Whether you play hockey or serenely glide around the ice, skating is a very popular activity with outdoors enthusiasts.

Montreal, unlike many other metropolitan cities, offers approximately 1000 parks for leisure or excursion that are accessible throughout the city.

And if you are looking for true nature, only 45 minutes away, to the north of Montreal, are the Laurentian Mountains with their superb ski resorts, golf courses, lakes and cottages for summer and winter.

To the east an hour away, are the Eastern Townships, again with superb skiing, golf course, lakes and holiday cottages.

There are small and large lakes everywhere - Montreal itself is an island in the middle of the St. Laurence River - and plenty of fun outdoor activities such as camping, canoeing, hiking, boating, skiing, etc.

According to the Greater Montreal Real Estate Board, the average price for a standard countryside home around Montreal ranged between $200,000 to $250,000 in 2007.