Children's Activities in & Around Montreal

Fun With Animals

Take in amazing plants and animals at the Biodome of Montreal (Ville.montreal.qc.ca; search for "Biodome"). Children will love looking at the exotic locales such as the tropical forest and the Arctic. Afterward, go buggy at the nearby Insectarium (Ville.montreal.qc.ca; search for "Insectarium"). Don't miss the new BuzzGround for kids---it includes a Fun Zone with games and a Discovery Zone with a butterfly house.

The Ecomuseum (Ecomuseum.ca) is another good choice. This fascinating wildlife park offers kids a look at many kinds of animals, as well as workshops on different species.

Children of all ages have a blast at the Montreal Science Centre (CentreDesSciencesDeMontreal.com). A wide variety of interactive games and displays teach kids about everything from life science to technology, and then they can sit back and watch a huge Imax film. The Science Centre is located in the Old Port of Montreal, where you'll also find a fun labyrinth and activities from boating to skating.

Other kid-friendly museums include the the Museum of Contemporary Art (Macm.org) with day camps for children and the McCord Museum of Canadian History (McCord-museum.qc.ca), which has several family programs.

Parents and kids can enjoy the active life year-round at the Morgan Arboretum (MorganArboretum.org). Hiking is popular during the warmer months, and the cross-country skiing is great when it snows. The arboretum contains all kinds of greenery plus hundreds of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds.

The Cap-Saint-Jacques Outdoor Centre is filled with fun activities for children, including archery, canoeing and swimming when it's warm out, and sledding and snowshoeing in winter. Also, check out the Montreal Botanical Garden in fall---the whole family will enjoy the thousands of lanterns lit in its Chinese Garden. See Resources for information about Cap-Saint-Jacques and the Botanical Garden.

The kids won't let you miss La Ronde, Montreal's popular amusement park (LaRonde.com). Take them there for all kinds of wild rides, games and summer fireworks. Also, let them get their ya-yas out at the Aquadôme, which offers hours of fun with its water slides and diving boards. Parents just might enjoy the heated pools, too.