This Week:
21 Swings in Quartier des Spectacles
Mont Éléphant in Lac-Supérieur
IN: Quartier des Spectacles’ 21 Swings
Music, art, fun & outdoors join together in a gaggle of awesome with the Quartier des Spectacles’ 21 Swings. Now in its sixth year of existence, 21 Swings is a set of beautifully designed swings that make music every time a swing arcs to and fro. With 21 separate swings being swung by 21 different people, the music is always 100% unique. If you have never been to experience a 21 person swinging orchestra, I beg you to head downtown this weekend and check it out. It really is something special due in large part to the swings reproducing the sounds of four instruments: piano, guitar, vibraphone and harp. Each one corresponds to a swing of a different colour, while the height reached by the user determines the note played (I mean c’mon! That’s awesome!).
The Good:
- When’s the last time you swinged, swung or swang in a swing… that makes music!
- Very easy to get to since it’s right smack dab in the middle of downtown.
- Being in the QdS means you will be surrounded by a copious amount of things to do and experience. Let 21 Swings be your gateway to a day of fun in your city!
The Bad:
- Swinging on a swing is not an all-day event, so you’ll need to be open to some downtown exploration if you’re in the mood for a full day experience.
- You may need to wait a little for your turn… just like when you were 6 years old at the local park.
- The swings are not baby-compatible… I’d even say that 5 or so would be minimum age.
The Useful:
- Promenade des Artistes, Boul. de Maisonneuve x Rue Jeanne-Mance, 514-879-0009.
- Schedule is Aug8 – Sep5 / Sun-Wed 10h-23h & Thu-Sat 10h-1h
- A cool little video showing 21 Swings in all its glory.
Pro Tip:
- Since you’re there, might as well sharpen your Chess chops and engage in a human sized game of chess, no?
AROUND: Lac Supérieur’s Mont Éléphant
Let’s head back up north once again to a little known mountain at the doorstep of our largest provincial park! Mont Éléphant, located just before the entrance to Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, is a modest mountain that tops out under 2,000 feet but gives some breathtaking alternate views of the Tremblant region. Although the word on the street is that Mont Éléphant is a “difficult” trail, I would suggest otherwise. It’s got its share of steeps and terrain changes, but I’d recommend this to most everyone who wants to hike, from beginner to expert. There are awesome views to the west towards the world renowned Mont Tremblant ski resort, as well as to the south-east over beautiful Lac Supérieur from a rarely enjoyed vantage point. The hike is about 4.5 km so you should count on perhaps 1.5 hours of straight hiking. Add in some jaw dropping views, a lunch and, if you’re lucky, a child running through the forest chasing wild partridges, then you’ve got yourself a great 3 hour hike in front you.
The Good:
- This hike is free. No admission fees, no trail maps to buy, no nothing!
- You can extend this hike out to Mont Nixon and eventually into Tremblant Park if you’re really feelin’ it. Check here for a great map of these interconnected routes.
- If you’d like to add a little swim time to your hike, head up the road into the provincial park for an awesome beach experience on Lac Monroe.
The Bad:
- While it’s great that it’s free, that means that there are no trail maps or help at the base. So just make sure you’ve got your wits about you before beginning.
- While I state above that this is a good hike for all levels, the beginners will need to take some sections slowly for sure.
- If it’s raining, or has just rained, the steeps get slick! Some spots are muddy slopes with no real foot holds.
The Useful:
- Mont Éléphant, Chemin du Lac-Supérieur, Lac-Supérieur, Qc.
- A nice little summary with elevation map as well as cartographic map
- A trail map (not terribly descriptive but there is some good pretty signage on the actual mountain trails)
Pro Tip:
- Hit Le Rustique for a terrace-infused, open-fired marshmallow’d type of refueling after your hike!
“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.”
– Henry David Thoreau | b. 1817 | American Philosopher, Poet & Naturalist
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