By Lynn Thibault ·
Travel Learning Journal: Montréal with four kids, grandparents and a wheelchair
What we planned, what really happened, and what we’d tell another family. Written during the trip, October 10–12, 2026, by Lynn Thibault.
About this journal
A running record of what we learn when we travel as a big multigenerational family: four kids from toddler to teen, grandparents, a stroller and a wheelchair. Each note says whether we experienced it ourselves or only planned around it.
Biggest lessons so far
- Stroller-friendly is not the same as accessible. Our rental in Old Montréal was fine with a stroller but not accessible for a wheelchair. Next time we ask the host specific questions about steps, lift and door widths before booking, and we don’t accept ‘family friendly’ as an answer. Experienced first-hand
- A timed itinerary did not survive the first morning. We did almost nothing exactly as planned on Saturday and it was a better day for it. Plan anchors, not a schedule.
- Motivating kids works better as a game than a plan. Ours move for toys, snacks and playgrounds. A timed clue trail went unused; an all-weekend checklist of things to taste, ride, spot, say and be brave about got used.
- Check what a ‘market’ actually sells. We went to Bonsecours Market for strawberries and found gourmet foods and gifts, not groceries.
- Popular no-reservation breakfast spots need a backup. The line at Olive et Gourmando was long on Saturday morning, so we went to Terrasse instead.
- City events can eat a driving day. A marathon meant roadblocks and detours and put us about two hours behind on Sunday. Check the event calendar when you book, not the morning of. Experienced first-hand
Entries
Our rental in Old Montréal
Experienced first-hand
- Date
- Place
- Our rental in Old Montréal
- Area
- Old Montréal
- What happened
- Stroller friendly, but not accessible.
- Stroller
- worked
- Wheelchair
- did not work
- Tip
- Ask for step count, lift and door widths in writing before booking.
Olive et Gourmando
Experienced first-hand · Experienced the line; access not assessed.
- Date
- Place
- Olive et Gourmando
- Area
- Old Montréal
- What we planned
- A long, leisurely bakery breakfast.
- What happened
- The line was long, so we went elsewhere.
- Stroller
- not assessed
- Wheelchair
- not assessed
- Tip
- No reservations, so have a second breakfast option within walking distance.
Terrasse
Experienced first-hand
- Date
- Place
- Terrasse
- Area
- Old Montréal
- What happened
- Where we had breakfast instead.
- Stroller
- not assessed
- Wheelchair
- not assessed
Walk along the train tracks to the Old Port
Experienced first-hand
- Date
- Place
- Train tracks toward the Old Port
- Area
- Old Port
- What happened
- We followed the rails toward the harbour.
- Stroller
- not assessed
- Wheelchair
- not assessed
La Grande Roue de Montréal
Experienced first-hand
- Date
- Place
- La Grande Roue de Montréal, the Old Port Ferris wheel
- Area
- Old Port
- What happened
- We rode it.
- Stroller
- not assessed
- Wheelchair
- not assessed
Old Port ropes course
Experienced first-hand
- Date
- Place
- Old Port ropes course
- Area
- Old Port
- What happened
- Lilly and one of the grown-ups did the ropes course and stayed until almost 3 in the afternoon.
- Stroller
- not assessed
- Wheelchair
- not assessed
- Tip
- Budget far more time than you expect; it ate the afternoon plan, happily.
The little train at the Old Port
Experienced first-hand · Experienced the ride; schedule and price from the operator.
- Date
- Place
- The little train at the Old Port
- Area
- Old Port
- What happened
- We rode the little train under the big wheel.
- Facts
- From the operator’s schedule page: runs Saturdays and Sundays, 10 to 6, weather permitting, September 5 to November 1, 2026; $7 a person, taxes included, paid to the conductor. Operator schedule
- Stroller
- not assessed
- Wheelchair
- not assessed
Bonsecours Market
Experienced first-hand
- Date
- Place
- Bonsecours Market
- Area
- Old Montréal
- What we planned
- Buy strawberries.
- What happened
- What we thought was a grocery store was a specialty gourmet foods and gifts shop.
- Stroller
- not assessed
- Wheelchair
- not assessed
- Tip
- For groceries in Old Montréal, look for an actual grocer; we found Le Beau Marché (366 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest) and Avril Supermarché Santé (375 Avenue Viger Ouest) by searching, but did not visit them. (Researched, not visited)
Slice + Soda
Experienced first-hand
- Date
- Place
- Slice + Soda
- Area
- Old Montréal
- What happened
- Lunch.
- Stroller
- not assessed
- Wheelchair
- not assessed
Gandhi
Experienced first-hand
- Date
- Place
- Gandhi
- Area
- Old Montréal
- What we planned
- Dinner at LOV on McGill for everyone not at the hockey game.
- What happened
- We had dinner at Gandhi instead.
- Stroller
- not assessed — Same few steps at the entrance. Very kid friendly.
- Wheelchair
- mixed — A few steps up to get in, which requires assistance. Once inside, very wheelchair friendly.
- Tip
- Bring someone who can help with the entrance steps; it is worth it once you are in.
Biodôme de Montréal
Experienced first-hand
- Date
- Place
- Biodôme de Montréal
- Area
- Montréal
- What happened
- About an hour and a half. We visited three of the ecosystems: the sub-Arctic and sub-Antarctic zone, the forest and the tropical zone. We also stopped at the café, which was excellent.
- Stroller
- worked — Fully accessible.
- Wheelchair
- worked — Fully accessible.
- Tip
- An hour and a half was enough for three zones and a café stop with kids.
Driving on marathon day
Experienced first-hand
- Date
- Place
- Montréal streets
- Area
- Montréal
- What we planned
- Lunch at Jean-Talon Market at noon.
- What happened
- The marathon was today, so there were a lot of roadblocks and detours. Our noon arrival became about 2 pm.
- Stroller
- not assessed
- Wheelchair
- not assessed
- Tip
- Check the city’s event calendar for race days before planning a day that depends on driving, and add a couple of hours of slack if you can’t avoid one.
Getting around Old Montréal on wheels
Planned, not verified
- Date
- Planning note
- Place
- Harbour promenade and Rue de la Commune
- Area
- Old Montréal
- What happened
- We planned to use the flat harbour promenade and Rue de la Commune rather than cobblestoned Rue Saint-Paul.
- Stroller
- not assessed
- Wheelchair
- not assessed
Questions this journal answers
Is “stroller friendly” lodging also wheelchair accessible?
Not necessarily. Our rental in Old Montréal was fine with a stroller but not accessible for a wheelchair. Ask the host for step count, lift and door widths in writing before booking.
Is Bonsecours Market a grocery store?
No. We went for strawberries and found a specialty gourmet foods and gifts shop, not groceries.
How long does the Biodôme take with kids?
About an hour and a half was enough for three zones (the sub-Arctic and sub-Antarctic zone, the forest and the tropical zone) and a café stop with kids.
Does Olive et Gourmando take reservations, and is there a line?
It does not take reservations. On Saturday morning, October 10, 2026, the line was long, so we went to Terrasse instead. Have a second breakfast option within walking distance.
How much is the little train at the Old Port of Montréal and when does it run?
According to the operator’s schedule page, it runs Saturdays and Sundays, 10 to 6, weather permitting, September 5 to November 1, 2026, and costs $7 a person, taxes included, paid to the conductor.
How do you keep kids motivated on a city trip?
Make it a game rather than a plan. Our kids move for toys, snacks and playgrounds. A timed clue trail went unused; an all-weekend checklist of things to taste, ride, spot, say and be brave about got used.
Is Gandhi restaurant in Old Montréal wheelchair accessible?
Partly. There are a few steps up at the entrance, which require assistance. Once inside, we found it very kid and wheelchair friendly.
Is the Montréal Biodôme wheelchair accessible?
Yes. We found the Biodôme fully accessible on our visit on October 11, 2026.
Does the Montréal marathon affect driving around the city?
It did for us. On Sunday, October 11, 2026, marathon roadblocks and detours pushed a planned noon arrival at Jean-Talon Market to about 2 pm.