I f the broad boulevards and delicate pastries of Paris beckon, there’s no need to board the next Air France flight and soar across the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, a mere hour and a half away is a Parisian- style paradise, complete with the finest French food and its own North American charm: the royally engaging city of Montreal. mtl.org/en Montreal offers up world-class events year-round. Music fans can find the greats of every genre, ranging from jazz impresarios to select symphonies, at any given time. Film fests vie with dragon boat races, beer and croissant festivals with Montreal Comic Con to provide an out-of-this-world experience. Start out in the Golden Square Mile, home to some of the city’s main attractions and streets, including the famed Rue St. Catherine. Museums are scattered amongst upscale eateries and high-end boutiques, housed in statuesque buildings that ooze Old World glamour. FoodieswillfindplentytodelighttheirpalatesinMontreal. Aside from the gourmet food carts and booths scattered along the main avenues during festival time, a new crop of remarkable restaurateurs and chefs are making Montreal a global culinary hotspot. Enjoy Old Montreal’s scenic river views at the same time as you savor some of the freshest seafood this side of the Atlantic. Looking for moreMontreal mainstays? You can’t go wrong with poutine, consisting of French fries, cheese curds, and gravy; individual restaurants offer their own spins on the Québécois classic, from fast food takes to upscale interpretations. Montreal is a mere hop and a skip away from New York, thanks to the efficient services of Air Canada. The airline’s helpful staff and comfortable in-flight ambiance will make your already-short flight seem like a mere blip on the radar. aircanada.com And there’s no better place to put your feet up after a long day of sightseeing than Le Westin Montreal, the premier downtown destination for luxury accommodations. Close to the charmingly cobblestoned environs of Old Montreal, the Westin offers up amenities galore, whether you’re in town on business or pleasure. After a long day of pounding the pavement and noshing on Montreal-style bagels (a bit thinner than their New York counterparts), unwind by diving into the Westin’s glass-bottomed pool, or rev up before a conference in one of the hotel’s meeting spaces by pumping some iron in the state-of-the-art fitness center. Don’t miss out on the in-hotel Gazette Restaurant, a proponent of farm-to- table cuisine with a Québécois twist. westinmontreal.com
MONTRÉAL SKYLINE FROM THE PARC BY JEAN-DRAPEAU / © TOURISME MONTRÉAL
MO N T R E A L J U S T F O R L A U G H S
© JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL
THE JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL The Just for Laughs Festival features brilliant and innovative acts from international stand-up stars and up-and-coming comedians alike. Whatever tickles your funny bone, you can find it here. Every summer, the brightest minds and biggest names in comedy head to Montreal to test out material both classic and new. Luminaries like Jerry Seinfeld, Trevor Noah, and Kevin Hart, alongside master of the modern rom-com Judd Apatow, headlined the 2017 edition, while Anglophiles got to see British comics like Aisling Bea, Jimmy Carr, Tez Ilyas, and Gina Yashere light up the stage with laughs. This summer, Just for Laughs takes over Montreal July 11-29. Festival packages and info available at: hahaha.com/en – Carly Silver
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