I rarely travel spontaneously these days. Getting on a plane with two small kids requires untold amounts of planning: flight times that won’t completely disrupt sleep schedules, itineraries that allow for downtime, restaurants with at least two high chairs, and more. But when a friend invited us to join her family in Montreal for a few days over Memorial Day, the idea of taking our long weekend routine to an international city a few hours away was immediately appealing.
To plan the trip, I stuck with a few strategies: keep the activities within one or two neighborhoods to minimize time stuck in transit, make reservations when possible for our group of four adults and three toddlers, and build in as much flexibility as possible. Save for some atypical air travel headaches, the trip went surprisingly well, with lots of naps on the go and plenty of croissants and bagels to keep my kids in a good mood. Here’s what we loved most. — Stephanie Wu, Eater editor-in-chief
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From left to right: Radishes in chicken liver mousse at Mon Lapin, and the mackerel spaghetti at Larry's. | Stephanie Wu
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I wanted to dine at Larrys in the Mile End neighborhood, which is also on Eater’s list of essential Montreal restaurants. They take reservations for a group of 6 or more, so we booked an early dinner of 6 p.m., and more importantly, reserved the only two high chairs. An unexpected perk was that the restaurant serves breakfast all day: ideal toddler fare in the absence of a kids menu. My daughter ate the scrambled eggs, my son ate the sausage, and the sourdough with butter was a hit all around.
For breakfast, we stopped in at Automne Boulangerie — a bakery not far from our Airbnb that’s on our essential bakery list — for coffee, croissants, and bread. It’s got plenty of outdoor seating, which is always nice for kids, and is very stroller-friendly.
We went to Le Butterblume for lunch, again making a reservation so that we could ensure there were enough high chairs. The bright, airy space has plenty of room, and we nabbed a table right at the front. Everyone loved the mini schnitzel, and the herbaceous salads, fresh cheese, and roasted vegetables were a great foil for the heavier dishes we had during the trip (yes, there was lots of poutine). |
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Montreal has tons of family attractions, from the Ferris Wheel to the Biodome, a natural sciences museum that encompasses the five ecosystems of the Americas. But when it comes to activities for children, there’s a huge difference between kid-friendly and toddler-friendly. We picked the Montreal Science Centre specifically because it has sections for those aged 0-7 and 8-12. The kid areas were a ton of fun, but we all loved the Banquet exhibit, with interactive sections dedicated to the preparation, taste, and smell of food.
Finally, there’s no visiting Montreal without trying one of its famous bagels. We lined up at the original St-Viateur Bagel — the tip is to ask for whichever bagels are freshest out of the oven — and happily munched on them on our way to our next stop. Finally, I have to tip my hat off to the Montreal airport, which is surprisingly kid-friendly. There were play areas scattered throughout the terminal, dedicated nursing rooms, and high chairs in the food court areas. On stressful travel days, it’s small touches like this that are a total lifesaver for parents and kids alike.
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Need more inspiration? Follow Stephanie's itinerary — and Eater: |
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And with that, I'll be taking some additional time to rest, nest, and of course, plan my next trip. I hope you take that time too — it is a Brat summer after all. | X |
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