Our First Trip to Montreal (Before Baby!)

A Spontaneous Canadian Grand Prix Adventure

Our first trip to Canada happened before we had a baby, back when spontaneous trips were a little easier to pull off 😅

We decided, very last minute, to go to the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. What started as “let’s just go for the race” somehow turned into a full 7-day June adventure filled with hiking, cliffside climbing, Formula 1 energy, ferris wheel views, and one of the best spas we’ve ever been to.

It was early summer. The city was alive. Everything felt green and vibrant.

Looking back, it was the perfect mix of nature + city + adrenaline.

Days 1–3: Mont-Tremblant & Saint-Côme

Instead of staying in Montreal right away, we rented a car and drove about an hour and a half north to a small town called Saint-Côme. It was quiet, surrounded by trees and mountains, and felt like a little reset before heading into Grand Prix weekend.

Being there in June meant everything was lush and bright. The lakes were calm, the trails were dry, and the weather was that ideal “warm but comfortable” summer temperature.

We spent our first couple of days hiking in Parc National du Mont-Tremblant. The trails felt adventurous but not overwhelming. It was the kind of hiking where you’re enjoying the views but still feel like you earned your post-hike meal.

It was peaceful in the best way.

Via Ferrata du Diable (Still One of Our Favorites)

One of the highlights of the entire trip was doing Via Ferrata du Diable.

If you’ve never done a via ferrata, it’s a guided climbing experience along the side of a mountain. You’re clipped in the entire time, so it feels safe, but you’re climbing along metal rungs and crossing suspension bridges attached to the cliffside.

In June, the valley below was completely green and the sky was clear. It felt adventurous without being extreme, just enough thrill to make it memorable.

It’s one of those experiences that makes you pause and think, “I’m really glad we did this.”

The Pit Lane Walk (A Risk That Paid Off ..)

While staying in Saint-Côme, we drove back down to Montreal for the Pit Lane Walk.

And yes… I bought tickets from someone on Reddit.

Would I recommend it? Probably not. Did it work out? Yes. Was I nervous until the tickets scanned? Also yes.

But once we were inside, it was worth it.

We were close enough to see the pit crews prepping cars and caught glimpses of Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant. Other fans said they had spotted Lewis Hamilton earlier in the day.

If you’re an F1 fan, getting that close to the garages is such a cool experience. It makes the race feel more real.

Days 4–7: Montreal During Grand Prix Weekend

After Mont-Tremblant, we returned the rental car and stayed in Longueuil, just across the river from Montreal.

Grand Prix weekend prices inside the city were high, so staying across the river saved us money and still felt convenient. We used Uber and the Metro to get around, and both were easy and reliable.

Montreal in June during Grand Prix weekend has this buzz to it. The patios are full, the streets feel lively, and there’s just this steady energy everywhere you go.

It felt festive without feeling overwhelming.

Exploring Montreal in the Summer

The Montreal Botanical Garden in June is beautiful. Everything is in bloom, and it feels calm and expansive, a nice contrast to the race weekend crowds.

The Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal completely surprised me. Walking in from the bright summer sun into that dramatic blue interior is such a moment. It’s one of those places that makes you stop and just look around.

We also visited the Biodôme de Montréal and loved it. Even without kids, it felt immersive and interesting. We ended up loving it so much that we went back two years later with our son!

Since this was a little getaway for just the two of us, we also rode La Grande Roue de Montréal. There’s something nostalgic about a ferris wheel. Seeing Old Montreal and the river from above on a clear summer day was one of those simple, happy travel moments. Check out the pictures below!

Then there’s Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal. It’s definitely a walk, but manageable especially with the mild June weather in Canada. The panoramic view of Montreal at the top makes it worth the steps.

Race Day at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve

On Sunday, we took the Metro to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, which was absolutely the right decision.

Race day felt electric.

It wasn’t unbearably hot, just warm enough to feel like summer. The crowd energy, the sound of the engines, the reactions from thousands of fans, it felt like a full event, not just a race.

Even if you’re not deeply into F1, it’s exciting to be part of that atmosphere.

Ending with Scandinave Spa

On our last day, we had to check out of the Airbnb but had a late-night flight. We had two carry-ons and no real plan.

So we wandered around Old Montreal looking for something to do and found Scandinave Spa Vieux-Montréal.

And wow.

After a week of hiking and race weekend energy, stepping into a quiet thermal spa was the perfect way to slow down. No phones. No talking. Just a hot pool, cold plunges, saunas, and total calm.

It felt peaceful in a way that travel doesn’t always allow.

It ended up being one of the main reasons we decided to return to Montreal again later.

Final Thoughts

We absolutely loved Montreal in June.

It felt vibrant, international, and easy to explore. The mix of outdoor adventure, city culture, and Formula 1 energy made it such a memorable trip.

We kept joking, “Is the grass actually greener on the other side?” 😅

It’s only about a 6-hour drive from NYC (we flew from LGA for around $300 per person), which makes it such an easy international getaway.

This was our first Montreal trip before baby.

And it definitely wouldn’t be our last.