Montreal Off The Beaten Path Tips by Dabs Top 5 Page for this destination

The Islands

The Islands of Ile Ste-Helene and Ile Notre-Dame in the middle of the St. Lawrence River are a summer time playground. Take the metro to the Jean-Drapeau stop, once you get out there are signs pointing you towards several attractions geared towards families:

-Biosphere-geodesic dome used as an environmental center, games and interactive displays on the St. Lawrence River system
-Fort & Stewart Museum-see separate tip
-La Ronde-amusement park
-Plage de Ile Notre-Dame-swimming, boating and picnic areas

Stewart Museum/Fort

During the summer months, there are some kid friendly activities going on at the Fort on Ile Sainte-Helene, you can watch reenactors go through their drills, watch them shoot off a cannon and see a replica of what the soldier's camp might have looked like complete with people dressed in period costumes performing daily activities.

Adults might find the Stewart Museum, located inside the Fort, more interesting. We went on the guided tour "Treasures of the Stewart Museum - 50 Years of Collecting" which is given once a day in French and once a day in English. Maybe it was just our guide but I would have preferred to see the collection at my own speed as he didn't add much to what was written on the exhibits.

Metro: Jean-Drapeau

Website: http://www.stewart-museum.org/

Cathedral Marie-Reine-du-Monde Basilica/Church Review

I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this cathedral, especially if you've already visited the magnificent Basilique Notre-Dame but if you happen to be in the area, it's worth a stop. The Cathedral Marie-Reine-du-Monde (Mary Queen of the World) is modeled after St. Peter's in Rome, scaled down to about a 1/4 of it's size, no immense square like you'll find in Rome either, the entrance just off the street. It was built amidst controversy, the location in the heart of the Protestant British section of town.

What you will want to see inside is the reproduction of Bernini's baldachin (canopy) over the main altar.

Located in downtown Montreal, blvd. Rene-Levesque at rue Mansfield, admission is free. Metro:Bonaventure or Peel

Phone: (514)866-1661

Website: http://www.cathedralecatholiquedemontreal.org/