BS: Travel Hints for Canada?

Subject: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: frogprince
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 03:22 PM

We're planning on taking off a week early from home here in Michigan, and winding up at Apple Hollow Fest to hear Bruce-somebody et al. What's photographic, or otherwise interesting enough to recommend, on the way over from Toronto, and in Montreal or within, say, a hundred mile radius on the Canadian side?
We've poked around "Underground Montreal", which the guidebook could have skipped for all of me, and seen the Olympic Park. We really like Old Quebec, but have been there a couple of times and I'm not really planning to run that far East this trip. Landscapes? Mellow old buildings? Mellow old buildings set in interesting landscapes? Anything or everything that's interesting?
                        Dean

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 03:36 PM

Halfway between Toronto and Montreal, on the north shore of Lake Ontario, is the mellow old town of Kingston. It's a fine tourist destination, with a collection of really interesting mellow old military fortifications (Fort Henry and a bunch of martello towers), not to speak of quite a lot of late Georgian (Federal to you) public buildings and elaborate Victorian houses. Kingston has great restaurants, a vibrant trad music scene, and the best inland sailing in Canada.

Definitely worth a visit.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 03:55 PM

Well, to start with...

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 03:56 PM

Of course, Tourism Ontario is the first "start".

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: bobad
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 03:58 PM

Upper Canada Village if you like that sort of thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Amos
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 04:00 PM

Do not miss Olde Montreale.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 04:06 PM

Montréal... ooh la la! St. Catherine's Street.... Super Sexe... best strip club in Canada... I have been told.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 04:11 PM

North of Montreal, the Laurentian Mountains are vey picturesque.

The village of Ste. Agathe des Monts has a boat ride called the Aoluette on Lac des Sables and quaint shops on Rue Principe.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 04:16 PM

St. Jean Port Jolie has/had some fine woodcarvers.

Grande Isle most DEFINITELY should be visited -- our Canadians or Irish friends can tell you why.

Mont Tremblant is a a good visit, but the skiing is LOUSY in the summer.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: bobad
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 04:20 PM

Prince Edward County is a picturesque region just west of Kingston. It is a peninsula jutting into Lake Ontario with sand beaches Sandbanks Provincial Park, and   wineries and fancy restaurants which you can tour and sample.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 04:26 PM

BTW.... I gotta plug New Brunswick even though it is in the far east... "The Picture Province". Celtic and Acadian culture galore and salt water beaches with the warmest waters north of The Carolinas (in summer). Sorry for thread drift.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 05:30 PM

If you're in the Peterborough area you should see the Petroglyphs
. I only saw them myself for the first time a couple of years ago, and my mother's people are all up around there. I ended up going as I had a Welsh friend in tow - and we both thought they were as stunning, in their own quiet way, as Niagara Falls. Really amazing.

And you could catch the farmers' markets around St Jacobs and in Kitchener; many Mennonites selling quilts and apple butter and shoo-fly pie and other superb stuff.

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 06:01 PM

Be absolutely sure to visit the Tim Hortons donut shop in Blind River, Ontario for an afternoon snack, then get flippin' wasted later that evening at the Iron Horse Tavern and catch the wet T-shirt contest. If you see a guy there with greasy shoulder-length hair, filthy clothes, a "Go Leafs Go!" baseball cap on backwards, a raggedy mustache and a heavy five-O'clock shadow, and a powerful stench around him....if he is wearing a T-shirt that says, "I'm with the idiot ----->"....or one that says "Free Sex! Apply below (downward arrow pointing to the belt area)...

Then you will have a chance to get the autograph of Shane McBride, stud of the Northland.

You can later sell it on Ebay for big bucks.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 06:32 PM

Stay out of Calgary today. Snow and rain, just miserable.

And stay out of Tim Hortons- you might meet people like Little Hawk!
(Sorry, couldn't resist)

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 07:08 PM

And if you end up in Yellowknife or Whitehorse you might get to meet Sgt. Preston and Yukon King! (It's also pretty nice country.)

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 07:28 PM

You could also visit the home of our former prime minister, Brian Mulroney, a man who courageously slew 25 million with the jawbone of an ass...

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: open mike
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 08:36 PM

bring back maple syrup http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_syrup
and wyder's cider http://www.wyders.com/

when i was in canada i was on a VIA RAIL train trip...
http://www.viarail.ca/

well, actually, a www.flyingunderradar.com trip. actually

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 08:44 PM

Montreal is an amazing place. I've been to St. Catherine's Street,
too. I spent more time in Old Quebec, and the thing that got me was
the restaurants. You can get the best sugar pie in Old Quebec. It is
one of the most satisfying desserts you'll ever try.

LaRonde in Montreal is also a great carnival to visit.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: JennieG
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 08:54 PM

Little Hawk, was that the jawbone of an ass or the assbone of a jaw?

We (Himself and I) are visiting Ontario again on October, woo hoo! We'll be in Tronna* as that's where our son and his lovely girl live. LH Can you give us the directions to Blind River? Our trip wouldn't be complete without meeting Shane.....

*Tronna: having visited said berg on a previous occasion, we know how to say it.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 09:39 PM

The restaurant "Les Filles du Roi" in Montreal is excellent, if it's still open. Quebecoise cuisine.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 10:02 PM

A well timed thread! We're headed to Montreal later this year (early August). So I'll be taking careful notes.

-- Gary

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 10:30 PM

Tranna? Yonge Street on a Friday-Saturday night used to be interesting. People watching is cheap. This may be out of date- others may have a better suggestion.

In Toronto, an experience is Madeline's, one of Susur Lee's fine spots. Menu at http://www.susur.com/madelines/menu.html

The Royal Ontario Museum is always a stop for me in Toronto.
The c5 restaurant at the Royal Ontario Museum is good for food and people watching. Reservations needed for both lunch and dinner (Always full). Also great for afternoon tea (rivaled only by the Empress in Victoria).
http://www.rom.on.ca/dining/crystal5.php

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 10:38 PM

It should be mentioned that Toronto is almost overly multi-ethnic. If you have friends there, they might know the current better spots for food and entertainment and people watching. Many little hole-in-the-wall eateries, as well as good restaurants, offering food specialties from around the world.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 11:39 PM

"Tronna" is a wonderful place for dining and movies and specialty stores of any kind. Some nice big parks here and there too.

JennieG - Here's how you get to Blind River. Drive straight north from Toronto on the 400. Then up Highway 69 to Sudbury. Then west on 17 to Blind River. The entire trip from Toronto to Blind River takes about 7 hours, more or less. 8 hours if you stop for a meal, and I think that would be wise.

It'll be the biggest waste of 8 hours you have ever experienced, and you'll realize how true that is when you finally get there and SEE Blind River! ;-D But meeting Shane McBride and getting his autograph should make up for it, right? Fer sure, eh? You may meet Don McBride too and his latest girlfriend. Done always has a new girlfriend. Don usually has some dynamite weed for sale (if Shane hasn't got into his stash) and for a small fee he can direct you to all the best local spots for "having fun". He can also fix your car.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 11:56 AM

For scenic along the direct route, Kingston is loverly with all those limestone buildings, Queens University, etc. A trip by boat through the Thousand Islands, including Boldt Castle (if they still do that) would be beautiful. A short side trip to Marysville, a tiny but scenic village with a world class potter, Harlan House, and beautiful buildings could be a photographic treat. You have to watch for the turn off 401 near Napanee.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 12:05 PM

http://www.harlanhouse.com/

The site gives a map. The village is Lonsdale although their address is Marysville. Everything Harlan does is a work of art. The home, the old hotel, was featured some years ago in a major Canadian home mag. His studio, the old coach house is beautiful, his pottery incredible (if one has any interest in such) and there is a huge kiln he built for his high fired porcelain. The gardens were unique also. The village alone was worth the short side trip, rather hanging on a hillside over a small river.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 01:43 PM

Mum travelled and lived in Europe, the US and from the Canadian Maritimes as far west as Winnepeg. When she talks about London, Ontario, it takes as long as the rest put together (except for the snow in Winnepeg).

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 03:49 PM

The best way to see Blind River is from 38,000 feet up, while sitting comfortably in an Aer Lingus jet after returning from a jaunt in Ireland. If you time it juuuust so, you can even flush so as to drop a present for Shame.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Eve Goldberg
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 03:52 PM

Toronto is one of the best eating cities, bar none!

You can find any kind of ethnic food you want here: Thai, Chinese, Greek, Mongolian, Tibetan, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Hungarian, German, Ethiopian, Indian, Cuban, Mexican, Italian, Caribbean, Brazilian, El Salvadorean, Colombian, I could go on but you get the idea. If you are vegetarian, I think there is a vegetarian society that has listings of restaurants that serve vegetarian food -- and there are LOTS.

Here's an illustration of what makes Toronto great. I live near Coxwell and Danforth, in the east end of the city. The area was primarily Italian once upon a time, so there are cappuccino shops, Italian restaurants, and those sports clubs that older men hang out in to watch soccer. But over the years, other people have moved into the area so we now have an Ethiopian, Caribbean, Mexican, Thai, and Chinese restaurants within walking distance, as well as a few bistros and cafes.

Five minutes south of me is Little India, where walking down the street you feel like you are in India - great restaurants, stores selling housewares, Indian variety shops where you can buy Paan (a delicacy that Rick Fielding introduced me to), stalls selling corn on the cob on the sidewalk, and so on.

Five minutes west of us is a strip of Afghan restaurants and shops, and if you keep going a little further west, you hit an area that used to be all Greek restaurants and shops but has become an incredibly lively district with Italian, Japanese, Indian, vegetarian, and fusion food in addition to funky clothing shops and Toronto's biggest health food store.

Toronto is really a city of neighbourhoods, and its worth just walking around some of the distinctive areas. Kensington Market is an incredible hodge-podge of stores and tiny streets clogged with life. There are three Chinatowns in Toronto, the oldest one being very close to the Kensington Market area and well worth walking around. The Beaches has interesting houses, lots of shops, and a lovely boardwalk where you can walk along the lake for quite a while. Queen Street West and Parkdale are great neighbourhoods

There are of course museums, parks, fun buildings, and always tons of music events happening. What's not to like?

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 04:00 PM

I have traveled a bit in Canada over the years and here is some tips I've picked up:

1. Always ask "How much is that in REAL (i.e., US) money. Canadians know that their currency is just play money anyway.

2. Many people speak English, but you have to speak slooooooooowly and if they don't understand you they are probably hard of hearing, so shout.

3. Canadian distances are in metric because they couldn't understand miles and pounds and gallons. All you can do about it is smile and work your handy calculator which shaking your head.

4. Being snowbound 98% of the year, Canadians love to have people inquire (enquire, Up There) about their lives -- their income, their sex lives, their state of health, and especially their politics. Be sure to let them know the RIGHT way these things are done.

5. Remember: you are in a different country and an ambassador from the US of A. Therefore you have the right to bring any firearm you want into Canada. Tell them at the Border and they'll even provide you with a place to keep it.

6. Even though they talk funny and can't spell, Canadians really appreciate being corrected about these and other things.

I hope these tips help!

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 04:04 PM

The 401.

Sorry, but I am a good old Maritime boy and the 401 just scraes the crap out of me.

(Oh... one of the busiest highways in NA. They oughta put a speed limit on it!)

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 04:24 PM

Rapaire,
Many Canadians do use the imperial system. Plenty of us in some parts
use miles when speaking of country roads, and we measure our height
and weight in feet and pounds.
The majority of the population uses the metric system, because it's
the largest urban centres that don't understand the metric system.
But, plenty of rural folk still go by the imperial system, (even though
our major roads have kilometres on the signs, and we understand them).
At least that's how it is in the part of Canada that I'm in. We use
both systems.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 04:47 PM

Canucks know both Imperial and SI. An ounce is 28 grams. A pound is two years less a day. Simple stuff, really. But, I hear you Yanks can't do the conversion properly... down there, a pound is seven years, no parole.

As for spelling, there is no American Language, so, get with the programme eh? Oh... I'll give ya program. I do it too.

As for yer USD, careful there. The CDN may lopside yours again this year.

As for yer guns, bring em on up. If ya got the papers... Canucks got ALL kinds a papers about guns. We got gun laws up the scabbard.

As fer snow, well, yeah... it sucks.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel Hints for Canada?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 06:30 PM

Ha! Ha! Ha! Great set of bogus advice there, Rapaire. Man, we have ways of dealing with your kind in Canada....don't make us get out the hockey sticks and iceballs or you'll be sorry.

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

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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