When we drove in from Quebec City, we drove by Parc Jean Drapeau. The green space consisting of two separate islands was the major focal point of Expo 67. The iconic glass ball is recognizable by many.
The historic downtown is close to the Old Port and waterfront area, teeming with cute shops and quaint restaurants. We had lunch at Creperie Chez Suzette.
We stayed on the northern edge of downtown on Rue Sherbrooke near Magill University and the Musee des Beaux Arts.
“You’re from the US, but you’re driving a rental car from Quebec?” the border agent asked us.
“Yes – long story but we’re visiting Montreal and missed the US. We’re here just for the day to see the Adirondacks,” my husband replied. Chuckling, the agent waved us through. Gone were the signs in French. We stopped at a McDonald’s pleased to find the menu in English. After a crowded day in Montreal, we decided to see Lake Placid – just 90 miles south of Montreal.
At the Visitor Center, the agent suggested a gorgeous and scenic drive. It didn’t disappoint. Trees, greenery everywhere – very much like North Georgia but different. More sophisticated? Older?
We took the Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway to the summit. For $11 fee (which was worth it) we drove on this road opened by FDR 1936. A stone elevator could take people from the parking lot directly to the observatory, but it wasn’t working that day. No matter. We wanted to take the hike up to the top.
Stumbling on roots and rocks, I didn’t think this would be a fun path. However, mid-way through the path smoothed out (although still climbing). We had gorgeous views of many of the lakes that dotted the Adirondacks. At the top, we did the usual checking out of all the vantage points. But the fun thing was to go inside the stone building that holds a weather center. Inside this small museum was information regarding the dedication of the center and a time-lapse picture of the same view from each day in the previous years. So you could look at the view today, see what it was last March, the previous December, even the previous same day in June to see the changes – from knife-cold snow to brilliant oranges to budding springtime. (more…)
I love art museums – but the rest of my family does not. With about two hours on the day we were to leave Montreal, I decided to see Montreal’s Musee des Beaux Arts. Since I wasn’t interested in seeing the special exhibit “Pompeii” I focused mainly on the impressionists, the Toulouse Lautrec exhibit and the contemporary decorative furniture sections.
The complex consists of four buildings and much more than I could possibly see in under two hours. However, I set out to see as much as possible. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. For more information visit Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musee des Beaux Arts) here.
The home of Montreal’s Governor, Claude de Ramezay, this museum tells the story of Montreal through recordings, furniture and art. Guided tours are available twice a day. We did the self-guided tour which was perfect for our purposes. After walking through the rooms and learning a good history of the area, we went downstairs to the exhibit that replicates Acadian living.
Inside the house, we were given hand-held listening devices. Although lengthy at times, the narrators provided valuable information about the home. At one point, the home was set to be destroyed as it had outgrown it’s original purpose. Fortunately, it was saved by concerned citizens and reopened in 1895. (more…)
