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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: deborah on January 14, 2016, 03:04:16 AM

Title: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: deborah on January 14, 2016, 03:04:16 AM
I've decided I'll visit Canada sometime, probably during the May and June period this year. I promised Scrubbyfish I would come over, and Canada has always had some fascination. The inner passage, the Canadian Rockies, the train trip (there seem to be two - the east-west trip and the one from Vancouver to Jasper (or vice versa). PE Island. And wherever the Mistawis is (a la "The Blue Castle" - one of my favourite LM Montgomery books). I guess I'll start at Vancouver (the closest point to Australia) and go east from there after going North. I also have to see Jon Snow's island.

So what should I do and how should I do it? Does anyone have any tips (I expect - it's a big place, don't do everything you've said to be one tip, but I might as well put it all out there first).

Edited to change things a bit - I have decided I will go to Alaska and probably not Eastern Canada - it depends on how long I spend in the other parts.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: BigBangWeary on January 14, 2016, 03:19:50 AM
Enjoy your trip! I went across Canada by train when I was 18 and I have to say it is a fantastic way to see the country. I will leave others to point out the highlights, but it is best to leave PEI until June. That way the snow might have melted ... ;)
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: aperture on January 14, 2016, 05:52:25 AM
Well, I am sure you will get more knowledgable replies.  I have only visited Canadian destinations a few times, but I will put in my $0.02.  I really enjoyed camping in Banff and visiting the the usual destinations around there.  I think this is one of the most beautiful stretches of mountains on the continent.  One visit, we drove from Banff to Vancouver and I would do that again for sure.  At the time we drove it, I was not aware that there would be rain forests along the way. It blew my mind to leave the cool Rocky Mountain summer and eventually drive through mossy forests that dripped with life.  Next time I go, I will invest more time in learning about this part of Canada and probably traverse it more slowly, camping along the way.

I took a business trip to Quebec once and was there for a few days.  This is another place I would like to go back. The city is more European than cities in the US. I spent most of my time in meetings or in the hotel. It was winter or early spring so there was not a lot of outside time.

For what its worth, I would dodge the train and rent a car + drive, but that is me.

Best wishes, Aperture
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: TravelJunkyQC on January 14, 2016, 07:24:05 AM
I live in Québec City, and lived in Montréal for 4 years and Sherbrooke for 3. I've traveled a fair bit around the province, and do a lot of camping. If you want any particular details about areas in the province to visit once you've hammered out your details, feel free to PM me with particular questions, and I'd be happy to answer!
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: nereo on January 14, 2016, 08:05:13 AM
I live in Québec City, and lived in Montréal for 4 years and Sherbrooke for 3. I've traveled a fair bit around the province, and do a lot of camping. If you want any particular details about areas in the province to visit once you've hammered out your details, feel free to PM me with particular questions, and I'd be happy to answer!
Bonjour neighbor!  Another from Québec!

To echo TravelJunkyQC - I'd recommend both Montreal and Quebec City (which, despite being ~240km apart are completely different cities). Montréal is large, focused on business and very international.  Québec City is much smaller, has (fiercely) retained it's french heritage and is the city with the most European feel that I know of in all of North America.

If you're looking for beauty within landscapes, Quebec has an excellent park/parc system called Sepaq.  In particular I recommend Fjord-du-Sagueny/marin-du-Sagueny (has the most southern population of Beluga whales anywhere), Parc Haut-Gorges (stunning glacially-carved valleys with hiking trails that take you to the top of sheer cliff faces).
Confusingly to outsiders, Quebec calls these "National Parks" but they managed seperately from the Canadian national parks, which are also excellent.  In this context "national" means provincial, as in the "nation of Quebec".

Elsewhere in Canada - +1 to Banff.  If you can make it to Newfoundland, St John's is a very scenic city and unique city.  In June there should be lots of icebergs drifting by. Feel free to PM me with questions about Quebec and Newfoundland.  Enjoy your trip!
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: Roots&Wings on January 14, 2016, 02:34:21 PM
PE Island. And wherever the Mistawis is (a la "The Blue Castle" - one of my favourite LM Montgomery books).

Bala, Muskoka Ontario is the inspiration for the Blue Castle (one of my favorite books). Haven't been there though. Maybe someone who has will chime in!

Agree that PEI and the Maritimes are lovely in summer (May up to mid-June will likely still be cool and recovering from the winter brown effect). Halifax, Lunenburg (UNESCO World Heritage site), Chester, Mahone Bay, a drive by Peggy's Cove (can be touristy), Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, Fortress of Louisbourg were fun for me to visit. I have family in PEI and love it there. Depends on your interests though!
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: Gerard on January 15, 2016, 08:20:38 PM
From a scenery/touristy things perspective, I think there's a lot to be said for spending a lot of time in/near BC, then finding a fast way to get to Quebec and perhaps bits of Atlantic Canada once things warm up in late June. I like St. John's (it's where I live part-time), but it's a long trip from the mainland.

Maybe rent a car to meander from the coast through the mountains to Calgary, then fly to a big eastern city (Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa) and drive east from there? It looks like airfares out of Calgary are fairly low right now, thanks to despair in the oil industry.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: JAYSLOL on January 15, 2016, 08:37:55 PM
Excellent time to Visit Canada, with our dollar pretty close to bring re-named the canadian peso, lol.  As far as places to visit, take your time through BC - Vancouver Island, Vancouver, the Okanagan Valley and then through the Rockies to Banff would be a good start.
Have a great trip!
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: deborah on January 15, 2016, 08:57:59 PM
Well, I've already learnt something. For some reason (perhaps because the ski fields I know of are all in the west) I had always assumed that East Canada was warmer than the west. But it seems that in May, things are OK in the west but still covered in snow in the east. So, the advice I am getting is to stay in the west until mid-June and then go east?

As I'm coming from Australia (where our $ has gone down from being on par with the USD to about 70c) I guess that the Canadian is about the same as it has always been in relation to our dollar.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: swick on January 15, 2016, 10:34:57 PM
So exciting! if you are planning a visit to see Scrubbyfish, you can come visit us in the Kootenays!

RE: traveling across country by train: Train travel across country isn't what it use to be. Passenger trains (there are very few) have last priority on the tracks so you will spend a lot of time stopped, waiting for other trains that have priority. Some friends of ours had the life long dream of going across Canada by train, they scrimped and saved and had such a horrible time on the way over, they decided to fly back.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: deborah on January 15, 2016, 11:42:29 PM
So exciting! if you are planning a visit to see Scrubbyfish, you can come visit us in the Kootenays!

That would be awesome!
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: nereo on January 16, 2016, 06:38:13 AM
Well, I've already learnt something. For some reason (perhaps because the ski fields I know of are all in the west) I had always assumed that East Canada was warmer than the west. But it seems that in May, things are OK in the west but still covered in snow in the east. So, the advice I am getting is to stay in the west until mid-June and then go east?

As I'm coming from Australia (where our $ has gone down from being on par with the USD to about 70c) I guess that the Canadian is about the same as it has always been in relation to our dollar.
Not.... exactly.  It depends a lot on where specifically you are talking about when you say "west" and "east".  For British Columbia (especially around the coast) they have relatively mild winters compared to the rest of Canada, but they have very large mountains and those can get hammered with snow.  For example, in Vancouver right now it's +5ºC and raining, while it's -20ºC through most of Canada right now.   The mountains in the east are also much, much lower in elevation, so their snowpacks melt much sooner than they do in BC.
 
In Quebec, Ontario and the maritimes the snow typically melts away in the first half of April from everywhere but in the mountains and way up north where you aren't likely to go anyway.  By early May the flowers are out, the snow is gone from everywhere but the mountain peaks and we get quite a few warm days where you can wear t-shirts, intermixed with some light-jacket weather. The average monthly temperature in Montreal in May is +16ºC.

Basically, you won't find any snow in any major city in the 'east' after May 1st (except in Newfoundland).  May will be mild and spring-like, June will be the start of summer.

Newfoundland lags behind the rest of eastern Canada because it's kept cool by the labrador current running down from Greenland.  They can still have snow on the ground in mid-May in St. John's.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: PtboEliz on January 16, 2016, 11:27:09 AM
You might want to buy Canadian dollars early since our national newspaper headline yesterday was that the loonie is in a free fall..
p.s. Halifax is a wonderful city..
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: FrugalFan on January 16, 2016, 12:25:25 PM
+ 1 to Banff, Montreal, Quebec, and the Maritimes (I grew up in New Brunswick). In that short of a trip, you can't do the whole country. I like the advice of starting out West and then taking a flight eastward depending on which places you absolutely want to see. Maybe fly from Calgary to Montreal, or even further east.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: andreamac on January 16, 2016, 12:54:47 PM
Since our dollar is so low, it's a great time to visit Canada! I live in Ottawa Canada above NY state and have traveled to both east and west (Vancouver and Halifax). Ottawa is a great city to come see since it's the capital of Canada. You can see the parliament buildings etc and just walking around downtown area is nice. We also have Winterlude (Winter festival) in Ottawa and Quebec City also has a large winter festival. There is an ice hotel in Quebec city which I have heard is neat. Vancouver is also a great city to visit and I loved my time out there.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: deborah on January 16, 2016, 01:22:19 PM
It's amazing - our currencies are virtually on par, and have been for at least 5 years. Today 1AUD = 1loonie, and in the last 5 years they have managed to be between 95c and 1.05 (apart from a few minor hiccups) - so we could almost be a united currency!

I don't know how long I'll be there - however long it takes. I was thinking a month at least, possibly two, and thinking of Canada as being like Australia. You're bigger, but it is like Australia in that everyone here lives on the east coast (between Adelaide and Cairns) and the rest of Australia is fairly difficult to get to, you have everyone living in the south, and the rest of Canada is fairly difficult to get to, and the distance from Adelaide to Cairns around the coast is about a day's driving shorter than from Vancouver to Halifax. However, you don't seem to have any of your major tourist sites far off the beaten track (Uluru really is about as far from the coast as you can get in Australia).

I had to laugh about the Europeans. Many people arrive in Australia and don't really check whether they're landing in Sydney or Melbourne - after all, they're quite close aren't they?
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: deborah on January 16, 2016, 01:36:29 PM
Canada has always been on my list of places I want to visit, so I'm not going to hurry it, and if I meet with Mustachians, it will just take a little longer and be even more interesting.

I've always been intrigued by the maps of Canada with so many lakes- it's as if God stabbed his finger in the map of Canada while he was arguing a point with someone. Are any of the areas with lots of lakes worth visiting? It seems like there are a lot near Toronto.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: Mmm_Donuts on January 16, 2016, 02:09:46 PM
Ontario does have some lovely lakes, but I would not come here (Toronto) just for the lakes. Getting in and out of Toronto takes an hour or so in itself (more or less, depending where you are and what time of day it is.) then another hour minimum (could be 4 or 5 hrs, again depending on traffic and where you're going) to lake areas.

That said, Algonquin park is quite lovely.

Quick summary of my experience as a Canadian: Montreal and Toronto for cultural things (film festivals, art galleries, music festivals), BC for natural things (forests, lakes, mountains, islands), and east coast for the people (the kindest people you will ever, ever meet live in Newfoundland!) oh and the Prairies for the most beautiful open sky.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: rae on January 16, 2016, 02:12:27 PM


I've always been intrigued by the maps of Canada with so many lakes- it's as if God stabbed his finger in the map of Canada while he was arguing a point with someone. Are any of the areas with lots of lakes worth visiting? It seems like there are a lot near Toronto.

Toronto is on Lake Ontario and in southern Ontario there are a lot of great towns to visit (some of them on one of the Great Lakes.) I've taken lots of road trips and really like Niagara-on-the-Lake and Stratford for touristy but quaint destinations. If you like camping, or if want to stay in a resort, about a four hour drive north from Toronto is Algonquin Park. Lots of small lakes and nature to be seen. It's really beautiful up there. However, May and June is black fly and mosquito season in Algonquin Park. Black flies, especially, are not fun.

Outside of Ontario, Montreal and Quebec City are great places to visit. If you like cycling, there are routes around the Quebec City area. Halifax and the towns south of there are beautiful. (I really enjoyed the beauty of Mahone Bay and Lunenburg.) The Bay Fundy is nice. There is so much to see and do in central and eastern Canada, it just depends on the type of things you like to do.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: choppingwood on January 16, 2016, 02:55:25 PM
Toronto is on Lake Ontario and in southern Ontario there are a lot of great towns to visit (some of them on one of the Great Lakes.) I've taken lots of road trips and really like Niagara-on-the-Lake and Stratford for touristy but quaint destinations. If you like camping, or if want to stay in a resort, about a four hour drive north from Toronto is Algonquin Park. Lots of small lakes and nature to be seen. It's really beautiful up there. However, May and June is black fly and mosquito season in Algonquin Park. Black flies, especially, are not fun.

Outside of Ontario, Montreal and Quebec City are great places to visit. If you like cycling, there are routes around the Quebec City area. Halifax and the towns south of there are beautiful. (I really enjoyed the beauty of Mahone Bay and Lunenburg.) The Bay Fundy is nice. There is so much to see and do in central and eastern Canada, it just depends on the type of things you like to do.

I agree with all of this. As far as the black fly and mosquito season goes, it is really variable by year, and short-term use of DEET based repellents will go a long way to making this trip more enjoyable.

In central Canada, I would add Ottawa to the list. A pretty city due to setting and development of parks along the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal, amazing museums because of the investment in the country's capital city, and nice restaurants and great little downtown market. And, Parliament Buildings if you're a fan.

In British Columbia, I'd spend lot of time on Vancouver Island.  Vancouver is a great city. If you are adventurous and reasonably fit, my alltime favourite place is Haida Gw'aii. This used to be the Queen Charlotte Islands, north of Vancouver Island. There are multi-day tours that will take you to Haida villages full of totem poles, which are decaying into the rainforest. (The Haida have decided to allow them to do this, because their ancestors intended them to.) The villages are in pure National Geographic country, with all kinds of amazing wildlife to be seen on land and in the ocean.

For all visits to beaches, especially ocean beaches, think rugged landscape and cold water. They are pretty, but they are not always friendly. If you get sunny weather and warm weather, you have been blessed. Lakes will not start to warm up until later in June, and may never be warm enough for an Australian.

Take the advice to pick a few areas to visit and spend time in them: West Coast of BC, a few days in southwestern Ontario, Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec City, and a selection of the eastern Maritime provinces.  In the Rockies, my preference is for Lake Louise over Banff, but the Banff-Jasper highway is spectacular. Snow won't be gone from the peaks or all of the trails, but that makes it prettier.

Note that Canadians answer all questions about how far away something is using a time measurement. Even the driving distance calculators do that. We do that for a reason....

Enjoy!

 
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: seattlecyclone on January 16, 2016, 03:41:37 PM
I've spent weekends in Victoria and Vancouver. They're both nice cities to visit in their own way. I know there's so much more in Canada to explore though!
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: PtboEliz on January 16, 2016, 10:10:32 PM
Deborah re: meeting with Mustachians - if you end up planning to go between Toronto and Ottawa, I'm along that route and would be glad to offer you my guest room. Once you know where you want to go, you might put a shout out - I'm sure there's others who would make the same offer :)
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: elaine amj on January 16, 2016, 10:30:07 PM
I know Niagara Falls is tacky and touristy - but pretty much any intl visitor I have had has to visit it :) If u want to stay away from the touristy side, hiking down to the whirlpools on the Niagara river was really fun. and it is so close to Toronto.

I also love camping in the Canadian Shield - one of the prettiest places :) I honestly didn't care much for Algonquin - found the campsites noisy and busy. Grundy Lake Provincial Park or Killarney Provincial Park get my vote. You could fly from Calgary to Toronto - drive to Grundy Lake/Killarney/cottage in the Muskokas, then drive across to Ottawa.


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Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: deborah on January 16, 2016, 10:33:36 PM
Deborah re: meeting with Mustachians - if you end up planning to go between Toronto and Ottawa, I'm along that route and would be glad to offer you my guest room. Once you know where you want to go, you might put a shout out - I'm sure there's others who would make the same offer :)
WOW this is much more than I thought of!
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: BigBangWeary on January 17, 2016, 04:07:29 AM
Maybe I would add the Thousand Islands region. If you are passing through (maybe driving from Toronto to Quebec) make a stop in Gananoque or Brockville and take a boat tour of the islands. It can be quite picturesque and the history is very interesting.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: Roots&Wings on January 17, 2016, 07:31:37 AM
If you can make it to Newfoundland, St John's is a very scenic city and unique city.  In June there should be lots of icebergs drifting by. Feel free to PM me with questions about Quebec and Newfoundland.  Enjoy your trip!

Also in Newfoundland are Gros Morne National Park (http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/ThingsToDo/HikingWalking) and L'anse aux Meadows which look stunning.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: choppingwood on January 17, 2016, 11:34:02 AM
A definite yes to the Thousand Islands and Gros Morne. Two months may be tight.....
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: BigBangWeary on January 17, 2016, 11:56:42 PM
L'Anse aux Meadows being the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America (circa 1000 AD). For you history buffs ...
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: nereo on January 18, 2016, 06:07:50 AM
L'Anse aux Meadows being the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America (circa 1000 AD). For you history buffs ...

Agree that L'Anse aux Meadows is worth a visit (I've been there several times), but remember Deborah that Canada is really, really big and the northern peninsula (or simply the "Northern Pen") is one of the more remote sections still that you can still drive to.  From St. John's it's a good 12 hours of driving to get to St Lunaire Griquet.  You could take a flight from St John's to St Anthony for a few hundred $ (they aren't cheap) but you'd need to rent a car once you got up there. 
That said, if you do want to go to some remote, quaint fishing villages surrounded by miles of wilderness there are some great spots to visit - Newfoundland could easily be it's own 2 week trip.  Drive around "the rock" (one of Newfoundland's nicknames) and you are viturally guranteed to see lots of Moose.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: nereo on January 18, 2016, 06:18:37 AM

I've always been intrigued by the maps of Canada with so many lakes- it's as if God stabbed his finger in the map of Canada while he was arguing a point with someone. Are any of the areas with lots of lakes worth visiting? It seems like there are a lot near Toronto.

Just in case you were wondering why Canada is so fully covered in lakes...
About 18,000 years ago all of southern Canada was covered by the North American Ice Sheet, which extended as far south as Delaware in the US.  Quebec City, Montreal and Northern Maine were covered by ice that was a mile (~1.5km) thick.  As the ice sheet retreated it left behind lots of lakes, as well as cast-offs from retreating glaciers (huge rocks, scree fields, etc).  It also created lots of impressive valleys and fjords.
What's even more interesting is that the weight of the ice sheet pushed down on the earth, compressing it.  Even today the land in eastern Canada is still rising slowly in a process called isostatic rebound.  That, in short, is why there are lakes and ponds everywhere - unlike in most places they haven't had time to erode into larger rivers and drain away, and the isostatic rebound counteracts this.

anyway... i find geology interesting.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: plainjane on January 18, 2016, 06:42:41 AM
PE Island. And wherever the Mistawis is (a la "The Blue Castle" - one of my favourite LM Montgomery books).
Bala, Muskoka Ontario is the inspiration for the Blue Castle (one of my favorite books). Haven't been there though. Maybe someone who has will chime in!

I haven't been to Muskoka either, but my sense is that the mega-cottages have destroyed much of the charm which is evident in the Blue Castle.  You might do better a bit further afield where they've avoided the $1MM summer homes thus far.

(Even after many re-reads, I still love the line about where the dog bit the one character.)
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: TravelJunkyQC on January 18, 2016, 03:48:06 PM
Deborah re: meeting with Mustachians - if you end up planning to go between Toronto and Ottawa, I'm along that route and would be glad to offer you my guest room. Once you know where you want to go, you might put a shout out - I'm sure there's others who would make the same offer :)

I don't have a room to offer (I live in a small loft - frugality at its best), but I put up my rental condo's on airbnb, so I'd be happy to offer one of them to you during your time in Québec City. I also enjoy showing off my city if you're so inclined, so don't hesitate!
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: ahoy on January 20, 2016, 12:53:18 AM
I'm not Canadian, my kids were born there,  and we lived there for 8 years.   We left in 2006, however we did spend 9 mths back there again 2013/2014.   While living there we would vacation in Banff, Jasper and Kelowna. We love the Okanaghan area.  Kelowna is very pretty and in the summer looks a lot like California.  Fantastic area for biking.

In 2013/14 we spent a couple of months back in  Alberta and few months in BC, mostly around Vancouver and the Okanaghan.   Then we started the very long drive across the country to Prince Edward Island.   Maybe this is a generalization (but not) a lot of Canadians don't like people from Quebec and don't seem to want to go there.  We loved Quebec!  Montreal and Quebec City could be in Europe and that is what I love about those places.  They have so much more history and fantastic buildings.  we also enjoyed Ontario,1000 islands, Niagara falls is great, Niagara-on-the-Lake is just gorgeous and only about 15 to 20km from the Falls.

PEI is also very pretty. 

We kind of under estimated the drive across.   We have driven across the US before (from LA to Keywest and back to LA) again.  But seriously driving across Canada is a huge deal.    Have fun!

Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: Le Poisson on January 20, 2016, 02:18:18 AM
Places no one has mentioned...

Klondike - Yukon
Calgary/Edmonton corridor (Foothills country  -East side of the Rockies) - Tyrell Dino Museum, badlands, Crowsnest pass, Frank Slide
The long section of flat prarie - both amazing and boring.
Winnipeg - Golden Boy, Sports teams, Rabid fans.
North Shore Superior - Sleeping Giant.
The 'layers' of Ontario - Hudson Bay lowlands, Northern Boreal Forest, Near-North Cottage country, Southern cities
Algonquin Park/French River/etc. - canoe country.
City of Kingston and area - Fort Henry, Thousand Islands, Penitentiary, Maritime Museum, Wine Country, etc.
Saguenay - Still haven't made it there. (OK, it was mentioned upthread, but needs to be re-mentioned)
New Brunswick, and New Brunswickers - The forgotten province - amazing people, beautiful country. Stop at King's Landing for the bread.
etc.

We are in the Toronto area. When your plans are a little clearer drop us a line.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: AZDude on January 20, 2016, 08:28:14 AM
I visited Vancouver once. The big thing I remember is it being like 60F outside and the locals were running around shirtless or in bikinis like it was a summer day in Miami. That and the gorgeous view of the snow-capped mountains.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: Mega on January 20, 2016, 10:55:43 AM
There is a lot to see in Canada, and it is a very wide country. Having lived here my entire life, I still haven't made it west of Ontario.

There are many, many things to do in Ontario:
North Cottage country (rent a cottage on a lake for a week with friends, very good times)
South Cottage country (Cottages on the Great Lakes - Each lake is quite different)
Quebec is nice, but it helps alot if you speak French.
You should definitely see Niagara Falls. That is quite amazing.

My take on the provinces:
Ontario - Two parts southern & northern
Quebec, New Brunswick - Similar to northern Ontario
Nova Scotia - Somewhat similar to northern Ontario.
PEI -Looks exactly like southern Ontario

What are your interests?
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: FrugalFan on January 20, 2016, 12:02:44 PM

My take on the provinces:
Ontario - Two parts southern & northern
Quebec, New Brunswick - Similar to northern Ontario
Nova Scotia - Somewhat similar to northern Ontario.
PEI -Looks exactly like southern Ontario

What are your interests?

This part seems odd to me. Could be because I am from New Brunswick but to me it is nothing like Ontario. And nor are PEI and Nova Scotia. The main differences to me are the people, the food (seafood! Acadian food), the amount of and type of wilderness and lack of big cities, and the coasts/beaches.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: BPA on January 20, 2016, 12:50:36 PM
I live in southern Ontario and spend summers on PEI.  They don't much look alike.  PEI is much nicer.  Red soil, rolling hills, actual ocean that you can see by driving for about half an hour no matter how far inland you are.  Ontario can't compare.

Also, our campground on PEI was covered with snow until late May last year when lilacs were in bloom here in Hamilton.  But that was kind of freakish because of the unheard of amount of snow that fell on PEI.

If you happen to be on PEI in Julyish, I'd be happy to meet up with you.  We spend our summers in Cavendish, just down the road from Green Gables.  :)
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: BPA on January 20, 2016, 01:14:31 PM
Just found this on my FB news feed:

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-national-geographic-top-coastal-destination-travel-1.3411880 (http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-national-geographic-top-coastal-destination-travel-1.3411880)

Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: deborah on February 11, 2016, 07:09:54 PM
I have been sorting this out, and have a cheap van that I am going to take from Seattle to Anchorage (it's going to cost a similar amount as the small car I hired in LA), then wander down the inner passage. If I get time, I will go to Eastern Canada, but probably that will be another trip - there are so many things to do in Eastern Canada! I've decided to spend 2 months away, from mid April to the end of June.

I really start missing Australia if I'm away any longer. It's really funny. I was the person who was going to stay at home when I retired, and for the first five years, I didn't venture outside Australia. Then I went to Turkey last year, then I went to the US and Ecuador last year, and now I am going to Canada this year (that means I will have gone on as many overseas trips in just over a year as I have in my entire life before), and New Zealand next year. And hopefully I will see a lot more of Australia in between - there's so much more to see.

I'll definitely go to the Kamloops, and to Vancouver Island. And I keep on drooling over Alaska. I love the idea that I will see the inner part of the west and Alaska as well as the coast. So is there any advice about Alaska, or any of the other places I plan to visit, I would be happy to hear them.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: Goldielocks on February 12, 2016, 12:35:06 AM
It's amazing - our currencies are virtually on par, and have been for at least 5 years. Today 1AUD = 1loonie, and in the last 5 years they have managed to be between 95c and 1.05 (apart from a few minor hiccups) - so we could almost be a united currency!

I don't know how long I'll be there - however long it takes. I was thinking a month at least, possibly two, and thinking of Canada as being like Australia. You're bigger, but it is like Australia in that everyone here lives on the east coast (between Adelaide and Cairns) and the rest of Australia is fairly difficult to get to, you have everyone living in the south, and the rest of Canada is fairly difficult to get to, and the distance from Adelaide to Cairns around the coast is about a day's driving shorter than from Vancouver to Halifax. However, you don't seem to have any of your major tourist sites far off the beaten track (Uluru really is about as far from the coast as you can get in Australia).

I had to laugh about the Europeans. Many people arrive in Australia and don't really check whether they're landing in Sydney or Melbourne - after all, they're quite close aren't they?

Hi deborah,  you will have an amazing trip.  As for weather, the place to start in May could very well be Vancouver Island (jon Snow land), but  many parts of canada are warming up.   I have crocuses growing right now with daffodils in a couple more weeks, for example (Vancouver)

I took a two week driving trip through BC, over to Prince Rupert, and back down via the Ferry system last year.   If you want to go to Alaska, I highly recommend going to Prince Rupert and taking the Alaskan Highway... aka the Ferry by car to get there.   A car is recommended to rent, even if you choose to fly between major cities.

Ottawa, quebec city and the maritimes are especially beautiful, in my opinion, although western Canada is home... If you want to take a train, the Rocky Mountaineer is highly recommended by locals here...from Alberta to Vancouver only, though...  caters to tourists, mountain trip.  glass topped cars, they stop overnight at a hotel so you don't miss scenery, etc.

As for tourist attractions,  It is safe to say that the major tourist attractions ARE off the beaten path...  such as beautiful mountain scenery, lakes, and coastal towns accessible by Ferry.   

PM me with the specific city / region you are wanting to get to in BC, type of things you especially like to see or do... we have made our annual vacation to go see a different part of this province (driving) for the past 5 years now, and prefer things a little off the beaten track, a little slower travel place... but beautiful.  Who knows, I may have a tip for you..

Oh, and yes, think big. .  There are 5.5 time zones across the country, the drive from vancouver (south) to Prince Rupert (to take the alaska ferry) is 16 hours, although you can fly.   Glad you are coming this way!
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: Miss Prim on February 12, 2016, 05:48:32 AM

In 2013/14 we spent a couple of months back in  Alberta and few months in BC, mostly around Vancouver and the Okanaghan.   Then we started the very long drive across the country to Prince Edward Island.   Maybe this is a generalization (but not) a lot of Canadians don't like people from Quebec and don't seem to want to go there.  We loved Quebec!  Montreal and Quebec City could be in Europe and that is what I love about those places.  They have so much more history and fantastic buildings.  we also enjoyed Ontario,1000 islands, Niagara falls is great, Niagara-on-the-Lake is just gorgeous and only about 15 to 20km from the Falls.

Funny, I am from the US and we took a trip to Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec and when we were in a pub in Ottawa, a local asked us why we wanted to go to Quebec?  I said, "ah because it looks beautiful in pictures".  He than went on to say, "Oh, you're American, so they will treat you ok"  I thought that was an awful thing to say!  I know there is tension between Quebecians and the rest of Canada, but seriously!  We loved Quebec City and I would love to go back there again some day.  And we were treated really nicely.  I have always been of the opinion that if you are nice, most people will be nice back to you. 

Canada has been like a different home to me as my dad in British and we lived outside of Detroit, so we took a lot of day trips in Ontario because my dad could get some of the food he was used to back in Britain.

                                                                      Miss Prim
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: plainjane on February 12, 2016, 08:07:00 AM
Maybe this is a generalization (but not) a lot of Canadians don't like people from Quebec and don't seem to want to go there.  We loved Quebec!  Montreal and Quebec City could be in Europe and that is what I love about those places.   
Ottawa, a local asked us why we wanted to go to Quebec?  I said, "ah because it looks beautiful in pictures".  He than went on to say, "Oh, you're American, so they will treat you ok"  I thought that was an awful thing to say!  I know there is tension between Quebecians and the rest of Canada, but seriously!  We loved Quebec City and I would love to go back there again some day.  And we were treated really nicely.  I have always been of the opinion that if you are nice, most people will be nice back to you. 

Montreal and Quebec City are not a problem - you say "hello, bonjour/bonjour, hello" and they get that you're making an effort.  Most of the time they will respond in English even if I'm practicing my French.  It's when I get outside of the cities and tourist areas, and they pretend they don't understand my high school French that things are not as fun.  Really, I was in Tim Hortons and pointing at a walnut crunch donut (and saying the words in French with my horrible accent) - it wasn't a complex interaction.

I don't have enough French to follow any snarky comments that are made, or tone.  The folks who live in Ottawa generally do, which also might influence their opinion.
Title: Re: Visiting Canada
Post by: Le Poisson on February 12, 2016, 08:20:15 AM
Maybe this is a generalization (but not) a lot of Canadians don't like people from Quebec and don't seem to want to go there.  We loved Quebec!  Montreal and Quebec City could be in Europe and that is what I love about those places.   
Ottawa, a local asked us why we wanted to go to Quebec?  I said, "ah because it looks beautiful in pictures".  He than went on to say, "Oh, you're American, so they will treat you ok"  I thought that was an awful thing to say!  I know there is tension between Quebecians and the rest of Canada, but seriously!  We loved Quebec City and I would love to go back there again some day.  And we were treated really nicely.  I have always been of the opinion that if you are nice, most people will be nice back to you. 

Montreal and Quebec City are not a problem - you say "hello, bonjour/bonjour, hello" and they get that you're making an effort.  Most of the time they will respond in English even if I'm practicing my French.  It's when I get outside of the cities and tourist areas, and they pretend they don't understand my high school French that things are not as fun.  Really, I was in Tim Hortons and pointing at a walnut crunch donut (and saying the words in French with my horrible accent) - it wasn't a complex interaction.

I don't have enough French to follow any snarky comments that are made, or tone.  The folks who live in Ottawa generally do, which also might influence their opinion.

I love travelling in Quebec, but I have enough french to make an effort, and like you, I feel like making the effort makes all the difference.

Fun stories...

In Quebec when you pay for gas they ask what sounds to me like: "Credee, Debee, Saw" I could figure this out to Credit, Debit, but Saw had me baffled for the longest time. Eventually I asked Que'st que sais "Saw?" and a clerk pointed at the CAA (autoclub) sign. In french the letters C-A-A sound like  Say-Ah-Ah and if you are a store clerk saying it quickly, you get "Saw".

Story 2...

On an east coast trip we stopped in a small town in New Brunswick for a night. New Brunswick embodies multilingualism, and is likely the friendliest province we have. For dinner we went to a little diner where they spoke only English, and were cash only. When we tried to pay with debit, we were pointed to the gas station across the road where they were credit only, but spoke only french. So you had to take your receipt to pay at the french gas station, then walk back across the road with the debit slip to get your english food, and if you weren't bilingual you were going to go hungry, although neither shop owner spoke the other's language. How this arrangement got established is beyond me.
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: dycker1978 on February 12, 2016, 08:47:37 AM
I see there is a lot of "hate" on for central Canada.  I will admit that if you travel the southern half of Saskatchewan, it is kind of flat and boring. 

But Northern Saskatchewan is pretty amazing.  They have a national park around Prince albert that is worth checking out.  We have pretty cool in land salt water lakes that are very interesting. 

Another place to check out is Drumheller Alberta.  It is what the call the bad lands.  You can readily find fossils walking around the cannons there.  They also have the royal Tyrell Museum, which has fossilized dinosaurs that were found in the area reconstructed.
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: The_path_less_taken on February 12, 2016, 08:57:02 AM
I've only been to the western provinces.

But have to say that Banff/Lake Louise is spectacular. Please walk around the lake to the glaciers....paved 3/4 of the way....astounding scenery.

 http://cwf-fcf.org/en/do-something/events/great-canadian-camp-out/get-camping-in-canada.html?gclid=CILXpIzL8soCFYg-aQodueQJXg

Since we're on MMM the thought of a mall won't wow you but their big one in Edmonton has a lot of art and astounding exhibits in it. And a water park that should be seen at least. (indoor waves)
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: The_path_less_taken on February 12, 2016, 08:59:44 AM
And for Alaska....I recommend Seward. You can hike to the glacier, small town feel, incredible scenery, friendly, hidden beaches...perfect.

Homer has the rep, but Seward is for real.
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: Minion on February 16, 2016, 02:18:15 PM
Keep an eye on ozbargain.com.au for cheap flights. There were Brisbane to Vancouver return flights from just over $1000 AUD a few weeks back,
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: nedwin on February 16, 2016, 04:19:31 PM
Your trip sounds pretty amazing!  Like Spartana I lived in Anchorage for three years.  I drove the Alcan twice, moving there and back from Denver.  The Milepost is an invaluable resource for travel in BC, Yukon and Alaska.  I've never looked at it online, only had the print version.  As for where to visit in Alaska, it really depends what you want to do.  If you want mountain scenery, your opportunities are nearly limitless on that drive.  Denali National Park and Preserve, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and Chugach State Park are all on the road system (pretty much) and offer unparalled scenery and camping/backpacking.  I would also go to Talkeetna.  It's kind of touristy, but every town in AK is touristy during the summer.  If you go to Talkeetna, have some pizza at Mountain High Pizza Pie, it's excellent.  You can't go wrong with either Seward or Homer, both are beautiful.  have fun!
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: deborah on March 08, 2016, 03:23:29 AM
How long does it take to drive? Google says it is 42 hours from Seattle to Anchorage nonstop. And it says that the trip I am doing next week from Sydney to Alice Springs (without going off the road anywhere) via Broken Hill is 40 hours nonstop, so I figure they are probably similar. But my dentist said it takes a good 3 days to drive from Fairbanks to Anchorage, so maybe Google is kidding me. I have read somewhere that 12 days is good from Seattle to Anchorage, and the car hire place allows 5 days from Sydney to Alice (and I have an extra 2 days to do whatever I like, like divert to Uluru).

I am definitely not planning to do either of these trips nonstop, I was just interested that they appear to be of a similar length in google, but my dentist is implying that the Alaska trip is a lot longer.
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: south of 61 on March 08, 2016, 03:00:34 PM
You could drive it in 42 hours if you don't stop anywhere! If you're planning to be a tourist and actually stop and see / do stuff I would say 5 day minimum (preferably 7). I am an Aussie who has lived in the Yukon for 8 years. I've done the drive Vancouver- Whitehorse multiple times and have driven to Anchorage and Fairbanks and Seward twice. Happy to provide more info / answer any questions you might have!
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: deborah on March 09, 2016, 04:27:14 AM
Thanks south of 61 and spartana for the advice. I will be driving the RV from Seattle to Anchorage as a relocation of the vehicle, and I have it for 3.5 weeks, and I figure I won't be rushing (I just got a bit concerned when I was told Fairbanks to Anchorage took so long). I have a week up in Alaska after I return the motor home. Then I will catch the ferry back down the coast and do interesting things on the way. And I have two weeks in the Seattle/Vancouver area to go to interesting places (including the Seattle camp). And then I go home after 2 months.

I'm really looking forward to the trip up. I seem to be planning a rather circuitous route, so that I can see a number of places.

The trip to Alice Springs is to familiarize myself with driving a similar vehicle in a country where I am familiar with the roads and road rules (although I have never been to Alice before, I have traveled the roads halfway there recently), and, of course, the towns on the way to Alice are similar to the ones on the route to Anchorage, although probably further apart and probably smaller than the ones on the road to Anchorage. But it is going to be jolly hot - with maximums of between 31 and 34 predicted every day, and (would you believe) RAIN! (Alice Springs has a boat race in the Todd River where the boats don't have bases, so all the competitors hold the boat up and run - because the river doesn't generally have water).
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: deborah on April 19, 2016, 02:42:29 PM
It is happening. Tomorrow.

The trip to Alice Springs was really hot. But...

I saw water in Lake Eyre (amazing sight)
It RAINED while I was at Uluru (fantastic)
The country in central Australia was GREEN and EVERY bush was flowering.
And I am now happy driving an RV.

IT WAS FANTASTIC! Pity there were clouds at sunrise and sunset so the rock didn't become red - but you can't have everything.

Anyway, I am thinking of doing a circuit of 8 days from Seattle - where do you think I should go? Remember that I did a circuit from LA for 12 days and visited 23 National Parks including Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Goblin Valley, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Walnut Valley, Canyon De Chelly, Monument Valley, Zion, Bryce... and that was absolutely awesome!
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: SandyBoxx on April 19, 2016, 02:58:55 PM
Seattle, Vancouver BC, up through the interior of BC, visit the Rockies, then down through the Kootenays, and back to Seattle via HWY 3 or back through Spokane!

You will see a bit of everything the West has to offer in one big loop. :)
Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: nereo on April 19, 2016, 03:08:56 PM
Mount Rainier.  Given the epic snowfalls of the PNW this year the higher elevations might not be very accessable now, but it's an awesome site.

Also, the Olympic Penninsula is an amazingly pretty drive, and you are right at wildflower time.  Check out the Olympic National Park

Title: Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
Post by: Goldielocks on April 27, 2016, 01:41:27 AM
I love the San Juan Islands as well as the area around Bellingham. The drive down hwy 11 (Chuckanut Dr?) between Bellingham and Anacortes is great as is Whitby Island. Or up the other side from Port  Townsend to Gig Harbor and back to Seattle. Lots of cute little villages and Olympic NP. I LOVE the Hoh rainforest but probably too wet this time of year. Have fun!

Yeah, go to the islands, if you are driving to Alaska, already,  you may want something different.

There are nice urban sites to see in Portland and Seattle, too. And a nice tourist town called Leavenworth inland a bit.

What about Nelson bc area?  It is not on the Alaska route and very worthwhile. New Denver or Nelson to kaslo bc.