Exploring Montreal's Biodome

by Amanda One of your favourite places to visit as a family is the Biodome in Montreal.  We love it so much we actually purchased a family membership this year. At $60 per family for the year we have already been 3 times since January!  Truth be told the husband and I went a few times before babe as well.  Yes, we enjoy it that much.  Well, truth be told I have a thing for the penguins ;)  I could sit and watch them all day! Thankfully they have nice benches there so you can observe comfortably.

The biodome is large enough that it is worthwhile to make the trip from the Ottawa area but is not so big that it's overwhelming or takes a full day.  Montreal has a special place in our heart so many times we stay over but have made day trips as well. When we day trip we generally leave around 8 in the morning and have been home at dinner time.  We have also made quick stops on the way through Montreal as a way to get out of the car and stretch our legs.  Our last trip to the Biodome with babe was a quick one hour stop. Time for him to run, explore, point at fun animals and watch the penguins swim with his mommy

Enjoy travelling through the various ecosystems and exploring various species, insects, fish and mammals.  Get up close to the birds as some walk right up to you through the Rainforest Ecosystem.  Watch the otter swim and do tricks and then slide down the slide pretending what it would be like to be that otter!

There is a coat check available at the Biodome but do know that it is extremely busy in the winter. We always leave our coats in the car and make the short walk to the entrance with babe wrapped in a blanket in the stroller or in the Ergo.  The few times it has been extremely frigid weather outside my lovely husband has dropped us off right at the door / picked us up so we did not have to wait for the coat check.  The rain forests ecosystem is extremely warm so I highly recommend that you do not wear your coat or have a lot to carry as your travel through.  The sub - arctic is definitely chilly but not anything that is extremely uncomfortable. 

No food or drink are allowed within the ecosystems but there is a large cafeteria and a smaller deli with many tables where you can grab some food or eat any food you have packed.  Meals here can definitely add up with a small family so we tend to bring our lunch with us and then head out for a nicer family meal within Montreal later on.

Weekends are generally busier so we usually bring our Ergo, or another baby carrier, with us when we go with babe.  Navigating a stroller through the narrow pathways with lots of families is definitely a challenge.  September to June weekdays are quiet and there is a lot of room for children to roam and explore.  It is much more stroller friendly during these times for those who want to bring one.  Summer months are hit and miss as daycamps can definitely bring in a lot of children at once.  However, Monday's seem to be a good day to go as not many daycamps do an outing on their first day of camp.

So the next time you are looking for something fun to do with the family, whether for a day trip or a weekend think about heading to Montreal to explore the Biodome.  Oh and when you are there say hi to my friends the penguins please!

Amanda DeGrace is mom to a 14 month old boy who loves exploring.   As a busy entrepreneur running her companies DeGrace Energetics & Little Lotus Amanda treasures her families time together as they call Montreal a home away from home