New York City is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York metropolitan area. The city has a significant impact on global commerce, finance, media, culture, art, fashion, research, education, and entertainment. As host of the United Nations Headquarters, it is also an important center for international affairs. The city is often referred to as ''New York City'' or the ''City of New York'', to distinguish it from the state of New York, of which it is a part. Located on a large natural harbor on the Atlantic coast of the Northeastern United States, New York City consists of five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. 

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec and the second-largest city in Canada. Originally called Ville-Marie, or City of Mary, the city takes its present name from Mont Royal, the triple-peaked hill located in the heart of the city, whose name was also initially given to the island on which the city is located, or Mont Real as it was spelled in Middle French, Mont Royal in present french.

Canada's second most populous province, Quebec is also the only one to have a predominantly French-speaking population, with French as the sole provincial official language. Its historic capital, Québec City, celebrates one of the world's most brutal winters with a carnival that features parades of majorettes and teams who race boats across an ice-choked river. Quebec is unique among North American tourist destinations. Its French heritage does not only set the province apart from most of its English speaking neighbors, it is also one of the few historical areas in North America to have fully preserved its Francophone culture. Its European feel and its history, culture and warmth have made Quebec a favourite tourist destination both nationally and internationally.