Last September, I spent 6 days in Montréal, Québec, for a work conference. It was my first time visiting the French Canadian province, and I was struck by how much more foreign it felt to me than anywhere else I had been in Canada. French was the default language, so I often found myself smiling politely and shaking my head when I could not understand what someone was saying to me.

Local Cusine sampled: poutine, French food, smoked meats

Arts/entertainment: I was lucky enough to be in town during an arts festival and saw Arcade Fire perform a free show to a large promenade packed with thousands of people. They are one of my favorite bands and I have seen them perform live many times, but it was especially exciting to hear them play to their hometown crowd.

Timing also worked out for me in that the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit was on display at the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Montréal Museum of Fine Arts).

Old Montréal made me feel like I was in Europe, with its narrow cobblestone streets and cafés. I would recommend visiting, and if you do, have an icy cold Labatt Blue for me.