Thrills at La Ronde theme park in Montreal (by Robert)

Robert, who's 12, writes:

When we were on holiday in Montreal, I went to a Six Flags theme park called La Ronde. This was so I could go on all of the awesome rides and roller coasters, whilst dad came along to keep me company and sit on a bench near the awesome rides and roller coasters! For me it was one of the best days of our trip to Canada, here my three favourite rides and what I thought about them.

Please watch our video about the highlights of our Montreal trip:

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Demon

[caption id="attachment_4285" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Demon ride at Le Ronde
(Six Flags Entertainment Corporation)[/caption]

Demon is the best ride I’ve been on all year and my favourite at La Ronde by far. When strapped in, you are lifted up before being spun in loads of different directions. You go upside down, spin round and round, and go fast. It was very unpredictable, which made it exciting. At many parts, you travel towards jets of water, which make it look like you’re going to get splashed. At the very last second you flip away, so you stay dry. The best place to sit is on the far left, because you go super close to the water. This made the ride really fun.

Vampire

[caption id="attachment_4286" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Vampire ride
(Six Flags Entertainment Corporation)[/caption]

Vampire was my favourite roller coaster and my second favourite ride at La Ronde. This was a really smooth roller coaster and there were lots of turns and drops. It also went really fast, at 50 miles per hour, and I really enjoyed it. It was lots of fun, and when I think back of my time at the park, it really jumps out at me.

Super Manège

[caption id="attachment_4287" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Super Manege ride
(Six Flags Entertainment Corporation)[/caption]

Super Manège was really fun because it was fast and there was a loop de loop. It was probably one of the lengthiest roller coasters at La Ronde, which was good as you had more time to enjoy it. It was not very scary and there weren’t very many drops, so I recommend it for children and people who don’t go on a lot of roller coasters.

There were loads of rides and roller coasters at La Ronde. Another two I recommend are the Gravitor, where you go up and around, and Bateau Pirate, which is a pirate ship on a pendulum. I also recommend Monster, which was unfortunately closed when we went but is supposed to be really good. I only went on some of the rides at La Ronde as there were so many to choose from. The only downside was the roller coaster Ednör, where my head kept smashing against the metal of my seat. However, the majority of the rides were good.

In conclusion, I liked La Ronde as there were so many rides to pick from. There was a range of rides catering from thrill-seekers to children, and the location was really nice. It is very central, so when you go high you can see lots of important places in Montreal and you have a good view of the water and the rest of the park. Overall, I recommend the park for anyone below 100! I had a really good time.

You can save tickets if you buy your tickets to La Ronde in advance (and don't need to queue!). They range from 30 to 60 Canadian dollars depending on when you want to go! That's around £20 to £40 for a day pass.

Read about what else we got up to on holiday in Montreal

Also on theme parks:

The best waterpark in the world: Siam Park

A great day out at Thorpe Park

Three days in Montreal with kids

[caption id="attachment_4252" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Us on Mount Royal (after which the city is named!)[/caption]

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec, in Canada, and this year it celebrates its 375th birthday! We didn't really know what to expect when we visited, but we all loved this beautiful, cosmopolitan city, full of things to do for all ages and with a fascinating history too.

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The first thing you need to know about Montreal is that, like the rest of Quebec, it sees itself as both part of, and very separate from, the rest of Canada. You can tell that by the fact that French is the first language here (the province was first "discovered" by the French, although of course, the native Canadians had been here for centuries) and the French influence is everywhere, even though it was taken under the control of the British in 1760. Once the capital of Canada, it is a city which is full of history and culture, as well as commerce.

What to do

Jess, aged 15, says: The whole of Montreal is gorgeous to walk around. We loved strolling through the old town, looking around at the period buildings, seeing the universities, and trying out the Underground City (a series of connected buildings and walkways which is used in bad or snowy weather). However, for me the best views of the city had to be at the top of the Mont Royal (which the city is named after). This is a 223m high hill, offering spectacular views of the entire city. At the viewpoint beside the Chalet du Mont-Royal, we could see all the way to the shimmering water of the Old Port, the Olympic stadium, and the large Downtown skyscrapers. Mont Royal is surrounded by a 200 hectare park which was lovely to walk through - and amazing to have right in the heart of such a huge and busy city!

Robert, aged 12, writes: Dad took me to the La Ronde theme park, which I really enjoyed. There was a huge variety of rides for all ages, including some fast and scary ones for me! You also got to see great views of the rest of Montreal while you were there.

Jess writes: The Montreal Biodome contains four different ecosystems to walk through, and is an excellent place to visit. The biodome stands out from others as it contains live animals, which were amazing to see up close in their natural habitats. We particularly enjoyed seeing two beavers fighting each other in the Gulf of St Lawrence ecosystem, a racoon, and watching penguins and puffins swimming in the sub polar region. The biodome was incredibly well done, with a huge range of plants and animals. We had the opportunity to try different foods from the regions (such as seaweed and a type of sap), touch sand dollars, and learn about the animals through various information cards. I really enjoyed the museum. I certainly preferred it to the Eden Project in Cornwall, and recommend it 100 per cent to families visiting Montreal.

[caption id="attachment_4256" align="alignnone" width="900"] A delightful sounding menu![/caption]

Brian writes: The Insectarium is about 10 minutes walk away from the biodome. This is the largest insect museum in North America, and is located just inside the beautiful tranquil surroundings of the Botanical Gardens. We saw lots of glass cases containing dead insects (and butterflies), but the live ones were far more interesting. The ants display was particularly good, as it was not behind glass and you could see the ants carrying small leaves and pieces of flowers across the branches. Robert was then lucky enough to be able to hold a giant stick insect in the palm of his hand (as you can see in the video). This was a lovely museum to visit for an hour or so, and outside there was a stall selling food made with bugs that included cricket burgers, tacos with silkworms, and ice-cream dipped in termite chocolate.

Sarah says: The Botanical Gardens is situated right next to the Insectarium and is a kind of oasis in the heart of the city. It features plants from all over the world and is really relaxing to sit in and walk around. If you're a bird or plant lover, this is the place for you. Even if not, you'll enjoy looking at the flowers, but probably not for as long as otherwise. I wouldn't have ventured out here just for this, but with the insectarium next door, it was well worth a trip.

[caption id="attachment_4258" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Olympic swimming pool[/caption]

Jess says: My favourite part of our Montreal holiday was the Olympic Stadium tour. We spent around half an hour walking around the Olympic Park: learning about its construction, the games, and how it is used today. Our guide was extremely interesting and conducted the tour in both French and English. I particularly enjoyed learning why the stadium has no retractable roof (the material was so flimsy that the roof ripped when opened, so it had to be replaced with a stronger, non-retractable kind) and why construction took such a long time. We saw the stadium and swimming pools, and were also allowed to visit the "Since 1976" exhibition, which included lots of artefacts from the games. This was very interesting and well done. It was a fascinating and really exciting tour which I definitely would recommend to adults and children alike. Montreal is the only Canadian city ever to have hosted the summer Olympics, although it nearly bankrupted the city....



Sarah writes: If you're going to Montreal, you can't miss the old city. As you'd imagine, it's the oldest part of the city, and because it's the most "touristy", it gets extremely busy, but it's still a must-see! It's really unlike anywhere we'd ever been before - such a mixture of Europe and North America, with its own Notre Dame cathedral too, on the Place d’Armes, which is a gorgeous public square. We all really liked one of the newest sculptures here, called "The English pug and the French poodle", which show a snooty man and woman at either ends of one of the sides. They are supposed to represent England and France, looking away from each other. But both hold dogs, which are looking at each other - showing we can be friends after all!

There are also many small roads, many cobbled, to walk through, selling all kinds of wares. One of the most famous areas is Place Jacques-Cartier, was a marketplace hundreds of years ago, and is now one of the city's busiest tourist areas. If you're with kids, they may not want to spend too long just mooching around, (although we always find that an ice-cream or snack helps) and I wouldn't recommend eating a meal here as the restaurants were all packed and pricey (there are loads of other great places to eat in the city).

[caption id="attachment_4260" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Voiles en Voiles was brilliant fun![/caption]

If you go to the old city, you have to walk by the Old Port, which is full of stalls and right by the water. While there you could hire a pedalo, enjoy a run around in the park, admire the clocktower and raise your adrenalin levels at the Voiles et Voiles park, which is a bit like Go Ape. Voiles et Voiles also has a marvellous inflatable playground, which is certainly not just for kids. I enjoyed it as much as Robert!

[caption id="attachment_4261" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert ziplining at the Old Port[/caption]

The old port is also the place to find Montreal Zipline, which was fantastic fun (at least according to Robert and Brian - I was too wimpy to try!). It was the first urban zipline in all of Canada and flies over the famous Bonsecours island in the old port. It's for everyone aged seven and up, and a great way to see the city. As Robert writes: Dad and I went on the MTL zip-line, the longest zip wire in Canada. After suiting up, we travelled up a series of stair cases before reaching the top. When it was my turn, I was harnessed to the wire before being asked to simply walk off! It was so thrilling to travel over the river and get an amazing view of the city, although stopping was a bit scary. I had an awesome time.

[caption id="attachment_4253" align="alignnone" width="1200"] One of the signs from the 1930s/40s at the Montreal Holocaust Museum[/caption]

Jess writes: Though maybe not as joyous as the other places we visited, I would recommend a visit to the Montreal Holocaust Museum. We learned about the Holocaust through written information, artefacts, audio guides, and video. As Canada is thought of as being such an amazing, friendly country, I was surprised by how few refugees were taken in, in comparison to other countries, and how determined some people were not to help. Something else which stood out was a small heart-shaped pad of paper filled with messages; a birthday gift from friends in a concentration camp to another friend. We were in the museum for about an hour, and it was time well spent, and extremely educational.

[caption id="attachment_4262" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Outside the Pointe-à-Callière Museum[/caption]

Sarah writes:  Montreal was established at Pointe-à-Callière, where the St. Lawrence River met what was then the Petite Rivière. Twenty five years ago, when it was its 350th birthday, the Pointe-à-Callière Museum opened right here, and if you are going to visit any museums in the city, this is the one to go to.

It is extremely good on the history of the city, and starts with a short film giving some background. You can then see some authentic archaeological sites as the hotel is built upon the old ruins. There is a lot of interactivity here, but we were sorry to see that some of the items clearly aimed at children were not working (a disappointment for my son).

We all found the archaeological/historical parts interesting, although there was repetition in parts, but it is a fine introduction to the city. However, our favourite part of the museum was the "Pirates or Privateers?" exhibition which is squarely aimed at kids, but actually great fun and gives good detail on the life of being a pirate.

What to see

[caption id="attachment_4265" align="alignnone" width="1200"] At the top of the Olympic Tower[/caption]

Brian says: We really enjoyed our visit to the Olympic Stadium and then up the Olympic Tower. The futuristic design, looking a bit like the Starship Enterprise, was not how it looked in 1976. The tower part, which is probably the most recognisable symbol of the city, was only completed in 1987. It stands at a 45 degree angle and is the world’s tallest leaning tower. We took a trip to the top in the amazing glass-encased funicular. The tower is curved like a ski jumping hill, but an ingenious hydraulic system keeps you level all the way. It took about two minutes to get up to the observation deck, and we enjoyed great views of the Olympic Park. Sadly, it was quite a misty day, and we could not see much of the city beyond. Luckily the funicular was such great fun that the trip up and down the outside of the tower was worth a visit in its own right.

[caption id="attachment_4264" align="alignnone" width="1200"] At the top of the Observatory[/caption]

Robert writes: We travelled up the observatory (called Au Sommet) in a lift that travelled incredibly quickly and we were amazed by the view at the top. All four walls were glass panels so we could see Montreal from every angle and there was an exhibition about the city on the floor below too. I loved spotting all the places we had been to and it was awesome to see the city from a different perspective.

Where to eat

[caption id="attachment_4267" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Trying our Montreal bagels[/caption]

Sarah says: Having heard that Montreal has a strong Jewish heritage, we were very pleased to go on a Jewish walking tour of the city with Round Table tours. It was extremely hot on the day that we did the tour, so we were grateful for the water we were offered at the start and the fabulous flavoured sodas which we tried out at Wilensky's Light Lunch, an absolutely classic diner, which has been in the city since 1932 and I imagine hasn't changed at all! I had cherry cola and Jess had cherry pineapple, and we both enjoyed looking around us and falling back into the past (there is even a sign saying the staff won't accept tips).

[caption id="attachment_4277" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Wilenksy's hasn't changed much since it opened in 1932![/caption]

The tour certainly covered all the sites we were expecting, including the two rival bagel bakeries, St-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount (Montreal is famous for its bagels). We were surprised that the food on the tour was not kosher, so we couldn't sample the famous smoked meats, but to be honest, I think we ate enough during the three hours - including some fabulous babka.
Our tour guide did impart a lot of information, from the fact that Celine Dion now owns Schwartz's (probably the most famous "Jewish" deli in the city, although not kosher, but always extremely busy) to the story behind Canadian rye "whisky", but he seemed a bit vague on a number of Jewish issues (including what keeping kosher actually is) which you wouldn't have expected on a Jewish tour. He also didn't bring the warmth one might have expected to a tour like this (he clearly finds very religious Jews unintelligible), which was as shame, but it was still worth doing.
Iconic Dishes: Jewish Montreal, The Original Tour! costs $80 per person

Jess writes: Mandy's was definitely our favourite place to eat during our trip to Montreal. We wanted somewhere to eat which wasn't too heavy, and the bright lights and decor of the shop drew us in. Mandy's sells a wide variety of salads and soups, and we loved it so much that we visited three times in three days. I loved the Mexican and the Roma salads, and the mum, dad and Robert loved the grain bowls. We wish we had a Mandy's in our neighbourhood!

Where to stay: Montreal is a huge city with so many options for where to stay. We were in the Residence Inn, Marriott Downtown which was an excellent location - near lots of shops and restaurants, as well as the metro and main train station. Our room was large, with two double beds and a sofa bed (excellent as it meant the kids didn't have to share) plus a little kitchen with big fridge, microwave and hob, which meant we could eat in. Breakfast was complimentary and we all loved the waffles!

Overall, we would really recommend Montreal as a place to visit. It is a gorgeous city with so much to do, whatever your interests, and whatever your age. We were sad to say "au revoir"!

Disclosure: We were fortunate to be helped in our trip by Tourism Montreal and Quebec Original, which enabled us to try out some activities free or at a reduced price. However, neither they, nor any of the places we visited, had any input into this blog post. Please visit their websites for more on this wonderful city and region.
We were also helped by Explore Canada, which you must visit if you are interested in not only this region, but a visit to anywhere in the country!

More on Canada - our wonderful trip to Niagara Falls

 

A day in stunning Niagara Falls

If you go to Toronto, you really need to visit Niagara Falls, and of course we did. It certainly didn't disappoint and is something none of us will ever forget. The Falls - which are made up of the American Falls and the even more spectacular Horseshoe ones are truly magnificent, an absolute wonder and truly beautiful. We saw them in a number of different ways, and while Jess and Robert would say the helicopter was the best, Brian and I would go for the boat, which takes you right up to the edge of the Horseshoe Falls (and gets you soaking wet!).

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Niagara is an amazing place to visit, and very easy to get around. We parked in the centre and then used the WEGO buses to get us from one place to another. The town is very busy, as you'd expect, and we'd recommend getting there early. We picked up a hire car from Toronto at about 8.30 am and arrived around 10.15.

There are loads of shops and eating places in the town, as well as more things to do such as visiting the world's largest aviary or Guinness World of Records exhibition. However, we stuck to seeing the Falls themselves and were thrilled when we saw a rainbow right above them just before we left.



Robert, aged 12, writes; Before getting up close and personal with the Falls, Jess, Dad and I decided to look at them from a different angle - up in the sky on a helicopter with Niagara Helicopters. We took off and flew towards the waterfalls, going so high we could see for miles and miles. The view of Niagara falls was breathtaking and it was amazing to look at it from above. The whole thing lasted about ten minutes and it was my favourite part of our day in Niagara. It was absolutely amazing!

[caption id="attachment_4230" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert admires the view![/caption]

Jess, aged 15, writes: Our helicopter journey over Niagara falls was like nothing I'd ever done before. After being strapped into my seat, we seemed to zoom off into the air, with glorious views beneath us. We had incredible, unobstructed views of the whirlpool, rapids, American Falls, and Canadian Horseshoe Falls, and the route meant that you could see easily from wherever you were sitting in the helicopter. There was also audio commentary, but I was so overwhelmed by the experience that I didn't really manage to take anything in! I was initially very nervous about going in a helicopter, but my fears were quickly dispelled - the journey was really smooth. Our helicopter trip over the falls was short, but incredible. I quite honestly loved every second.

[caption id="attachment_4231" align="alignnone" width="1200"] We all had to wear ponchos so we wouldn't get soaking wet![/caption]

Sarah writes: Journey Behind the Falls takes you behind the Falls, and I really enjoyed doing it. It starts with a lift which takes you down 150 feet. Everyone is handed a poncho (definitely necessary) and we headed to the observation deck first, which was stunning. It's a brilliant way to see the Horseshoe Falls (which has up to 2,800 cubit metres of water thundering past every second) and amazing to stand right next to the water and see it rushing past you.
After this, you can join the queues to see the 130 year old tunnels, which have cut into the bedrock. You will hear the Falls too and then see the water in front of you.
These tunnels do get very busy, and at the end, as you can see from the pic, you simply see water gushing past, and stand behind a barrier to do so. But that isn't to put it down - you can't really expect to be on a ledge or something within the Falls itself and the view is well worth it. However, small children may find the waiting a little frustrating (ours were fine and we enjoyed looking through both tunnels).

Brian writes: We had flown over the Falls in a helicopter, and then travelled down behind the Falls. Now it was time to get up even closer, by taking a trip on a Hornblower Cruise. We were all given red ponchos, so we knew we were going to get a little wet. It did not take us long to get onto a boat, as each one takes 700 people.  We managed to get a good spot on the top deck, and soon we were on our way up the river towards the falls.

[caption id="attachment_4233" align="alignnone" width="1200"] A Hornblower boat at Niagara Falls,[/caption]

We first travelled past the American falls (and the Bridal Veil Falls) and it was surreal to see an alternative experience taking place not too far away on the US side – the Maid of the Mist boats and their passengers with their blue ponchos, and the Cave of the Wind walkers in their yellow ponchos. These falls were impressive enough, with the roar of the water thundering down not too far from the boat.

[caption id="attachment_4247" align="alignnone" width="1200"] We got wet, but it was brilliant![/caption]

However, this was nothing compared to when we reached our final destination, the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, where the noise and spray levels increased dramatically. The boat seemed to be ridiculously near to the base of the falls, and it felt a little tense, with people all around us screaming. The falls stretched impossibly high above us, and it was if we were in a biblical movie at the parting of the Red Sea.



 

After a few minutes there the boat turned for home again - we were drenched, but it had been an amazing experience that we would remember for the rest of our lives.

[caption id="attachment_4235" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The views were amazing![/caption]

This was the highlight of my time at Niagara Falls (even more than the helicopter ride), as the Falls were literally in your face. It really was an amazing experience to see one of the natural wonders of the world up close, and this is a must do if you are ever lucky enough to come here.

Jess, aged 15, writes: We ended our day with the White Water Walk: a short riverside boardwalk of the Niagara Rapids, classified as some of the most dangerous in the world. We began by talking a lift 70 metres down to the bottom of the gorge, where there was a short exhibition on the stuntmen and women who have tackled the Niagara rapids.

[caption id="attachment_4238" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The rapids at Niagara Falls[/caption]

Next came the 300 metre boardwalk, which goes right next to the water's edge. We learnt about the geology, flora, and fauna of the area, and marvelled at the rapids. These travel at speeds up to 48 miles per hour and can reach five metres tall, so it was very exciting to see them up close. There were also viewing platforms in order to help us get a better look. While it was a lovely walk, it was very short, the queue was long, and the views were not as amazing as the places we had previously visited. But it was still worth going!

[caption id="attachment_4239" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Us by the fast-flowing rapids![/caption]

If you have time after your visit to Niagara, we would recommend driving back via the scenic route and Niagara on the Lake. This is a most beautiful little town with loads of shops and restaurants and beautiful views of Lake Ontario. The houses are gorgeous too (and very pricey) and we really enjoyed buying sandwiches and eating them overlooking the Lake.
It's about half an hour away from the centre of Niagara and well worth a trip.

[caption id="attachment_4245" align="alignnone" width="1200"] At beautiful and serene Niagara By the Lake[/caption]

We were extremely lucky to be helped by Ontario Travel, Niagara Helicopters and the Niagara Parks Commission for our fabulous day out. They provided us with complimentary admission and transportation to all the attractions, but had absolutely no input into this blog post.
Our tickets for the helicopter trip were provided by Niagara Helicopters, which charges 144 Canadian dollars per adult (£89) and 88 per child. Niagara Parks sells an adventure pass classic which covers the Hornblower Niagara Cruises, Journey Behind the Falls, White Water Walk, Niagara’s Fury and two day access on the WEGO). It costs from $57 CAD (£35) + tax per adult