Nature meets thrills at Parc Jean-Drapeau
Spanning two islands in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, Parc Jean-Drapeau is where fun happens – and not only because it’s home to the Montréal Casino and La Ronde amusement park! Come here for a riverside walk, to luxuriate on the grass with a picnic, relive history at Musée Stewart, learn about nature at the Biophere, and even dance the day away to electronic music. Best thing is, this four-season paradise is but a 20-minute metro ride from downtown Montréal.
Fun in the sun – and snow
Plunge into summer in the middle of the St. Lawrence at Parc Jean-Drapeau (spanning Île-Notre-Dame and Île Ste-Hélène) when the great green expanse rocks to Piknic Électronik, music festivals like Osheaga, an Olympic pool, the Formula One race and the La Ronde amusement park. But it doesn’t slow down for winter – play in the snow with the whole family at Fête des Neiges, or just snowshoe or cross-country ski around the miles of paths while gazing at Expo 67 pavilions and stunning panoramas of the river and the downtown skyline. The museums onsite stay open year in, year out, as does the festive Montréal Casino – which ensures this park never sleeps.
Montréal’s indoor-outdoor playground
It’s hard to believe all this green wilderness and rushing water is a hop, skip and a jump from downtown Montréal, but that’s why locals celebrate this park so much. There are activities for everyone here, from the party animal to the nature lover to the racing enthusiast to the gourmet. What will you do?
- Plunge into the Olympic-size pool
- Work on your tan at Jean-Doré Beach
- Bike around Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
- Rock out to Osheaga
- Party like it’s 1799 at Musée Stewart
- Enter the Biosphere’s famous geodesic dome
- Have a dance-off at Piknic Électronik
- Bounce ‘til you splash at Aquazilla
- Zip-line through the snow at Fête des Neiges