Bon Jour! STL goes French Canadian! .... Montréal the metropolis has everything a big city can offer. But Montréal is also one-of-a-ind, a multicultural city that blends its French accent with that of over 80 other ethnic communities and charms visitors with its Euro-American ambiance. Montréal is also innovative and invigorating, offering a whirlwind of cultural creations, both traditional and modern. Its downtown bustles with life at the foot of its mountain, while history is rooted in the old quarters near the river. With its year-round party atmosphere, Montréal beats to the rhythm of its festivals: jazz, comedy, cinema, fireworks and more! The city beckons you to discover its fashionable boutiques and famed cuisine, over 30 km (18 mi.) of indoor pedestrian walkways, and its lively casino. Stroll through its colourful streets and typical neighbourhoods representative of a mosaic of nations, take a ride along one of its many bicycle paths (over 660 km / 400 mi. in the region), party in its inviting bars... Montréal? Oui, s'il vous plaît!

June 24th- June 27th Thursday - Sunday (or Monday if you prefer)

Itinerary:
We will spend the weekend getting to know the beautiful sights and streets of Montreal...

Day 1 - THURSDAY - Arrive anytime on Thursday

Day 2 - FRIDAY
- After Breakfast we will head to an open-air market, they have incredibly diverse markets, with large selections of fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, bakeries and other food oriented shops you won’t be disappointed with. Bring a backpack and we will grab food for a picnic lunch.

- Jardin Botanique - Montreal Botanical Gardens are an absolute must see! With its collection of 22,000 plant species and cultivars, 10 exhibition greenhouses, some thirty thematic gardens, and teams of researchers and activities staff, the Montréal Botanical Garden ranks as one of the world's largest and most spectacular botanical gardens.

No matter what the season, visitors to the Montréal Botanical Garden are sure to be captivated by the colors and fragrances from around the world as they wander from the delightful Chinese Garden to the heart of the Sonoran desert, from the peaceful oasis of the Japanese Garden to the classically designed French garden or the woodlands of the Laurentians. We will eat our picnic lunch at the gardens.

- Fondue Dinner- After a day of exploring the gardens we will have a wonderful relaxing dinner filled with rich cheeses and chocolate fondues in a relaxing atmosphere.

- Nightlife - After dinner we will walk over to Place d’Armes and head to Rue St. Denis, serves as one of the primary thoroughfares of both the Latin Quarter, where it plays host to a number of bars and restaurants, to the Plateau Mont-Royal, where it is known as one of the best places to view Montreal's distinct style of architecture

Day 3 - SATURDAY
- We will spend our morning exploring Parc du Mont Royal. The jewel of Montreal’s city parks is, without question, Mount Royal. This 101-hectare park occupies part of the mountain that lies in the midst of Montreal island, and includes the highest spot in the city. Mount Royal is where Montrealers go to get a breath of air on a hot day, to cross-country ski without leaving the city, to walk off a hangover or a bad mood, to picnic, to jog, to ice skate, to look out over the city, rest their eyes on the horizon and dream. It's a great place to explore, and is great if anyone is up for a hike.

- Lunch - Olive & Gourmando – This local favorite launched by chefs from Toqué! started out as an earthy bakery painted in reds, pinks, and gold curlicues. Then it added table service and transformed itself into a full-fledged cafe. It still sells near-perfect baguettes, as well as many croissants, pastries, and specialty breads -- a lot of which is out the door by midmorning. Have a sandwich put together from the cheeses and sausages in the cold case, or choose from the menu's interesting compositions, including a grilled portobello mushroom with a purée of olives and goat cheese, served on funky pottery or a wooden cutting board. The delightful sweets of local purveyor Les Chocolats de Chloé have been added to the menu.

Notre-Dame Basilica - After lunch we will tour Montreal's oldest Catholic church, built in 1656, is known for its intricately designed interior, which includes stained glass chronicling the history of the city. The Basilica’s vast size, executed in the Gothic Revival style, the extraordinary craftsmanship and artistic polish of its fittings, its many fine works of religious art, and the interior of its chapel inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, are heritage features whose preservation and enhancement demand the greatest possible attention and care.

Musee des Beaux Arts -an absolute must see and one of Canada's most famous museums, this popular institution houses a wide collection of international contemporary and Canadian exhibits, and straddles two buildings, the 1912 original and its 1991 across-the-street annex with underground galleries that connect the two sites.

- We will then head to Rue Crescent

Crobar A Neighbourhood Bar Downtown
Open since late 2007, CroBar, with its cozy ambiance, is the perfect place to sit down and enjoy a drink with friends. The handcrafted tables and candle lighting along with the background music make your after work or your Friday night drink even more enjoyable. The welcoming staff of CroBar will be please to serve you its house draft, the Cro Beer, at a low price. If you would rather have a martini, the bar on Crescent Street gives you numerous varieties of the famous cocktail.

Sir Winston Churchill Pub – the founding establishment of vibrant Crescent Street is the place to be. Recently renovated and stylized, it is the perfect place to party and dance the night away. Sir Winston Churchill Pub also offers the best patio in the city to grab a bite to eat, see and be seen.

Day 4 - SUNDAY
We will spend our last day exploring Old Montreal

-Old Montreal (Vieux-Montreal) - is one of the most beautiful, well preserved and living "old town" this side of Europe. It is a major componet in making Montreal, "the truly different North American city". A very diverse and tolerant-to-all world city, it is safe, cultural, cosmopolitan and proud of its French legacy and French language.

Vieuxe-Port

- Lunch at Le Jardin Nelson - Charming, welcoming and located in the heart of Old Montreal, Jardin Nelson is a true haven where you can bask in the warm summer atmosphere. Not surprising that people come from all walks to relish the combined pleasures of good food, exceptional service and an impressive variety of plants. Listed amongst the most beautiful place in Montreal, the courtyard is renowned for the beauty of it’s decorative horticulture and it’s musical jazz scene. A small and comfortable oasis where the summer breeze is always pleasant.

Free Afternoon and/or Late afternoon flights (Choose to fly out on Sunday Night or stay an extra day and have a free day exploring Montreal... both prices listed below.

Day 5- *MONDAY (Optional)
Free day and Flights * Optional if you choose, arranged flights will not be available, you must arrange your own.

Pricing:
OPTION 1 - $450 - Includes 4 Star Hotel (Based on Double Occupancy), Guides, Entrance into Botanical Gardens, Musee des Beaux Arts, Notre-Dame Basilica (Does Not Include Airfare, food or anything not listed) THUR- SUN

OPTION 2 - $550 - Includes 4 Star Hotel (Based on Double Occupancy), Guides, Entrance into Botanical Gardens, Musee des Beaux Arts, Notre-Dame Basilica (Does Not Include Airfare, food or anything not listed) THUR- MON

Getting around the city will be by foot or public transportation

Non-Refundable deposit of $100 due upon RSVP, REMAINING BALANCE DUE BY May 24th

Please list in your RSVP the option you would like and your roommate if you have one, otherwise one will be chosen for you.

Rooms:
The hotel offers one elegant pillow-top queen bed with signature linens and hypo-allergenic silk duvet and a sofa bed. The price is double occupancy. If you do not have someone you would like to room with you will be matched with someone of the same gender. The rooms also include a spacious sitting area, perfect for unwinding during your vacation, an office desk, wireless Internet access, flat screen TV and a mini-bar. You’ll enjoy the extra- large bathroom, luxury rain shower and separate deep soaking tub. It also has a fully equipped kitchenette furnished with an espresso machine and all the kitchen accessories. High-end Molton Brown toiletry products, bathrobes and slippers are provided to ensure a most relaxing stay.