By Danielle Tarloff

The classic spring break image may be of sunny beaches and tropical sunsets, but heading north is a viable option, too. The city of Montreal, in the province of Quebec, is a world-class location with many historical sites, a thriving nightlife and nearby mountain sports.

“I emphasize the casino. The casino’s really fun,” said Pascal Bourgeois, a sophomore journalism and political science major who lived in the city for several years.

The Casino de Montreal is open to patrons 18 and older.

Unlike in the United States, 18-year-olds are also permitted to legally consume alcohol in Quebec, which was a whole new world of activity to sophomore anthropology major Caitlin O’Connell, who recently visited a friend in Montreal.

“It was cool, I didn’t buy drinks at clubs or anything. It was strange for me to buy alcohol at a normal liquor store,” O’Connell said. “Going up to the counter and just being like ‘hey’ … and then showing them my ID.”

Alcoholic beverages are not the only appeal of Montreal. There are many restaurants and caf