Reserve a spot for you and the kids on the Amphi-Bus and you’ll see Montreal two ways: onshore or off. The incredible amphibian vehicle transitions seamlessly from a road tour to the St. Lawrence River. Starting in the hopping Old Montreal corner of De la Commune and St-Laurent, the historically enlightening journey around Old Montreal will acquaint you with all the unmissable sites – Notre-Dame Basilica, Marché Bonsecours, Place Jacques-Cartier, the quais – before taking a dive into the river. Then you’ll see it all from the vantage point offshore, and take in the beautiful view out across the water.

A special treat you can offer yourself is a romantic tête-à-tête aboard the Amphi-Bus during the International Loto-Québec Fireworks throughout the summer (starting on June 22). There’s no better place to view the spectacular light show than in the middle of the St-Lawrence. You’ll be invited to toast the occasion with a glass of sparkling wine, to add to the mood. Montreal, this one’s for you!

THE DETAILS

Amphi-Bus, Starting at De la Commune and St-Laurent, (514) 849-5181

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La Ronde, the Six Flags amusement park on beautifully green Île Ste-Hélène  just off the island of Montreal is a source of excitement for everyone in the family. This year they’ve added some wet and wild action for all: it’s called the Aqua Twist, and it’s a North American first! Based on the success of the crowd favourite, the Splash, Aqua Twist is an interactive ride that will leave you drenched.

It’s a round ride (picture a giant pool) populated with nine boats, each with six riders. Each rider is equipped with a water gun, which means IT’S WAR: you can soak both the other ships and the unsuspecting public that may be within reach in the park! But beware, they have water guns too – a whole slew of water weapons surround the outskirts of Aqua Twist, making you the perfect aim for any ill willed passersby.

If wet willies aren’t your thing, worry not, you’ve got 40 other rides and attractions to choose from: among them seven roller coasters that range from classic (the Monster) to friggin terrifying (the Goliath). La Ronde has got its fair share of upside downers, too, like the Attack (the name says it all), not to mention a bungee ball and last year’s star ride, the Vol Ultime, which rewrites the game in terms of flying high. Add the excitement in the air, the kiddie section, the electric gondola that crosses the entire park, the popcorn, the candyfloss and all the Beaver Tails you can eat (and try to keep down) – no wonder the thrill-seekers are stoked!

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THE DETAILS

La Ronde, 22 Chemin MacDonald, Île Ste-Hélène, (514) 397-2000

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With the sweet scent of spring blossoms in the air, Montreal begins a new season of activity and entertainment, not to mention plenty to please every mom for Mother’s Day, whether that’s being outdoors, going to the ballet or the theatre, eating fabulous food, taking in some art, or rocking out to live music…

(outdoor days) Montreal makes it easy to spend fun time outdoors with the family: on May 10, head to the Morgan Arboretum for Frog Songs: The Symphony of Spring to discover the nocturnal activities of amphibians. The waterways around Montreal are slowly warming up too and starting May 13, H2O Adventures begins its new season renting kayaks, pedal boats, canoes and other water ways to get out on the water around Montreal, including the St-Laurent River and the Lachine Canal. And even if it starts to rain, see the outdoors while inside at the Montreal Science Centre diving into the fascinating exhibition Planet Shark, with over 100 shark species including a life-size great white whale shark and two frozen specimens, or, on the lighter side of nature, seeing Flight of the Butterflies in 3D at the IMAX Theatre. Or just take mom shopping at La Virée des Ateliers, an open house event featuring the high-quality work of Montreal fashion designers, artists and artisans, May 9-12. Or go check out massive vintage boutique sale Old Wig at Bain Mathieu, May 10-11.

(dreams & drama) Les Grands Ballets  presents award-winning choreographer Stephan Thoss’ latest work, Dream Away, a highly physical yet surrealistic exploration of “the origins of movement and gesture,” May 16-25 at Theatre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts. Meanwhile, the movement of horses and their riders is given the theatrical treatment in Odysseo, a new show from the makers of the highly popular Cavalia, replete with drama, circus arts, music, a light show and more – starting May 14 in Laval – just look for the custom-made white tents that are home to the show until June 9. And get deeper into mysteries of Sherlock Holmes in a new adaptation, by Greg Kramer, of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle classic, starring Jay Baruchel, at the Segal Centre until May 28.

(art & bubbly) Why not celebrate spring with champagne?  Maison Veuve Clicquot throws it’s first week-long party in Montreal: Yelloweek, May 14-19, is a series of art, food and fashion events, including: an evening of fashion and Veuve Clicquot champagne at Birks jewellery store on May 14; dinners that pair food and champagne at restaurants such as Milos, Ryu, L’auberge Saint-Gabriel, and more; a night of art and bubbly at Galerie 203 in the Old Port on May 15; and the free Yellow Picnic event, marking the opening of the terrace at New City Gas in Griffintown.

(electrifying art) Two new exhibitions at the PHI Centre alter our perceptions of reality and imagined: Cereus Queen of the Night, an interactive video system by artist Philomène Longpré explores “the subversive spirit of the Lettrism movement” by enveloping visitors in its nocturnal world; and Gabriel Coutu-Dumont’s audio-visual Wonders of a Transient Universe uses elements of the electronic arts to create a parallel world from which to look at the visual language of music. Over at artist centre Eastern Bloc, The Sight and Sound Festival is underway, showcasing installations and live performances that blend art and technology, to May 29: this weekend, see and hear works by Nicolas Maigret, Steve Bates, Melissa F. Clarke and Nat Roe, Victor Mazón Gardoqui, Erin Sexton and many more. And interactive music-art installation 21 Swings let’s you go for a swing like no other with family, friends and people you don’t even know, outdoors in the Quartier des Spectacles.

(classical & traditional) Traditional classic music and jazz combine forces at the 18th edition of the Montreal Chamber Music Festival, May 9 to June 1 at beautiful St. George’s Church in Old Montreal. Opening night brings the Boston Chamber Music Society to Montreal for the first time, followed on May 10 by Montreal jazz legend, pianist Oliver Jones, with musicians Eric Lagacé and Jim Doxas and opener, bassist Brandi Disterheft and her quartet. Master cellist Colin Carr performs on May 11, and Saint-Saëns’ chamber music comes to life in three concerts, May 14-16. Meanwhile, the Orchestre Métropolitain concludes its 32nd season with Strauss: 2 Orchestras, 1 Conductor, at the Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts on May 10. Also this weekend, Quebecois, Canadian, American, Belgian, Irish and more traditional music is in the spotlight at the 21st Festival La Grande Rencontre and at the Trad Montréal Conference, with four Grand Concerts, music showcases, workshops roundtable discussions and more at the Gésù Theatre in the Quartier des spectacles, May 9-12.

(more music) On Friday, May 10, UK indie rock band Foals tours their new album, Holy Fire, at Club Soda, while on Saturday night, see Canadian electro-pop artist Lights performing songs from her new album Siberia Acoustic, which is literally acoustic, with Sam Cash opening, at the Corona Theatre or dance hard to dubstep/electro-house producer Kill the Noise at the SAT. On Monday, May 13, Mötley Crüe return to hard-rock Montreal with Big Wreck, at the Bell Centre. Also good Monday options: the funk-soul sounds of Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires at the Corona Theatre; Stockholm, Sweden’s Shout Out Louds, along with opener Haerts, at Sala Rossa, or opt for experimental electro and hip hop with the amazing Flying Lotus  at the SAT. On May 14, it’s Airbourne at the Corona Theatre, and for a real local Montreal experience, check out a live taping of indie talk show Parc Avenue Tonight, featuring music, comedy and more, May 15 at Cabaret Mile End while Montreal klezmer-hip-hop act Socalled releases his new album, The Season, at the Rialto.

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Montreal in the hot months feels like the reason the sun exists – the city shines like a mirage full or music festivals, lively parks and revelers everywhere you turn. You don’t have to ask us twice to stay out of doors, and with these great activities, even the kids will agree. No TV show in the world compares to the fun to be had in the great outdoors…

The gorgeous 245 hectare natural park that is the Morgan Arboretum kicks the party off on May 10 with a hopping evening: Frog Songs: The Symphony of Spring invites you and yours to break out your flashlights and discover the amazing nocturnal life of amphibians from 7 to 9 pm. Join Chris Cloutier as he takes you down to a local swamp in search of our cold-blooded friends. On Saturday, May 18, from 8 am to noon, the arboretum sings spring’s praises with The Birds of Spring, in honour of the peak of the spring migration. The trees are alive with birds all over this beautiful park, and this excursion will introduce you to dozens of species.

Speaking of birds, the Parc des Rapides is a gorgeous natural site at the foot of the Lachine rapids, on the St. Lawrence River, with a tremendously diverse ecological zone. Since 1937 it’s acted as a migratory bird refuge – what’s special is that now’s the time to spot the nests housing the next generation of birdies. The park is home to 225 species of birds, 66 species of fish and 250 types of plants! Plus it’s free to visit.

May 13 kicks off the season of water fun at H2O Adventures, where you can rent any of 50 watercraft, from kayaks to pedal boats to canoes or electric motorboats. Take the kids for a fast ride along the Lachine Canal, or go more mellow and teach them how to canoe like our ancestors did – it’s a good way to give them a history lesson without them even knowing it.

While you’re in that neck of the woods, bike or stroll along the Lachine Canal to the Musée Plein Air de Lachine, an amazing, monumental sculpture garden that’s among the largest open air museums in Canada. The 50 works on view include some by André Fournelle, Michel Goulet, David Moore and Bill Vazan – and for once, this is a museum where kids are allowed to touch the art!

Take the fam sky high with Air Saint-Laurent, Montreal’s own seaplane service from Île Sainte-Hélène, at the foot of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. Explore the city by helicopter, or aboard their famous Beaver, a seaplane that will take you over the Olympic Stadium, downtown, green spaces and parks galore before landing you back down, amazed.

The Botanical Gardens is natural bliss incarnate, and during the 1000 Days for the Planet, kids get to learn about the planet’s biodiversity every week from Tuesday to Sunday in an exhibition that mashes together science and art. Make sure you keep time to stroll through the picturesque gardens – from the Chinese garden to the rose bushes, it’s all blooming beautiful right now.

And for the simplest, quickest, quintessentially Montreal-est free fun in the sun, go use the swings on President Kennedy and St-Urbain, right in the Quartier des Spectacles. They’ll sing to you.

THE DETAILS

Morgan Arboretum, 150 chemin des Pins, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, (514) 398-7811

Parc des Rapides, corner 6th Avenue and LaSalle Boulevard, (514) 367-6351

H2O Adventures, 2985B St-Patrick, (514) 842-1306

Musée Plein Air de Lachine, Parc René-Lévesque, Lachine, (514) 634-3478

Air Saint-Laurent, departure points depends on the adventure, (514) 447-7950

Botanical Gardens, 4101 Sherbrooke East, (514) 872-1400

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The 21 Swings public art installation, outside at the Quartier des Spectacles in the heart of downtown, is the kind of instrument anyone can play – and everyone is, no matter what their musical ability, age or whether they find themselves next to friends or strangers on the swings…

The long row of seven sets of colourful swings, like a mini playground along President-Kennedy Avenue between St-Urbain and Jeanne-Mance in the Quartier des Spectacles, is set up for collective music making until the end of May. Each swing hits its own notes, some sounding like a piano, some like a guitar or harp.

In French, the interactive installation’s title, 21 Balançoires, hints at part of its concept: to bring people together in public space in a kind of balance that reflects the fast-paced urban environment while showing how community-oriented Montreal really can be. That is, the more people work and play together, the more music can be made.

21 Swings came to Montreal’s streets last year and is even bigger this year and the music different with each group of people who happen to swing by. Created by Montreal artists Mouna Andraos and Melissa Mongiat and design group Daily Tous Les Jours, the installation is a project that blends artistic talents and urban design. Both Andraos and Mongiat have long been involved with interactive public art and design projects in Montreal and around the world, often looking to inspire people who might not think of themselves as musicians, performers or artists – with projects like 21 Swings, like magic, everyone becomes a creative force. Fittingly, the location of the swings is called Promenade des Artistes.

As people swing, melodies and harmonies are made along with others swinging next to them and nearby – sensors track the height, the speed and the position of the swings, triggering notes that match the swingers movements. Add to that an LED lighting system on the swing’s seat bottoms, and it’s a full-on collaborative, cooperative music show like no other, with participants listening to the music, slowing down and speeding up to adjust their part in it, and having a really good time just playing around.

THE DETAILS

21 Balançoires (21 Swings), until June 2, 2013

Photos by Susan Moss

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As any parent knows, practical considerations are very important when planning days out with the kids. Below are some suggestions to help you optimize your enjoyment at some of Montreal’s favourite family attractions.

According to Nadia Paquet of the Montreal Science Centre, all of the Centre’s activities are intended for families, so it’s an ideal destination for kids. There’s also a brand-new section, Clic! The Zone for Curious Young Minds, that’s especially for very young and curious minds of 4-7 years old. Here, kids can play in a stimulating environment while also learning about scientific concepts. In this sense-stimulating, wonder-filled space, kids can have fun playing with shapes and colours, all while developing their creativity and dexterity in an environment that encourages teamwork and social skills. Admission to the Montreal Science Centre is free for under-3s, strollers are permitted in the exhibition rooms (though not in the IMAX theatre), and there are lockers for gear storage.

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The silver, shining Planetarium sits right next door to the bustling Biodome, where visitors walk through diverse, lively ecosystems of animals and plants – the two buildings, in appearance and content, might seem like different worlds, one of space, one of earth, but they have much in common.

“What we’re doing here is really connecting people to nature, exploring the position of human kind in nature through not only science but through emotion and experience so that people fall in love with nature and protect it,” says Charles-Mathieu Brunelle, General Director of Space for Life, the group of science and nature-focused attractions comprised of the new Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, the Biodome, the Insectarium and the Botanical Gardens.

The Planetarium’s main attractions are its two high-tech domed theatres, where the many facets of our universe come into clearer focus. The Milky Way Theatre is classic Planetarium fare with the latest high-tech, optomechanical twists, able to reproduce the night sky as it is above Montreal or anywhere else in the world at any time – thankfully, an astronomer is there to narrate us through the complexity.

The Chaos Theatre adds a more creative element to the Planetarium experience, with its bean-bag and Adirondack chairs and pitch-black, high-shine floor. For the next year, visitors can sit back and travel through the cosmos via immersive audio-visual, digital-projection creation Continuum, created by artists Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon and featuring the symphonic music of Philip Glass. Add to that the permanent interactive exhibition, Exo, which includes an investigation of life on Earth as well as a collection of meteorites, and the Planetarium is a complete educational-entertainment experience.

The building itself is pleasing to the senses too, with curving corridors, high-ceilinged darkened theatres and bright open spaces. From outside, its mirrored surfaces seem to blend in with the sky, whatever the weather. Designed to the highest sustainable-building LEED certification, the Planetarium is based on the concept of low-energy use, making great use of natural light, grey water in the bathrooms, and building with a focus on reused, recycled and locally sourced materials.

By late spring, we’ll even have a chance to lay on the building’s green roof and look at the real stars too. “Connecting humankind to nature is important to us and we want to do it wholeheartedly in every way we do it,” says Brunelle. “When people come to see the performances and the shows, if they come out with this emotional bond with nature, we will have done our job.”

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THE DETAILS

Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, opening April 6, 2013

4801 Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue, (514) 872-4530

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Pointe-à-Callière, the Montreal history and archaeology museum, has been hosting its Port Symphonies for 20 years now, challenging a local or international composer to pen a symphony to be performed using a variety of ship horns, train whistles and percussion found in the harbour of the Old Port – the result of that endeavour plays out near the museum at Place Royale on March 3 and March 10 at 1:30 p.m.

This year, in light of Pointe-à-Callière’s Japan-focused temporary exhibition Samurai: The Prestigious Collection of Richard Béliveau, the museum asked Japanese Montrealer Kota Nakamura to compose a work that would evoke the culture and history of Japan. The symphony, entitled Cymbidium, not only makes use of train whistles and tugboat horns, but incorporates human voices, flute, taiko drums and more.

While the armour and weaponry of Japan’s samurai tradition stand proudly displayed in all their finery inside the museum, representing one aspect of the country’s culture, Nakamura’s symphony, named after Japanese orchids that blossom in March, lends a lighter note to traditional and contemporary Japanese ways of life, while also commenting on the urban landscape of the Port of Montreal. The museum even adds another Japanese touch this weekend with their Nuit Blanche festivities including re-tellings of traditional samurai tales.

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THE DETAILS

Pointe-à-Callière’s Port Symphonies, March 3 and 10, 2:30 p.m.

Photo Credit: © Noémie Letu

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The Montréal en Lumière free outdoor site is open from Wednesday to Saturday, right in the heart of downtown’s Quartier des Spectacles, in a car-free area between Bleury and Saint-Urbain and De Maisonneuve and Sainte-Catherine streets. See the city from a different angle while riding the ferris wheel or from the top of the fun, fast and icy Urban Slide, and get moving with all kinds of kid-friendly activities, parlour games, a hockey shoot-out area, laser drawing, photo booths and more.

Entertainment is around every corner at Montréal en Lumière. Look up at Place des Festivals to see a new creative project from Montreal multimedia company Geodezik, known for its image-mapped outdoor projections that fit perfectly on city buildings: they’ll be projecting Abécédaire au carré, a bright and colourful animated story on the facade of Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan at 6:30, 7:30 and 9 p.m. each night; find yourself surrounded by short film BLOOP, about water in all its states, in the RBC Dome, from 5:30 p.m. every evening and from 12:30 p.m. on the weekend; see tango demonstrations and learn a few moves at workshops hosted by dance school Las Piernas Tango; and groove to live music and DJs every night on the RBC Stage. And while the food and drink isn’t quite free it’s plentiful, varied and will keep your energy up throughout the fest.

On March 2, head out in the early evening and stay out late for Montreal’s Nuit Blanche when the city’s museums and galleries – including the Montreal Fine Arts Museum, the Musée d’art contemporain, the Canadian Centre for Architecture (where Pop Montreal sets up a stage) – are all free to peruse, with all kinds of activities and artists on hand, from the Quartier des Spectacles to the Old Port to the Plateau and out at the Olympic Park. Even Montreal’s “underground city” is open all night for Art Souterrain – explore the labyrinthine underground passageways, see awesome and inspiring art, say hi to friendly strangers, and stay warm!

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THE DETAILS

Montréal en Lumière, February 21 to March 3, 2013

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(light entertainment) The winter nights light even brighter during the 14th Montréal en Lumière, a festival of food, free outdoor activities (a ferris wheel, an ice slide and more!), music, theatre and dance shows, and other entertainment. Gourmet cuisine comes in all shapes and sizes at the festival, from multi-course meals to cheese samplings – see our Top 5 food picks for ideas. Tango enthusiasts and the curious are in for a treat at tango-meets-cabaret-meets-circus show and milonga La Pista Tango, the art of singer Tonny Bennett is on display, French music star -M- plays February 22, theatre-dance show The Humanity Project provokes deep thoughts, Haitian-born Québécois artist Marie-Josée Lord sings February 25, singer and pianist Diana Krall entrances in a solo concert on February 26, and none other than The Zombies rock out on February 28.

(circus & butterflies) Add far more than a dash of bright colour to snowy days at the 34th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, a internationally touring circus show featuring some of the top circus acts from the Paris-based competition of the same name, including acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, contortionists and more, to March 2 at La Tohu. More brightness awaits at the Butterflies Go Free exhibition at the Montreal Botanical Gardens, where 2000 butterflies and moths from around the world take up residence until the end of April. Or step outside at the Old Port to see the astounding athlethics involved in the Ice Canoe Races on February 23.

(dance & theatre) For the first time in Canada, the National Ballet of China performs Raise the Red Lantern, a classical Western ballet interpretation of Zhang Yimou’s dramatic film of the same name – the director even added his creative voice to the production by writing the libretto, designing the lighting and signing the stage direction – on stage February 22-24 at Place des Arts, presented by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. Danse Danse presents Corps de Walk, a thoroughly cool, contemporary-culture show (in music, movement and style) by choreographers Gai Behar and Sharon Eyal and 12 dancers of The Norwegian National Company of Contemporary Dance, February 28 and March 1-2 at Place des Arts.

(travel with art) Take a different kind of walk around downtown’s happening Quartier des Spectacles to the tune of Luminothérapie: use your iPhone or mp3 player to interact with art project Le jour des 8 soleils by artist Pascal Grandmaison who tells a story through video projects video projections on buildings in the area, from Berri-UQAM metro station to Place des Festivals and points in between. Indoors, visit Peru through its art, history and culture, presented in stunning detail at the MMFA’s Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and Moon. The Musee d’art Contemporain features intriguing large-scale colour photography by celebrated photographer Lynne Cohen and an immersive, mysterious multi-room installation called Uraniborg, by French multidisciplinary artist Laurent Grasso.

(live music) Old Montreal cultural hub the PHI Centre hosts Thus: Owls on Friday, February 22 and follows that up on Saturday, February 23 with amazing Haiti fundraiser party Kanaval Kanape, with performances by Arcade Fire with Haitian group Doody & Kami and a dancetastic afterparty – in partnership with Black History Month Montreal. Also on Friday, ska-rock the night away with The Planet Smashers at Club Soda, while Bosnian Rainbows play Cabaret du Mile End and the good folks at Passovah Productions throw a party with Young Galaxy, Valleys and many more (plus doughnuts from Chez Boris!) at Il Motore. On Saturday night, dance to the electronic music of Bordello, Vosper and Jealous Lovers at the SAT. On Sunday, the MSO hosts conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky and pianist Viktoria Postnikova, while The Montreal New Music International Festival showcases some of the best in new classical and experimental works. On February 25, feel the Irish spirit with Celtic Woman, February 25 at Place des Arts. On February 26, indie-experimental-rock artist Eels  is at Theatre Corona, and on February 27, Swedish House Mafia makes the Bell Centre thump.

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