Canada Highlights with a 14 month old
 

Hi - I read the posts from Brahmama and you all were so helpful! I'd like to plan a a similar trip (including Niagra Falls, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City in 8 days). Am I nuts?!.

We are traveling from California (the bay area). Would love your suggestions for how to make this work (travel would be in later september / early october). We're flexible about mode of travel (train would work).

Do you recommend "Mists" for infants? Any recommendations for places to stay with a toddler (14 months)? Do I need a car seat in cabs?

Thanks for the advice!

The fire red maple forests of fall in the Gatineau Hills near Ottawa region are worth the trip alone.

I would look at buying a stroller like that splits up into a car carrier part and the stroller part. When taking the train, bus or cab, the stroller can travel as luggage while the basinet travels with the parents.

It does seem like a lot of stops for 8 days;
are you counting the day you arrive, or are the 8 days exclusive of arrival and departure
?
If you fly in via Toronto, could your ticket allow you to fly out via Montreal, this would make things easier.

I think your plan is much too ambitious, especially with a baby.

Depending on your interests you could visit two or three of the cities mentioned above and have a chance to enjoy them.

Late September /early October can offer pleasant weather, and, as noted above by Jim, some splendid scenery in Ontario and Quebec.

Perhaps if yoy advise your particular interests I can offer more specific suggestions.

cheers

Jerry

Think of your trip as a version of San Diego, LA, the Pacific Coast Highway, SF, and then up to Napa.

Yeah, you can do it, but would you want to?

The kid will be asleep a lot, and, if you try this by train, you'll be waiting is stations a lot.

Think about flying to Toronto, spending two days there, renting a car, driving to Niagara Falls and back to Toronto that night. Next morning drive to Montreal (all day, stopping in Kingston, taking a boat tour of the Thousand Islands. Fourth night is in Montreal. Fifth night in Montreal. Sixth night in Montreal. Next morning, drive to ottawa, arriving before noon. Seventh night in Ottawa. Drive back to Toronto via Algonquin Park, huntsville, Gravenhurst. Eioth night in Toronto. Fly home.

In Toronto, take the kid to the big rock along Cumberland AVenue, between Belair and Avenue Road, and to the big cows on the plaza in the middle of the Toronto Dominion Centre office buildings, at King and Bay.

BAK

Agree with BAK on commentary regarding not wanting to exhaust yourself and think his itinerary is a good one to consider.

If you're interested in a more French experience and prioritize Quebec City, you may want to consider some variety of the following:

Fly to Montreal. Spend Night 1 and 2 here. You will be spending the time in the city.

Drive to Quebec City. Spend nights 3 and 4 here.

Drive to Ottawa. Spend night 5, 6 here. Perhaps explore Gatineau Hills/ surrounding wilderness while in town.

Drive to Kingston. Spend night 7 here; Thousand Islands Tour you might enjoy.

Return to Montreal for night 8.

You could consider an extra night in Quebec City area, exploring the Charlevoix region and cut Kingston out if you wish.

My plans drops Niagara Falls/Toronto, but in my mind, something's gotta go in your itinerary if you don't want to end up going cuckoo.

Have fun coming up with a plan that appeals to you! DAN

I wouldn’t attempt your itinerary with a 14 year old let alone a 14 month old. ;-) You will spend the greater part of your week in a car or train carriage.
Suggest, you fly into Montreal and train up to Quebec city for the second half of the week then back to Montreal for the flight home. Tons to do in just those two areas and the scenery in Sept/Oct will be stunning. Spend the money you would use for 5-6 hotel changes and train travel/car rental on two fabulous hotels or inns.

WOW let me ramble and maybe you can extrct from it.I did Niagara beginnig the 10 of July, stop in Toronto Bate Shoe Museum on the way to Ottawa, Kingston, Montreal, Quebec City, Tadoussac, Over night in kingston and following day stop in Toronto CN Tower on the way to over night in Windsor on the 24th. That is 15 days! I will allow my Tadoussac for your Toronto and deduct my last 2 travel days leaving 13. I must say I do not think 8 days would be adequate. I did Niagara in afternoon of arrival and all next day. (adequate) Ottawa same (adequate) Montreal 2 1/2 days barely adequate but never adequate I guess. Quebec City 1 1/2 days. better 2 days. Etc. We hustled but were never hurried and frazzled due to very thorough pre planning. I think even I with my can do attitude I would be very hard pressed to make 8 days work so let me offer this. Yes to Niagara, 1/2 day travel to Niagara (plane). 1 1/2 days in Niagara. 1/2 day drive to Ottawa. 1 1/2 days in Ottawa. 1/2 day drive to Montreal. 1 1/2 day in Montreal. 1/2 day drive to QC. Quebec city 1 1/2 days. Some how get home instantly because it all adds up to 8 days and there is no travel time left. Scrap Toronto. It is a big sprawling time sucking metro. As much as I hate to say it but with only 8 days scrap Montreal also and do Niagara, Ottawa and Quebec City. Good luck pre plan like you life depends on it and it could work out mostly.

By ``Mists'' do you mean ``Maid of the Mists''? I took a toddler onboard once -- there is a lot of spray and boat-rocking. They hand out free plastic raincoat/dry-cleaner-bags for a reason.

You won't have the best experience trying to keep offspring dry, unscared, and unsmothered in the raincoat.