Less than an hour's drive from Birchwild on Autoroute 15 is Montreal, one of North America's most cosmopolitan cities. It pulses with life all year round. There is an annual succession of festivals, including the legendary Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, and the Grand Prix, and cultural events abound. Montreal's culinary delights recently merited a complete issue of Gourmet magazine. Unique shops and boutiques make it as popular a destination for regional visitors as it is with international tourists.