Canada bound again

Robert

Robert

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Looks like I'm going to be heading back to Ontario in mid-August for three weeks.

I'll be staying with family in Burlington, just West of Toronto. Having seen this wee bit of Ontario several times now, I'm hoping to venture a little bit further afield and am looking for suggestions.

I can probably spare about a week (anymore might be a little rude to my hosts) for travelling.

Ideas?
 
oh, yeah! Montreal is cool. I haven't been there in a hundred years but I still remember what a fun time I had there with my dad and brother.

I don't know if it's still the case but I was fascinated by the rubber wheels for the subway cars

the restaurants were fantastic and I believe I had the best chocolate mousse up to that date - I think the restaurant front was shaped like a windmill but I could be hallucinating that one.




 
Ya, it's about 5 to 6 hours, depending on your speed and traffic. Ottawa is kinda on the way. I've driven from Toronto to Ottawa, it's all freeway driving so it's nice and quick. Ottawa is a pretty town but Montreal is way nicer in my opinion. I've heard good things about Quebec City but never been there, and you better know a few words of French (you won't have a language issue in Montreal).

If you're up more for some outdoor adventures, there's Algonquin Provincial Park just North of Toronto. If you don't fancy yourself driving that far into the sticks you can also just visit the Toronto Islands just south of Toronto in Lake Ontario. It's actually quite nice there and I've noticed many of the Toronto ladies enjoy topless sunbathing there. Worth the trip. And I imagine that you've been to Niagara, but I always enjoy doing the winery tours. There's no shortage of things to do in Toronto itself and if you haven't yet been to The Distillery District, you really should. Some other cool spots: The Beaches, checkout School Restaurant, a hidden gem in the heart of Liberty Village, have some fresh loukoumades in Athens Bakery in the largest Greektown in North America (there's a major street festival there from Aug 9 to the 11th, if you can time that), check out the bohemians at Kensington Market, just West of Spadina Avenue, the Harbourfront, Little Italy on College Street, The Village of Yorkville Park and many more I forget... I'm sure you've seen Younge Street, Queen Street and Dundas Square so no need to mention those I guess.

The Montreal Film Festival is on from Aug 22 to Sept 2nd. The Toronto International Film Festival is on from Sept 5 to 15th. Both are lots of fun.

- Mike
 
Glaucus said:
Ya, it's about 5 to 6 hours, depending on your speed and traffic. Ottawa is kinda on the way. I've driven from Toronto to Ottawa, it's all freeway driving so it's nice and quick. Ottawa is a pretty town but Montreal is way nicer in my opinion.
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Ottawa is a beautiful place. I spent a few days there about a decade ago and even met up with a couple of guys from amiga.org for beers and a bit of sight-seeing.

I've heard good things about Quebec City but never been there, and you better know a few words of French (you won't have a language issue in Montreal).
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My French has deteriorated to almost non-existant but if I do head to Montreal, it would seem almost too good a chance not to visit QC whilst up that way. It's only another couple of hours and, like you, I've heard it's a cool place.

If you're up more for some outdoor adventures, there's Algonquin Provincial Park just North of Toronto.
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Spent a long weekend camping up that way (I think the same year I visited Ottawa) and had an outrageously good time - even saw a beaver. :p

If you don't fancy yourself driving that far into the sticks you can also just visit the Toronto Islands just south of Toronto in Lake Ontario. It's actually quite nice there and I've noticed many of the Toronto ladies enjoy topless sunbathing there. Worth the trip.
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Hahaha - bravo; am I really that transparent? :lol:

And I imagine that you've been to Niagara, but I always enjoy doing the winery tours. There's no shortage of things to do in Toronto itself and if you haven't yet been to The Distillery District, you really should. Some other cool spots: The Beaches, checkout School Restaurant, a hidden gem in the heart of Liberty Village, have some fresh loukoumades in Athens Bakery in the largest Greektown in North America (there's a major street festival there from Aug 9 to the 11th, if you can time that), check out the bohemians at Kensington Market, just West of Spadina Avenue, the Harbourfront, Little Italy on College Street, The Village of Yorkville Park and many more I forget... I'm sure you've seen Younge Street, Queen Street and Dundas Square so no need to mention those I guess.

The Montreal Film Festival is on from Aug 22 to Sept 2nd. The Toronto International Film Festival is on from Sept 5 to 15th. Both are lots of fun.
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Thanks for the info; most of that is new to me.
 
My first choice has always been Vancouver but I just can't afford the additional air fair.
 
Glaucus said:
Oh come on, it's only about 24 hours drive from Toronto.
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I'd be more tempted to go by train but even that is rather pricey.

Last time I was over I took an incredibly slow but nonetheless pleasant train from Oakville down to New York. Hooked up with cecilia for a day while I was there.
 
Robert said:
My first choice has always been Vancouver but I just can't afford the additional air fair.
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Yes. And Banff would be a nice stop too. And by August I'm sure the flood waters in Calgary will be gone. We might actually do a road trip out to Calgary around late August/early Sept as Lisa has a sister who lives there and I agreed so long as we spend most of our time in Banff (which is WAY nicer than Calgary).
 
Robert said:
I'd be more tempted to go by train but even that is rather pricey.
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Actually, it's probably cheaper to fly to Calgary than to Winnipeg, even though Calgary is 1300 Kms East of here. Our airfares are high because, well, there's not much demand. :(
 
Glaucus said:
Actually, it's probably cheaper to fly to Calgary than to Winnipeg, even though Calgary is 1300 Kms East of here. Our airfares are high because, well, there's not much demand. :(
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I just did a quick check on the current offerings from VIA and Air Canada.

Winnipeg is around $420 by train, taking a day and a bit.
Flight about $520 and two hours-ish.

Train to Calgary is bit more complicated so don't have a price for that yet (couldn't be arsed jumping through the hoops on the VIA website) but a flight is around $610

The train to Vancouver is about $900 return and takes about four days.
Flight is about $720 and five hours.

Looking at all that, if I was going to fly West at all, I'd probably plump for Vancouver.

Haven't checked prices to US cities yet.
-EDIT-
Toronto - San Francisco, $800 (Canadian) and five hours-ish.
 
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