The Old Port of Montreal

I’ve lived in Montreal my whole life. I was born here, and I love everything about this town; its diversity, its culture, the various bars, the art to be found around every corner, the people... Montreal is filled with treasures. One of my favorite places to hang out is the Old Port. It was one of the first places I ever went to by myself as a teenager, and it has now become my little haven. I can spend hours there.

Last week, I went to the Old Port with my two favorite people: my boyfriend and my bestie. Our main goal was to attend the PoutineFest for dinner, but we ended up making a day out of it. We roamed the streets under the setting sun, looking for adventure.

The first thing we did was hit the docks. To me, this is where the real fun begins. The view is just breath-taking, and there is always something happening. Standing by the water, you can admire the St-Lawrence River, with the skyscrapers watching over you.

When I said there is always something happening, I meant always. There are usually street performers, food trucks (one in particular, Félix & Norton, makes custom ice cream sandwiches with their homemade cookies!), and vendors crowding the streets. During the summer, you’re sure to find some outdoor event taking place, or the Cirque du Soleil tent. Right now, there is a huge zipline going across the docks, in addition to a Ferris wheel and an adventure park.

The Old Port is also home to a few food festivals, like Yul Eat (in past years), the RibFest, the MacFest, and the PoutineFest. I adore events like these, because they’re always so homey and they allow you to discover new food and restaurants (plus, they are a great excuse to eat all day long). Last week was the PoutineFest, which my best friend and I have been trying to go to for years, and we only now have managed to make it. It was well worth it, though. We went on a Wednesday afternoon, so there wasn’t a ton of people, but it was still nice. I had a pulled pork poutine from Le Smoking BBQ, which was (obviously) delicious. My best friend, Veronique, got a regular poutine from a truck called LGros Lux. There is just something about food trucks… They’re like a reversed drive-through. I’m a big fan.

Besides all the pop-up events, there are also a few attractions that live in the Old Port year round. First, there is the Science Centre, which is entirely designed for families. I haven’t been there in a while, but I loved going there as a kid. On my 10th birthday, my uncle offered to take me wherever I wanted. Out of all places, I chose the Science Centre.
Yeah. It’s that entertaining.
And that’s how much of a nerd I am.

Another one of my favorite spots used to be the labyrinth. Hidden inside an old warehouse, it used to be a maze filled with enigmas and obstacles. That specific labyrinth isn’t there anymore, but it has been replaced by the SOS Labyrinthe, which I’ve heard is just as brilliant.

Oh, this is strictly what’s happening on the docks. There is a whole other part of the Old Port to visit, with more boutiques, art galleries, museums, restaurants… We could be here all day, so I’m going to leave it at that, but I hope this post inspired you to explore, whether that be Montreal or the city you live in. Personally, it makes my soul so happy to walk around with no specific destination, and just… see what's there to find.

Until next time.

Much love,
-TM-