Hi, My boyfriend and I have 3,5 weeks in Canada (first time!!) , arriving on 31 May, leaving on 23 June. What route would you suggest? We have a rental car for 3 weeks.
We fly into Toronto, will spend 3 days there to discover the city, than onto Niagara-on-the-lake for 1 night (anyone got any good romantic B&B advice - no more than 100 CAN$ per night please). We thought about entering into the USA, drive around the lake, enter CAN again into Quebec. drive a bit north and than return to Toronto eventually.
Must sees for us are Montreal, Ottawa and some national parks. Would love to experience the beautiful Canadian nature everyone talks about so much..
To be honest: we've just been too caught up into work work work that we haven't really investigated into our holiday that much. Always leave those things to the last minute (oops..)
Am curious to find out what you would recommend.
We are active people: like history/cities - not for nightlife, but for exploring the sights/nature. Also don't mind driving in the car, so if you would recommend going to a different state, please let me know.
We're planning to stay in B&Bs or in hostels (but only if they're not with too many young people , recently discovered that with 28 years I'm now really getting too old for those hostels with 18 year olds making a lot of noise..), if you have any good suggestions, please let me know. I'm already looking at the B&B sites, but it's just so hard to make a choice of the so many different B&Bs...
Thanks a lot!
2 dutchies..
Hi evalej,
First, do a search on this site for the places you have mentioned. There is lots of advice for Niagara, Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec (and no doubt for parks, though I've never consulted those).
By entering the US, do you mean crossing at Lewiston/Queenston, Niagara Falls or Buffalo and travelling through New York State up to Montréal? Then you are going through the Finger Lakes region and the Adirondacks (ask questions about that leg on the USA board).
On the US side they are called States, in Canada, provinces. Of course you know that North America is vast. If you see a different state it might be Vermont just east of New York State - I certainly wouldn't recommend adding any Canadian provinces as you would have to go all the way to New Brunswick east of Québec or Manitoba west of Ontario - a VERY long drive in either case.
A good solution in the summertime in cities with a university is staying in residence - this has come up on the site many times, with recommendations for university stays in Montréal, Ottawa and Kingston Ontario (an attractive city, old by North American standards, about half way between Toronto and Montréal if you decide to drive on the Canadian side. It is also possible to stay at the Ryerson university residence in Toronto - very centrally located.
I highly suggest you rent a car, especially if you like to enjoy nature. Many parks are impossible to get to without your own transportaiton.
Stop by at Algonquin Provincial Park, which is sort of bewteen TOronto and Ottawa. It's probably the most well-known provincial park in Ontario. You can take a canoe trip in the park.
Mont Tremblant is in Quebec, which is between Ottawa and Montreal. Spend some time in the resort area, as well as drive up to the provincial park of the same name not too far from the resort.
You can also drive up to Quebec city, which has many historical buildings, the old town is considered a world heritage site.
There are many provincial parks in Quebec, check out this link: SEPAQ
You can also head up to Tadoussac for whale watching, which is a few hours drive up along the St Lawrence.
#1's Adirondack advice is great. Lake Placid is the home of 2 winter olympics.
Thanks for the advice! we have a car for 3 wks, sorry about the province/state, assumed that in Canada it is also called states. Learnt a lesson today!
When you recommend university housing, how is that?
good idea about Tadoussac, sounds great. I also like the resort suggestion for mont tremblant, will google that.
thanks!
eva
Since you are travelling through the States, as another writes, spend a couple of day in the Adiriondacks, about one day fomr Niagara and camp if you like that. They are beaurfiul and similar in many ways to Algonquin, but more interesting hills. Then go east to Vermont, see the Green Mountains, or even further east to New Hampshire and see Mt Washingon, then head north to Quebec, and take in Quebec City , even Tadoussac and then return west to Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Three weeks is plenty of time to take a relaxing trip and see a lot too.
A couple of further suggestoins in the Niagara area are to see the historic Erie canal enroute, at Lockport, just a 20 minute drive from Niagara Falls and if you like technology there is are the enormous hydroelectric dams near Lewiston and Queenston.
Niagara on the lake is a very expensive place for overnight accomodations, well fairly expensive for anything really lol (I've worked here for two years, at the front desk of the Pillar and Post Inn, Spa, and Conference Centre).
Here is a listing of B&Bs by price : Niagara on the Lake B&B accomodations
There are some $99 dollar B&Bs.
While your in niagara on the lake, be sure to do some winery tours and tastings. You can rent bicycles and ride to the wineries at your lesiure or pay to go on a scheduled tour. There is also the Shaw Festival if you want to take in a play, or tours of old Fort George used during the war of 1812. During the months that you'll be in the area, there is also a ghost walk/tour. If your looking for a casual place to relax and grab a bite or a pint the Old Angel Inn is one of the oldest pubs in Ontario, and apparently is haunted as well.
Enjoy!!
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