My 12-year-old son and I are going to Montreal for 8 days at the end of July for the fireworks competition. Can we find plenty to keep us busy within Metro distance of our McGill dorm room, or should we thing about a jaunt up to Quebec City?

Your cup should be overflowing when in Montreal but you and your son could always travel to Quebec City via rail staying the night and returning the next day. You young lad might well find the whole rail thing a bit of an adventure.