The third day we spent in Quebec, we all got up early, ate a quick breakfast and headed south to Montreal. It ended up being everything I hoped it would be and more. I only wish we had stayed longer. There are way too many amazing things to see and enjoy in one day but we did our best!

  
We drove a little over two hours, so by the time we arrived and found a parking spot we were all ready for lunch. Fortunately, our host had anticipated this and steered us toward a fantastic open-air eatery with a live jazz duo.

  
Lunch was delicious! We enjoyed beef tar tar, crepes with spinach and cheese and saddle of rabbit with a Dijon cream sauce, pizza for the kids and a pitcher of sangria to wash it all down. Feeling rejuvenated, we hit the streets to see where the day would lead us.

  
It was a gorgeous day and it seemed everybody was making the most of it. The boys loved running in the streets that were blocked off for pedestrians. We stopped at a small kiosk and we all enjoyed some maple taffy, a treat I couldn’t believe I didn’t know existed.

  
If you have never had maple taffy, it is made from maple syrup that is boiled down a little further so it is thicker than syrup. It is poured into a bed of ice in a long line and allowed to sit for thirty seconds or so and then rolled up on a stick to enjoy.

  
It is sticky and pulls off in long sugar strands like taffy and is oh so good to eat on a summer day. We all enjoyed it while watching a street performer play with fire and crack jokes. He even called me up to be part of the show!

  
After the show, we headed down to the Old Port for a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk.

  
From there, we cut back into town and did some walking on the old cobblestone streets, lined with beautiful buildings and shops of all sorts.

  
Everywhere we went there was something wonderful to see or do. I wish we could stay the whole summer!

  
After our walk, we got back in the car and headed toward Atwater Market to pick up some necessities like cheese, olives and beer. What a beautiful market! It was filled with everything you can imagine from fresh fruit and vegetables to chocolate to amazing charcuterie. I could have spent all day there!

  
We got ice cream for the kids and they loved playing on the outdoor art installations.

  
It was starting to get late in the day so we headed up the mountain to check out a couple scenic overlooks. What a gorgeous city! Every view was more spectacular than the last!

  
Next we headed back into town to pick up a couple of local delicacies. First stop was Fairmount Bagel.

  
This place was the real deal. A true oldschool bagel joint where they do everything the old fashioned way, including baking in a wood fired oven. The bagels were outstanding and the salted pretzels downright addicting.

  

The highlight for my son was chasing the pigeons down the alley next to the bagel shop!

  
Next, we headed over to Schwartz’s for some killer smoked meat. If you’ve never tried Schwartz’s, do yourself a favor and head to Montreal as soon as possible. They make a brisket that is tender with a nice bite and packed with smoky flavor.

  
It was getting late and we had a long drive home so we all piled in the car and headed north. We enjoyed smoked brisket bagel sandwiches for dinner on the way and scanned the road for moose and deer.

  
We were all relieved to make it back to camp just after sunset. We put the kids to bed and stayed up late eating cheese and olives and drinking beer.

  
Looking back, I can’t believe how much we fit into one day. I owe our host a debt of gratitude for giving us an expert tour of Montreal and sharing with us so many equisite experiences!