From our beloved and storied hockey franchise the Montreal Canadiens to our surging soccer team the Montreal Impact, from hometown UFC hero Georges St-Pierre to the power and spectacle of the Grand Prix and the thrilling athleticism of the Rogers Cup, Montreal is a year-long destination for sports fans. And if you’re coming to town for the big game and you need a place to stay, we can help with that too.

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The Montreal City Hop-on Hop-off Tour is a unique way to see the landmarks of Montreal. Running from May through October, the bus tour has 10 stops along its route you can disembark, explore, and then rejoin at the next bus passing. The tour is narrated by a professional guide that paints a nice picture of Montreal history and joie de vie. From Habitat 67 to Saint Joseph’s Oratory, the tour spans much of downtown, bits of the Plateau, Mount-Royal and the Old Port. Tickets are $55 but combined with the tour guide and the hop-on hop-off style that allows you to explore all day makes the price well worth it. Tickets available at Tourist Information Center (1001 Dorchester Square)

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In the summer, the centrally-located Mount Royal park is home to the Tam Tams, picnics, scenic views, leisurely walks and all sorts of way more strenuous athletics. In winter, as the video above demonstrates, the mountain stays extremely active. The fact that this amazing resource is only a couple short city blocks away from many Montrealers is one of the truly great selling points of the city. Mount Royal boasts a range of iconic features, like The Cross, which can be seen from all over the city, and St. Joseph’s Oratory, the spectacular basilica to whom Saint André Bessette is indelibly connected.

While we’re on the subject of Mount Royal, the National Film Board (NFB) has created an incredible, interactive and award-winning website that asks all fans of the mountain, Montrealers and visitors alike, to share memories of their time spent there…

In short, Holy Mountain (Sacrée Montagne) is an ever-evolving love letter to Mount Royal. It asks visitors to call 1-877-55-SOUVENIR and record a message about their memories of the mountain. These messages then become a part of the soundtrack that everyone who visits the website can hear when exploring the site. So, even if you’ve only visited Montreal briefly, you can become a permanent part of why Mount Royal will always be a special part of Montreal.

And, while the video above does show how special the mountain is in the winter, let’s face it- everything is nicer under the summer sun. We’ll make sure to make another video showing you why…

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Festivals are like a big collective hug, which at this time of year is great for staying warm – whether watching fireworks outdoors in the body heat of a crowd or eating, drinking and being merry in the subterranean spaces transformed by the Montreal High Lights Festival, a.k.a. Festival Montréal en Lumière, which culminates in the February 26 all-night fun and art fest that is Nuit Blanche.

For something completely unique to Montreal, Les Rendez-vous du cinéma Québecois brings the buzz about Quebec film back home, with two days of free film screenings and activities (we’re talking serious DIY entertainment like Ciné-Karaoké), Feb. 25–26 at Place Pasteur (1430 St-Denis).

For the more sonically inclined, the Festival Nouvelles Musiques, Feb. 18–26, provides some all new ear-candy, including the free public-participation performance “Apportez votre cellulaire”, with composer/conductor Walter Boudreau leading us through how to use cell phone ring tones in beautiful new ways, on Feb. 20, 2 p.m., at Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste. And check your head throughout the fest at the New Music Lounge in the grand foyer of Place des Arts.

Outside the festival sphere, the free-stuff river keeps flowing into the future via fascinating new art. Running with the unofficial February theme of film (and what better for getting cozy and content indoors), the Musee d’art contemporain opens three new exhibitions this month, all featuring film and video work: a big, beautiful and extremely well-executed exhibition by film artist and music lover Anri Sala; a video and sculptural work on urban landscapes by Young & Giroux, and Kevin Schmidt’s Epic Journey – Lord of the Rings screened from a boat on British Columbia’s Fraser River.

While Valentine’s Day can be a pricey time, Words For(e)Play: Montreal Love Poetry at Infinithéâtre proves that love is free, if not always easy – Feb. 13, 5–7 p.m., at Bain St-Michel (5300 St-Dominique), a pay-what-you-can benefit for Poetry Quebec and Infinitheatre.

Nature remains forever free in this city, and a walk up Mount Royal, while slightly more intense and significantly less green in February, is still rewarded by a panoramic view of the city and an abundance of urban wildlife, such as squirrels, owls, neon-attired winter joggers and crazy-carpet-riding tobogganers. Down at the Old Port, Montreal history museum Pointe-à-Callière brings to life the voices of boats, trains and other “urban instruments” in its Port Symphonies (Feb. 27 and March 6, 1:30 p.m.), conducted by pianist and composer Anthony Rozankovic. The seas are alive with the sound of music!

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People joke that our city’s Mount Royal is more molehill than mountain. But look up. You’ll find it! Our city’s sacred mountain – and infamous make-out spot – defines and orients us.

Imagine how majestic this island appeared to the first native inhabitants, over 5,000 years ago? A vast expanse of land surrounded by mighty rivers, perfectly punctuated by an immense mountain range with rich forests and resplendent views. No wonder people congregate here!

Today, Mount Royal Park acts as the city’s lungs.  As the largest green space in Montreal, the mountain and surrounding parks offer fresh air, repose and woodsy trails that all lead to new perspectives on the city, its history and natural forms.

It takes around 2 hours to climb up and down the mountain on foot. You’ll probably want to stop, look around and explore the surrounding territory too, so budget a full morning or afternoon to do some additional wandering. There are also designated trails for biking and skiing, and spots to picnic and BBQ.

To explore the best views, paths, special haunts, or to learn more about the natural splendours and history of Mount Royal, play around with this new interactive map of the mountain created by Les amis de la montage. I personally like the more hidden forest paths on the North-East flank of the mountain, which offer secluded spots to… idle. The 3 major summits on Mount-Royal offer stunning panoramic views of Montreal: Camilien-Houde summit is ideal for car make-outs. The Kondiaronk lookout offers the best view of downtown and the river. Mount Royal Summit marks the physical juncture where the Plateau, Outremont and Ville-Marie districts intersect.

May was officially Mount Royal Month , so be sure to spend celebrate the mountain’s existence in your own way and style. Or take advantage of the many activities on offer dedicated to the discovery and conservation of its natural environment.

Photo credit:  Amis de la Montagne

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