One day, it might be possible to take a train from Montreal to Boston. As the Montreal Gazette first reported, a group is lobbying for the creation of an almost 14-hour overnight train between the two metropolises with service to minor cities, towns and tourist destinations throughout southern Quebec and northern New England along the way.
A proposed route map shared with MTL Blog shows additional stops in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu; Magog; Sherbrooke; Coaticook; Island Pond, Vermont; Berlin, New Hampshire; Bethel, Portland, and Old Orchard, Maine, among others.
The group, Fondation Trains de nuit, advocates for expanded passenger rail service in northeastern North America and, since 2013, has been exploring the possibility of express service between Montreal and Sherbrooke and overnight service to New York and Boston, organization president François Pepin told MTL Blog via email.
So why a 14-hour ride instead of a high-speed train? Money — and showmanship.
Proposed route for an overnight train from Montreal to Boston.Courtesy of Fondation Trains de nuit
"The project presented requires a minimum of investment compared to a fast train," Pepin said. "We are talking about an investment of about $100 million for a fast train between Montreal and Sherbrooke by improving existing tracks and then an overnight train to Boston using existing tracks."
He estimated that a TGV-style (train à grande vitesse) service would cost five times that in part because it would require the construction of its own dedicated tracks, whereas the proposed Montreal-Boston train would share freight lines.
Pepin also underlined the glamour of overnight trains. He imagines a restaurant car, sleeping cars and onboard entertainment. Inspiration photos shared with MTL Blog portray an almost cinematic experience with high-end dining and private cars with generous fenestration and dazzling views of the passing landscape.
To make this a reality, Fondation Trains de nuit next has to work to calculate the investments it needs (especially, Pepin said, for the Sherbrooke to Boston segment) and negotiate passage with the companies that own the tracks it would need to use.
Pepin said the organization is aiming to finance the Montreal-Boston project with both private and public funds.
A Double-Double™ and a Boston Cream donut were Canada's favourite Tim Hortons go-tos of 2020.
Tim Hortons
[rebelmouse-image 26880975 photo_credit="Tim Hortons" expand=1 original_size="1275x1838"]
Tim Hortons
According to the list, Quebec's top 10 Tim Hortons donuts of 2020 were:
Honey Cruller (Roussette)
Boston Cream
Apple Fritter
Chocolate Dip (also known as the OG of donuts)
Old Fashioned Plain
Honey Dip
Chocolate Glazed
Sour Cream Glazed
Double Chocolate
Vanilla Dip
"I agree with my friends in Quebec, the Honey Cruller is my jam," said Tallis Voakes, Tim Hortons' culinary lead, in a statement.
"But it's like anything else, everyone's got a favourite and there's no wrong answers."
In terms of Canada's favourite coffee order of 2020, there could only ever be one — the sweet, un-coffee-like Double-Double Tim Hortons is known for.
A "regular" coffee order — one sugar, one dairy — followed closely behind the infamous Double-Double, while a simple black coffee was the third most popular Canadian coffee order.
Apple fritters took the cake in western Canada and Ontario, while Boston cream donuts won over Canadians in Atlantic Canada this year.
Boston cream also took the crown as the number one donut across Canada in 2020.
It's summertime and we're all itching to get away, to escape our normal, everyday lives and take off to a faraway land. You might not have realized that there are some amazing travel destinations right here in North America! Canada and the United States have so many amazing places to offer you'll be surprised.
It's also important to find a realistic travel destination where you don't have to break the bank. Finding a place like that can take a lot of time and effort. But don't you worry, I've got you covered.
Here's a list of the cheapest places you can travel in North America right now!
A photo posted by Theofficialnickg (@theofficialnickg) on
Cheapes Accommodations: $45/night
Cheapest Flights from Montreal: $300
Jasper, Alberta is a beautiful place with so much to offer. Their main feature is Jasper National Park. Located in the Rockies, Jasper National Park has many towering mountains, forests and an abundance of wildlife to explore. In fact, 97% of Jasper National Park is protected wildlife, making it one Canadian destination you won't want to miss.
If you want to make your trip to Jasper cheap, book your flights in advance for the best deals, or make it a road trip and you'll eliminate the price of flights completely!
A photo posted by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀G A B E A R A U J O (@gabearaujo) on
Cheapest Accommodations: $28/night
Cheapest Flights from Montreal: $190
I think we all know how amazing New York City is. From crazy food trends to art and broadway shows, there's an incredible amount to see in this city. Bonus is that flights are super cheap there right now! Add cheap accommodations to that list and you've got yourself a perfect trip.
As the capitol of the United States, D.C has some amazing things to offer. They have so many historical and famous tourist destinations such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian, and of course The White House. Travel to D.C to be immersed in the history of the United States for cheap!
This trip doesn't even require a flight from Montreal. Hop on a greyhound and you'll arrive at your beautiful destination for cheap. Take a ride on the Maiden of the Mist while you're here to get a close up view of these magnificent falls. Don't forget your rain poncho though!
Boston is a gorgeous city with so many unique things to see. Being one of the oldest cities in the United States this city carries a whole lot of culture and history. Check out the Freedom Trail, the Boston Common, and the Boston Harbour while you're there!
Probably the cheapest place to travel from Montreal since you're not actually leaving the province. But Quebec City still has so much culture to offer it's visitors. With cobblestone streets and towering, historical buildings you won't be disappointed with this destination. Take a stroll through Old Quebec or the Citadelle of Quebec while you're there!
If you're looking for a beach vacation then this is the one for you. The flights here are a bit more pricey than you might be hoping for but it is father to travel. Once you arrive though you're in for one relaxing vacation. You can chill on the beautiful beaches and soak up that Florida sun for as long as you want!
With cheap flights and cheap accommodations, Chicago is a prime destination. This city is filled to the brim with things to do and see. Take a walk through the downtown core and admire the unique architecture you won't see anywhere else in the world or visit their historic silver bean in Millenium Park.
They're also famous for their deep dish pizza, so don't miss out on a slice of that ooey gooey heaven on this trip!
There is the option to fly to this destination or you can make this one a road trip as well for way less money. Prince Edward Island is a beautiful area of Canada that has so much to offer. See the classic PEI lighthouses, visit PEI National Park and try some of their insanely fresh lobster!
A desert location in the United States where you can enjoy a relaxing vacation. The Valley of the Sun offers many cool things to see like the Desert Botanical Garden with crazy cactuses or go hiking in the desert!
A photo posted by Brett Stillwell (@b_stillwell) on
Cheapest Accommodations: $35/night
Cheapest Flights From Montreal: $364
British Colombia has so much to offer tourists and Whistler is a super special area as well. With sprawling mountain views, hiking during the summer months and ski resorts during the winter months you'll never be bored here. Visit beautiful lakes like the Lost Lake for amazing views and spend some time relaxing in nature.
Seattle has many amazing things to see and do. This city is hip and vibrant offering cool sights such as Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, or their giant ferris wheel on the waterfront.
Travelling in the fall is seriously underrated - the changing leaves are gorgeous, you won't freeze or melt, and your travel costs are cut way down in the off-season. Not to mention a long weekend away can really help you decompress if the semester is really starting to get to you.
Now before you read this and ask, "What about Quebec City? Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean? New York?" let me direct you over to Synden's awesome article from last year.
1. Stratford, Ontario
Your perfect destination if: You enjoy art, theatre, and chilling on the water
The drive: 6 h 15 min via ON 401-W
What to do in Stratford:
Enjoy plays and musicals at the Stratford Festival (obviously)
Go on a boat tour - or rent your own boat!
Eat yummy but affordable food in charming restaurants
2. Mont Tremblant, Quebec
Your perfect destination if: You want to enjoy the mountain air and you don’t want to drive very far
The drive: 1 h 25 min via Autoroute 15 N
What to do in Mont Tremblant:
Commune with nature by hiking, biking, and riding the gondola up to the top of the mountain
Get your blood pumping with rock climbing, dune buggy-driving, luging, and ziplining
Enjoy the restaurants and quaint shops in the walking village
Being a professional hockey player affords you certain privileges in life. You get to travel around on private jets, you get to enjoy celebrity status (especially if you're playing in Montreal), and of course you get to drink too much and start dancing on top of tables like a teenage girl when "her song" starts playing at the club.
That's pretty much what happened to Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins over the weekend, and although he was drunk like a teenage girl, his moves were rather geriatric and stiff. He looks like an old man trying to dance at a wedding but who wants to make sure he's not going to hurt his back. Marchand makes his way down the runway to milk the praise and admiration of the public, until the bouncer notices he's wasted and kindly grabs onto his leg to stop him from falling off the bar.
According to Spotted: Beachclub, Marchand was also throwing bottles and running into people on the dance floor.
Oy Vey. Vacation time is coming up and you and the Hubs are definitely looking for a frugal way to get out of the city & spend some quality alone time. Well forget about airfare and package searching, all you need for a quality vacation is your boo and your car. After working hard these past few months and trying to make time for those simple but great Montreal summer date nights and small weekend getaways, it's time for you both to pack your bags and hit the road for a real vacay. These easy trips will definitely help you reconnect with each other and will provide you with sufficient time & resources for all the fun & hanky panky you'd like. We've listed numerous activities for each spot so you can get an idea of which vacation is right for you and your love muffin.
Well there you have it Montreal, Bostons mayor Marty Walsh who lost a bet to Denis Coderre finally hung the Habs flag above their city hall today nearly a week after or rather late.
Montrealers were beginning to get worried that the deal struck would not come to pass.
Here is the tweet proving the respected agreement.
Not only the people of Montreal showed some intense fan fervor last night after the Habs crushed the Bruins. Even Montreal's inanimate buildings took part in the celebrations.
1501 McGill College, the 6th tallest building in the city, lit up the night sky with the colours of the Canadiens. As fans paraded in the streets, this skyscraper repped the Habs in the sky, shining Habs pride all throughout the city.
You may not have noticed last night, but kudos to the building operators who took the time to transform a Montreal skyscraper into a standing monument of the Habs' awesomeness.
Did you notice the Habs skyscraper?
For more on all things Montreal, follow Michael on Twitter @MDAlimonte
Game 7 won't be in Montreal, but that doesn't mean you can't still cheer for the Habs on their home turf.
To watch hockey history, the Bell Centre is offering fans a seat to watch the Habs take on the Bruins for only $10.
As if it was a home game, you can cheer on Subban, Price, Vanek, and all those beautiful Canadiens right by the ice. Sure, they'll be a country away, but its the thought that counts, and all the concentrated fan-mojo in the Bell Centre will definitley turn the wheels of fate into the Habs' favour. Not that they need the luck anyway.
The Bell Centre viewing starts at 7pm on Wednesday, and doors will open at 6pm. Taxes and fees are included in the ticket price, so you'll only be dropping a ten-ner to watch.
Tickets go on sale today at noon, so get online (or call) and buy 'em while there still room. Plus, if there's going to be a giant party/riot in celebration of the Habs' victory, you know you're gonna wanna be at the center of it all at the Bell Centre.
Grab your ticketsonline here, or call the Bell Centre Box Office 1-855-310-2525
Photo: official-nhl: Habs make it 3-0! The bruins are really reeling here at the Bell Centre http://t.co/uVYERhwlgI — Alli. (@RyantomyBieksa) May 7, 2014
All I want for my birthday is for the habs to win and a nice smelling candle... That isn't to much to ask for right? — Amanda Arcand ⚓ (@Amandamay92) May 7, 2014
With the series headed home for Montreal after splitting the games at TD Garden, the Bruins defensemen let some rather meek shade fly at Canadiens goalie Carey Price.
Bruins players Dougie Hamilton and Torey Krug claimed they can beat Price byshooting high, especially when he's screened. These insults bounced off Price, as he pointed to the obvious truth that this "scouting report" is the same for every goalie in the world, Tuukka Rask included.
Price suggested that the two goals that beat him high (one sticked in by Francis Boullion and Bergeron's tying goal that skipped in) were pretty miraculous. Price pointed out that during the playoffs "...probably 30 per cent of [goals] are tips and 50 per cent of them are screens and the other 10 (per cent) are just clean shots".
In a very professional and un-bloodlust-y move (the kind some fans love), Price also complimented the Bruins on doing good job of getting to the net and knowing what it takes to score in the playoffs. Hopefully the S-talking ramps up on Price's end as the series goes on, at least after the Habs win tonight.
The Habs and the Bruins haven't even played a game against each other yet, but that hasn't stopped fans from feuding and talking smack.
One (seemingly) impartial history/hockey fan thought it would be useful to compare the two teams, not on their current playing ability or statistics, but on the many features of their respective cities.
Dubbed the "Montreal Vs. Boston Infographic," the pic compares and contrasts the defining features of Montreal and Boston, including things like historical acts of rebellion, sweet treats, and even accents.
In all fairness, the infographic makes things seem pretty even between the two cities and the two teams. We, here in Montreal, however, know that isn't the case. When the Habs take on the Bruins tomorrow, all of Boston will clue in as well.
See the Montreal VS Boston Infographic below.
How badly will the Habs crush the Bruins?
For more on all things Montreal, follow Michael on Twitter @MDAlimonte
Proposed route for an overnight train from Montreal to Boston.Courtesy of Fondation Trains de nuit