5 Amazing Montreal Getaways Just One Hour from the City
Updated: Oct. 04, 2018
Tired of wasting precious travel time with your luggage stowed and your tray table in an upright and locked position? These five Montreal getaways will have you up in the air and back on the ground in about an hour.
Montreal Getaways: Boston, Massachusetts
For years, the idea of a Montrealer going to Boston was akin to a Catholic priest worshipping at a synagogue. In the midst of the fierce rivalry between the city’s two historic NHL teams, the Canadiens and the Bruins, cross-city travel didn’t feel right. But what a shame it would be to miss out on beautiful Beantown. As one of the oldest cities in the U.S., Boston manages to be both old and new at the same time. Go for a stroll along the Freedom Trail: a 4-kilometre redbrick walking path through historical sites. Stop for a beer at America’s oldest bar, Bell in Hand Tavern. You should also catch a Red Sox game at Fenway or a Bruins game at TD Gardens. But whatever you do, leave the Habs jersey at home.
Montreal Getaways: Fredericton, New Brunswick
In terms of a Montreal getaway, New Brunswick‘s capital is just about as sleepy as a city can get. And when you’re sick and tired of the grinding of jackhammers, honking of taxis and thumping bass of your next-door neighbour’s house party, sleepy is a good thing. Go for a peaceful walk along recreational trails that weave through the city and along the St. John River. Grab some homemade ice cream and climb to the top of Lighthouse on the Green for some of the best views of the city. Or if you’re in the mood for a good scare, go for a ghost walk through Fredericton’s haunted past with the Calithumpians Theatre Company.
Montreal Getaways: Quebec City, Quebec
If you think you’ve seen all Quebec City has to offer, you’re wrong. You’ve probably snapped a photo of the Chateau Frontenac (the world’s most photographed hotel), but have you stayed in the Hotel de Glace, North America’s first ice hotel? The temporary structure made of ice and snow is built each year in December for an opening in early January and is taken down in April. And what about the Ile D’Orleans? No trip to Quebec City is complete without a stroll on the historic island, which was one of the first locations of French settlement in Canada. All the more reason to visit this old world oasis.
Montreal Getaways:Â Hartford, Connecticut
Bet no one’s ever told you to escape Montreal by going to Hartford before! Unfortunately, that’s probably because this lovable city has long been overshadowed, sandwiched in between big shot neighbours Boston and New York City. Did you know Mark Twain adored Hartford and wrote some of his most famous books there, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer? You can visit his former home, now called the Mark Twain House & Museum. Make sure to spend a day in Bushnell Park, where you’ll find the quaint-looking Tudor-style Pump House Gallery—loaded with exhibits by area artists—and a merry-go-round from 1914.
Montreal Getaways: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Break free of Montreal by hitting the Maritimes. Halifax is a feeling that will get inside of you. Breathe in the salty ocean air as your walk the slanted streets. Follow the sound of the acoustic guitar and bagpipes spilling out of nearby bars. And eat to your hearts’ content at any number of restaurants cooking up the catch of the day. When you leave, you’ll take a piece of this charming little city with you.
