As the third largest French-speaking city in the world, Montréal is home to a number of multinational corporations and the third most popular convention destination on the continent.  It’s also a vibrant cultural center, boasting several fine museums, including the Musee des Beaux Arts and the Biodome de Montréal.

For music lovers, the Montréal Symphony Orchestra and Cirque du Soleil are a must. Montréal is also the “City of Festivals,” thanks to such prestigious events as the annual International Jazz Festival and International Film Festival.

Other popular sites are Old Montréal and the Old Port; Olympic Stadium; and Ste-Catherine Street, the main commercial street downtown.  “City Underground” is a 30-kilometer network of boutiques, cafes, theaters, hotels, shopping centers, even a university.  It’s also been said that Montréal has some of the finest dining on the continent.

After Paris, France, and Kinshasa, Zaire, Montréal is the largest French-speaking city in the world.  Montréal, the second largest city in Canada, has a population of more than 3 million residents and claims the second largest port in North America.

Beam me up!  William Shatner, aka Captain James T. Kirk, was born in Montréal.  Shatner won international fame on the television series “Star Trek.”

You can bet that no matter your taste, Montréal is sure to satisfy.  More than 4000 restaurants dot the landscape of this future-forward, cosmopolitan city.  Catching a flick after you dine?  Some movies may be in English with French subtitles.  However, when the initials VF follow the movie title, be sure to brush up on your French.  VF stands for version francaise. VO or OV means the original version from where the movie was first released.

There’s nothing quite like a circus, especially when it's Cirque du Soleil.  Although there are no animals, you'll find plenty of theatrical and physical skills from clowns, trapeze artists, tightrope walkers and contortionists.  The show is in Montréal from April to June during odd-numbered years only; the show goes on the road in North America during even-numbered years.