BS: Travel Hints for Canada?

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 06:18 PM

You're a long time friend of Bill and Rita? My in-laws? Oh, heavens!

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 05:20 PM

I thought this was a general Canaja-travel thread, FrogPrince -- didn't mean to steal your thunder! I *live* in the DC area (old friend of Bill and Rita, longtime Glen Echo dancer, occasional chantey-singer when work allows) and Richard and I will be splitting town for the honeymoon. Bad timing in one way: we'll miss the Folklife festival (which promises some lovely Welsh harmony-singing) as well as the July Royal Mile Pub Sing.

Thanks for the black-fly info, Dorthy! Guess we'll need to start adding more beer to the diet to keep them away, no?


LynnT

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Willie-O
Date: 10 Jun 09 - 11:23 AM

Thanks Nigel, I hand-coded the first one but for some reason (a typo?)the Cat stripped out my html and left only the url. Now there are two...pending Joe's arrival.

Soundtrack note: this is not me playing, it is from the Youtube feature "Audio Swap", which lets you put in a soundtrack from a bunch they have available. Trouble is the audio just ends dead when your video ends--this one thrilled me by (coincidentally) ending synchronously, at least at the end of a line. Pure luck.

W-O

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Willie-O
Date: 10 Jun 09 - 11:18 AM

The Wolfe Island Ferry 6 a.m.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 10 Jun 09 - 11:16 AM

Willie-O's Ferry Video

Cheers
Nigel
(Blickies a speciality)

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Willie-O
Date: 10 Jun 09 - 10:55 AM

One of the coolest ways to spend a few hours in Kingston is to catch the Wolfe Island ferry (right from the downtown waterfront), 15 minutes to the largest of the Thousand Islands, and it's FREE! (Cause it's part of the provincial highway system, what we still have of it.) Explore the island then head back. Or you can continue into New York State on another ferry at Cape Vincent on the other side of the island.

Here's a video of the ferry I made from a hotel window when we were hanging around in Kingston having our 25th anniversary getaway a few months ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bDf-Cnwlyw

As you can see, there's now a big-ass windfarm covering one end of the island--an interesting tour there, and the rest of the island is like a miniature PEI. Did I mention the ferry is FREE?

Aside from that, visit our town, Perth, about an hour north of Kingston--often named as the prettiest town in Ontario for it's heritage stone buildings and gorgeous downtown riverfront park. And we have a great free music festival in the park on July 17-19 (see stewartparkfestival.ca). If you're coming by give me a shout and I will show you the sights (possibly including the ones outside of O'Reilly's Pub).

Bill Cameron

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 10 Jun 09 - 09:20 AM

Try to comply with all posted notices.
Especially the one that says:


Drink Canada Dry

I failed when I was over there skiing!

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Jun 09 - 12:48 AM

Correct. I was responding to Lynn T. After all you are not the only frog in the pond! And I already gave you all the good advice I have. But Lynn is coming from a different direction. What's the matter? Your mom never taught you to share?? Look forward to seeing you at Apple Hollow - THE destination of perference!

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Beer
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 11:48 PM

Dean,
I think maybe Dorthy got mixed up with someone else who is visiting. First of all, if you haven't been to Ottawa please try and make it. It is beautiful and despite what Little Hawk has said it is truly worth the two hours drive north of Montreal.
Now seeing as you are from Michigan , you must be a Red Wing fan? If not, than keep driving down to the Mari times where most folks love Boston and the Canadians. Otherwise, please come and enjoy the music.
Adrien

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: frogprince
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 11:13 PM

Dorothy, The primary reason that we're going this direction at this time is to end up at Apple Hollow! We'll have 6 and a half days to travel 500 miles, so we should be able to take in quite a bit of this good stuff everyone has been coming up with!

                               Dean

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 09:42 PM

Black flies: May not bother you. They have been sighted on Mount Royal at times. (They are rampant in New Brunswick, first place I met them. ARGHHHH!) You would probably do better to stay on the south shore and drive into Montreal - for less expensive. Beautiful Chateauguay Valley on your way up. Too bad you did not plan to attend Apple Hollow Fest in mid July but there is a very popular music venue in Ormstown area. Check Backwater Blues myspace site. Very poor planning! You may still have black flies in upstate NY. They thrive in evergreen forest areas but usually are gone by end of June. Dragon flies love them - to death. I LOVE dragonflies! A reasonable dose of B vitamins - not excessive - seems to alleviate the biting. The nice thing about black flies is that, unlike mosquitoes, they do not like to be indoors and try to get out rather than bite. However, they sneak attack - soundlessly. Light coloured clothing helps.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: JennieG
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 09:29 PM

I would love to get to New Brunswick! But unfortunately we won't have time, as we will be spending most of our visit with our son and his sweetie. Perhaps I could ask him to get me a big knoife.

Eve - PM on its way!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Eve Goldberg
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 09:09 PM

Another beautiful town to check out between Toronto and Montreal, especially if you are going to go towards Ottawa on your way, is Perth. In fact that whole area is really nice. Perth has a wonderful old downtown of stone buildings, lots of fun places to poke around, and there's a pretty lively arts scene in the area.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: meself
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 08:54 PM

The "very southernmost place in Canada" is closer to southern Michigan than northern Minnesota. In fact, it's directly south of Detroit.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: frogprince
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 08:50 PM

Only thing is, I've known them to be brutal in northern Minnesota, and at the very southernmost place in Canada. Other than that, I'd swear that was a documentary. Are you for real about not having them in New Brunswick, Gnu? The little bit we were in New Brunswick once, we didn't spend any time in what would have been major fly habitat, and I just wasn't thinking about it.
                               Dean

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 07:11 PM

Of course, you could come to friendly New Brunswick. We don't have any flies here. Bring lots of tourist dollars. The fly dope is cheap and you'll want to stock up before you go elsewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 07:07 PM

I LOVE that vid!

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: HuwG
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 07:04 PM

As one of the few Brits I know who has strayed north of Toronto and Ottawa,

Canada's worst predator

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 05:00 PM

You could stay with my cousins-in-law in Silver Spring or the ones in Howard County or the ones in PG County. Let me know and I'll let them know.

I got married in Silver Spring and it's lasted for...nah, can't be THAT long....

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: frogprince
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 04:40 PM

Hey, Lynn T., this is my advice thread; what are you doing sneaking in here?!! : }
Do you mean your trip will include DC, or was that just to make a point? I could point you to a possible bargain to check on in DC, that my wife and I lucked into a couple of years ago.
                         Congrats & Happy Honeymoon,
                                 Dean

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 03:49 PM

This thread has great timing!

Richard and I are getting married in July, but we are taking our honeymoon from June 24-July 4 (life is uncertain -- eat dessert first!) to attend several French & Indian War reenactment events in upstate NY and Canada (it's the 250th anniversary of that conflict). We're starting in DC, going up to Ft Ticonderoga via the Delaware Water Gap, canoeing one day on Lake Champlain, then onward to spend a few days in Montreal before scooting back home before the July 4 traffic chokes us.

I appreciate all the Montreal ideas, but if we are on a budget, are there particular areas of town we should seek to stay in -- or any to particularly avoid? In DC, for example, one could get a hotel room for cheap in Anacostia or out on Central Ave, but I would not recommend that to anyone; I'd be more inclined to suggest staying in Falls Church and taking the Metro into town.

Can anyone offer similar ideas for Montreal? Or suggest a particular (budget) hotel or b&b?

Many thanks!

LynnT

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: john f weldon
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 10:41 AM

Check out this month's Walrus magazine. Recently found in a cupboard, the first photo ever taken in Canada. Niagara falls, what else? It hasn't changed much.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 08:27 AM

gnu ... I think you mean the 2nd right (just past the Sobey's)?

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 03:14 AM

If yer comin from the south, take the first right... ya can't miss it.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: number 6
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 11:11 PM

"travel hints for Canada'

I'd say try to get to New Brunswick ... but, nobody knows where it is.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: number 6
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 11:04 PM

knoife .... that's what they call i shiv in Brooklyn ... in Canada we call it a knife.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Eve Goldberg
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 11:00 PM

JennieG,

I don't know if I'll be around when you come to Toronto, but if you let me know ahead of time, I can give you a heads up about what music is happening around town.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 06:32 PM

Bring a REAL knoife. Put it in your checked bags and you shouldn't have any trouble. That other thing will hurt you first.

And bring a REAL gun, too. This one is 30mm and can shoot depleted uranium bullets. Take out a city block -- Canada will never miss it, at least not in Toronto. Besides, you can never tell when a beaver or something will sneak up on you.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 06:29 PM

It's mostly just Ontarians who do that. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Amergin
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 05:48 PM

I would bring firearms....Canada has a very violent society....they even make you say "eh" at gun point.....

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 05:36 PM

Peter T - I just popped back into this thread because I wanted to recommend that same museum! Pointe-à-Callière I went to see it around 1993 so it must have been quite new then; I thought it was absolutely fantastic!

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 01:17 PM

You can get a "really big knoife" after you arrive in Canada, JennieG. No problemo. Check this out:

REALLY BIG KNOIFE!!!!

One of these is guaranteed to get you attention and admiration wherever you go.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 12:17 PM

John: Sure! What's another couple thousand miles!!! You have fun in Halifax. Find EdT; study geography!! Go to Clam Bay! I LOVE NS.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: john f weldon
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 09:48 AM

It's far out of the way, but the most amazing thing in Canada is Louisbourg, in Cape Breton, north part of Nova Scotia.

An entirely European-style city, built by the French in 1713, blown to bits by the Brits in 1758, and rebuilt by laid-off coal miners in the 60s. Totally weird.

http://louisbourg.com/history.html

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: JennieG
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 08:17 AM

Icewine is rather nice.......and I loved the tackiness of Niagara Falls! Even bought me a tee shirt so folks would know I had been there.

Little Hawk, I would have to buy a big knoife in Tronna, they won't let me bring my own on the plane from Oz.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Micca
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 04:45 AM

My vote would be for the Niagara Shelf and the wine growing area around St Catherines.For example Chateu de Charmes,( an excellent Red burgundy clone and some 1st class whites) Henry of Pelham (Try their Baco Noir fom an "unusual" grape variety and their Riesling Ice Wine, 5 stars that) My erstwhile Father-in-Law very kindly gave me a tour of the wineries and tasting rooms that was incredible aand delivered me back in a well marinaded state!!! Niagara-on-the lake was worth a visit and for sheer unmitigated tackiness you can not beat Niagara Falls (the town, that is)the natural phenomenon is spectacular but the Town defies description!!

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 11:33 PM

I think it's very irresponsible of you to tell visitors to shoot up in Ottawa. Shocking! It is, after all, our nation's capital. Let's show a little decorum, shall we? A little good taste and breeding.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Beer
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 11:10 PM

I'll be quick as it is late and will check in tomorrow with maybe further suggestions.


Once you have hit Toronto and have safely gone by it. Turn right and continue on any dirt road you can find to Montreal. My brother in law and I did this from Ottawa to London Ont. and it took us two days but we saw no pavement and got to see some very beautiful spots. If you have time shoot up to Ottawa. Here you can easily spend a week and not finish sightseeing.

If however you would prefer to turn Right after Toronto take Hwy2 as Ron mentioned. My favorite spot is Brockville. Why I'm not sure but if i ever move from Quebec this is where I would love to go. I lie a bit of course. Take me to the Maritimes where I can smell the salt air.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: bankley
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 04:55 PM

Kingston's nice, take the 1000 Islands Parkway to Gananoque.. there's boat tours there and in Rockport to the castles... anywhere north of there is the Rideau Canal system, UNESCO Heritage site... east Of Gananoque is Brockville, another picturesque city on the river... just stay on the # 2 hwy, follow the river... you'll end up in Morrisburg, Upper Canada Village, bypass Cornwall get back on the 401 and you're a half hour from the Quebec border...

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 04:02 PM

The Sharon Temple is a unique building near Newmarket, Ontario.


http://www.sharontemple.ca/

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 03:50 PM

If you enjoy art, the McMichael Gallery is 100% Canadian in a beautiful semi-rural area not too far off your route.

http://www.mcmichael.com/

Avoid cities and see Canada!

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 03:38 PM

You did not mention how much time you have. Algonquin Park, about 2.5 hours north of 401, has a marvelous visitors center and a logging museum. It attracts busloads from around the world. Photo ops abound.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Eve Goldberg
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 12:58 PM

I remember the year the Folk Alliance was in Toronto, James Keelaghan was MCing a big gala concert fundraiser the night before. One of the first things he said to the audience, which included tons of delegates from the US was, "And for you Americans, it's pronounced 'Yonj Street.' Y-O-N-G-E, 'Yonj.'"

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: topical tom
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 12:30 PM

Crescent Street, Montreal on a weekend Summer evening is a people-watching paradise, not to mention the bars and outdoor terraces.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Peter T.
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 11:24 AM

If you're in Toronto, the newest thing to see is the Art Gallery of Ontario, which was rebuilt by Frank Gehry. It is truly beautiful (the previous gallery was a poky bore). Even more than that, they have taken out of storage tons of amazing paintings and artefacts -- for a well-rounded glimpse of Canadiana, it is now hard to beat. The main "classic" art is nothing great, but the whole experience is a delight.

If you are in Montreal, a really interesting museum is the city museum right down by the old Waterfront. The basement contains the original excavations for the first city.

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 11:39 PM

Some years back when sentiment towards separation was very strong, a broad American or Texas accent in Quebec helped to get service in restaurants. English-speaking Canadians were given the 'slow' treatment or orders were lost.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 10:51 PM

Twas on our honeymoon at a pizza joint in the old part of Quebec city. We were enjoying a pizza and a Coke, when we heard from a table below, "WADDAYA MEAN? EVERBODY IN DALLAS TAKES AMURKAN EXPRESS!!"

And then, nous parlons Francaise....

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 10:37 PM

Canadians absolutely LOVE hearing the Aussie accent, JennieG! It reminds them of Crocodile Dundee. Carry a big knife that you can whip out at appropriate moments (such as when chowing down at Montana's or Tim Horton's) and say, "THAT's not a knoif! THIS is a KNOIF!!!" You will be the life of the party wherever you go...and you may even get to meet some of Shane's buddies...the local constabulary. ;-D

I know Victoria Park Avenue well. Was just driving down it a couple of days ago, but more toward the north end of town.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: JennieG
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 09:25 PM

Blind River is THAT far from Tronna??!!!! Geez. We may not make it. Perhaps we will fly over it on the way from Los Angeles.

With reference to Rapaire's comments above, we have found it helps to always open a conversation with "g'day", in the broadest Aussie accent we use (not difficult as we are both Aussie born and bred). This alerts the person to whom we are speaking that we do not share the same accent as they and it attunes their ear to the rhythm of a different speech pattern, thereby saving them the continual use of "eh?" and "whaddyasay?"

Q, we loved the ROM. And the Bata museum. And the Textile Museum of Canada, small but perfectly formed. And Casa Loma. And lots more of Tronna.

Eve, we will be staying on Victoria Park Avenue, just north of Kingston Road. It's good for TTC transport as there is a bus at the gate, and we know the Danforth line.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: frogprince
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 08:31 PM

I was thinkin' I had posted last night, to say thanks for (most of : ) ) the suggestions so far. Some of them confirm my intentions to schedule things we were already considering, and some are all new thoughts. Guess I started a post and then got detoured.

We've spent some time in Toronto a couple of times, and really enjoy it, but will probably bypass in favor of new options for this trip.
I found Boldt Castle on Thousand Island information just before Dorothy P. referred to it; I think that's one that definitely goes on the itenerary.

I sure appreciate Repaires's advice; I always try to be respectful of local culture.
                           Dean