If you are looking for a place for the kids to release some energy try swimming, ice skating, or an amusement park.
There are an abundance of places to take a splash on a warm Montreal Summer day, but the most highly recommended are the Plage Des Iles and Olympic Park's Centre Sportif.
The Plage Des Iles is a man-made sandy beach filled with filtered, chemical treated water. Here you can not only take a dip, but rentals are available for kayaks, pedal boats, and other water sport equipment.
At Centre Sportif you will find six pools in an indoor complex including diving towers and a scuba pool.
If swimming is not what you are after, try lacing up some skates and hitting the ice at the Atrium. This glass domed rink is open year-round and offers kid's sessions. For older kids, you may consider the disco nights.
Teens and older kids are also sure to enjoy La Ronde, an amusement park known for its rollercoasters. La Ronde sits on the Ile Sainte-Helene.
Animals are nearly always a hit with kids so head to the Biodome or Insectarium.
The Biodome is home to creatures from across the globe. Once the Olympic Velodrome, Biodome is now filled with the ecosystems of the planet including tropical, polar, woodland, and even a giant aquarium.
If your child is more into the creepy-crawlies, the Insectarium may be a better bet. The Insectarium is inside the Jardin Botanique botanical gardens. The butterfly house should be at the top of your list at the insectarium, but there are also live scorpions and tarantulas and a wide array of mounted insects.
There are many festivals and events held in Montreal during the summer months, but two of these festivals will appeal to children.
The first is Le Mondial SAQ, an international fireworks competition which draws the top pyrotecnics from around the globe. LeMondial SAQ runs from mid-June to late-July. During this time you can catch a fireworks show one to two times a week at La Ronde.
If you have older children or a child with musical interests, then the Festival International de Jazz is sure to captivate them. The festival runs for 12 days in early-July and features over 400 outdoor, free concerts. There are a few featured concerts which will have an admission price.
