Sightseeing & Shopping - CLD West Island

Lifestyle Kit Index > Sightseeing & Shopping

Most people barely get settled in before they start sightseeing and exploring the shopping possibilities in and around the West Island.
Make your first stop Québec's main tourist information office downtown. Here, you will find plenty of free information pamphlets and guide-books, and helpful personnel to assist you. Ask for guides of Montréal -including the WI - the Laurentians, Estrie, Lanaudière and Montérégie, all within an hour's distance. In the Saturday travel section of THE GAZETTE, helpful information can be found. TOURISME QUÉBEC 873-2015 1010 Ste-Catherine West, Montreal (corner: Peel) www.bonjourquebec.com INFORMATION KIOSK Fairview Shopping Centre, Pointe-Claire
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WEST ISLAND Macdonald College Experimental Farm 21111 Lakeshore Dr., Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue 398-7701 Open to the public 7 days a week from 11:30am 3 pm. The raptor centre is open Sunday afternoons. Cap St-Jacques Park 20,099 Gouin West Blvd., Pierrefonds 280-6871 www.cum.qc.ca/parcs-nature This is a large wooded park with a beautiful waterfront and swimming area. In summer, it offers hiking and cycling trails, while in the winter you'll discover a selection of cross-country ski trails. Pointe du Moulin Park on Ile Perrot, west of the island. This large park's name comes from the 18th century windmill on the point. Wide open spaces, a view of the lake, hiking trails and a working windmill provide enjoyment; located just 20 minutes from the West Island. Morgan Arboretum, in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue (corner Chemin Ste-Marie and des Pins) is a nature reserve in the western part of the city. Enjoy the trails and woodlands. Membership and information available by calling 398-7811. www.total.net/~arbo The Fur Trade in Lachine National Historic Site. Open from 10am-12pm, 1pm-6pm (1pm-6pm on Mondays) 1255, St-Joseph Blvd., Lachine 637-7433 This old stone warehouse houses an exhibition recalling fur trading days in Canada. Lachine Canal Interpretation Centre Corner 7th Avenue and St-Joseph Blvd. 637-7433 This interpretation centre presents the main phases of the canal’s construction and history. Eco-Museum, an outdoor museum located in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue (Chemin Ste-Marie), is set up as a wildlife reserve and viewing area. Great for children. Open from 9am-2pm, 7 days a week. Call 457-9449. The locks at Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue 170 Ste-Anne, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue 457-5546 These locks join Lac St-Louis to Lac des deux-Montagnes. Many pleasure boats pass through this area in the summer months. Take a walk or sit and enjoy the view. Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue offers an excellent selection of restaurants and shops. The old Daoust general store (73 Ste-Anne), still uses a trolley system with a central cash register. This 100 year old system is the only one in Canada. Promenade du Père Marquette, beside the Lachine canal, is a beautiful park on the water front offering bike paths leading all the way to Old Montreal. A good family outing. In the Fall, make sure you catch the autumn leaves' last blaze of glory in the Laurentians and the Eastern Townships. Take the ferry from Hudson to Oka or tour the back roads of the Eastern Townships. But don't forget to stop and spend the afternoon in the orchards picking your own apples. The Quinn Farm in Ile Perrot and various farms in Vaudreuil offer pick-your-own fruits and vegetables during the harvesting season. “Cabanes à Sucre” are establishments celebrating the running of the maple sap in the spring. The family will enjoy a visit to one of the many "cabanes à sucre" to sample traditional Québec food and entertainment. Watch your local newspaper for ads and locations. Winter Carnivals are held in many municipalities in February. They offer winter activities and shows for the family. Contact your recreation department for dates and schedules. MONTRÉAL The city of Montréal offers many festivals throughout the summer. The International Fireworks Competition in June, The Jazz festival and The Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in July and The Montreal Film Festival in August. Montréal's major permanent attractions include: Angrignon Park 3400 des Trinitaires Blvd. 872-1400 Located in LaSalle, it can be reached by car or métro. In the winter it is an excellent place for skating and tobogganing. It is also the winter home of the zoo animals from Lafontaine park. La Ronde, former site of EXPO’67 world fair, situated on Ile Ste-Hélène. The park is only open during the summer months, and is considered Quebec's no. 1 amusement park with rides and water slides. There is also the Aquarium which is open all year long. Call 872-6222. www.parcjeandrapeau.com/en/Attraction/LaRonde.asp Casino de Montréal, also on Ile Ste-Hélène provides a variety of games - Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, etc. -which can be played in the former Expo 67’s famous French Pavilion. Guests must be 18 years of age and dress code is in effect. Call 392-2746. www.parcjeandrapeau.com/en/Attraction/Casino.asp Montréal Botanical Garden 4101 Sherbrooke St. East, Montréal. 872-1400 This is the third largest botanical garden in the world. Wander through the 30 different gardens including the new Japanese and Chinese gardens. www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/jardin.htm Montréal Insectarium 4101 Sherbrooke St. East, Montréal 872-1400 Discover the fascinating world of insects. www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/insectarium/insect.htm Montréal Planetarium 1000 St. Jacques W., Montréal 872-4530 Follow the stars and be informed of the many mysteries of the universe. www.planetarium.montreal.qc.ca
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SHOPPING
Montréal has long been called Canada's fashion centre. You'll find shops and major shopping complexes to suit all styles and needs. Miles of underground shopping malls have doubled the retail space in recent years. On the streets of Montréal, under the streets of Montréal and in the new major shopping complexes, you'll find everything from designer boutiques to major chains and factory outlets. Try the factory outlets on Chabanel near St-Laurent north of Autoroute 40 - only open Saturday morning. No credit cards. But first: explore the West Island's possibilities! The West Island offers exciting shopping. Efficient shopping is easy at the WI's three major malls with over 500 shops and free parking. Skylights and indoor gardens add to the pleasant ambiance. The malls feature promotions and displays for every season. For items and services you need in a hurry, try your neighbourhood plaza or mall. Store hours are 10 to 6 Monday to Wednesday, 10 to 9 Thursday and Friday, 9 to 5 on Saturday, and 12 to 5 on Sunday. The Federal tax rate for purchases is 7%, and the Provincial rate is 6.5% added on top. MAJOR SHOPPING MALLS: Fairview 6801 Trans-Canada, Pointe-Claire 695-1610 Dorval Gardens 352 Dorval Ave., Dorval 636-4094 Les Galeries des Sources 3237 des Sources, Dollard-des-Ormeaux 636-4094 Friendly relaxed village shopping abounds on the West Island. Stroll in picturesque old lakeshore villages like Pointe-Claire, Dorval, Beaurepaire (Beaconsfield), Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue or Lachine and enjoy antique stores,boutiques and cafés. The book Smart Shopping Montreal, written by Sandra Phillips lists discount stores and excellent shopping where one can save money. It costs $13.95 but brings much more savings. GROCERY SHOPPING "Marché de l'Ouest", an indoor/outdoor market is open seven days a week. Local farmers sell their produce from outside stalls. Inside, specialty stores sell meat, fish, cheese, pasta, fruit, breads, pâtisseries, and deli delights. The “Marché” is located at 11600 de Salaberry, Dollard-des-Ormeaux. Call 685-0119. The Lachine outdoor farmers' market sells fresh produce in season at rue Notre-Dame in Lachine. Most grocery stores are open daily. Major chains include IGA, Métro, Provigo (regular supermarkets), Maxi, Super C (super stores) and Price Costco (warehouse store). Weekly flyers are delivered to homes in most areas. Local grocery and convenience stores also sell beer and some wines bottled in Québec. Convenience stores, or “dépanneurs”, are open daily, usually from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The SAQ stores - Société des alcools du Québec -sell wine, beer and liquor. The legal drinking age in the province is 18. RESTAURANTS Montréalers love to dine out. There are over 3,500 restaurants on the West Island and in Montréal. All newspapers run restaurant reviews and ads. Restaurants must post their menus with prices outside. A 6.5% provincial sales tax and a 7% goods and services tax (GST) applies. The West Island has a large variety of restaurants to suit every taste. The following suggestions are intended to give you a quick idea of the choices available both in type of service and ambiance. The names are presented as they are listed in the English yellow pages. Several West Island restaurants have a reputation that extends beyond the immediate area. They serve a fine cuisine in a uniquely charming atmosphere. Some are renowned for their delicate sauces. Restaurant Les Trois Arches, specializing in French cuisine is located in an old mansion complete with beautiful wood panelling. L'Habitant Restaurant also has excellent French cuisine that is served in a charming converted farmhouse with a huge fireplace. Restaurant Le Vieux St-Charles is another of the same category as is Surcouf Restaurant in Ste-Anne. Our hotels feature Bibe-lots (Holiday Inn, Pointe-Claire) and Au Coin du Feu ( Hilton Montreal Airport, in Dorval). When it comes to Italian cuisine, Restaurant La Lanterna Verde has a reputation that shines in Montréal. Restaurant Casamicci, Il Fornetto and Restaurant Il Cortile also serve pasta dishes in an intimate setting. For the romantically inclined, Restaurant Le Chambertin offers continental cuisine with music for dancing on weekends. The waterfront in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue features a large selection of restaurants of various types. These are very popular during the summer when customers enjoy the many attractive terraces facing the boardwalk. There are very specialized cafés, tea houses and "Brasseries" but also full service restaurants. Among the many family restaurants, try one of several excellent Chinese restaurants with buffet lunches and dinners; including the Crystal Palace and La Perle. The Bar-B-Barn features delicious barbecue spare ribs and chicken that children adore. You'll find North American fast food chains along Sources, St. John's, St. Charles and Pierrefonds Boulevards, but Québec has its own specialties. St-Hubert offers chicken menus, Lafleur offers french fries and a Québec specialty "poutine" (french fries topped with cheese curds and sauce). For economical meals, Québecers go to "brasseries", taverns that serve food at competitive prices. And if you are looking for exquisite pastries , cakes and pies, try the Pâtisserie de Gascogne and the Vienna Swiss Pastry & Delicatessen (see under Pastry Shops). Some fine restaurants allow you to bring your own wine and they open the bottle for you at no charge. TIPPING Waiters and taxi drivers expect between 10 and 15% of the bill or fare. Some restaurants include the tip in the bill, but must clearly say so. Hotel doormen expect tips for calling a taxi or helping with baggage. No tips for theatre or cinema ushers.
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