<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pomcoach:
Thank you very much Wideman,
I will get out the map and look at all these driving distances. North Hatley sounds to be exactly what we're looking for. We like history and small hikes and views. I'm so glad you told me! Pomcoach 
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Eastern Townships is about 2 hours from Montreal. Personally, I wouldn't recommend there as there are better places that worth visit. If you are into history:
1) Quebec City - Vieux Québec: If you don't belive that you find yourself in Europe just after a few hours of driving, you will believe when you see it. There is a fully array of museums, historical buildings. If you come in July, you may catch la Fête de Nouvelle-France (New France Festival)celebrating the history of Quebec as a French colony some 300 years ago. People would dress in traditional costumes throughout the old part of Quebec city.
2) Montreal - Vieux-Montréal
Not as big as Old Quebec but a few streets packed of old style of buildings mostly dated back in the 19th century or early 20th century with lots of cafés and restaurants. Worth half of day at least.
If you are into nature:
Consider Mont-Tremblant, about 60 minutes north of Montreal. This is a world famous mountainous town for great nature, not as spectacular as the
Rockies but it's different. Enjoy great hospitality and the Laurentian forrests. But if price is a concern, you need to calculate your costs carefully as this is a world famous site, things aren't cheap.