Salaberry-de-Valleyfield sits southwest of Montreal, where canals, bays, and the St Lawrence system give the downtown an unusually watery shape. It is not a grand old city, but it has enough nautical life, industrial history, and summer swimming to make a good Montérégie day trip.
The centre turns around the Old Beauharnois Canal and the marina, with boats tied up close to restaurants and the commercial streets. Parc Delpha-Sauvé gives the downtown its green edge, while the MUSO explains how textile mills shaped the town.
If you have a car or a bike, widen the day to include Îles-de-Saint-Timothée Regional Park or Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site. Valleyfield is best in warm weather, when the water is part of the city rather than just scenery.