Canada - Road Trip - Sort of...
Discussion
Hello you lovely lot.
Mrs Adenauer and I were supposed to be heading to NYC etc in June but there are increasing reports about German nationals being held at immigration for no reason and then sent back to Ze Fatherland. As we have no intention of putting up with such shenanigans we have cancelled our trip and are now flying to Canada.
We'll be flying in and out of Toronto and will be there for 10 days, so I fancy doing a road trip, maybe for 5 - 7 days.
We've never been before so I am hoping someone will be able to give me some top tips on where to go, etc.
TIA
Mrs Adenauer and I were supposed to be heading to NYC etc in June but there are increasing reports about German nationals being held at immigration for no reason and then sent back to Ze Fatherland. As we have no intention of putting up with such shenanigans we have cancelled our trip and are now flying to Canada.
We'll be flying in and out of Toronto and will be there for 10 days, so I fancy doing a road trip, maybe for 5 - 7 days.
We've never been before so I am hoping someone will be able to give me some top tips on where to go, etc.
TIA
Edited by Adenauer on Tuesday 18th March 12:28
SunsetZed said:
Drive down to NYC for a few days?!
Niagara Falls for the falls, Niagara on the Lake for the wine are the obvious nearby options.
We're not going to NYC now as we're not going to America, full stop, seeing far too much of this lately Niagara Falls for the falls, Niagara on the Lake for the wine are the obvious nearby options.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/german-nation...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/04/world/german-de...
and now even our local travel agent has advised us against it. Call me a woofta but I don't care, life's too short.
Hired a big SUV for the entire time and so far it's looking like this:
Toronto for 2 days
Niagra Falls
Niagra on the lake
Algonquin Provincial Park
Ottowa
Montreal
Kingston
Toronto
InitialDave said:
Huh, I'll be in Toronto in June, too.
First time there, but have been to a few areas of Quebec before.
If you're OK with the trip, I can recommend Quebec city, especially the older areas. I took the train from Montreal when I went.
I think Quebec might be a bit too far, don't really want to spread ourselves too thin and just be in the car.First time there, but have been to a few areas of Quebec before.
If you're OK with the trip, I can recommend Quebec city, especially the older areas. I took the train from Montreal when I went.
Many years ago, my wife and our then quite young son (aged maybe 14?) did the following:
Toronto
Tobermory (1 night), then ferry to ...
Manatoulin Island
Sault St. Marie (2 nights)..take the Agawa Canyon tour train for the day!
Barrie (1 night)
Niagara on the Lake (2, maybe 3 nights)
Toronto
I think the number of nights is right, it was some time ago!
Fondly remembered trip.
R
Toronto
Tobermory (1 night), then ferry to ...
Manatoulin Island
Sault St. Marie (2 nights)..take the Agawa Canyon tour train for the day!
Barrie (1 night)
Niagara on the Lake (2, maybe 3 nights)
Toronto
I think the number of nights is right, it was some time ago!
Fondly remembered trip.
R
Bug spray. Repellant and bite cream for the skin, and anti-aircraft spray/electric tennis racket things. Take lots.
I find these work brilliantly:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beurer-Inflammation-Medic...
Swim in a lake, expect to get leeches.
Beautiful place, lovely people, appalling miniature wildlife. And bears, of course.
I find these work brilliantly:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beurer-Inflammation-Medic...
Swim in a lake, expect to get leeches.
Beautiful place, lovely people, appalling miniature wildlife. And bears, of course.
I live in Toronto and have lived in Montreal .
Montreal is a lot smaller and has a much better restaurant scene and nicer architecture . French is the language but everybody speaks English.
Toronto is not too bad , museums ok . Niagara-on-the Lake much nicer than the very tacky Niagara Falls though you have to go to the latter to see the Falls. There is a decommissioned power station in the park where you can walk through a tunnel and get a very close view though .
Beware of Toronto traffic which is nightmarish . Uber is widely available however and not too expensive.
Great ethnic food esp Chinese and Indian but just about every nationality.
If you feel brave you can go to to top of the CN tower and step outside wearing a harness..
Kingston is a university town.quite small and about midway to Montreal. Nice to walk but def one night.
Montreal is a lot smaller and has a much better restaurant scene and nicer architecture . French is the language but everybody speaks English.
Toronto is not too bad , museums ok . Niagara-on-the Lake much nicer than the very tacky Niagara Falls though you have to go to the latter to see the Falls. There is a decommissioned power station in the park where you can walk through a tunnel and get a very close view though .
Beware of Toronto traffic which is nightmarish . Uber is widely available however and not too expensive.
Great ethnic food esp Chinese and Indian but just about every nationality.
If you feel brave you can go to to top of the CN tower and step outside wearing a harness..
Kingston is a university town.quite small and about midway to Montreal. Nice to walk but def one night.
RDMcG said:
I live in Toronto and have lived in Montreal .
Montreal is a lot smaller and has a much better restaurant scene and nicer architecture . French is the language but everybody speaks English.
Toronto is not too bad , museums ok . Niagara-on-the Lake much nicer than the very tacky Niagara Falls though you have to go to the latter to see the Falls. There is a decommissioned power station in the park where you can walk through a tunnel and get a very close view though .
Beware of Toronto traffic which is nightmarish . Uber is widely available however and not too expensive.
Great ethnic food esp Chinese and Indian but just about every nationality.
If you feel brave you can go to to top of the CN tower and step outside wearing a harness..
Kingston is a university town.quite small and about midway to Montreal. Nice to walk but def one night.
Perfect, I was hoping you'd see the thread Montreal is a lot smaller and has a much better restaurant scene and nicer architecture . French is the language but everybody speaks English.
Toronto is not too bad , museums ok . Niagara-on-the Lake much nicer than the very tacky Niagara Falls though you have to go to the latter to see the Falls. There is a decommissioned power station in the park where you can walk through a tunnel and get a very close view though .
Beware of Toronto traffic which is nightmarish . Uber is widely available however and not too expensive.
Great ethnic food esp Chinese and Indian but just about every nationality.
If you feel brave you can go to to top of the CN tower and step outside wearing a harness..
Kingston is a university town.quite small and about midway to Montreal. Nice to walk but def one night.
I've booked us in to the Westin by the harbour for the first few nights so we can spend a full day looking around Toronto. Then we're off to Niagra Falls for the day and I've booked us into Niagra on the Lake for that evening / night. I did see Clifton Hill and ran a mile.
Still planning the rest after that but I quite fancy the look of Algonquin Provincial Park so we'll head that way after Niagra.
It'll be in June, is that still bitey little bug time?
We went to Canada in 2023. Started in Niagara for the falls (helicopter flight was great) then visited Niagara on the lake. Really enjoyed visiting there, very pretty.
Then drove to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal then Quebec. Great holiday and lots of good memories of visiting the usual touristy places.
We underestimated the distances between places and, with hindsight should have looked at possibly getting flights or trains between some of the cities to save time travelling. Also found the cost of food and drink quite high in the better restaurants (compared to the UK).
Would like to go back again and visit the west coast.
Then drove to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal then Quebec. Great holiday and lots of good memories of visiting the usual touristy places.
We underestimated the distances between places and, with hindsight should have looked at possibly getting flights or trains between some of the cities to save time travelling. Also found the cost of food and drink quite high in the better restaurants (compared to the UK).
Would like to go back again and visit the west coast.
RDMcG said:
In the city it’s not a big deal and generally only happens mildly at night or early evening . I do not find bites to be a big issue personally .Parks will be different of course.
I found it to be a massive issue outside of built up areas. On one visit when I was a child my Dad got such a bad bite from a horsefly that he was hospitalized. This was out in the sticks at a place called Lake Clear. Everyone's porch had those massive blue bug zapp contraptions you get in kebab shops in Turkey. The bangs were epic when a big one hit.
OP will probably be fine in the cities of course as you say, but venture out to the country and it's best to be prepared with some mitigations I'd say. I just mention it as it's not something everyone thinks of and it can impinge on your holiday if you get badly bitten.
I've been to Canada a few times and lived there for 3 years, in Toronto. Very fond memories, may move back some day.
Echo what others have said, obvious choices are Niagara falls - walk behind and heli ride, Niagara on the Lake, CN tower. Also get the boat out to Toronto Island for great views of the city and the islands are a nice walk too. The beaches area is also good to check out, distillery area, and flea markets nearby iirc. Lots of roof top bars should be open too.
TTC makes everything super easy to get around, you can (or could) buy weekly passes etc.
If you have a car you can go up to Algonquin park, thousand islands - few hours drive or so iirc.
Echo what others have said, obvious choices are Niagara falls - walk behind and heli ride, Niagara on the Lake, CN tower. Also get the boat out to Toronto Island for great views of the city and the islands are a nice walk too. The beaches area is also good to check out, distillery area, and flea markets nearby iirc. Lots of roof top bars should be open too.
TTC makes everything super easy to get around, you can (or could) buy weekly passes etc.
If you have a car you can go up to Algonquin park, thousand islands - few hours drive or so iirc.
We liked Toronto, we really enjoyed lunch in the revolving restaurant up the CN tower, the railway museum under it, a boat trip and walk around the island.
Niagra falls, yes amazing falls and enjoyed the boat trip but the place is a bit tacky.
Montreal is nice, good options for evening dining and good science museum on the waters edge.
I really liked Quebec it’s like an old French town but better organised but it’s a long drive.
Niagra falls, yes amazing falls and enjoyed the boat trip but the place is a bit tacky.
Montreal is nice, good options for evening dining and good science museum on the waters edge.
I really liked Quebec it’s like an old French town but better organised but it’s a long drive.
Adenauer said:
Perfect, I was hoping you'd see the thread
I've booked us in to the Westin by the harbour for the first few nights so we can spend a full day looking around Toronto. Then we're off to Niagra Falls for the day and I've booked us into Niagra on the Lake for that evening / night. I did see Clifton Hill and ran a mile.
Still planning the rest after that but I quite fancy the look of Algonquin Provincial Park so we'll head that way after Niagra.
It'll be in June, is that still bitey little bug time?
Please PM me if I can be of help. I will be around in TO for the first three weeks of June and live downtown.I've booked us in to the Westin by the harbour for the first few nights so we can spend a full day looking around Toronto. Then we're off to Niagra Falls for the day and I've booked us into Niagra on the Lake for that evening / night. I did see Clifton Hill and ran a mile.
Still planning the rest after that but I quite fancy the look of Algonquin Provincial Park so we'll head that way after Niagra.
It'll be in June, is that still bitey little bug time?
Adenauer said:
Still planning the rest after that but I quite fancy the look of Algonquin Provincial Park so we'll head that way after Niagra.
It'll be in June, is that still bitey little bug time?
We went on an overnight camping and canoeing trip into the park. With a guide but just our family. Highlight of what was a fab two week holiday.It'll be in June, is that still bitey little bug time?
Went in July, no issue with biteys (or bears...! )
Thanks everyone, the more we look at it the happier we are with our choice compared to the originally planned NYC, DC, and Boston trip.
Our local Travel Agent in Adenau has just announced that they are no longer offering trips to the USA for the time being, so there has to be something in the stories of tourists being detained.
We'll arrive in Toronto on June 15th and will also spend the 16th there, then off to Niagra Falls first and then ROADTRIP We'll definitely do the helicopter over the falls.
I have two months to put the trip together and I love planning these things and then changing it all again, the added bonus being that it drives Mrs. Adenauer mental.
Our local Travel Agent in Adenau has just announced that they are no longer offering trips to the USA for the time being, so there has to be something in the stories of tourists being detained.
We'll arrive in Toronto on June 15th and will also spend the 16th there, then off to Niagra Falls first and then ROADTRIP
We'll definitely do the helicopter over the falls.I have two months to put the trip together and I love planning these things and then changing it all again, the added bonus being that it drives Mrs. Adenauer mental.
You can see across the top of Niagara Falls pretty well from the lookout beside them, I think the boat tour beneath the falls would be more impressive than helicoptering above them (though I did neither tour to really know!).
This is the view of the falls from the public lookout which you can easily walk to, though it can be crowded.
(spoiler alert, though I'm sure you've seen photos before and a photo really does very little to convey the atmosphere and impression of sheer power of that waterfall)
Niagara Falls by Ben, on Flickr
Niagara-on-the-lake is lovely as others have said. I found Fort George there quite interesting, a historical site around a restored fort from the war of 1812.
If you are planning to spend much time visiting national parks and historic sites then its probably worth buying the annual national parks pass instead of paying for each visit separately.
This is the view of the falls from the public lookout which you can easily walk to, though it can be crowded.
(spoiler alert, though I'm sure you've seen photos before and a photo really does very little to convey the atmosphere and impression of sheer power of that waterfall)
Niagara Falls by Ben, on FlickrNiagara-on-the-lake is lovely as others have said. I found Fort George there quite interesting, a historical site around a restored fort from the war of 1812.
If you are planning to spend much time visiting national parks and historic sites then its probably worth buying the annual national parks pass instead of paying for each visit separately.
Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 19th March 08:19
Some great ideas here.
AM going in July with a 15yr old and a 12yr old.
Not fans of camping, but seems like a great experience so may have to persuade them!
Been to Niagara with my own parents many many moons ago and recall Maid on the Mist.
Looks like I'm going to have to do the same with mine!
AM going in July with a 15yr old and a 12yr old.
Not fans of camping, but seems like a great experience so may have to persuade them!
Been to Niagara with my own parents many many moons ago and recall Maid on the Mist.
Looks like I'm going to have to do the same with mine!
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