Hudson (Quebec) - town in Quebec, Canada

Hudson is a town of 5,411 people (2021) in the Suroît peninsula, in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, in Montérégie région of Quebec, about 60 km west of Montreal. It sits on the southern shore of the Lake of Two Mountains, near the confluence of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers.

Two important stopovers on the road between Montreal and Ottawa (via Quebec highway 40 and Ontario highway 417, are located near the limit of Hudson (however, one is in the territory of Vaudreuil-Dorion and the other in Rigaud); these service areas offer food, lodging, convenience stores, gas and other services to motorists. In addition, Hudson offers a range of infrastructure and recreational tourism activities.

Understand

Although it's now an easy 45-minute highway drive from Montreal, it used to be an isolated village of mainly Scottish and English farmers. It was briefly a lakeside cottage getaway. Most residents of Hudson get out of town by spending the day in Montreal or the West Island, with occasional trips to Ottawa.

Much of its past can still be seen today, with a largely anglophone population, turn-of-the-century homes, pretty lakeside views, tree-lined streets and the English-inspired architecture of the town centre. These features make it a popular daytrip for Montrealers, particularly in the summer.

Travellers can benefit from waterfront infrastructure and services for nautical activities on the Ottawa River, downstream from the Carillon dam, on Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes. There is a scenic mountain there, as well as sucreries, i.e., maple syrup farms where tourists can go for a hayride and try a traditional Quebec meal.

Geography

The village of Oka is across the Lake of Two Mountains by ferry. In winter, an ice path is built to connect the two shores. The Viviry River (a tributary of Lac des Deux-Montagnes) separates the municipal territory in two.

Get in

By car

Carillon-Pointe-Fortune and Hudson-Oka ferries cross the Ottawa River to the Outaouais and Montagnes Laurentiennes regions on the Quebec side. In winter, ice bridges are maintained at Carillon-Pointe-Fortune and Hudson-Oka to connect the two shores.

• From the island of Montreal, take Autoroute 40 westbound. The most scenic route is to get off at Exit 35, turn right at Avenue Saint-Charles, and turn right at Chemin-de-l'Anse. This will take you along the shore of the Lake of Two Mountains (Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes) until you get to Hudson, at which point the name of the street will change to "Main". Drive another 4 km along Main road to get to the centre of town. The trip from downtown Montreal takes about 45 minutes (except during Montreal's rush hour, when it will often take 90 min).

• From Ottawa, take Highway 417 eastbound. At the Quebec border, the highway changes its name to Autoroute 40. Get off at exit 22, turn left on Côte-St-Charles. At the end of Côte-St-Charles, turn right on Main. Drive 1 km to get to the town centre. The trip takes about 90 minutes. Between Montreal and Ottawa, Highway 417 and Autoroute 40 are part of the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway.

By train or bus

The Exo Vaudreuil-Hudson Line provides commuter service from Montreal. Most trains end at Vaudreuil, requiring a bus transfer.

You can also get to Hudson by taking Montreal's public transit to:

• John Abbott College in Montreal's suburb of Ste-Anne de Bellevue, and connecting with a CIT La Presqu'Ile bus to Hudson at 15:29, 16:29 and 17:47.
• Vaudreuil train station on the AMT (dead link: January 2023) Montreal-Vaudreuil line, and connect with a CIT La Presqu'Ile bus at 16:54, 18:12, and 19:03.
• Cote Vertu Metro station and take a CIT La Prequ'Ile express bus to Vaudreuil. Expresses leave Cote Vertu every half hour from 15:00 to 19:00. You can then connect with the Vaudreuil-Hudson bus discussed above.

By ferry

A ferry operates during most of the spring, all of summer, and most of autumn taking cars, people and bikes from Oka to Hudson across the Lake of Two Mountains. It leaves from Main Road, just east of Bellevue Street. In the winter, the lake freezes over, and it is sometimes possible to drive over the ice across the lake from the ferry terminal to Oka (depending on weather conditions and ice thickness).

Get around

By car

The town centre is concentrated on Main Road. The centre of town can be traversed by car in two minutes. Driving the whole 20-km route of Main Road (which continues as Chemin de l'Anse in neighbouring towns) can be quite scenic, with views of large country houses, farms, trees, and the Lake of Two Mountains.

By bicycle

Although Main Road/Chemin de l'Anse is quite narrow, one can often find groups of cyclists riding along this scenic route on summer weekends. Be aware that the north-south streets off of Main Road (Bellevue, Cameron, and Côte-Saint-Charles Streets) have very steep inclines at some parts.

By foot

Hudson is a small town; the town centre can be crossed by foot in 20 min. Summertime is the best time to do this; in the winter, the cold and the wind make walking unpleasant.

See

The town's architecture is quite distinct from most towns in the greater Montreal area. Some buildings date back to the beginning of the 1900s, while the new buildings have tried to copy some of the older building's features.

Most people who come to Hudson take a drive down Main Road to see the old houses, foliage and lakeviews. This is popular in the summer but perhaps best done in October, when the leaves turn fall colours.

• Hudson Village Theatre (Théâtre du village de Hudson), 28 Wharf Road (in the old Hudson train station, behind the Château du Lac), 45.45918°, -74.14003°, +1 450-458-5361. Most of his shows take place in the summer. It features a variety of travelling theatre companies as well as local productions. Occasionally, dedicated trains from Montreal take ticket holders directly to the theater for a performance. 2022-05-25
• Greenwood Centre For Living History, 254, rue Main, 45.45258°, -74.11289°, +1 450-458-5396, istory@greenwoodcentre.org. The Greenwood Living History Center preserves the legacy of Phoebe Nobbs Hyde, the last occupant of this multi-faceted house. Greenwood's complex history is told through numerous historical documents, paintings and ancient artifacts. Original museum visitors can visit this magnificent property and bucolic gardens. Various events are organized during the summer. This centre is administered by a non-profit organization. 2022-05-25

Do

• Have a lakeside picnic. The town has two public accesses to the shore of the Lake of Two Mountains: Sandy Beach (in the centre of town) and Thompson Park (near Finnegan's market). Bring mosquito repellant. The best time to do this is Labour Day weekend, when the lake fills with sailboats for an annual regatta.

• Falcon Golf Club (Club de golf Falcon), 59, rue Cambridge, 45.46488°, -74.17493°, +1 450-458-1997. 18-hole public golf club. Score Golf Magazine ranked the Falcon as the best public course in the province of Quebec for its course design and layout for 2021. 2022-05-25

• Whitlock Golf & Country Club (Club de golf Whitlock), 128, Côte Saint-Charles, 45.45890°, -74.16402°, +1 450-458-5305. Golf in operation since 1912 and equipped with 27 holes in an environment of mature trees. The club also has four curling rinks (in winter) accessible to players of all levels and for tournaments; the Hunter Room overlooks the curling rinks. The modern Whitlock Lodge offers bar and dining service. The Whitlock hosts major dining events, weddings and community celebrations. 2022-05-25

• Sandy Beach (Plage Sandy), rue Royal View (take Main Street, then Royal View Street), 45.45925°, -74.13039°. Municipal beach overlooking the south shore of Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes and located in Jack Layton Park. 2022-05-25

• Hudson Yacht Club, 10, rue du Yacht Club, 45.46285°, -74.14068°, +1 450-458-5326. Club established in 1909. The club site has a swimming pool and playground. Every year on Labor Day, the club holds its famous annual sailboat regatta. The club also organizes many events: lobster meal, boat launching, Mother's Day brunch, St. Patrick's Day, etc. 2022-05-25

• Royal Oak Tennis Club, 36, Royal Oak, 45.44968°, -74.11246°, +1 450-458-4320, royaloaktennisclub@gmail.com. A private tennis club catering to tennis players of all skill levels. The club offers a training program. 2022-05-25

Events

• Annual sailing regatta (Régate annuelle de voiliers), 10, rue du Yacht Club, 45.46285°, -74.14068°, +1 450-458-5326. Annual regatta hosted by the Hudson Yacht Club of Hudson. During these regattas, all the sailboats on Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes create a splendid panorama that is very popular with the public. 2022-05-25
• Hudson Music Fest, 45.459803°, -74.144286°, blairmackaymusic@gmail.com. Established in 2007, the Hudson Music Festival (HMF) celebrated its 16th anniversary in 2022. This festival was launched to showcase and support the vibrant cultural environment of the Village of Hudson. HMF's mission is to provide performance opportunities for talented professional and amateur musicians in the region and to bring exciting national and international artists to the Hudson community. This festival is aimed at audiences of all ages. 2022-09-29
• Hudson Film Festival, 45.45918°, -74.14003°, +1 450-458-5361. April 12 to 18, 2023. A celebration of Canadian Film. This festival is affiliated with the Toronto International Film Festival through its outreach organization, The Film Circuit. On September 19, 2022, the Hudson Film Society launched its 16th season. 2022-09-29

Buy

For such a small town, Hudson has a large number of antiques and arts and crafts shops. Almost half of the town's businesses are devoted to this. Aside from Finnegan's market, you can find many of these shops as you stroll down Main Road.

• Organic Hudson Orchard (Verger de Hudson Bio), 839, rue Main, 45.47711°, -74.19926°, +1 450-458-0163, vergerdehudson@gmail.com. Boutique offering products from the orchard (e.g., mustards of various types, organic apple juice, ketchup), and products for the home. 2022-05-25
• Hudson Heartbeet Community Farm, 723, rue Main (In Alstonvale zone), 45.47159°, -74.17800°, +1 438-506-3276, hudsoncommunityfarm@gmail.com. Organic farm with community participation. Educational activities and awareness of organic culture. 2022-05-25
• Finnegan's market (Marché Finnegan), 775, rue Main (at the west end of Hudson on the Aird family farm), 45.47421°, -74.18671°, +1 450-458-4377. Flea market in operation for 45 years; it is named in honor of Finnegan, the chiel of the Airds. This market offers in particular antiques, collectibles, crafts, fruits and vegetables, food, farm products. 2022-05-25
• Captain Frog pêche, 49, rue Royal Oak, 45.44707°, -74.11448°. Sports club for fishing. 2022-05-25

Eat

• Restaurant Viviry, 510 Rue Main (town centre, corner Yacht Club Road), 45.460142°, -74.14435°, +1 450-458-5343. breakfasts, lunch, supper. Inexpensive pizza, hamburgers, poutine, spaghetti and souvlaki, family restaurant.
• Willow Place Inn Pub & Restaurant, 208 Rue Main (about 2 km east of town centre), 45.447972°, -74.108476°, +1 450-458-7006. Lunch & supper daily from 11:00; Sunday brunch. This restaurant has good pub food, French cuisine, and its own ghost story (ask the waiters). But the real reason to go is for the lake view on the terrace; many Montrealers drive one hour to Hudson just for this. Have a lakeside drink or meal on the terrace of the Auberge Willow Place Inn restaurant, from where you have the best view.
• Mon Village Restaurant & Pub, 2760 Côte St-Charles (near exit 22 of Autoroute 40), 45.436686°, -74.17527°, +1 450-458-5331. Daily 11:30-23:30. Pretty good pub food and a rustic atmosphere.
• Bistro Carambola, 72 Rue Cameron, 45.457527°, -74.140675°, +1 450 458-0098. Tapas restaurant and modern Canadian bistro dishes made with local and sustainable products. A small bring-your-own wine restaurant in Hudson that's quite popular with the baby boomer crowd. $25-35

Drink

There are three bars in town:

• Chateau du Lac, 460, rue Main, 45.45895°, -74.14063°, +1 450-458-4092. Perhaps the most striking old building in the town (corner Main Road and Wharf Road). Apart from the architecture, it is simply a small-town bar.
• Willow Place Inn Pub, 208, rue Main (Located on the edge of Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes.), 45.44817°, -74.10862°, +1 450-458-7006. A cozy pub in the English tradition.

Sleep

• Auberge Willow Place Inn, 208 Main Road (2 km east of Hudson town centre), 45.44816°, -74.10844°, +1 450-458-7006, reception@aubergewillowinn.com. Bicentennial historic inn (built in 1820 as a private residence for George Mallette and his family) in the heart of Hudson. This inn has a dining room for receptions including weddings and other events.

Cope

• Public Parks in Hudson (Parcs municipaux à Hudson). 2022-05-25
• Hudson Community Pool (Piscine communautaire), 78, rue Blenkinship, Hudson (Behind St-Thomas school), 45.45556°, -74.138991°. Outdoor pool. 2022-05-25

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