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Montreal might not have the majestic oceanfronts of Boston, nor the bohemian beach culture that defines Miami, but there's at least one place in southern Quebec where we can pretend it does. Plage Saint-Zotique, the riverside beach 50 minutes from downtown Montreal, is opening for the season — its 41st — on Saturday, June 17.
Now that Montreal has given us a few sunny days to enjoy, it's time to start thinking about where to travel to make the most of the weather. We don't live near the equator, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of sandy, surfy beaches close enough to make a day trip.
Montrealers are very laid back and open-minded, but you'll probably receive a few angry looks — and surely a visit from the cops — if you decide to get fully undressed at Verdun Beach to work on your tan this summer. There are no official nude beaches in Quebec, but there are some spots by the water where nudity is a tradition, or at least used to be.
The provincial government has announced a plan to make flights within Quebec cheaper and promote air service to more remote destinations. The plan includes a $500 limit on the price of round-trip intra-Quebec flights to select destinations in outlying regions. That price cap will take effect in the summer of 2022 once government subsidies kick in.
Good beaches near Montreal are a hard find. You're often left to choose between the brown waters of the Saint Lawrence River or some pungent, stagnant lake with dead bugs floating at the surface. There are some hidden gems, however. The beach at parc Jules-Léger in Saint-Anicet might be one.