Hi! I’m Cara, dog-mom to Henry (affectionately known as “The Smol”), a bubbly little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with endless love to give (@henrythesmol). We live in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, best-known for its lively festivals, hidden gem cafés & multicultural restaurants—yes, we are so much more than poutine!
Lately, however, due to the pandemic and everything being closed, the city streets are uncharacteristically quiet and calm—which in the case of an anxious dog like Henry, is not always a bad thing when trying to snap some pictures. In this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite walkies spots and photos-ops where I like to bring Henry. I hope it inspires you to come visit Montreal someday with your fur-baby!
We love living in the city, especially in the summer! There is always something to see and everything is in walking-distance. Before we head out on any long walk, though, we always grab our Maxbone City Carrier. This bag is not only a convenient carrier when Henry gets tired, but it’s great for packing up all the essentials. I love that it has tons of pockets, I can carry all my dog-mom necessities: treats, wipes, poop bags, water, travel bowl, change of outfit, you name it! Stylish in all four seasons, the City Carrier also doubles as a cozy bed, a home away from home if you’re planning to stay at one of Montreal’s numerous pet-friendly hotels.
We live right by Ste-Catherine street—the main shopping street in Montreal. Although dogs can’t go into the actual stores, you can get some serious window shopping done on this street. When we walk here, Henry loves to chase pigeons and say hi to every human he sees. That’s why the Maxbone Globetrotter harness is our go-to; a solid (and fashionable!) harness is so important on our walks. He’s turned many heads with this harness!
Feeling fancy? Dress to impress and take a stroll down the Golden Square Mile and snap a few photos in front of The Ritz Carlton or Le Musée des Beaux Arts.
As much as we love walking around our city, it can get pretty messy for a Cavalier—especially when it rains! Henry is not a fan of getting wet, so our Maxbone Talon Raincoat is a must. For someone who’s always on the go, I appreciate how easy and quick it is to put on, not to mention it’s the best-made coat I’ve ever seen. I love it so much, I have it in two colors!
Montreal is notorious for its construction. Something is always being built in this city! If you’re driving around, make sure you keep an eye out for roadblocks and detours. Fan of street art? Take a drive down St-Laurent boulevard and discover the various painted murals, reminiscent of artists like Keith Haring. We actually dedicate a whole festival to street art in the summer! The perfect photo-op: your dog wearing the Maxbone special edition Keith Haring x Disney hoodie in front of a Montreal mural!
One of our favorite places for adventure walks and photo-ops is definitely Old Montreal—a must if you are travelling here for the first time! You’ll find lavish, historic buildings and lots of open squares—the perfect backdrop for all those Insta-worthy travel shots.
In the winter, Old Montreal is especially magical, decorated with gorgeous holiday light installations.
Grab a coffee to-go at one of Old Montreal’s numerous cafés, sip on a delicious cappuccino as you continue your walk to Montreal’s Old Port—don’t forget to take a photo in front of La Grande Roue, Montreal’s very own Ferris wheel!
These are but a few of my favorite places in Montreal to bring Henry. I can’t wait to be able to explore more of our city with him, as places start to open up again, and Montreal becomes more and more dog-friendly!
