snowie25

I've booked a flight from England into and out of toronto from the 22nd of July till the 27th of August. I'm going to spend just over a week in toronto then I want to do some travelling. I'm unsure of whether it will be best to do usa, prob new york down to miami then fly back to toronto or travel within canada. could anyone suggest any interesting routes in canada to take. I'm into pretty much anything history, sport, nightlife, hiking camping and national parks. But i am going to be limited to public transport because i will be travelling alone and so can't afford a car. will probably get a grey houd 30 day pass. Also hopefully this will be more socialble? any ideas much appreciated.

Cheers
Matt

SallyCanuck

Stay in Canada - but I would say that, wouldn't I....

Since you're willing to fly within North America, you could fly to Calgary or Edmonton after Toronto and New York - and then Greyhound to Jasper and Banff National Parks or fly one way and take the bus back.

Ontario has a lot of parks if you wanted to see parks in this province: http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/index.html. Algonquin is a big one: http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/Algo.html

You could stay at Hostels - you'd meet people that way. http://www.hihostels.com/dba/country-CA.en.htm

I don't know how friendly people are on long distance bus rides. And we had a horrific incident a year or so ago on one.

This is a train/bus service for areas of Ontario not served by Via Rail or Greyhound. http://www.ontarionorthland.ca/en/index.html. You could go to Moosonee on it - that's a mostly native community way up north - there's a whole lot of fur trader history up there. You can even take a boat trip into James Bay.

There's a bus that goes around to the hostels in Toronto, I see it sometimes - colourfully painted and it seems to pick up at them - but I can't find anything about it online. I THINK it goes long distances.

toedtoes

I would stay in Canada - there's plenty to see there. If you want to get "social", I'd stick to a longer stay in fewer locations. Spending a week or more in a place will allow you to get comfortable there and stretch out more socially, than if you're jumping too much.

You could do a week in Toronto, a week in Montreal, a week in the Jasper/Banff region, and a week in Vancouver - with a week to split among them, add to one location, or add another location.

Or, you could choose to stay in the Ontario/Quebec region and see as much as you can (and there's enough to see). You could do Toronto, Niagara Falls, Ottawa and Gatineau Provincial Park, Montreal, Quebec City, Algonquin Provincial Park, and maybe Kingston and/or the North Bay region.

Personally, I prefer to stay within a province and see all that it has to offer rather than jumping around trying to see a little of everything. But, that's me - you have to decide what you prefer and go with that.

Mactimes3

I am Canadian and functionally bilingual and I found the Ottawa Gatineau area hard to navigate on public transport. If I was relying on public transport I would take the train to Quebec and spend a few days in old Quebec, you can check off history and nightlife from your list also there are great one day bus trips to some great hiking in the "mountains" of off season ski hills with great views looking down on St Lawrence. Then head up to Montreal for a few days excitement. Then I would fly to Edmonton and take the bus up to the Jasper Banff corridor which is easy to travel by public transport. Train thru the mountains to Vancouver a blast. I would try for trains over bus whereever possible.

NorthwestMale

Wow, I love the open-ended possibilities with your plans. I've been to most of the potential areas but never on Greyhound or train.

I am inclined to vote for staying in Canada (unLESS there are specifics IN the USA you'd prefer to see)

You could go east or west, from Toronto, and have similar opportunities for great sightseeing.

The "sociable" element you mention may fit nicely with long, tiresome bus trips across the prairies toward western Canada.

Of course the timing of how far you can get in a week will dictate some of your course.

Starting from the UK, you should proooooooobably go WEST from Toronto, because it is far more likely you might return to North America's east coast at some point, than it is that you would go and see western Canada.

I'm going to say: "IDEALLY" you would get far enough west to go THROUGH the Rocky Mountains. Vancouver is awesome, but I'm betting you wouldn't have enough TIME to give it due respect. So maybe just target a spot IN the Rockies as your western-most destination. (Say Banff or Jasper, Alberta, via Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Edmonton or Calgary).

I suspect that travel costs may be more easily streamlined if you remain in Canada vs. switching to U.S. carriers and such.

Good luck - sounds fun!

LJ

If you want sociability, do Greyhound bus or train, tour the Maritimes and then, since you have the time, hop on the ferry to Newfoundland.

You will meet people on the buses in the Atlantic provinces (that is Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland Labrador) that, if you are a friendly person will result in invitations to dinner, kitchen parties, even overnights in private homes. You will also see marvelous, even breathtaking scenery, wildlife, history, develop an understanding of this culture and have a whale of a time!

als0107

Just wanted to add that the timeframe you are considering is right in the middle of hurricane season in the SE US. If you are planning to travel by bus/train you will need to be prepared for disruptions if one hits. The odds are in your favor that you would skate by without one but planning a trip to Florida in hurricane season is always a gamble.

LJ

Ah-ha, another reason to come to Canada...your timing is perfect. Too late for blackflies, too early for snow!