"Too often, tourist options = family-friendly tourist options = bored adults surrounded by screaming kids. \n\nHappily, Pointe-\u00E0-Calli\u00E8re, while family friendly, kept two 30-somethings without kids entertained and educated. \n\nPointe-\u00E0-Calli\u00E8re tells the history of Montreal while also showing off the ruins from a historic site, which the museum is built on top of, as well as other artifacts from its first days. \n\nWe had arrived just in time for the free English tour of the ruins, so we rushed downstairs to make it. Our guide talked to us about the Native Americans that once lived in the area and how the French and British tried to claim the land for themselves.\n\nMy favorite parts were the five dioramas set up under the floor, visible through plexiglass tiles in the floor. The group of 10 or so of us collected around each, which were about 5-feet-by-5-feet, and each diorama showed a different time in the history of Montreal.\n\nBut the best part was that each showed what had happened at the exact site that we were standing on. And behind us, you could see the ruins that corresponded with what we were seeing in miniature, such as the foundation of the wall that once housed an outdoor market. A red square on each diorama represented the spot were were standing on. \n\nAnd after the guided tour, we could walk around the ruins, which boasted other interactive elements. \n\nWe unfortunately didn't have time for some of the other exhibits, but we did make our way up to the top of the tower to get a great view of Montreal and the river. \n\nWe also watched the 20-minute video about Montreal in the theater behind the ticket booth. It was great that you wore headphones for the show, so that you could pick your language. The video was a bit (actually a lot) cheesy, but the highlight is the fact that it's shown above more ruins and uses some fun light show techniques. \n\nOther tips:\n* The museum takes a dollar off the ticket price for each degree under 0 degrees Celsius it reaches that day. \n* The free coach check is awesome. So nice to not have to lug our winter gear around the museum.\n* There are also lockers you can rent. \n\nVisiting Pointe-\u00E0-Calli\u00E8re put our trip to Montreal in perspective, and I left with a greater appreciation for this beautiful city!"^^ . "0"^^ . . "4"^^ . . "4"^^ . . "8"^^ . "2016-01-18T00:00:00"^^ .