[BeaverFever]

Or on the way to Niagara, you can see the Welland Canal locks, much larger and still handle commercial laker traffic as it's part of the St Lawrence Seaway system. The odd Navy ship passes through too. Not nearly as scenic as the Trent waterway locks Lemmy and DVC refer to, which are now just for recreational boating, but if you like to watch big ships Wellan Canal's where to go.

[EyeBrock]

bootlegga bootlegga:

I'm heading to central Canada this summer for a two week vacation - about half in Ontario and the other half in Quebec.

I've been able to figure out what to see and do in Toronto and Ottawa, but I'm wondering about Montreal and Quebec City.

Should we spend the bulk of our days in Montreal, or split them evenly between Montreal and Quebec City? Other than Old Quebec, is there much to see in Quebec City?

I'm leaning heavily to spending the bulk of our time in Montreal, with Quebec being a side trip (2 days, 1 night). Is that enough time - or should we spend more time in Quebec City?

On another tangent, is Buffalo NY worth seeing? We're going to Niagara Falls, and it's only 30 minutes away. Or should we spend the whole day in tacky tourist hell on our side of the border? We're going with little kids, so wine country tours are out, as is Fort George (saw it in 2007 anyways).

Buffalo has some interesting (and decaying) art-deco buildings if you are into that but it really is Detroit east. Even the deals on the border are not what they were with Canadian retailers bringing down prices to match the outlet malls just across the river.

We’ve been to Ellicottville NY which is a nice little town not too far away. Also if you are into antiques etc, Salamanca NY has a great market but with kiddies I’m thinking that the Falls will do the job. Get on the Maid of the Mist, best value ride ever! Plus my little-uns quite liked ‘Bird Kingdom’, I thought it was shite though.

[Brenda]

I would definitely bring at least one stroller. It will either carry your daughter or your luggage, if she doesn't want to sit in it. No carrying anything when it has wheels!

(I can't say anything about Quebec OR Ontario tho )

Have fun!!

[Jonny_C]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Get on the Maid of the Mist, best value ride ever! Plus my little-uns quite liked ‘Bird Kingdom’, I thought it was shite though.

Maid of the Mist is a great ride, but not for a 1 year old, I wouldn't think.

[EyeBrock]

Good point.

[bootlegga]

DVC185 DVC185:

While you haven't mentioned how you will get from TO to Ottawa, if you have a rental car and the weather is nice, a side trip off the 401 to the Peterborough Lift Lock is worth the small detour. It is a true marvel of engineering from 1904.



And Fort Henry in Kingston may be worth a visit especially if they have the same deal as last year. Pay at Fort Henry and get in free at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg just south of Ottawa.

http://www.uppercanadavillage.com/index.cfm/en/home/

I don't do Montreal anymore as the traffic and roads are simply horrible. Perhaps knock off a Montreal day to explore the sights I mentioned.

And I think you may find Quebec City much more enjoyable as it is more laid back than Montreal.

We're travelling by rental van - thanks for the tips!

[bootlegga]

Bodah Bodah:

Another vote for more time in Quebec city, especially as a family.

For places to eat in Ottawa depending on where your staying of course.

If you're right downtown. There's the Market; tons of restaurants, vendors, buskers, retail outlets. In the Market you can find La Bottega, an Italian food store. In the back of the shop they make thee best sandwiches for a great price.

Lone Star is a Tex-Mex place also located in the Market, also very good. Beef fajitas are awesome, their ribs aren't bad either. Free salsa and chips to boot as soon as you sit down.

Bangkok Thai Garden Restaurant on Dalhousie St. in the Market serves decent Thai food.

If you take a cab up to Somerset St. from DT(15$) you can go to Mekong the best Cantonese, Szechwan, Vietnamese and Thai Food in Ottawa. Try their dumplings. Make a reservation, it's always busy.

If you want a good burger take a cab to The Works on Bank St from DT (15$). They specialize in burgers, haven't ate one yet that I didn't like.

Always good to hear of good places to eat when you are travelling so you can avoid having to eat in dumps! Thanks!

[Jonny_C]

bootlegga bootlegga:

We're travelling by rental van - thanks for the tips!

One of the most impressive things I've ever seen is the Sunset Ceremony at Fort Henry in Kingston. Cannons firing, absolutely precise British marching and firing drills, bagpipes and military choir as the flag is lowered, the whole show takes more than an hour, maybe closer to two. You get a great view of everything from bleachers set up on top of the West wall, and you'll see the sun set over Kingston. If you catch a nice evening weather-wise, it could almost make your entire trip. Try to keep track of the weather forecast. It could be windy up on the ramparts, so on a cool evening make sure the kids are bundled up nice and warm.

It would probably necessitate staying overnight in Kingston, however. It's pretty late by the time the ceremony is over.

If you're in Kingston earlier in the day, there's a nice Island Queen paddlewheeler cruise of the Thousand Islands that departs from the docks downtown. Takes about 3 hours, if I recall correctly. There's a shorter Island Belle cruise - haven't been on that one.

http://www.1000islandscruises.ca/index. ... and-queen/

The Kingston Brewing Company is also downtown. We had a great black bean soup and crusty bread there, along with our "Dragon's Breath Ale" for lunch one day.

http://www.kingstonbrewing.ca/index.html

If you want to get a flavour of "Upper Canada" it's hard to beat old Kingston. You can easily spend a good day in the old city and at the fort.

In Ottawa, the changing of the guard on Parliament Hill is impressive, but slower paced than the Sunset Ceremony. If you go to see it, stand close to the Eastern entrance to Parliament Hill; that's where the bearskin-hatted troops come marching in and where they exit. You'll be able to see them come up the street where traffic has been blocked off.

If you like aircraft, go to the Aviation Museum. They have a great collection of historic aircraft. I was able to book a flight over downtown Ottawa in a Stearman biplane when I was there.

[kitty]

Ohhh Boot Kingston and the 1000 islands is one of my most favourite places ever. i have had so many good memories there. The cruises on the St Lawrence are fun but you simply MUST visit Bolt Castle on Heart Island. It has such a romantic history and if you look hard enough, you will find my "signature" in one of the rooms... providing it has not be restored yet.

Don't forget, you will need your passport because it is in American waters, part of New York.

You will have such an amazing fun time! I love Ontario



Check out this pintrest board Favorite Place on Earth

[martin14]

bootlegga bootlegga:

Always good to hear of good places to eat when you are travelling so you can avoid having to eat in dumps! Thanks!

In that case, Montreal is easy...


Schwartz's - Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen
3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Montreal, Quebec


Decarie hot dog.
953 Boulevard Décarie

Resto La Banquise
994 Rue Rachel E
Montréal, ... for poutine... dont poo poo until you have tried it for real.