IRRESISTIBLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES TO DO IN MONTREAL THIS JUNE

The month of June in Montreal is usually when the city really feels completely alive.  There is a full array of festivals to pick from, the Habs are usually trying to make their way through the series and ice cream parlours are the talk of the town.

When May can’t always be relied on to bring in warm and sunny weather (not the case this year), June is usually a safe bet in terms of temperature and water flow. Gone are socks and boots, hello bare feet and flip-flops.

So what rhymes with warm bare foot weather? Picnics in the park of course! Wait. Did you think I was going to say beach? Sorry, not this month.  Try July instead. Water is still way too cold to swim in and around Montreal in June, at least up to the end of the month.

No worries, there are still exciting places to get your feet wet without worrying your big toe will fall off.

Montreal Activities in June

The benefits of doing family activities together strengthens our bonds.  It also helps develop our children socialization skills, reduces stress and let’s not forget all the physical benefits. By doing physical activities on a regular basis you can reduce obesity and cholesterol, prevent diabetes or cardio-vascular issues.  It’s a win-win for the whole family.

This article is part of a monthly series of family activities to do in Montreal.  Therefore, while we might not cover some activities in this month’s issue, they just might have been covered in the April, May, or July issues, for instance.  

There is always something to do for families in Montreal.  Some of these activities can be done all year long.  That’s why we don’t want to have to mention the same ones every month as to not repeat them and give space to more temporary activities.

Enjoy new street art

With well over 3,500 murals, Montreal is a street art heaven. Guided tours are offered during the Mural Festival which takes place June 9th to June 19th. Also, you can watch the artist at work creating new murals right there and then.

All in all, it’s a great way to discover Montreal’s street art scene for FREE, for children to develop their critical thinking and maybe to inspire them in drawing something when they get home.

This event takes place on Saint-Laurent Boulevard and you can just walk down from Mont-Royal Avenue all the way to Sherbrooke. Mont-Royal Avenue will have a big sale going on the week-end of the 9th as it celebrates becoming pedestrian for the entire Summer. Free activities for children often take place during that event.

Summer Bookclub

On June 13th, children up to the age of 12 can sign up for the TD Summer Reading Club with their local library.  It’s FREE.

My children took part in this program three years in a row when they were younger and loved it. 

The program is both in French and English.  Activities are included within the bookclub and from what I recall, at the end of the summer, each child gets a free book to keep at home.

This is a good way for children to discover Canadian literature and develop their reading skills as part of a fun activity.

Surf Laval

Can’t go and surf the waves this year in Hawaii?  That’s ok.  You can do so at Maeva Surf in Laval.  

The prices start at $39 a session and quickly adds up if you do this as a family activity.

However, it’s perfect if you want to celebrate  one of your children’s birthday as a family. This is particularly true if its something no-one has done before.  There is nothing better for kids to see their mom and dad make a fool of themselves.   Laughter and memories guaranteed.

You can book your tickets HERE.

Outdoor movie theatre

From the comfort of your back seat watch an outdoor movie at the drive-in of Saint-Eustache (movies in French only) or in Mont-Saint-Hilaire which I talk more about HERE along with a lot of fun other activities.

Despite the fact that drive-in movie theatres first appeared in the 1930s in New Jersey in the United States, which is not that far away, they didn’t make their first appearance in Quebec until the 70s.

The one in Mont-Saint-Hilaire dates back to 1972 and you can even bring your dog along! As extra-buttery popcorn is not necessarily recommended for dogs, test out one of the popcorn recipes we discovered recently right HERE.

Personally, I love outdoor movie theaters.  Ever since watching Grease as a little kid I wanted to go to one.  Unfortunately, I don’t think that trend ever crossed the Atlantic Ocean and the few I came across in Pennsylvania had already been abandonned.

What’s great from watching a movie in your car is that you can do so while sitting or laying down.  Last time we went there, we folded up the back seats and had brought a small mattress that had belonged to Blondie Bear along with pillows.  It was like watching a movie in bed but under the stars.

The cost of the experience in Mont-Saint-Hilaire is $30 per car and includes 2 movies.  It really isn’t a bad deal!

Miniature golf

Miniature golf  saw light in Scotland in 1867 where actually the sport of Golf originated in the 15th century.  At the time, it was very much unlady like to play the game of  golf.  So, little putting courses and clubs started seeing the light of day across the country and to the United States.

Outdoor:

Located less than a half-hour from Montreal, in La Prairie, you’ll find one of the area’s most popular miniature golf course: Cascades.

The 18-hole miniature golf course is located on a wooded hillside surrounded by lakes, streams, and waterfalls.  The cost is 14$ for an adult and 9$ for children under the age of 12. 

Indoor: 

Of course, it’s not always nice and sunny in Montreal. Luckily Putting Edge has created an indoor miniature golf course that glows in the dark.  Yes, you read that correctly.

According to their website, once you enter their black lit course, you’ll immerse yourself in a kaleidoscope of glow in the dark colours, images and sounds.

The 18-hole course costs $14 for adults and 12$ for kids.  It takes about 1 hour to do.  You have to book your time slot online HERE.  

On location, you can only pay by credit and debit cards and no concession stand is available.

Game of CluedUpp

Have you ever played a game of Clue as a family at home? Now you can try it as part of an outdoor experience on Saturday, June 25th in the streets of Montreal.

$63 for a team of 2 to 6 people but children under the age of 16 are FREE.  Only one person will have to download the app on their smart phone on the day of the event which will be held between 9 a.m and 2 p.m.  The game takes about 2 to 3 hours to play.

Of course, you can pause the game to take breaks.  Unfortunately, since I don’t know where the game will begin, I can’t give you ideas of fun places to grab a bite to eat with your kids.  Nonetheless, you can consult our Montreal restaurant guide for ideas once you’ll know in which area you’ll be.  

For more information about this special event and to book your tickets, read HERE.

Strawberry Picking

The end of June in Montreal is the start of the strawberry picking season.  Granted you can’t really do it within the city but you can do so at Notre-Dame-de-l’Ile-Perrot about a 40-minute drive from Montreal.

It’s not clear right now how much this activity cost as the information is not readily available on the website of Quinn Farm.  You’ll have to book ahead in order to partake in this activity.  Nonetheless, access to the farm is FREE until June 15th. 

On the farm, they also have an animal barn whose access is FREE.  If you’re looking for other places to take your kids to see animals in and around Montreal, I talk about it THIS article.

No dogs are allowed at Quinn Farm.

Things to do with Strawberries

Julia Roberts taught me this.  Dropping a strawberry into my champagne glass and pouring over it champagne of course.  For kids, skip the champagne and pour some 7 up or sparkling water.

Spruce up your plain yogurt with some freshly cut strawberries lightly dusted with sugar.

Strawberry pies are extremely popular in all the bakeries across France. It’s not something that we usually find in supermarkets here in Montreal.  So unless you want to spend over 20$, you’ll have to make your own. Moreover, if you’ve gone through the effort of picking strawberries you might as well get creative with them.

Here is a recipe to make a Strawberry Pie.  I’ve translated it for you, but for the images, you can follow this link to get the gist of it.

Ingredients for 6 people:

• a pinch of salt
• 5 cl of water
• 110 g of sugar
• 280 g of flour
• 125 g of butter
• 2 egg yolks and 1 egg
• 25 cl of milk
• 500 g minimum of strawberries;
• vanilla

The Steps:

• STEP 1
  The dough: Whisk together the yolks and 70 gr of sugar, and loosen the mixture with a little water.
• STEP 2
  Mix 250g of flour and butter with your finger, cut into small pieces to obtain a sandy consistency until all the butter is absorbed (You have to do it quickly so that the mixture doesn’t get too soft!).
• STEP 3
  Pour the liquid mixture into the middle of the sandpit. Mix in the elements quickly with a knife without giving them body.
• STEP 4
  Form a ball with your palms and cut out 1 or 2 times to make the ball more homogeneous.
• STEP 5
  Line a 25 cm diameter mold with the dough, line it with parchment paper, and dry beans or almonds to keep the paper down. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 180°C (gas mark 6).
• STEP 6
  Pastry Cream: Boil the milk with the chosen flavor (vanilla or other).
• STEP 7
  Work the egg with the remaining sugar until the dough makes a ribbon, add the rest of the flour.
• STEP 8
  Pour the boiling milk over the mixture, stirring well.
• STEP 9
  Return to the saucepan on the heat. Cook, stirring very carefully. Remove after boiling.
• STEP 12
  Pour the cream over the pie crust and arrange the halved strawberries nicely.

Picnic in the best spots in Montreal

While children are still in school in June, and before everyone leaves on their summer vacation, picnics are a great way to get together to share a meal while enjoying the outdoors.

Many parks in Montreal offer FREE access to bocce courts, ping-pong tables and water cascades.  The outdoor public kiddy and regular pools usually open by the end of June but due to the current Pandemic, an official date needs to be announced.

Here is a list of parks that are perfect for a picnic:

• Park Nicolas-Tillemont
• Park Baldwin
• Parc Nature des chutes de la visitation
• Park Jarry
• Parc Beaubien
• Parc Marquette for the water cascades and the doggy park right next to it.

Don’t forget to bring reusable plates and utensils for you picnic.  If you own camping gear, use it for your picnic along with some cloth napkins and tablecloth.

Go on a camping trip

If you haven’t gone yet, June is a great time to go camping as the temperatures aren’t too high and you’re not sweating up a storm inside your tent.

Read our family camping guide for tips and hacks.

But June also means that it’s mosquito season.  

• The Laurentians which we talk about HERE are infested with these blood-sucking beasts. However, we have gone to the one in Labelle at the end of June and it wasn’t too bad just as long as we didn’t go inside the woods.

Eastern Townships

• You can try the one we love to go to with our dogs in Sutton at Au Diable Vert. There are some nice family hikes to be done in the area and also water tubing.

Camping in June is best done in the Eastern Townships as there are less mosquitoes.  

• In the Estrie region, you’ll find the Park of Coaticook where you can also camp at.  During the day, hike throughout the park ($8)  and if you still have energy in the evening, enjoy their Foresta Lumina walk ($19,50).  Although dogs are allowed in the park, they are not on the night trail.

One of its main features is its suspended bridge, considered the longest in North America. There are three loops that vary between 2 and 8.5 km where you’ll cross paths with observation towers, waterfalls, cave, etc…

Other campsites are available about 20 minutes away from Park of Coaticook: 

• for the family, Campground of the Covered Bridge offers a variety of activities for kids to enjoy along with a heated pool and beach access to a river. Special events are organized every weekend. Dogs are allowed. 40$ a night.

• for a more comfortable experience, try the Lyster Campground. They offer fully equipped tents for a Glamping experience for you ‘divas’ out there. Further, you can order ready-made meals from Bistro du Pinacle to enjoy from the comfort of your tent. Unfortunately,  dogs are not allowed in ready-made tents. Price range per night: $115-$225.

La Mauricie National Park

Located 2 hours away from Montreal lies the beautiful Mauricie National Park.

Rent a canoe for the day and become an explorer by following in the footsteps of past adventurers.  The Chutes Waber trail will take you across the Wapizagonke Lake where you’ll have to disembark, carry your canoe over a beaver dam, and then hike up a 3km trail. This is not recommended for small children unless they can walk on their own without having to be carried after 30 minutes.

The duration of this expedition will depend on how fast you want to go, your health, and how much time you decide to spend at the waterfalls. It can range anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. It’s best to book your canoe online ahead of time as to not have to wait in line when you arrive. This is particularly true if you are renting for the whole day.

Our tips: start your expedition early and bring:

• hat,
• sunscreen,
• bathing suit,
• towel;
• water,
• toilet paper;
• portable charger;
• wet bag to store your valuables in case they fall in the water; and
• your eco-friendly picnic.

Wapizagonke Lake is also the site of 5,000-year-old red ochre rock paintings that attest to the presence of native Algonquin. You won’t pass them on your way to the falls as they are in the opposite direction. If traveling with young children, just rent a canoe for a few hours and head south of the lake.

Costs are as follows: $7.90 per adult/day, youth under 17 are free for the park entrance. The canoe rental is extra: A whole rental day will cost $49.58 and $34.79 for up to 4 hours.

Domestic animals

PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON TRAILS OR IN EMBARCATIONS. They are however allowed in the picnic areas and campgrounds which makes absolutely NO SENSE. What are you supposed to do with them when you go hiking or canoeing? Leave them in your car or tent? You’ll have no choice but to leave them at home because if you’re just going camping or picnicking, you might as well do that where you won’t have to pay an entrance fee.

Take a day trip to Upper Canada Village

Upper Canada Village is located on the border of Quebec and Ontario close to the thousand islands and Kingston. It’s about a 2h drive from Montreal.

Upper Canada Village is one of the largest living-history sites in Canada.

It’s accessible with dogs where the staff is super friendly towards our four-legged friends and will even provide water bowls for them while you step into a building or eat on the outdoor terrace of the 19th-century Inn.  With the exception of the buildings, dogs are allowed everywhere on site. So yes, they can hop on board the train or the boat.

This is one of my favorite places to visit as a family.  Every time we go there, we learn something new.  We feel, at least for the day, that we have really taken a step back in time where life was simpler (but not easier). 

It’s a good way for children to learn how things were really built back in the day and see how people lived without all the technology we are surrounded by.

Delicious bread is made on site. It’s so popular that there is hardly any left by the end of the day. Don’t miss out on your chance to bring some home.

Navigate a water maze

Mentioned in our December family activity issue, Eco-Odyssee is a park with a water maze located in the town of Wakefield. It’s about a 2h30 drive from Montreal. Before you roll your eyes and say it’s too far, read our article on the quaint town of Wakefield. You’ll for sure want to go and make a week-end out of it.

If you thought June in Montreal was exciting, just wait until you hear about what you can do in July!