I spent a fabulous day here kayaking down the Chateauguay River Valley along the Chateauguay River,…read morealong lazy, calm waters and through farmers fields and under the canopy of trees. If you have never kayaked before, you can't ask for a better place to learn and enjoy this sport. The river is very shallow and calm with a few sports of slight rapids (which are just rocks really, which shows you how shallow the water really is). For $40, you basically get a kayak, a life jacket and a paddle and a drop-off ride where the folks at Kayak Safari will give you lift and drop you off at the beginning of your journey. With 6 different routes to choose from 5km long (2 hours) to 16km long(5 hours), all you need to do is pack a your sunscreen, a sunhat, bug juice, maybe a water bottle and some snacks in a small backpack. I'd also recommend wearing your bathing suit as it can get really hot under the sun when the river runs through wide open corn fields and no shade anywhere. Also with paddling you'll be splashing a bit so you're bound to get wet anyway. There is also the possibility of tipping over which is a good idea to just waterproof you bag in case. Once, you're off, all you have to do is sit back, relax and paddle along slowly and take in the sights of the river, the birds, the fields, the old abandoned bridges you'll be paddling under and some of the cutest cottages I've seen in Quebec. People in Montreal are so obsessed with the Laurentians and the Eastern Townships that they completely overlook the Western Townships and the charms of the villages and town in the area. For first-timers, I'd recommend doing the Athelstan route. I'd come back here again in a heartbeat and look forward to doing the longer routes. The students who operate the outfit are all very friendly and helpful as well but do keep in mind that you have to sign off on a disclaimer at the beginning and take full responsibility in case of any accidents.

Extremely enjoyable summer activity awaits you at canal lachine at H20 Adventures. For my sister's…read morebirthday celebration, we go kayaking at canal lachine. The staff is friendly and helpful. Payments are contactless. One side , you will find all the clean equipments (paddle, life jackets), and when you are done with your activity, your bring you dirty equipments on the other side. At H2O adventures, you can Kayak, Pedaling, ride the canoes and go on electric boats. We enjoyed Kayaking for 1 hour. The staff helped us to us loaded into the boat, and then we go into the canal. The scenery of the canal Lachine was serene. Plus, Excellent exercise for the arms. I know I don't have upper arms muscles yet, but I do feel slight strong... lol. Definitely recommended, hop on your adventure before the summer ends.

**Keep an eye on their website for operating hours as COVID has things changing up a little here…read moreand there** They have taken steps to change their processes to clean all jackets/paddles etc between uses, arrows on the ground etc. I purchased a summer pass for Kayaking with H20 and I am very happy about it! The season passes are an excellent value for anyone living in the area. They have a an easy to use online reservation system, and staff/ownership were super responsive and friendly both by email and in person. The equipment is in great shape and my boat is in the water waiting for me at my rental time. NOTES: they DO have lockers, but you need to bring a lock.

First of all the ferry to the Boucherville Islands park is ridiculously cute and I love it. It's a…read moresmall bike ferry, a short ride on the water over to a peaceful haven blowing with tall grasses. We biked here from out in Mile End so after a hectic ride through the city, arriving on this island was heaven. It's deeply peaceful and really really fun to ride around on, amazing bike paths rolling through quiet trees and protected, diverse nature. People are here fishing, walking, kayaking and generally relaxing. I didn't find any earth shattering views or anything like that, but a real sense of peace really close to the heart of the city.

I went to the parc with friends on a day where the entrance was free. In the winter this parc isn't…read morethe most fabulous. I've been in the warmer months and there was much more to see and do. Great parc to spot Virginia deer.

Great way to experience Montreal! Prepare for several hours (we were there 12:30 - 3:30) of fun…read more The activity seemed to be popular for all groups - families, tourists, bachelor parties - and the company did a great job separating groups accordingly. While the rapids were pretty intense, there were enough breaks in-between for beginners. The activity was a work-out, but not overly rigorous. You had the chance to paddle together and work together as a team, were directed by experienced staff, and had several moments where you went right into the rapids. There was also some down time for relaxing and jumping into the water. The staff was fantastic! They were friendly, provided the background and history, gave great instructions, and all had a wonderful sense of humor. They were able to explain in both French and English and really made the experience memorable. We'd highly recommend as this was the highlight of our visit.

SO MUCH FUN!!!!! Jo is the best! I went while on a girls…read moretrip with 5 friends and it was 100% our favorite part of the weekend!! It isn't constant rafting rapids so you get "breaks" of calm waters so you aren't overwhelmed. Great for beginners like us! You hit 4 rapids and on the fourth one you have the option to jump out of the raft. Sounds insane (or we thought so) but we did it and it was so amazing!! Something we will never forget. You also have a chance to jump out and swim after you're done rafting for a few moments, as well. You're able to rent wetsuits and crocs on site. And the guides are willing to take your photo beforehand or afterwards. The one "concerning" thing is how they wash the wetsuits after you've worn them. They simply dunk them in a bucket of water... lol.

We had an incredible time!! Our guide Terry Jo was INCREDIBLE (seriously, ask for him - you WON'T…read moreregret it). We recommend the full-day adventure and go with the chicken or vegetarian wrap for lunch and the for dinner I loved the salmon, but Drew was all about the steak and potatoes. Give yourself extra time to stick around for the video viewing after - so much fun to watch with all your rafting buddies :) Here's our post for more tips and awesome photos! http://mrandmrsadventure.com/2015/07/14/nouveau-monde-whitewater-rafting-down-canadas-epic-riviere-rouge/

I give this company a D-minus for their first aid / emergency preparedness and I deduct points for…read moretouching without consent. I was injured going over the "washing machine" rapid. The boat flipped up and I fell from the raft onto a rock. I landed face first but managed to take the brunt of the impact on my shoulder / arm. I was pressed to sign a release form saying "Refused treatment" while I was dripping wet, shivering and in shock. -- Not cool. After I came to my senses, I asked to be taken to a hospital but was told no driver was available. -- Not cool. Later, when my friend was later injured on the same rock (cut to arm resulting in a strong flow of bright red blood), our guide was nowhere to be found. On the shore, it was me, with my injured arm, who administered first aid. Don't be fooled -- you can be seriously hurt while rafting. If you are hurt I would not expect this company to do anything for you in terms of first aid. Last but not least, when doing safety demonstrations, our guide reached straight for the most diminutive woman, out of four, with our group of 20. He then proceeded to show how you would pull someone into the raft, roll them over etc... ie a lot of body contact and touching -- without seeking consent from the woman ("I am going to take hold of your life jacket and pull up. OK?"). This should be an immediate red flag.

Well,I love history,especially when you find out that a site you go to,was once part of the…read moreAtlantic Ocean, post Glacier times(10,000 of years ago)? You find out it once had Salt water? It has waves and it feels like the ocean too! Love it,just sit lay and swim in it? I am going soon to it again!

This state park is amazing! The beach is so clean and nice. The water is so refreshing and the…read moreviews are awesome! It can smell a fish fishy when you first walk into the beach, but the smell doesn't last very long (probably just some standing water). The beach is mostly sand but some rocks and pebbles (so where shoes when you walk in). I highly recommend going here!

This is a small business whose headquarters on the river hardly encompass more than a beach hut and…read moreparking lot. They offer speed boat cruises and rafting trips. I have only tried the rafting so far, and it was absolutely amazing. The Lachine rapids are quite a bit more impressive when you are rafting then when you observe them from the shore, and the ride was quite wild on occasion. This said, the rafts are bigger and more sturdy than others I have used for white water rafting on smaller rivers. There are 8 people to a raft plus a guide who will graciously fish you out of the water should you happen to fall in. As I did. The rafting trip itself takes about 3 hours, including the return trip upstream in an old school bus. Prior to the rafting the group gets a short lesson in safety, and everybody is equipped with a helmet and life vest. And prior to the safety instructions you can wait, and wait, and wait. This is why I am only giving this three stars. I was told to be on site by 1 pm, and then nothing happened till 3 pm. Since there is not much around and I was alone, I was pretty much bored out of my mind by that time. I think the reason was an error in planning or communication, because some other customers arrived later. Since you have to reserve your spot at least one day ahead via the phone, I don't quite understand why they did not ask all of us to be there at the same time. Anyhow - the rapids are amazing and this company is the only show in town for rafting, so I would go again (and bring a book).

What an experience! It's exciting but not completely dangerous thanks to a dedicated and well…read moretrained staff. Our guide Bill has a great personality making the activity fun as well as informative. I live near another river and know the power of water and Les Excursions staff do a great job of keeping the guests safe. I was amazed how the dips in the rapids quickly evolved from small spaces to large openings that look like they will swallow you up. I've never experienced this on the smaller river I live near. I went late in the season (mid September) but the water was still warm. Facilities are minimal, but they have all you basically need as well as free parking which is a plus.

Wow. Jet boating with Saute-Moutons was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Montreal. I…read morehighly recommend it, but it's not for everyone. It's thrilling, it's exhilarating, and sometimes, it's even scary. This is like a roller coaster ride on the water. And you will get completely soaked, from head to toe, over and over. If getting repeatedly hit and completely doused with large volumes of cold water is not your idea of fun, then do not go on this ride and stop reading now. However, if you're looking for a little excitement in your life and want something different to do, this definitely fits the bill. If you're concerned about safety, our guide pointed out upfront that Saute-Moutons has not had a single fatality since opening for business in 1983. What to expect is pretty simple: 1. You show up to the docks/Saute-Moutons 45 minutes prior to departure. You check in, sit through a tutorial, and review safety procedures. 2. You check your bags/belongings at a counter into a secure room. You change into clothes for the ride. 3. Clothes: Wear a swimsuit or anything you don't mind getting completely soaked. Bring a towel and a complete change of clothes, including footwear in case you decide to wear your own footwear on the boat. Saute-Moutons provides low-quality sandals with strapped-in heels that you can use, included with your ticket price. The water is cold and you will be traveling at high speeds so you will get cold. Saute-Moutons provides sweaters (fleece pullovers). Don't be afraid to layer up. You then put a jumpsuit on. Then you put a poncho on. After that, it's the life vest. Even though you have all of these layers, make no mistake, every crevasse of your body will get wet. Do not bring any loose objects with you onto the boat. You risk losing it. There are pouches on the back of each seat where you can store items such as waterproof cameras, but I don't recommend bringing much else. The water comes in at quite a force and it will easily knock off things like glasses/sunglasses and loose footwear. You might even considering bringing spare contacts because if you're not careful, the force of the water could knock the contacts off your eyeballs. 4. Once everyone is checked in, briefed, and dressed, they are loaded onto an aluminum boat. Ours had two 700 horsepower engines (1,400 horsepower total). Powerful. We made our way south down the St Lawrence River, around Nuns' Island, to the Lachine Rapids. Along the way, our guide narrated and gave us a river tour of Montreal. 5. The fun happens at the Lachine Rapids. Basically, the captain of the boat goes around in circles, in the rapids, trying to smash the front and sides of the boat into huge oncoming waves. You'll go up waves, down waves, and crash directly into them. The captain times a lot of the hits and most of them are huge, dramatic, and downright jolting. To get an idea of what I'm describing, just search YouTube for videos of Saute-Moutons. I must note the videos do not completely do what you actually feel in person justice. Sitting in the boat at rest, the water can get as high up as your belly/chest. The boat gets filled with water (it later drains out). Prepare to get water from the St Lawrence River in pretty much every orifice of your body except for, probably, those in your nether regions, which should be protected by at least two or three layers. I sat on the far right side of the boat (starboard). The first wave the captain smashed into us struck the right side of the boat first. I can only describe it as a rude awakening. It was literally like a roomful of cold water crashed into me from above and from the side. Whoosh. I got a direct hit of water into my right ear. The first hit set the tone for the rest of the ride. People were laughing hysterically, including myself, at how crazy the whole situation was and what we had gotten ourselves into. During the ride on the rapids, the guide (one of two Saute Moutons employees on board) continues to commentate. Our guide also took photos and videos of us with a GoPro. That media was available later on Saute Moutons' website. At one point, he handed us a shampoo bottle and had us pass it around. We literally washed our hair during the ride. 6. The ride lasted about an hour. We made our way back to the docks, all soaked, some cold. They have changing rooms so you can change into a new set of clothes. Consider bringing a large waterproof bag to put your wet swimsuit/clothes in. Todd "the Legend" was our guide (I think that is what he wanted us to call him). He was hilarious. It appears he's been doing this for years and multiple times per day. I'm not sure where he gets his energy from and how he's able to be "on" all the time. Not only is he informative, but he's very friendly and entertaining. He's like a comedian. Prices vary depending on season. We paid about $70 Canadian each after all was said and done. That included tax and tip. I thought it was worth it.

I got tickets for this though the GoVieuxPort.com website as part of the Nautical Getaway package…read moreand it was worth every penny (especially at a 40% discount)! I had a guest from out of town so we brought her with us for the ride. Even my 70 year old mom joined in though she was quite nervous about the experience. However, the ride was way safer and more fun than expected. We got there 45 min early and they play old promo videos to keep you entertained while you wait. You can definitely take this time to go to the bathroom/drink water and even strip down to your swimwear (whatever you're wearing on the boat). Presentation really starts at the 30 min mark. They go over the trip details and send everyone off to check their bags and get their sandals (if needed). NOTE: if you want to sit up front in the boat, you'll have to hustle to be first to check your bags and suit up and run over to the boat because those are the coveted seats!! We were slow so we ended up sitting in the last row. It's still a good experience, especially with my mom on board but I felt it was just a touch on the tamer side than what I wanted. Being this close to the Lachine rapids is such a thrill!! The pale turquoise waves look awesomely beautiful and fast! The curls that the waves made were absolutely stunning!! For me it was really a visual treat. We went on a hot day and our departure was at 5pm so the water had the whole day to warm up and was a tepid 23°C in August. When you hit a good wave, the water floods and drains out the back of the boat so after a huge wave crashed on the boat, we had water right up to our knees!!! I think we must've done 5 loops of going up and coming down the rapids and then it was a very speedy ride back to the Old Port. You'll appreciate the free hair drying portion of the ride as the wind whips your hair dry! The staff were helpful, funny, warm and personable. The owner Jack made you feel super welcomed. In fact, he asked us if it was our first time, he joked why did we wait so long to come see him! Here's my recommendations, if it's not 30°C out, you may feel a touch chilly in the 15 min speed ride to and from the rapids, especially after getting wet! Wearing a poncho keeps you warm and your hair almost dry because it comes with a hood. Even if it's your first time, try to sit at least 3 rows from the back because during the ride out, the engine is loud so you won't here anything the tour guide is saying even on the speakerphone. Also, you'll get a more immersive (literally) experience!! Be the first one out to the pier if you want front row seats. At the back, we still got totally soaked but we weren't really baptized in the river like those in the front rows. Sometimes we saw waves but they never reached the back of the boat. I brought my goggles cause I wore contacts but they fogged up a bit so I couldn't see how awesome the waves were but I put them up in between rounds. The water isn't a spray... More like a pounding so it can knock things loose. Bring a hair tie to keep your hair out of your face. Take the 5pm ride if you want a warm water experience. It was hot out but the sun wasn't overbearing. When the water filled the boat it was nice and tepid. If you can bring a waterproof GoPro to capture the waves cresting as the boat prepares to dive into the waves, it's the most epic thing ever! Alternatively you "can" bring your phone and during the ride back to the Old Port our tour guide offered to take pics and videos on people's phones. Great experience and if you're from Montreal, you gotta try it at least once!