Petit-Champlain near Blvd Champlain) in the Old Lower Town. Buy your tickets from the Ghost Tours of Québec office or from the guide 15 minutes before the tour.
reviewed
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Ovarium
The excellent staff and the Ovarium weightlessness experience have garnered a loyal following at this day spa. Packages are available, such as the half-day ‘Essential’, a flotation bath followed by a massage ($115). Ovarium’s flotation tanks are egg-shaped tubs filled with water and 2000 cups of Epsom salts, making you gravity-free.
reviewed
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Quebec City and Montmorency Falls Day Trip from Montreal
12 hours (Departs Montreal, Canada)
by Viator
Leave Montreal for the day and visit Quebec City, the historic heart of French Canada. You'll take a full day sightseeing tour through Quebec with a local licen…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$83.16 -
Circuit 500/Action Commando Paintball
Canada’s largest indoor go-kart center provides plenty of amusement for gearheads. Sharpen your skills in 10-minute races on a large indoor karting track. The racers blaze around the circuit at speeds of up to 75km/h. Uniforms and safety helmets are provided. True addicts sign up for all-you-can‑drive specials ($75 for 24 hours); otherwise, it’s $23 to $26 per race. You can also let off steam in a round of paintball on four terrains strewn with obstacles, bunkers, pyramids and catacombs. The games pit security agents against thieves in a dozen splattering scenarios. A one-hour package ($38) includes mask, paint gun and 100 paintballs.
reviewed
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Université de Montréal Adult Education Department
Your best chance at full French language immersion is on ‘the Mountain’ at Université de Montréal. Université de Montréal Adult Education Department has terrific programs that include night or weekend courses, courses in everything from beginners’ French to Québec culture to advanced courses in written French. This is a very proud French-language campus so people are not prone to making le switch so feared by French-language students. Many Americans and South Americans attend this program in summer as a kind of study vacation as it’s cheaper than flying to Europe.
reviewed
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Strøm Nordic Spa
For a get-away-from-it-all experience, it’s hard to top this beautifully set spa located on the Île des Soeurs, a few kilometers south of downtown. The trim Nordic-style buildings overlook a watery and tree-lined expanse, with grassy lawns and outdoor pools and tiny waterfalls from which to enjoy the pretty scenery. A good range of treatments and packages is available, and there’s also a good bistro on hand. Hour-long Swedish massages are $80, and you can add in the ‘thermal experience’ for $34 – featuring use of outdoor Jacuzzis, thermal and Nordic baths, Finnish sauna and eucalyptus steam bath.
reviewed
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Complexe Aquatique de L’île Ste-Hélène
Originally constructed in 1953, this outdoor pool complex was completely demolished and rebuilt when Montréal scored the 2005 World Aquatic Championships. The state-of-the-art facilities are now open to the public. The diving pool (complete with underwater viewing windows) and competition pool are mainly reserved for hosting competitions or for training competitive swimmers and athletic teams. But the championships’ magnificent 55m-by-44m warm-up pool is open for recreational swimming. There’s also a bay-like portion of the pool with a shallow, gently sloping bottom that’s great for kids and families.
reviewed
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Montreal City Guided Sightseeing Tour
3 hours (Departs Montreal, Canada)
by Viator
Embark on a complete tour of Montreal while taking in over 200 points of interest. You'll travel on a converted tram which offers guaranteed seating and full co…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$50.36 -
Kayak Sans Frontières
Adrenaline junkies should head straight for this ‘school of river surfing and kayaking.’ Utilizing the rushing white water of the Lachine Rapids, KSF will get you out on the river and taking on the beast, in the safety of a tiny snub-nosed kayak or atop a surfboard. You can take instruction in beginner, intermediate or advanced surfing or kayaking. Day-long surf courses cost $100, and a three-hour kayak class costs $50. Wet suits are available for hire. Those with skills can rent kayaks for $15 to $20 for four hours.
reviewed
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La Maison des Cyclistes
Described as the nerve center of Québec’s biking culture, this three-story house in the Plateau is an essential stop for avid cyclists in the city. Here you’ll find a shop with cycling books, maps and guides; the Velo Québec association (involved in developing one of the largest bicycling networks in North America); a travel agency for planning biking trips; and loads of info on upcoming events. There’s also a cozy café here. It’s right along the bike path that runs above Parc LaFontaine.
reviewed
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Ça Roule Montréal
Nicely located near the Old Port, Ça Roule Montréal has a wide selection of bicycles, in-line skates, spare parts and a good repair shop. Each rental includes a lock, helmet, patch kit, cycling map and (in the case of in-line skates) full protective gear. Prices listed are for weekday rentals; weekends cost more. You can also rent a fat-tired cruiser for tootling around the Port for $5 per hour. You can also hire children’s bikes, tandems and bike trailers for pulling the little ones along while you pedal.
reviewed
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Centre d’escalade Horizon Roc
This enormous 2600-sq-meter climbing gym features 12m walls and hundreds of lead and top-rope routes. Indeed, it’s one of the world’s largest indoor climbing facilities and even hosted the 2008 North American Continental Climbing Championship. Whether or not you have experience, you’ll have to take an accreditation test in order to receive ongoing access to the center. You can also sign up for lessons. All the gear (rope, harness, climbing shoes, etc) is on hand for hire. There’s also a café on-site.
reviewed
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Impérial Autocar
Climb on board a climate-controlled coach for stops throughout Old montreal with a half-hour tour of Basilique Notre-Dame, time on Île Notre-Dame (with its casino and La Ronde amusement park) and visits to Olympic Park, Oratoire St Joseph and Parc du Mont-Royal. Another hop-on, hop-off tour aboard a double-decker bus can be spread over two days. Buses leave hourly from 11:00 to 16:00 and cost around C$31/around C$16 per adult/child. Tours run less frequently in the off-season.
reviewed
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Montreal City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
Flexible (Departs Montreal, Canada)
by Viator
Create your own itinerary and set your own timetable with a one -day ticket on the Montreal City Hop-on Hop-off Tour. Get on and off as you please at any of the…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$50.36 -
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Village Vacances Valcartier
For an adrenaline rush, head off on a white-water rafting trip down the Jacques Cartier River. This outfit also has guided trips for families, suitable for both beginners and experienced rafters. For the biggest thrills, come from May to June when the water is at its highest. You must reserve at least three days in advance. Canoe rental is also available (per three hours $25). It’s a 20-minute drive from Québec City along Hwy 73 north (exit St-Émile/La Faune).
reviewed
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Laurentian Mountains Day Trip From Montreal
8 hours (Departs Montreal, Canada)
by Viator
Take a full day trip to the magnificent countryside surrounding Montreal and visit the mountains, lakes and forests of the Laurentians. You'll visit quaint Fren…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$91.77 -
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Running Room
This terrific Canadian chain store is devoted completely to running: clothing, gadgets, everything. It holds all kinds of clinics, touching on everything from walking to marathon training. If you are just looking for some company, it has free group runs Wednesday at 6pm and Sunday at 8:30am (just show up at the store). Its website has handy downloadable running-route maps (including the best route to get to its store!), plus routes for all the cities in which it has stores.
reviewed
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Rafting Montréal
Located near the Lachine Rapids in LaSalle, this outfit offers the same brand of adrenaline-charged white water as Saute Moutons. In addition to 75-minute jet-boat trips, you can sign up for 12-person rafting adventures (which last 2¼ hours). A new service is the 8km self-guided descent down the St Lawrence in either a kayak ($34) or a five-person mini-raft ($125). The trip includes transport to the headwaters, equipment and instruction. Reserve ahead.
reviewed
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Uniprix Stadium
This modern complex inside Jarry Park near Little Italy is home to 12 indoor and 10 outdoor tennis courts, plus an 11,000-seat center court that hosts the Rogers Cup. Rates vary depending what time of year – and more importantly what time of day – you want to reserve a court (peak times are weekends and after 5pm on weekdays). There’s an early-riser special ($10 per hour inside or outside) from 7am to 8am. Racket rental is available.
reviewed
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Ghost Tours of Québec
Local theater actors or storytellers lead you through the streets of the Old Town by lantern recounting the hangings and hauntings of Old Québec. The 90-minute tours are great fun and usually finish with a visit to the city’s most haunted building. Tours leave from the sitting area (98 Rue du Petit-Champlain near Blvd Champlain) in the Old Lower Town. Buy your tickets from the Ghost Tours of Québec office or from the guide 15 minutes before the tour.
reviewed
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Small-Group Quebec Wine Tour from Montreal with Optional Gourmet Lunch and Cheese Tasting
Varies (Departs Montreal, Canada)
by Viator
Delight your taste buds on this small-group wine-tasting tour from Montreal to Quebec wine country. Choose either the afternoon tour or the full-day tour, and r…Not LP reviewed
from USD$99.60 -
Amphi Tours
This brightly painted ‘amphibus’ tootles around Old Montréal before plunging into the St Lawrence for a cruise along the waterfront. Bilingual commentary points out the key places in the city’s evolution from Jacques Cartier’s arrival in 1535 through to Expo ’67 and recent days. The bus makes several daily departures from the cnr of Rue de la Commune and Blvd St-Laurent. Call ahead for departure times.
reviewed
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Ottawa Day Trip from Montreal
12 hours (Departs Montreal, Canada)
by Viator
Familiarize yourself with Ottawa, Canada's capital city, on a whole day trip from Montreal. You'll travel by motorcoach and see major city highlights including …
Not LP reviewed
from USD$91.77 -
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Atrium le 1000
Enjoy year-round indoor ice-skating at this excellent glass-domed rink near Gare Centrale. On weekends, kids and their families have a special session from 10:30am to 11:30am. Special events change regularly –like the summertime ‘Bermudas Madness, ’ a cheesy good time of skating in shorts and T-shirts while DJs spin Hawaiian and summer-inflected beats. Call for operating hours as the schedule changes frequently.
reviewed
