Canada is open to vaccinated Americans. The timing was right + this wanderlust needed to get her passport stamped. It may only be 6 hours away, but walking the cobblestone streets with French being spoken all around you makes you feel a world away + it was exactly what I needed.
The trip over the border was easy + seamless. We got our passports, vaccination cards, negative COVID test, uploaded our information to the Arrive Canada App + we were on our way. Since Luna is under 5 she did not have to get a COVID test 72 hours before like we did.
We hit the road bright + early with a pit stop 3 hours away in beautiful Saratoga Springs. A quick Google search led us to one of the best places we ate on the trip, The Merc in Saratoga Springs. The food was delicious + it was the perfect stop half way road trip pit stop.
3 more hours on the road + we were in Canada checking into Hotel Bonaventure, a downtown hotel with a rooftop heated pool + about a 20 minute walk to Old Montreal. We unpacked, headed straight to Old Montreal + got ourselves Canada’s famous dish - poutine + smoked meat. We walked off the poutine by strolling the beautiful cobblestone streets + waterfront.
Next morning we woke up + headed to the Botanical Gardens. As a self proclaimed plant lady, I was in heaven. The garden was absolutely beautiful + HUGE. We only conquered a small portion of it. It is a must stop when in Montreal. After the garden we headed to Jean-Talon Market + chowed down on crepes.
With a heatwave in Montreal we spent the rest of our days lounging by the pool + walking the streets of Old Montreal in the evening. One night we headed to St. Laurent + Mont Royal Street, it is where street art dreams are made of.
Because basically every food blog tells you to, we ate at Schwartz. I grew up going to Jewish Deli’s in the city so Schwartz was not anything special to me - sorry not sorry. My favorite meal in Montreal was at L’Original in Old Montreal. I ordered a delicious beef tartar + Mike ordered ravioli special stuffed with pulled game meat in a delectable mushroom sauce.
Other honorable food mentions from the trip: Brit + Chips where I had great fish + chips + Pizzéria NO.900 where we got tasty napleton style pizza.
We said au revoir to Montreal + headed back on the road. We just had to make another pit stop at The Merc in Saratoga Springs. It was delicious, yet again.
Safe to say the Saratoga area of NY will be seeing me very soon.
If you have any questions or want some trip tips, email me at bayshorebeyond@gmail.com
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