I figured it would just be a Parisian New York or vice versa. Naïve as I was, I didn’t realize that I was in for a spirited, bold and complex mix of contrasts that defies comparison.

If we were a populace of fashionistas, we’d be following the trends. Truth is, we’re just too busy setting the styles to notice.

Overwhelmed by the candlelight, the music, and the romance of the moment, I screamed “YES!” from every pore.

Anything you want, any day of the year, is pretty much how the cultural scene works in Montréal.

Only in Montréal does a simple stroll seem like time travel: you go back in time or leap into the future with every step.

I’ve got three days, two kids and a whole lot of energy to burn in Montréal. Let’s roll.

My jet-set gal pal was zooming in for the weekend and I had exactly 48 hours to show her that Montréal hasn’t earned its avant-garde reputation for nothing. “Let the adventure begin!”

As the first urban centre and the seventh global destination to sign the National Geographic Geotourism Charter, you might say that we take the outdoors seriously.