As a gift to a younger family member, a ziplining day was planned and I asked if I could share the…read moreexperience with everyone. I've ziplined before while on vacation, where we were surrounded by greenery. I thought doing it in the heart of Montreal with MTL Zipline would be a new way to experience it. (I was right). As you read the safety protocols and sign waivers, there are a few screens set up so you can watch videos of other zipliners. You are provided with a helmet and harness, which they confirm is placed properly and securely (it's very comfortable; personally speaking, anyhow). The staff members you meet at every stage are really nice and you don't feel rushed. After this, you walk up several flights of stairs to what I call the "launch point". The harness is attached to the zipline, and in what feels like no time at all- you're flying through the air. The view of the Old Port is beautiful and it's fun to see onlookers below. You want to absorb everything you're seeing, and you do, but it is also over before you know it. It's an amazing experience and I could do it over and over again but I am appreciative of having the opportunity to do it at all! It's a fun experience to share with family and create memories. The price is great too (about $25+ per person and they also offer mini putt packages). I highly recommend it, whether you were born and raised here or simply visiting.

Warning: not for someone who is afraid of heights. I had this place bookmarked for our Montreal…read moreitinerary. The process is fast: - sign a waiver - pay at the counter - head back outside to get geared up Most of the workers here are young but they do an amazing job of making sure you are well strapped into your harness and helmet. I have to say, when I saw the tower in person I was questioning whether I could climb up that high without panting. My advice is to take your time. Surprisingly, I made it all the way without huffing and puffing in the 88 degree weather. There is a nice breeze up top. The most exciting moment was seeing that red light turn to green, the gates swinging open and her releasing me. If you're an adrenaline junkie, you'll love this. Do enjoy the moment and view because it is over very quickly. Where else will you get to zip over the St. Lawrence River and alongside buildings? The speed picked up towards the end and I was like...oh sh*t, is it going to be a hard abrupt stop? A worker will be there to catch you and you will swing like a pendulum. I saw two very brave 6 year old girls do it without any fear and then another kid that was about 9-10 that freaked out as soon as he was strapped in. I know parents want to do it but make sure your child is up to this. If you have long hair, it must be tied up in a ponytail so it doesn't get caught in the zip line. As I exited I was startled with a camera. Worker: do you want a photo? Me: (giggling) Ummm, that would be a no. Worker: (chuckling) no? Me: (giggling again) yeah definitely not. Ms. Bobalicious does not look cute in a helmet. I don't understand the complaint about the price from other reviews. For about $22 U.S., I thought it was totally worth it. It's all about the experience. I say...Just Do It! Check out their website for more info.

Great winter activity with an excellent team…read more Tony, Gabriel, Ollie and Rosy were excellent guides and made everyone feel totally comfortable with the zip line ride in the winter. Will definitely come back!

$2,500 Snowmobile Tour…read more My son and I did a snowmobile tour with Tyroparc and some friends in January, 2023. We have riden snowmobiles before so I was looking forward to it. The first half hour or so was fine. When we got to a short but steep hill our instructor stopped the tour and told us to go over the hill slowly and not use the brakes on the way down the hill as it can throw the passenger (in this case, my teenage son) off the snowmobile. This was not the first time I've ever driven a snowmobile, so I wasn't expecting any issues. When we went over the hill, we found ourselves headed towards a group of small trees. I tried to turn the snowmobile away from the tree while at the same time not using the brake. I wasn't able to negotiate the turn and we crashed directly into the tree. My son and I were both thrown off the snowmobile. My son was okay, thank goodness, but the impact to the tree left me dazed. I sustained a minor concussion and a strained wrist, as I had put my arm up to block my son from the tree. The snowmobile was totaled, as you can see from the photos. When the guide started up the snowmobile, there was a loud explosion in the engine. Despite my dazed mental state, I was told to drive this dangerous vehicle with my son on the back for several minutes. The instructor said he asked me if I was OK to drive it and apparently I said yes, but I was in no condition to make such a decision. It could have caught fire or who knows what else. When I got back to my hotel, and told my wife what had happened, she asked how we got the snowmobile back to the headquarters, and I couldn't remember. To literally add insult to injury, I had to pay $2,500 for the damage because I signed a waiver saying that I am responsible for all damages incurred. While I do accept some responsibility, my son and I were treated in a very reckless manner by the instructor. He was a nice guy but it was very alarming to my friends and son that I was in no condition to be driving immediately after a heavy impact of a snowmobile into a tree, which threw my son and I off the vehicle. I spoke with several managers from Tyroparc in the weeks after to see if we could come to some sort of compromise about the $2,500 owed, but it had already been billed to my credit card and as far as they were concerned, I was in another country hundreds of miles away, and it was case closed. I understand that most people don't crash into a tree and you probably won't either. But it's also important to know that Tyroparc's instruction before the crash and the assistance after the crash were both in my experience, negligent at best and dangerous at worst. Happy holidays!

We had seen this place every time we have been in Montreal, but this is the first visit there when…read moreit was open! It is 100% worth the trip! You can buy a 2 hour or 4 hour band and off you go. My 12 year old was in heaven. He could climb, swing, jump, crawl, and propel himself all under the watchful eye of the wonderful souls in the red shirts. He was perfectly harnessed and they were very explicit in their safety rules. I was able to observe him from the ground in a comfy Adirondack chair with other parents. Some read books, others enjoyed the sunshine. It was a really positive experience. They have a small snack bar which was helpful. It really is a wonderful ropes/obstacle course. They have an inflatable park, but he never made it there since he was having a great time. We will definately go back!

My kids have done the aerial walk part many times now, and they always ask to go, whenever we are…read morein Montreal (which is a few times a year), so visiting Voiles en Voiles became sort of a family tradition. The aerial walk has different levels, for every age and skill level, and there are various other activities, for younger kids, including bouncy castles and some sort of a movie experience (my kids weren't interested). A definite repeat.

We had so much fun and of course adrenaline rush at Ziptrek Ecotours. We chose the 3-hour (longer)…read moreroute which included the gondola ride to first station, 5 zip lines and 3 hikes (2 hikes between stations and 1 hike at the end to get back to the start point). We also had forgot to bring our GoPro, so we rented one for $40+taxes. The nice thing about renting the GoPro was that they donate a portion of the money to the organization of your choice (amongst 4 they have pre-picked). Our guides were very friendly and patient with everyone. In our group we had variety of ages (8+); so, they explained every step carefully and let us enjoy. The second zip line is the scariest one and the best one in my point of view. But all the zip lines were fun in different ways, some had better views, some were longer. You could sit, go upside down or hug your knees. At the end, I wished we had more zip lines left and it wouldn't have been over.

Ziptrek Ecotours was an absolute great experience. We did a zip-line tour in Mont Tremblant. The…read morestaff were very kind, friendly and knowledgeable. While French is their first language, they also speak English. If you do not speak French, be courteous and let them know you speak English. Before you get on the lift, the guides group together and prep you with gear and provide a thorough explanation. We felt safe riding the zip line. The tours are small groups of 10 - 15 with 3 guides. There is communication between the guides on each zip and they check and ensure you are locked in correctly and your straps are where they should be. We rented a go pro for $10CA. Video quality was great. If you are staying in the Pedestrian Village, it is a short 5 min walk from the hotels. A couple of hotels to mention are Fairmont, Hilton Homewood Suites. In my opinion, the price is fair, in USD about $150 per person, 3 hour.

Spent several hours at Funtropolis to let my kids run wild with limited restrictions, and they had…read moreso much fun! One of their favorite activities here was shooting foamy balls at people. Even adults enjoyed this, although I got shot in the face at some point. They require shoes to be removed, so make sure you let younger kids go bare feet or wear grippy socks, since some areas can get slippery. My kids and I also enjoyed the slides and some arcade games, although the claw machines are kind of cheesy. Either way, this is a great choice if you want to let your kids go crazy and if you wish to release your inner child!

This place was quite a bit of fun as a kid. And going with my little cousins when I was a bit…read moreolder, they'd have a good time as well. Stuff always seemed to be closed though. Also, there's not a ton to do.

Captain Holly is simply the best. We've been chartering her for years and she has never…read moredisappointed us. Her heart belongs to the lake, and it's so obvious through her extensive knowledge of the area. She knows all the best fishing and swimming spots, the history of the islands and estates, and even fun insider info and trivia (Bernie Sander's lakeside house, anyone?). She also offers transportation to smaller islands and pretty much wherever you need to go on the lake. My favorite thing to do with Holly is hitch a tube to the back of her boat and have her zip us around City Bay! It's so much fun. Holly's boat is clean and pleasant, and she updates and maintains it regularly. She is as kind and easy-going as can be and it's clear she takes pride in making sure everyone has a fun and comfortable experience on the lake. My family will never leave town without taking a spin on Holly's boat!

Had a great 2 hour jaunt around Lake Champlain with Captain Holly. We put the anchor down near a…read morebeach and our two boys jumped off the boat repeatedly. We had a very nice time with the friendly and knowledgeable Captain Holly, who clearly loves and knows so much about the area. We went aboard her small yet very comfortable boat and had some drinks and sandwiches (you bring your own stuff) and then we toured at a nice speed around the islands. She also takes people fishing. Recommended!

My daughter and I took the Hidden Gems tour today with Jean François (Jeff). It was a fantastic…read moreexperience--we would never have seen the parts of Montréal JF showed us if left to our own devices. Montréal is a fantastic city on a bike. The pacing of the tour was perfect, not too slow, not too strenuous. It is obvious that JF is deeply knowledgable about urbanism, bicycle culture, and the way our built environment impacts our experiences of life. The details he pointed out and the places he brought us are easily overlooked, but super interesting. It is rare to find someone who takes so little for granted in their home environment. This tour was not just a lesson about history and some neighborhoods of Montréal, but about how to observe the world around us. I would give six stars if possible. It did not hurt that the weather was perfect. If it had rained, probably only five stars. It was a fantastic three hours and a highlight of our visit to MTL.

From now on, I think the first thing I need to do in a new city is take a good small group bike…read moretour. Frederick, our guide, took eight of us over a 7 mile tour of some of the classic neighborhoods of Montreal. His love for his hometown truly shines. We took about three hours because he made a point of showing us some classic Montreal native spots such as an immense farmers market filled with luscious locally grow produce. If we were staying long enough to cook, I'd be heading straight back there tomorrow . Frederick is a certified guide and while his knowledge is near encyclopedic, he never drones. He always invites questions and made us laugh a lot. Ask him how poutine got its name. He created a perfect blend of peddling and savoring He spaced out our rest stops in such a way that we were never bored with resting and nor fatigued with pedaling.