tour de montréal, june 4-7, 2010
Join us for four days of active exploration in Montréal with an insider at your side!
At the heart of our itinerary was the Tour de l’Ile, the greatest cycling event in Canada. We joined riders of all ages and fitness levels, as we rode 50 k (about 30 miles) and discovered many areas of the city in this day long event.
We also rode Un Tour la Nuit - a 12 mile evening ride under the city lights. What fun!
When we weren’t riding, we delved into the city’s rich history, sampled international cuisine, viewed Canadian art , and enjoyed scenic vistas and streetside cafés.
Travelers’ comments:
Thanks so much for the great trip, Karen!
Perfection: redefined.
We did a week’s worth of activities in only 3 1/2 days. Yet the visit felt leisurely.
I’m so glad I rode!
The trip was such a great success, that we’re going to do it again next year: June 3-6, 2011!
What’s special about this trip
• Experience Montréal life with an insider at your side. Karen Kane regularly leads tours to Montreal and writes about the city’s food and culture. She’ll introduce you to hidden corners and neighborhood haunts - making it easy to actively engage with Montrealers and their culture.
• Participate in two events of the Montréal Bike Fest, a citywide celebration of the bicycle. Tour la Nuit is a fun, car-free bike ride along some of the city’s loveliest streets under the lights. The Tour de l’Ile is a noncompetitive all day ride through the streets of Montreal.
• Walking, we’ll explore several areas of the city in depth - examining Montréal’s Old World roots and its modern joie de vivre as we go.
• Our small group - 2-4 people, each with a single room - gives you your own space, while allowing opportunities for meaningful connections and stimulating conversations.
• Bike Fest registration, bicycle rentals, and meals are included in the price of the trip. All you need to do is arrive and enjoy!
A sample day
9:00-12:00. Arrive Montréal. Check into your cozy room and unpack. Our base is a lovely B&B in the vibrant Plateau quartier. Then we’ll make sure our bikes are ready for the weekend.
12:00 - 1:30. We’ll take the Métro to Old Montréal - the French quarter - for a delicious lunch at a bustling café, and some wonderful views.
1:30 - 5:00. We’ll wander the cobblestoned streets of Old Montréal. This area of Montréal is the city’s oldest - and we’ll learn about its past at Musée Point-à-Caillère. We’ll also take in 17th century architecture, modern galleries, and explore the walking path that borders the city’s vibrant waterfront.
5:00 - 8:00. Fortified by a light dinner (and with a few snacks for the road), we’ll get ready to see the city by bike.
8:00 - 10:00. We’ll join thousands of Montrealers for the Tour la Nuit, a car-free bike ride along some of the city’s loveliest streets under the lights. The event is about 12 miles long, and is a great family affair. It starts a short distance from our lodging.
Trip leader
Karen Kane owns Montréal by Design, a travel consulting service that specializes in fantastic trips to Montréal. Her work has been recognized by the NY Times, LA Times, Boston Globe, Montréal Gazette, Houston Chronicle, Delta Sky Magazine, and National Public Radio.
What’s included
• 4 days and 3 nights in Montréal
• Your own room in a delightful three-star B&B
• Daily breakfast, four inspirational lunches, and three fantastic group dinners
• Bike rentals
• Guided walks that get you off the beaten path
• A personalized notebook that puts the city in context historically and culturally
• Montréal museum and métro tickets
• Recommendations for and help arranging optional activities, including jazz clubs, a cooking class, spa appointment and the like
Not included
• Transportation to Montréal, airport transfers
• Personal expenses
• Passports and travel insurance
Cost and registration
Cost is $1560 per person, single occupancy, if registered before May 1, 2010. Cost is $1,690 after May 1.
Registration is on a first come, first served basis, and maximum group size is 4. A deposit of $500 is required to reserve your place in The Tour de Montréal.
Are you interested?
To register, or for a detailed itinerary, contact Karen Kane, at 800 430 5436, or email karen@montrealbydesign.com.
the artist’s montreal, october 23-25, 2009
March 16, 2009 by Karen
Filed under art, guided tours, women
Experience Montreal from an artist’s perspective!
Six artists and art lovers joined us for a stimulating weekend of looking, learning, and conversation. Here are a few comments, followed by a description of the trip. We haven’t yet set another date for The Artist’s Montreal - but let us know if you’re interested!
It was so relaxing to spend time with my friends and make new friends in a wonderful city. Seeing the art was fantastic. The food was wonderful. I really enjoyed this trip! SD, Florida
Susan’s insights in the museums were most valuable. I would never have gotten that information on my own. SB, Colorado
I really loved seeing the printmaking studio. Partly because that is something we don’t have here, and I really like knowing it exists elsewhere. JM, Vermont
We’ll engage your intellect, your intuition, and all of your senses as we explore the beautiful streets and the world class galleries and museums of Montreal.
What’s special about this trip
• Painter Susan Abbott is a teacher par excellence. She has traveled widely and taught drawing and painting extensively. This workshop will integrate visual inspiration and art history.
• We’ll visit Montreal’s best museums and galleries, where we’ll look at specific paintings together, and learn about the evolution of Canadian art.
• In addition to guided museum visits, we’ll get to know historic and creative elements of Montreal through guided walking tours. We’ll sample wonderful food, art, architecture and crafts.
• We’ll balance group time and independent exploration. Our small group - 5-8 women, each with a single room - gives you your own space, while allowing opportunities for meaningful connections and stimulating conversations.
A sample day
9:00 - 12:00 - Visit the Musée des Beaux Arts, a short Métro ride from our hotel. Founded in 1860, the museum has one of North America’s finest encyclopedic collections. Susan will be our guide as we explore Canadian art, and a temporary expo on the Pre-Raphaelites.
12:00 - 2:00 - Lunch nearby, at Nicocchi - a small, light-filled café known for its Mediterannean-inspired pannini and salads, macaroons, and cookies made with chick pea flour.
2:00 - 5:00 - We’ll take the Métro to Old Montreal, where our walking tour will take in narrow, cobbled streets, fabulous architecture, some of the city’s best galleries, and a market with clothing and crafts made in Canada.
5:00 - Free time, for more exploring, shopping, or a spa treatment. Afterward, continue conversations with your trip mates over dinner. There are many excellent restaurants in this quartier - we’ll suggest options that match your taste and budget.
8:00 - Perhaps a jazz club after dinner - we’ll let you know what’s available and help you get there.
Trip leaders
Susan Abbott graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, and received her MFA from the Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute. She went on to study intaglio print making in the graduate department of the University of Iowa under Mauricio Lasansky. She has traveled extensively, painting in Mexico, Central America and Europe. She has taught in the US, Europe and India. Her watercolor and oil paintings have been exhibited in galleries and museum shows in New York, Chicago, Washington, and many other cities. Her work is represented in numerous private and corporate collections in the US and abroad. See samples of Susan’s work at www.susanabbott.com.
Karen Kane owns Paris by Design and Montreal by Design, travel consulting services that specialize in fantastic trips to Paris and Montreal. Her work has been recognized by the NY Times, LA Times, Boston Globe, Montreal Gazette, Houston Chronicle, Delta Sky Magazine, and National Public Radio. On this trip, Karen will take you inside Montreal, the world’s second largest French speaking city. She’ll lead you to her favorite parts of Montreal, introduce you to some of her favorite people, work with you to personalize the independent time in your itinerary, and teach you everything you need to know about Montreal culture.
What’s included
• 3 days and 2 nights in Montreal
• A single room in a quartier that is home to the largest concentration of artists in Canada
• Daily breakfast, two inspirational lunches, and a fantastic group dinner
• Two experienced leaders, providing guided museum visits and guided walks that get you off the beaten path and allow you experience Montreal’s creative culture in many forms
• A personalized notebook, including additional Montreal addresses of particular interest that will help you discover arts venues, restaurants, shopping, and more
• Museum entries and Métro tickets
• Recommendations for and help arranging optional activities, including performances, a spa appointment and the like
Not included
• Transportation to Montreal, airport transfers
• Personal expenses
• Passports and travel insurance
Cost and registration
Cost is $980 per person, single occupancy, if registered before June 15, 2009. Cost is $1,099 after June 15.
Registration is on a first come, first served basis, and we expect this trip to fill quickly. Minimum group size is 5; maximum is 8. A deposit of $500 is required to reserve your place in The Artist’s Montreal.
Are you interested?
To register, or for a detailed itinerary, contact Karen Kane, at 800 430 5436, or email karen@montrealbydesign.com. For art-related questions, contact Susan Abbott at sa@susanabbott.com.
inspired montreal: 5 days of art, fashion, food and design for women - may 27-31, 2009
Our 5-day guided tour for creative women is the next best thing to living in Montreal!
• We’ll spend much of our time off the beaten path in French-speaking Montreal. We’ll experience the city as the locals do, wandering side streets, meeting people who live and work there.
• We’ll tap the European influences that make Montreal a leading center of fashion and design.
• Our small group - 4-5 women, each with a single room - gives you your own space, while allowing opportunities for meaningful connections and stimulating conversations.
A sample day
8am - 12noon. Take photos or a walk in the park, or attend a yoga class. Then we’ll begin our exploration of Rue St Denis, with its rich selection of specialty food shops, cafés, and clothing boutiques.
12 - 1:30. Lunch today is at Au Festin de Babette, or Babette’s Feast - the tiny tea shop which inspired this trip. We’ll choose from delightful pastries, imported French treats, decadent chocolates, elegant pizzas, exotic teas, and more.
1:30 - 5:00. We’ll meet an up-and-coming clothing designer, a chocolatier, and an artisan shoemaker as we continue to explore The Plateau.
5:00 - 8:00. Wander a bit more on your own - perhaps following one of the city’s numerous bike paths - or rest, before our night out.
8:00 - 10:00. We’ll take in the multi-ethnic, village atmosphere of Duluth St in the Plateau, and dine at a BYOW (bring your own wine) restaurant. Perhaps a jazz club after dinner.
Trip leader
Karen Kane owns Paris by Design, a travel consulting service that specializes in fantastic trips to Paris, and Montreal by Design - providing insider experiences in Montreal. Her work has been recognized by the NY Times, LA Times, Boston Globe, Montréal Gazette, Houston Chronicle, Delta Sky Magazine, and National Public Radio.
On this trip, Karen will take you inside Montreal, the world’s second largest French speaking city. She’ll lead you to her favorite parts of Montreal, introduce you to some of her favorite people, work with you to personalize the independent time in your itinerary, and teach you everything you need to know about Montreal culture.
What’s included
• 5 days and 4 nights in Montreal
• Your own room in a delightful three-star B&B
• Daily breakfast, five inspirational lunches, and four fantastic group dinners
• Guided walks that get you off the beaten path
• A personalized notebook, including additional Montreal addresses of particular interest that will help you discover arts venues, restaurants, shopping, and more
• Montreal museum and métro tickets
• Recommendations for and help arranging optional activities, including jazz clubs, a cooking class, spa appointment and the like
Not included
• Transportation to Montreal, airport transfers
• Personal expenses
• Passports and travel insurance
Cost and registration
Cost is $1970 per person, single occupancy. A $500 deposit holds your place for the trip. Please contact Karen to register at karen@parisbydesign.com, or 800 430 5436.
