MFP

My husband and I are planning on visiting Niagara Falls and the Toronto area between Dec. 25 and Jan. 7. We could also extend our trip to include Montreal. Most of the tour books focus on spring and summer visits. We don't ski, but love to visit quaint cities, see lovely scenery and explore. Most often we go to Mass., New Hampshire, and Maine (Camden, Maine is our favorite,) during this time and thought we would try a different area. Any suggestions for areas we should visit during these winter months? Hotels to stay in? We love to stay at The Balsams in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire and would love to find something similar, great food, beautiful scenery around Toronto, Niagara Falls. We could go to Montreal also and am wondering if this is a good place to visit in the winter or if best saved for summer? Is traveling usually a big problem in the winter in these areas if we rent a 4-wheel drive?
Thanks for the help!
MFP

hdm

Can I suggest that instead of staying in Niagara Falls (and I assume you mean the Canadian side), you stay in Niagara-on-the-Lake which is just about a half-hour's drive away from Niagara Falls, on the Toronto side. It's a very charming little town and home of the Shaw Festival (which will, unfortunately be over by then but I'm sure there will be other seasonal events). There are many lovely B&Bs and small hotels and a very nice, walkable main street full of little shops and restaurants. It always strikes me as a very Christmassy town. You can always drive into Niagara to see the winter Falls but on the whole, Niagara Falls is very touristy, even the more expensive parts (the Casino).

Re Montreal, you can never predict the weather -- it might be snowy, it might not -- but Montreal is such a pretty city to walk around, I always prefer to go in the spring or summer. If you are determined to go to Quebec, though, and you want something quaint, consider the old part of Quebec City.

BAK

Welcome, in advance.

As HDNM says, Niagara on the Lake beats Niagra Falls, at least for people who are more Camden than Broadway.

Easy drive back and forth from Niagara Falls, a city withthe FAlls right downtown, and NotL, a small town with excellent hotels and restaurants.

Both are on the Niagara PEninsula, which is generally protected from storms, and usually wintery without being obnoxious about it.

This is close to Buffalo in miles, but a world away in snowfall.


About Montreal: This is a city that can have very serious weather, or can be civilized, although cold, at New Year's.

I's a full day (daytime) drive from Toronto to Montreal, and the same distance back, maybe.

Maybe depends on whether you go to Ottawa, too. More below.

I've driven half way from Toronto to Montreal (actually going to Ottawa) for a dozen Christmases, and it's impossible to predict the weather and driving conditions. But weather forecasts closer to the date are more accurate, and if you are flexible, you could paln to go to Montreal, and then cancel if the weather is awful.

Consider a figure eight trip.

Toronto to Niagra Falls and Niagara ont he Lake, and then back to Toronto. Then Toronto to Montreal, back to Ottawa, and then down to Toronto.

Ottawa is cold and snowy at Christmas, but a fine city with skating on the canal, lots of places to warm up, great museums, ...

And the route could or would (it depends) take you through some of the winter resort country between Toronto and Ottawa.

No need for four wheel drive if you stick to main highways. I drive to Montreal every weekend for a year without it. Plus all those winter trips to Ottawa.

BAK

Kate_W

I agree with hdm: if you're considering Niagara, stay at Niagara on the Lake instead. NOTL is a bit twee, but it's surrounded by wineries, and you can probably find a great B&B plus a wine tour. I stayed at the Charles Inn last Dec 30 (a friend's birthday), where we had a great dinner after a visit to Lailey Vineyard (one of the best young wineries in the region). Or stay at Inn on the Twenty, which has a spa, winery and fabulous restaurant.

I realise that the link I'm going to post is a bit promotional - but it's a good one for giving you an idea of the regions in Ontario and some hotel options. Check out www.ontariosfinestinns.com

A couple of other options to consider: Langdon Hall (one of only two members of the Relais & Chateaux group in Ontario). Go to www.langdonhall.ca
Expensive but worth it.

You could also head Northwest to the Caledon Hills area, which has some quaint small towns to explore, plus you would be close to the McMichael Gallery in Kleinberg - a superb collection in a beautiful location devoted exclusively to Canadian art. Go to www.mcmichael.com. You could also continue a little further north and do some cross-country skiing. (There is downhill skiing in the region, but the hills are tiny.)

It's possible to take the train to Montreal (a 4 hour journey if you catch the express) but be sure to book soon because it gets crowded at Christmas time as university students head home and head back to school. Consider paying the premium for 1st class, which makes check-in much easier, gets you a lounge pre-trip, a meal on board and more space. You could also break your journey to Montreal (on the way there or back) in Kingston, a pretty university town (home of Queen's University) with several good B&Bs.

TobieT

I think you'd be quite happy with the time you have in Toronto, Niagara and nearby areas of Ontario without venturing to Montreal in the winter.

As mentioned, Langdon Hall is an absolutely wonderful place to stay, just a little farther west from Niagara. I've stayed there in February and it's just as beautiful as in August. From there you can explore Elora, St. Jacob's and Elmira, all charming towns surrounded by rolling hills. It's Mennonite country so you will certainly see horse and buggies, especially at the Market in St. Jacobs.

One of my favourite cities in Ontario is Stratford, also within an hour of Langdon Hall. Even though the Stratford Festival will be over, the town is simply beautiful in the winter and because it's a theatre town, there are all kinds of unique shops and restaurants to enjoy.

As well, my choice is always Niagara on the Lake rather than Niagara Falls, though the Falls themselves and the light and fireworks displays in the winter are fabulous. We like Riverbend Inn just as you're coming into Niagara on the Lake, but Inn on the Twenty in Jordan is a lovely property. Cave Spring Winery and Vineland Estates Winery are also worth a visit. That area is only 35 minutes or so from Niagara on the Lake itself.

I think I might start by planning where I'd like to spend New Year's Eve as that will be one of the dates booked early on. And unless you are quite used to driving in the snow and ice, I would probably rent an SUV.

Check: ~riverbend.ca~stjacobs.com~20valley.ca
~elora.info~niagaraonthelake.com~stratfordfestival .ca (their website has very good tourism info)
and have a look at other recent discussions here for more ideas about accomodation or restaurants.

Just plan to see Montreal and Quebec City in the summer!

MFP

Thank you all so much for the wonderful information. I've been sitting at the map with Fodor's Guidebook in hand looking up all the wonderful spots recommended. I think we'll save Montreal and Quebec City for the summer, although Kingston sounds like it would be a nice trip, weather permitting. As I was mapping out the trip, I was looking at the Midland area, around the Bay. Would this be a good area to include in this trip during the winter or should we stick more south? Also, some of you mentioned New Years, which I hadn't really thought about and should be!!!! What are your suggestions for the best place to be for New Years: a wonderful meal, we don't drink; so fabulous wine isn't a criteria, but food is tops, as well as scenery, ambiance, service!! Also, which city and hotel. We can be pretty much any where at that time since it is in the middle of the trip. Lastly, regarding car rental. We decided we would like to get an SUV with 4-wheel drive (we live by Yosemite Nat'l Forest in CA and are used to driving SUV's here,) found AVIS and Budget have great prices, but when calling the 800 numbers for both companies, the "powers that be" couldn't tell us if the SUV's at the Toronto Airport are 4-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive or just regular front wheel drive! They also couldn't direct us to a website that would have that information and it wasn't listed on the websites for any of the companies. It seems to me that the SUV's in snow country would have 4-wheel drive, but . . . any thoughts, experiences, or actual first hand knowledge??? Thanks again for all the wonderful information. You all are fabulous!!
MFP

hdm

We live in Toronto and drive a Subaru with regular 4-wheel drive. Even on the snowiest days, we do fine driving in the city.

I'd suggest you leave Kingston for the summer too and then do the 1,000 Island Boat Tour. Fall would be a nice time for the Quebec/Montreal/Kingston trip too, late in October especially, because the trees will be gorgeous.

Are you going to be in Toronto for New Year's Eve? Do you want fabulous, expensive restaurants or fun, funky ones? What kind of food? What kind of $$$? I love new years eve and like to be out and about (ie not at a house party). I've never been but I've heard that being down at Nathan Phillips Square (City Hall) is fun. We also have a 'First Night' celebration which is big with families.

BAK

I live in Toronto and drive assorted two wheel drive cars and have for forty years and have never been stuck driving in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, semi-northern Ontario, Calgary, Edmonton, Banff, Lake Louise, and more.

Four wheel drive in Toronto is handy when you park on sidestreets overnight and the snow plough blocks you in, and when you go off the main and secondary highways.

But anyway, people like SUVs, and they give you a nice view.

Highly unlikely that any rental SUV in Toronto is not four wheel drive.

Depending on your plans, remember you don't need a car in Toronto, at least for part of your stay. Think of Toronto as New York-like, sort of.

If you do rent a car, it's a lot easier to get around Toronto, and find parking, than it is in New York, but most of what you'll want to see if in a fairly confined area, or easily accessible by subway or streetcar.

Rental car is the best bet for Niagara Falls.

Now, about Midland. Yes, and Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Collingwood area, known collectively as Muskoka. It's full of winter-oriented resorts.

When in doubt, Deerhurst.

BAK

TobieT

Your decision about New Year's Eve really depends on whether you want a party atmosphere like Niagara Falls or Toronto, or a quieter more intimate celebration at an inn or resort in Niagara on the Lake or in Muskoka. There are lots of options for both.

Have a look at some of the properties in Muskoka, north of Toronto. From your description of your likes, a resort like the Deerhurst might be the perfect place for New Year's. The website Kate provided for Ontario's Finest Inns also gives you some options with New Year's and Christmas packages already illustrated.

You could then spend the last few days of your trip in Toronto after renting the vehicle and touring Ontario, because you really won't need it at all in the city.

davewelwood

Definately swing into Kingston if you're going between Toronto and Montreal. Kingston has alot of history and was once the capital of Canada. Whether you just get off the 401 and quickly drive around the downtown and the waterfront and grab something quick to eat and get right back on the road, or you spend a few hours doing things like going to Old Fort Henry, I'd definately reccomend it.

A meal idea between Toronto and Montreal is the Big Apple near Brighton (either that or Colborne). Its a restaurant with a HUGE apple along the side of the highway, and evidently they have amazing apple deserts.

You won't need a 4x4 to get through a little snow. In fact, the 4x4s are usually the ones in the ditch along the 401. Just take a car with at least good all seasoned (preferably winter) tires, and drive according to conditions.

SallyCanuck

First Night is cancelled according to a local paper I picked up at the Distillery a few weeks ago.

They say they want to visit the Falls and Toronto and perhaps Montreal - why throw St. Jacob's and Langdon Hall into the mix?

Kate_W

SallyCanuck:

The reason some of us have suggested places like Langdon Hall and St Jacobs is because the OP said they were visiting the NF-Toronto regionm maybe Montreal and they love quaint cities and beautiful scenery. So, we're trying to find them some charm in the countryside between NF and Montreal. It's not like we're suggesting that they detour to Thunder Bay or Moose Factory (not that there's anything wrong with those places, they're just not on the route from NF to Montreal ...)

shelll

hi,
by the replies you have gotten you can imagine that there is so much to see and do in the area that you have mentionned. It would take many trip to do it justice at all. I've lived in Toronto all my life and I'm still discovering places to go and see. You might want to save Muskoka and Georgian Bay for the summer. Cottage country with many resorts. But I would suggest you book way ahead. Have fun no
matter what you do.

davewelwood

I used to work at a resort in the Kawartha region and we're doing winter getaway weekends this winter with xcountry ski tours of the lake I think. There's lots of good stuff like that at Ontario resorts in the winter. www.resortsontario.ca I think is the site for the resort group. That should help.