Get in, we’re going to Montreal 🚗

The ultimate road trip to Montreal

The views from the top of Mount Royal. | Photo by BOStoday team

Itching to get out of town, Bostonians? Skip those pesky airport security lines and jump in your car for a road trip to Montreal, Canada instead. From strolling the historic Old Port to eating poutine at one of these 19 locations — we’re spilling all the details on how to have an unforgettable time in the largest city in the Quebec province.

📍 Essential info

Drive time: ~5.5 hours

Year city was established: 1642

Est. population: 4.3 million

🎟️ Experience
Biodome and Olympic Park
Grab tickets to explore the five ecosystems of the world, located inside the Olympic Park where the 1976 Olympics took place.

Mount Royal Park
This park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and inaugurated in 1876. The green space spans over 692 acres and features trails and a beautiful overlook of the city at the top of the mountain.

The Underground City
This is a huge network of tunnels that runs throughout the downtown area and offers easy access to the metro system. The climate controlled space totals over 30 kilometers (aka ~18.5 miles) so there is something for everyone to explore.

The Olympic rings in Montreal. — See the Olympic Park next to the Biodome. | Photo by BOStoday team

🍔 Eat
St-Viateur Bagel
These are no average bagels — they are hand-rolled, simmered in honey water, and baked in wood-burning ovens until golden brown.

Olive + Gourmando
This cafe is a cozy and delicious foodie destination, with breakfast available all day. No reservations are accepted, so get there early to snag a table and try the Sweet Ricotta, Cuban sandwich, and fresh pastries.

🏨 Stay
Hôtel William Gray
This luxury stay features restaurants, a rooftop terrace, and a spa in Old Montreal. Located near the Old Port and Notre-Dame, this property’s location is perfect for exploring.

Click the link below for more recommendations and a handy map to guide the way.

EXPLORE MONTREAL LIKE A PRO

When deciding on a road trip destination, what is the maximum amount of time you want to spend driving?

A. 1-3 hours
B. 4-6 hours
C. 6+ hours
D. None, I prefer to fly

NO WRONG TURNS

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Feb. 21

Hike Boston - Black History Tour | Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 1-2 p.m. | Boston Common, 131 Tremont St., Boston | Free | Meet at the Boston Common Visitor Center for this guided informational hike.

Wednesday, Feb. 22

Children’s Winter Festival | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Boston Common, 131 Tremont St., Boston | Free | Spend a day of February vacation at this Boston Common festival with treats, promotions, and giveaways.
Disney On Ice presents “Frozen” & “Encanto” | Wednesday, Feb. 22-Sunday, Feb. 26 | Times vary | TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston | $25-$81 | The dazzling ice skating show will transport you to the wintry world of Arendelle + the Madrigal family’s Casita.
Lamplighter x Bully Boy: Barrel-Aged Beer & Whiskey Tasting | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | The Lexington, 100 North First St., Cambridge | $35 | Join Lamplighter Brewing Co. and Bully Boy Distillers for a guided tasting all about whiskey and bourbon barrel-aged beers.

Thursday, Feb. 23

Dating Game Show | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6 p.m. | Time Out Market, 401 Park Dr., Boston | Free to attend | Head to the Fenway market for the first ever Dating Game Show, hosted by Drag Queen Plane Jane.
February Vacation @ The Speedway: Family Yoga | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | The Charles River Speedway, 525 Western Ave., Brighton | $10 | Join children’s yoga teacher Tracy Affonso of Artemis Yoga for a vacation week family yoga class.
Building a Home for Black Excellence in Marine Science with Dr. Tiara Moore | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre, 1 Central Wharf, Boston | Free | Dr. Tiara Moore, environmental ecologist and Founder/CEO of Black in Marine Science (BIMS), discusses how BIMS aims to celebrate Black marine scientists and inspire future scientific thought leaders.*

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

41º | Scattered showers | 50% chance of rain

Coming Soon

Will Isaza, the bar director for spots like Blossom Bar + Birds of Paradise, is opening a neighborhood coffee bar in East Boston this summer. Café Gloria will serve coffee, espresso, canned cold brew, and family recipe-inspired snacks. We’ll keep an eye out for opening date announcements. ☕ (Boston Magazine)

Closing

Canton’s Big D’s Neponset Cafe is closing after serving the community for over 75 years. The family-owned eatery opened in 1946. The final service at 497 Washington St. will be this weekend. (WCVB 5)

Shop

Celtics player Jayson Tatum has unveiled the Jordan Tatum 1, his first signature shoe with the Jordan Brand. The lightweight sneaker will have four color options and be available to shop on Friday, April 7. 👟 (Boston.com)

Sports

Speaking of No. 0, the forward received the Kobe Bryant MVP Award at the All-Star game over the weekend. Jayson scored a record 55 points for Team Giannis, topping the 2017 record of 52 points. (ESPN)

Environment

Local organizations can apply for the Keep Massachusetts Beautiful’s annual Plant Something Bee-eautiful program. The community grants support the planting of pollinator-friendly plants and trees in public spaces. The deadline to apply is Monday, July 31. 🐝

Feel Good

A Chocolate Lab puppy named Valentina is ready for her furever home after a life-saving surgery from the MSPCA-Angell team. The 12-week-old was diagnosed in Arizona with a condition that prevented her from eating normally. The puppy will return to her foster family until she is adopted. (7 News)

Bostonian

A courthouse in Merced County, California was recently named for Harvard Law School professor + civil rights lawyer Charles James Ogletree Jr. He retired from Harvard University in 2020 after an extensive career, representing Anita Hill in 1991, defending Tupac Shakur, and teaching Barack and Michelle Obama. (Boston.com)

Try This

Tomorrow is National Margarita Day. Celebrate with Simple Time Mixers by sipping on the Margarita Bundle or the Margarita Madness 3-Pack. Will that be salt or sugar on the rim? 🍹

Eat

Every dinner’s a party when the food tastes good. Home Chef’s meal kit delivery service takes the stress out of mealtimes with fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe cards, delivered right to your door. Order your first box — for 75% off.*

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Laissez les bons temps rouler 🍽️

Mardi Gras eats in Boston

Trust us, the gumbo tastes as good as it looks. | Photo by BOStoday team

We hope you’re hungry. Today is Mardi Gras, and in celebration of Fat Tuesday, we are sharing a few of our favorite New Orleans-style eats around Boston. Grab your beads + dig in to one of these Cajun dishes.

Hunter’s Kitchen and Bar — Chef Lambo’s Gumbo features shrimp, crab + andouille sausage. It’s so good it helped the local chef beat Bobby Flay.

Buttermilk and Bourbon — Transport your taste buds to New Orleans with an order of Crispy Short Rib Boudin Croquettes + Nashville Hot Crawfish Fries.

Sweet Cheeks Q — Today’s in-person special includes a Hoppin’ John salad, Shrimp Boil, and a slice of homemade King Cake.

Bonus: Follow the Revelry Food Truck on social media to discover where it will be serving classics like po’ boys and jambalaya.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Jessica.

Editor’s pick: Happy Birthday, Little Joe. 🎉 The gorilla that escaped from the Franklin Park Zoo in September 2003 has turned 30 on Sunday.

The silverback gorilla has been a resident of the local zoo since 1997 and celebrated over the weekend with two birthday cakes.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check off these exhibits from your bucket list.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Jessica Burton, Sara Frazier, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Peter Baldassare | Advertise with us.

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