We visited Canada 3 times already and each trip was unique and wonderful in its own way. My goal is to have all 3 itineraries posted on the blog eventually but today I will start with the most recent one – 2 weeks’ long family vacation covering Quebec road trip and New Brunswick road trip. Since both provinces share a boarder it is easy to combine the two in 1 epic Eastern Canada road trip.
We started our Eastern Canada road trip with a flight from San Francisco to Montreal. We usually fly once a year to a unique and/or far away destination and then make a family road trip locally, once we are there. This year my husband was attending a conference in Montreal and I decided to tag along with the kids. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of our lives and you will soon know why.
Things to do in Montreal with kids
We had to stay the first 5 days in Montreal because of the aforesaid conference. You may decide to spend less or more time in the city. I personally felt 4-5 days was just about right amount of time to explore all the best things to do in Montreal with kids. We never needed a car in the city – it has good subway system connecting you to all main attractions, granted you are staying close to a subway station. It is also crucial that you stay close to multiple dining options. With Old Montreal being a foodie paradise, essentially, your best option for a base is somewhere around Place-D’Armes subway station.
Our lodging choice, Le Westin, was not really our choice but rather my husband’s company’s so I cannot tell you if it would fit family travel needs from a budget perspective. It was conveniently located but did not have free breakfast. It had a small pool, hot tub, a gym and a very friendly front desk staff. Our room faced an internal courtyard so it was always dark and didn’t have any view but the beds were comfortable. Whether I would have picked it on my own – I am not sure. This is one of those very rare cases where I would suggest to check all deals available at the point of booking – in Montreal, being a big city, the choices are almost limitless.
Montreal is big on attractions. I had to dig through dozens of them to create a short list so that you don’t have to waste your time – and so here it is.
Best things to to in Montreal with kids:
- The major cluster of attractions in Montreal is located at Pie-IX subway station which encompasses the Olympic Park, Botanical Garden, Insectarium, Biodome and Planetarium. You cannot see all these attractions in 1 day and I am not sure you want to see all of them. Depending on your family’s interests choose the ones yo want to invest your time in. We chose to do the Botanical Garden and Insectarium in one day and Biodome and Planetarium another day. I put them in these specific pairs because they are located next to each other.
Visiting the Botanical Garden is one of the best things to do with kids in Montreal. Even though the China garden was under refurbishment when we visited it was still a fantastic place which had plenty other amazing exhibits. Just plan enough strolling time through he whole garden and if children get tired of the plants there is a cool playground near the Insectarium.
Insectarium is located on the territory of the Montreal botanical garden and in itself is a gem. I have never seen such a huge and beautiful collection of insects from around the word and though I am not a fan of bugs in general this collection was pleasing even to me.
Biodome in essence is a nature center/zoo which depicts 4 ecosystems of the Americas + subpolar region represented with plant and animal life. Three of the ecosystems presented are Canadian (the forth ecosystem was a rain forest) so you learn a lot about the country’s wildlife, habitats and ecology.
Finally, Planetarium has some great shows, as you would expect, about space and astronomy so just choose one (or more) that fir your schedule.
2. Another cluster of fun and educational things to do in Montreal with kids is located near Old Montreal and the Parc Lineaire de la Commune along the St. Lawrence River. If you are staying near Place-D’Armes subway station all these attractions will be a walking distance from you. Top attractions we liked here include Montreal Science Center, Voiles en Voiles adventure park, Notre-Dame basilica, and a cruise on St. Lawrence river on a bateau-mouche. We devoted 2 days for this cluster as well.
Science Center is a Montreal science museum with tons of interactive, hands-on exhibits and an IMAX theater. We all loved it immensely (my kids did not want to leave) and educational shows at IMAX are a perfect “cherry on top”.
Voiles en Voiles adventure park was probably one of our most favorite things to do in Montreal with kids because there are museums, zoos and gardens in other cities but Voiles en Voiles is unique. Adults can enjoy it too if your kids are above certain age. If you have a kid under 6 years old you will have to stay with him/her on the “Escape the Octopus” course at all times (or you can take turns with your partner).
Notre-Dame basilica of Montreal was something that I personally wanted to see, it does not take much time, probably 20 minutes at best, but it is a beautiful landmark that you just can’t miss.
A river cruise on a Parisian style boat (bateau-mouche) is a relaxing and enjoyable thing to do with kids in Montreal if you are tired of walking and just want to kick back and relax. You can choose 60 min, 90 min or dinner cruise. We felt that 1 hour was enough and gives a good bang for your buck. Two kids tickets are FREE of charge with every paying adult.
3. We also visited two “odd-ball” attractions in Montreal that do not fit in either of the two clusters above. One was Mount Royal, which features a huge park on top of a hill with a beautiful panoramic view of the city, hiking trails, a lake and a fun playground for kids. The good thing about this attraction is that it is absolutely FREE, the bad thing is that it is furthest away from the “base” that I recommended earlier and you need to take a subway and then a bus or taxi to get there.
The other was Biosphere. It is a museum dedicated to the environment. I personally felt that after having visited absolutely fantastic Biodome and Science Center this museum did not have the same “wow factor”. If you plan to explore the Island of St. Helen where Biosphere is located beyond the Biosphere itself then a trip there may be more worthwhile. The structure of the museum is interesting but there aren’t too many exhibits and half of them were beyond understanding for my kids. It may be best for kids ages 10 and up.
Additional tips on visiting Montreal with kids:
- Summers here are hot and humid. Even if the thermometer shows temperature in the 70s it will feel like in the high 80s. It rains a lot. However, note that most attractions that I have selected above are under a roof except for botanical garden, adventure park and Mt. Royal. So in most cases you will be covered but still you will definitely need rain gear with you, for New Brunswick as well.
2. Eat as much as you can in Old Montreal district. As I said earlier, it is a paradise for foodies, especially if you like European food in general and French in particular. Two places are a must to eat at: Creperie Chez Susette and Stash Cafe. The former is a place for artisan crepes, both sweet and savory, very reasonably priced and super delicious. The latter is Polish restaurant with a great ambiance and “lick-your-fingers-good” home-style food that is also budget friendly.
3. You’ve got to love maple syrup! Maple syrup itself, maple syrup candy, maple syrup fudge, cookies with maple syrup are sold on every corner. You need to be able to distinguish cheap imitations from the real stuff and the real stuff is yumm-my! To avoid any confusion just go to Declices Erable et Cie atÂ
Quebec road trip – continued
Quebec City is about 2 hours and 40 minutes drive from Montreal and that’s where we decided to go next on this Eastern Canada road trip itinerary. Once you get out of Montreal the drive is a breeze. Quebec City is the most charming town in the world, in my opinion, not many other places come close. Its quintessential charm is a combination of many factors: its small size, walkability, beautiful old buildings, flowers everywhere, friendly inhabitants and the food to die for. I fell absolutely head-over-heals in love with Quebec City. People say it can be unforgiving in winter, but I loved it so much that I figured I am brave enough to come back in February for its Winter Carnival.
While in Quebec we stayed 3 nights at Hilton right next to the Old City, where we saved 20% due to booking in advance.
 In addition to that, breakfast here was exceptional and very French with varieties of cheeses, meats and pastries, smoked salmon, quiches and many other hot and cold items. And the sweeping views of the city from our room were incredible.
The first half-day and the next day we spent in the Old City – our hotel’s location in its proximity made it really easy for us to walk around and explore without any need for transportation except for a cool funicular that takes you from the upper level of town to the lower one.
I believe the key to enjoying Old Quebec is just walking up and down its cobblestone streets, stopping to smell the flowers, popping into cafes and little artisan shops. There is a charming Notre-Dame Cathedral here too (it seems like every self-respecting French-speaking town has one).
Things to do in Quebec City with kids:
- Silk Boutique. If you are lucky and the artist is in attendance working she will explain and show you how she creates silk scarves. The kids were excited to watch silk painting process and the resulting products are so beautiful and very reasonably priced. I now regret that I bought only 1 scarf but it’s another reason to come back.
2.Promenade des Gouverneurs and the Fairmont Hotel. The Promenade is a wooden walkway built along the St. Lawrence River which leads from the Citadel to the Fairmont. The hotel is a symbol of Quebec City which you can see on all postcards, too expensive to stay at but gorgeous to make family photos of.
3. Museum of Civilization (Musee de la Civilisation) is a great place to visit with kids in Quebec City. It is a unique combination of history and science museum where under the same roof you can learn, say, about first nations and optical illusions. Some exhibitions are changing so each time you come you will see something new.
4. Place des Canotiers – it is a little park right on the river across the street from the Museum of Civilization which has many fountains bursting out of the ground in different patterns. On a hot summer day it is one of the most popular things to do with kids in Quebec City (don’t forget to bring a towel and a change of clothes 😉 )
On our last full day in Quebec City we decided to do a one-day Quebec road trip and explore some great attractions outside the city.
Quebec road trip itinerary from Quebec City
Quebec Road Trip Stop # 1
Montmorency Falls. The Falls are located just 20 minutes drive North-East from Quebec City. Montmorency Falls are higher than Niagara Falls, though not as wide, but still very impressive. We took a hike to the bottom of the falls but did not climb on the top – it wouldn’t be time well spent with small kids. It made a lasting impression as is and we were also conscious of time because we had a very busy day planned.
Quebec Road Trip Stop # 2
Canyon Saint-Anne. 30 minutes drive further along St. Laurence River and you arrive to yet another natural wonder. The slogan on the Canyon’s website says that is is “naturally sensational” and it truly is. It is a canyon with waterfalls that has been carved by Sainte-Anne-du-Nord River. You can hike on both sides of the raging river crossing it several times by suspension bridges. It is not a very crowded attraction (though I am afraid I might have just put it on the map) so for the most time you will feel like you have this whole wilderness all to yourself. I suggest you have a lunch here to mark a half-way point of your journey. We brought a picnic with us with some food we bought at a local grocery store in Quebec City but there is also a cafe here on site.
Quebec Road Trip Stop # 3
Ile D’ Orleans. It is an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River stretching right between stops 1 and 2. Due to its unique position, climate and weather patterns this little island became an equivalent of Sonoma/Napa valley of the Province of Quebec and its top destination for agritourism. You can taste wines, cider and cheeses here, pick berries, eat home made baked goods, chocolates and ice-cream. The whole island is as if frozen in time with fairy-tale cottages, old churches and picturesque farms. There is only one way in and out through HW 368 and there is pretty much only 1 road on the island itself which circles the entire place. It may be overwhelming to figure out where to stop and what to try so here is my shortlist of places that are worth checking out (once you get to the loop road turn left and then these stops will go one after the other in sequence, a, b and e on the left hand side of the road, c and d on the right hand side):
a. Cassis Mona and Filles – this is a winery making wines, liquors and jams from black currant. Tasting is free for everything (wines and jams) and it is must stop if you like sweet wines – their Creme de Cassis is delicious!
b. Vignoble Isle de Bacchus – this is a winery where you can try the famous Canadian ice wine (there are very few places in the world that produce it). It is made from grapes frozen on the vine, which makes a very concentrated desert wine. Tasting is 5 CAD for 5 wines.
c. Continue driving on the loop road and on the right hand side you will see several farms where you can pick your own berries. “Aux trois baies” is on the of the farms: 1854, Chemin Royal Saint-Pierre (chemin = street), l’ÃŽle-d’Orléans.
d. Next stop – cheese tasting at Les Fromages d’Ile d’Orleans. The cheese was delicious though the pieces that you get are kind of small but if you like their signature Paillasson (which comes in 3 forms: soft, traditional and fired) just buy the whole package and go outside for a nice picnic.
e. Chocolaterie de Ile D’Orleans. Artisan chocolate, hot chocolate, ice-cream dipped in chocolate – need I say more?
That was all we could fit in one day and if you want to learn more about the island you can visit their excellent informative website with an interactive map.
Additional tips for Quebec road trip itinerary
- I am not inclined to give any detailed recommendations of restaurants because everywhere we ate in Quebec City the food was delicious. If I had to choose one place to tell you about it would be Le Lapin Saute. It is a bistro offering classic French food as well as more rare to find dishes like rabbit (“le lapin” means rabbit in French). It is small and can be crowded (I definitely suggest a reservation in advance) but the food is fantastic.
2. The only regret I have about Quebec City is that we did not spend enough time there. If I had two more days I would have devoted them to parks: Parc National de la Jaques-Cartier (mountainous forest with rivers and lakes) and Saguenay-St.-Lawrence Marine Park (marine preserve known for blue and beluga whales). But then again here is a great reason to come back.
3. Try to learn some basic French for travelers before you go and take a pocket  French phrase book & dictionary
 with you. There will be instances where people speak very little English. The fact that I speak French helped us immensely.
4. If you happen to be in Quebec City at Christmas time, here some fun things to do.
5. When leaving Quebec I regretted that we did not have a chance to visit its capital. If you have a chance to go there here is information on what to see in Ottawa.
New Brunswick road trip itinerary
New Brunswick is an English speaking province bordering Quebec and once you cross the border you feel much better since right away all people will be able to understand you if you speak English. 🙂 Our final destination in NB was a town of Alma on the Bay of Fundy and it took us a day and a half to get there with a couple of stops we planned in between. It is an 8 hours’ drive door to door without stops but if you rush you miss a lot of interesting places along the way.
New Brunswick Road Trip Stop #1
Our first stop of this New Brunswick road trip was at Botanical Gardens of New Brunswick in the town of Saint-Jaques. It is located right next to the HW 2 along which you will be traveling so you are not making any detours. I like visiting botanical gardens when we travel because they usually represent the entire nature diversity of the region in one place. What I especially liked about Botanical Gardens of New Brunswick is the medicinal plants exhibit with a volunteers on site who talked to us about different herbs and offered us to try some medicinal tea and cookies with lavender.
After the gardens we continued on our way along the HW 2 till Fredericton where we spent the night at Hampton Inn.
New Brunswick Road Trip Stop #2
I chose Fredericton for our overnight stop on purpose because it is the closest place with lodging to another fantastic family attraction in New Brunswick – King’s Landing. It is a living history museum designed as a 19th-century village with costumed actors, numerous artifacts & workshops. We loved walking through the village and visiting people who “live” and “work” there representing the activities of that era. We participated in straw making (for straw weaving), talked to a blacksmith, a cook, a store owner and other inhabitants. We also attended a workshop on sowing Christmas decorations. Even though I have 2 boys, they enjoyed the needle work very much. Plan to spend a couple of hours at Kings’s Landing including traditional English pub lunch at King’s Head Inn Restaurant (and grab their freshly baked bread to go).
New Brunswick Road Trip Stop #3
Alma is a small fishing village on the Bay of Fundy where we spent 3 nights upon arrival. You may wonder why would a small village that you have probably never heard of command so much attention? The answer is four-fold:
- Fundy National Park. It is a sanctuary of pristine forests, streams, lakes and waterfalls bordering the Atlantic coast. It offers tons of hiking trails for all levels of experience. If you are lucky you may meet caribous or beavers who live here. Please, note that this park has mosquitoes in summer so do not forget a protective spray, for all other wildlife, don’t forget a good binocular, you will get a lot of use of it throughout the whole trip.
2. Hopewell Rocks. Bay of Fundy is famous for the highest tides in the world (over 50 ft) and there is no better place to observe them than Hopewell Rocks, 40 minutes drive along the coast from Alma. You must see both the lowest and the highest tide to have a comparison so plan to spend several hours here. Between the tides you can hike, explore visitors’ center, kids can play on the playground or you can all kayak (at higher tides).
3. The Atlantic cost of New Brunswick is considered to be the lobster capital of the world. Fishing boats bring fresh lobster to Alma every day and it is sold in every restaurant for the price 3 times cheaper than you would get anywhere else in the world, except may be New England. We ate lobsters for breakfast, lunch and dinner until we couldn’t stand them anymore :-). It is a complete lobster overload. They are scrumptious, but be aware that some places just sell them without anything else except butter so you need to provide your own sides and bread, which you can get from a local bakery.
4. The sheer beauty of the Atlantic coast. You can do a scenic drive from Alma on road 915 and visit a lighthouse, a bird sanctuary and a nature preserve.
During our visit to Alma we were lucky to stay within the Fundy National Park itself. We rented a chalet at Fundy Highlands Inn and Chalets and so we had a 1 bedroom house with a kitchen and bathroom all to ourselves for just $120 a night. It is a great base for exploration of the Park with trails starting in close proximity to the chalets.
New Brunswick Road Trip Stop #4
Every vacation eventually comes to an end and it was time for us to drive back to Montreal and fly home but not before we made our last stop of the trip at Temiscouata-Sur-Le-Lac. It is a town located right on the HW 2 (which becomes HW 85 in Quebec) approximately half way between Alma and Montreal. As the name may suggest it is situated on a lake, a very beautiful lake, on the other side of which there is yet another national park – Parc National du Lac-Temiscouata. You can either drive around the lake end get there by car or you can take a boat from the town of Temiscouata-Sur-Le-Lac which shuttles tourists back and forth every hour or so. My second and last regret of the trip was that I did not plan this family road trip itinerary so that we could have an extra day here. Unfortunately, we did not have time to get to the park, we only stayed on the town side of the lake and went to the beach. The day was very hot right in the middle of July but the water was quite cool though super clean – it reminded me of alpine lakes of the Sierra-Nevada mountains. I do not know if it ever warms up significantly but this did not stop kids from having tons of fun.
 Additional tips for New Brunswick road trip:
- Be aware that NB is 1 hour ahead of QC
- Be prepared for hot weather with rain in the middle of the province and cooler but also rainy and foggy weather on the coast.
Resources you may find useful for this Quebec and New Brunswick road trip:
Top 10 Montreal & Quebec City (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide)
Lonely Planet Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island (Travel Guide)
If you found this family road trip itinerary useful, please do me a little favor and share this trip with others, for there’s a good chance that it will help them with their travel plans. 🙂
To save this awesome Quebec and New Brunswick road trip for later you may find these pins useful:
I think you should make a video about this on YouTube…
I wish I though of that when we went to Canada… But then here is a good reason to go back 🙂