Canada Trip Suggestions Wanted
 

My husband said that he would like to go to Canada in September, but I could pick where I wanted to go. I've never been in Canada and need all of your suggestions. We'll be staying about 6 days, flying from Atlanta. It will just be the two of us, I speak no French, he took it in high school, but didn't retain much. Please, please give me some advise! Thanks!

Jana

Will you have access to a car? If so, Algonquin Park would be beautiful that time of year. You could fly into Toronto and drive up. Quebec City is also a fantastic place to visit. You could fly in to Montreal, do Ottawa and Quebec City.

Well it is a large country (not all french speaking!!)

I would suggest the eastern half of the country though, seeing how you are coming from the east coast yourself.

If you want nature, down home feel, go the the Maritimes (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island).

If you are looking big city type stuff, then maybe Toronto, Ottawa and other parts of Ontario.

We could get a car if we need one, and I guess we really would like a little of both nature (whale watching) and city stuff, am I asking too much for a 6 day trip?

prince edward island or nova scotia

Why not come to the breathtakingly beautiful Canadian Rockies??

Fly Atlanta to Calgary.
Rent a car and drive 1 hour west to Banff.
Visit Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, drive the spectacular Icefield Parkway.

Note - most of Canada is English speaking (only 23% of us speak French, mostly in Quebec - by the way Quebec City is beautiful too - but you will see French and English on the signs in national parks and on food labels in the whole country).

Canada is huge and asking for suggestions as to where to go is almost the same as asking where to go in the US. Just as in the US there are things to reccomend every region and everyone has their specialties. Try the following suggestions.

FOR SOMETHING TOTALLY & CULTURALLY DIFFERENT. Moontreal 4 days & Quebec City 2 days. (You don't have to speak French but it can be useful)

FOR THE QUIET BUT PRETTY HOLIDAY; Atlantic Canada. But it's hard to fit the highlights into 6 days - maybe 3 days in Nova Scotia and 2 in PEI [passing through New Brunswick on a day trip). On second thought save this area for when you have more time.

FOR MOUNTAINS AND GLORIOUS SCENERY. The Canadian Rockies. Trip described above.

FOR COMBINATION OF GLORIOUS SCENERY & BIG CITY CULTURE. Vancouver, Victoria and vicinity. It's where I live so I'm prejudiced but there's not a more beautiful city in the world than Vancouver - well maybe Sydney, Aust. & Rio but it's close.

FOR THE MOST AMERICAN BUT STILL VERY CANADIAN REGION. Toronto, Niagara Falls & Ottawa. Toronto is the city most American big cities would love to be, Niagara Falls is , well, Myrtle Beach north & Ottawa is our National Capital with great museums.

Hi Jana,
I am flying out to Vancouver on Sept. 17. I have never been to Canada either, but I was impressed by Vancouver because it looks like you get the best of 2 worlds: urban city with mountains, beaches and beautiful nature!!(and it is all English)
I just saw on the Clark Howard website www.clarkhoward.com that a few airlines are offering a special to Vancouver again. (About $280 r/t) that is about what I paid a few months ago, but prices were going up for awhile. Also check out www.orbitz.com

If you would like to ask me any questions, please email me.

Six days will only allow a brief stay - two suggestions - Montreal and Quebec City - they are about a three hour drive apart and it's a bit like Europe. Or for quaint then the east coast - Nova Scotia (Halifax and Cape Breton Island) or PEI - great hospitality. Don't bother with Toronto, I live there and it's a clean and safe version of a large US city such as Chicago, Phily. West coast is great but coming from Atlanta - it's too far and too spread out. If you go to Montreal / Quebec City you don't need French - it's only spoken in Quebec by the locals.

We live in now PA and used to live in Buffalo. We've been all over Canada. A most enjoyable country and mostly friendly natives. Our preference is British Columbia -just awsome! But we tend to concentrate on the eastern side since it's readily accessible. The suggestion of ALgonquin Park is right on target - very beautiful. This year we visited the Maritimes. Since you mentioned whales, that would be the place. Definitely get a rental car wherever you end up. So much easier to get around and see more. If you elect to go the Maritimes route, my suggestion is to consider Nova Scotia. PEI, I've read, bundles up right after tourist season, although it is quaint (Ann of Green Gables fame and great bicycle riding). However, NS, which is much larger and much more variations in the scenary, has great whale excrusions around Digby in the Bay of Fundy (great scallop eating, too). Then you can drive over to Halifax. A great city, very picturesque, and lots to do.

As you can see, lots of opinions, but then again it's the 2d largest country on earth. No matter where you go, you'll have fun. The exchange rate, while not as good as last year, still makes it a cost-effective holiday. Be sure to keep your hotel receipts and then file for reimbursement of the GST upon your return. Wait till you get there and then use ATMs (at banks and large hotels) for exchanging money. You get the official exchange rate and no commission charges. Have a great time.