Montreal is a beautiful, historic city with a heavy French influence. Besides the wonderful food and shop this wonderful city has to offer, there are also many fun things to do with kids in Montreal. Here is a selection of our favorites!

Cosmodome. (www.cosmodome.org) The Space Science Center and Space Camp are found at the Cosmodome. You can learn about the history of space flight and technology, the science behind it, see simulations and take workshops in everything spacey! At the Space Science Center, you and the kids can explore the solar system, galaxy, and beyond, as well as try out astronaut training and a simulated space mission! Check the website for times, prices, and more information.

Kazoom Family Entertainment Center. (www.kazoomcafe.com) Consider this the ultimate in kid fun plus a coffee break for you! Kazoom Café has 5400 square feet of fun and games for the little ones, guaranteed to wear them out and make memories, all while you lounge in the tres chic café with the other moms…or, you can join the kids on the slides and games, because they’re adult-friendly! Kazoom also offers parties, group rates, and a unique photo shoot venue; check their website for more information, pricing, and directions.

Pointe-a-Calliere. (www.pacmusee.qc.ca) This is one of Montreal’s many museums, but it is truly entertaining for kids, making history and archaeology spring to life via interactive stories, three-D multimedia, unique and fascinating displays, and the chance to experience old Montreal by walking among the original architecture, such as walls, sewer drains, and columns. Don’t miss the tower, where your little guy or girl can take in the vista of Old Montreal with binoculars that are just the right height for them.

Jardin Botanique de Montreal/Montreal Botanical Gardens. (www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin) If you or your kids love plants and flowers, this is not to be missed. Montreal’s botanical garden is the second-biggest in the world, just behind London’s Kew Gardens!). It has the biggest bonsai exhibit anywhere outside of Japan, and more gardens than you can take in in one day’s time. Must-sees include the Japanese Gardens, where you can see quaint bridges, Koi ponds, waterfalls, and watch a tea ceremony; the Chinese Gardens, with its display of instruments and bonsai; the First Nations Settlement, which is a recreated northern native hunting community, and the Tree House, which celebrates the forests of Quebec. Also make sure to take a ride on the miniature tram!

Montreal’s Underground City. (http://www.placemontrealtrust.com/) Montreal is known for its long, snowy winters and scorching-hot summers, but the locals came up with a novel approach to dealing with the extreme heat and cold: go underground! Montreal’s Souterrain, or Underground City, is home to scads of restaurants, shops, concert halls, fountains, and more…including a piece of the Berlin Wall!

Montreal Insectarium. (http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/insectarium/en/index.php) Do you have a budding entomologist in your family? If not, even so, your kids will love the Montreal Insectarium, one of the largest exhibitions of its kind in the world. This fascinating place is part of the Botanical Gardens complex, but is definitely worthy of its own day trip. There are more than three thousand species (live and preserved) on display, plus interactive displays and…tasting sessions.

Parc Jean-Drapeau/La Plage des Isles. (http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/) Parc Jean-Drapeau, one of Quebec’s most popular parks and destinations, has something for everyone: paintball, a snow village and snow slide in winter, Grand Prix racing at the track, skiing and other winter sports, an aquatic complex with pools, the Floralies Gardens, and the lovely beaches on the lake at La Plage des Isles. Check the park’s website for more information and special events.

La Ronde. (http://www.laronde.com) This is Six Flags fun, Montreal-style! This big amusement park is owned by Six Flags, and in keeping with Six Flags tradition, it is packed with entertainment for the whole family. More than forty rides will keep you busy, plus dozens of shows and attractions, shopping, and great food. Check the website for hours, rates, and directions.