We are planning a trip for August 2007 and we cannot decide between these three destinations. Our main goal is to have a fun, but also relaxing vacation of about 12 days. We plan to start a family soon and want to do something we probably won't be able to do with kids. Our budget for the whole trip is about $2500 w/o airfare. Vancouver is appealing to us because of the beauty and nature, Quebec sounds romantic, and Nova Scotia looks relaxing. Any advice would be appreciated!

Vancouver is far and away the most fun, but you might want to save it for six years and come back with a five year old kid.


I have trouble keeping amused in Quebec City for 48 hours, but if you like hunting and fishing, there's the north wooods outside Quebec City that might appeal.

Nova Scotia require constant motion to prevent boredom; two days in Halifax, and then you need to get on the road.

In British Columbia, "Vancouver" really can mean thre days in the city, a couple of days in Victoria, a couple of days on the west coast of Vancouver Island in Long Beach and Tofino, and perhaps a trip up to Whistler.

BAK

For myself, 12 days in any one city would be too much, including Vancouver. Nice city, worth a few days and can be a base to explore a little of the interior. But would be more interesting to spend part of the 12 days travelling to different regions of BC, e.g. Victoria, spectacular Pacific Rim NP (Long Beach) and Tofino as suggested by BAK.

Quebec City makes a nice weekend after which you will have walked the whole tourist area (the Old Walled City) several times. You could spend time touring other parts of Quebec, e.g. the Saguenay for whale watching, a few days in Montreal, maybe the Gaspe Peninsula for some seaside settings. But, personally, I would definitely choose either Nova Scotia or BC if I had 12 days and had never been to either.

I love Nova Scotia, could easily (and have) spend 12 days or more there, and have never been bored (although we drive a lot when in that province, lots to see, spread around). Several days in Halifax (the city is nice, plus use it as a base for exploring nearby "Lighthouse Route" destinations like Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg). Then several days in/around Cape Breton NP (spectacular with lots of beauty and nature of its own). You could also spend a few days either touring other regions of NS or heading to nearby PEI.

well, i'd forget quebec city. as mentioned, great place to go for 2-4 days.
you could choose vancouver - have the city life for 3-4 nights, head up to whistler for 2 nights, then go over to the island and go to tofino for 4 nights. absolutely beautiful are and very romantic. then end the trip in in victoria for 2 nights.
or nova scotia. i was there for the first time in 2005 for 3 weeks and could have spent another week. great beaches, great little towns. i'd spend at least 3 nights in halifax, some to time on the "digby neck" (yummy scallops) and at least 5 night in the cape breton area. if you have some spare time, go over to pei for 3 or more nights.
either province, you'll have a great time.

Thanks for all of your help. I guess I should have been more specific. If we went to Quebec we would go to Quebec City, Montreal and maybe the mountains north of Montreal. In BC we would go to Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler and maybe Tofino. Would you all still choose BC or Nova Scotia over Quebec? At this point we are thinking BC might be out of our price range. Thanks Again!

Nova Scotia gets my vote. Vancouver does have beauty and nature but so does Nova Scotia. If you like rambling walks and drives, I would pick that.

I've been to all 3 regions and have loved all 3. I think you'd love Quebec and Montreal. There's a younger vibe in Montreal with tons of shopping and great restaurants. Quebec offers all the charm you could ever hope for with cobblestoned streets, flower boxes in the windows, etc. Great day trips from Quebec city include Montmorency Falls and Isl d'Orleans. Both cities make you feel like you are in Europe.

Well, having been to all three a number of times, if you're coming to Canada for the first time (which I'm assuming), I would probably choose B.C. first, Nova Scotia as a close second, and Quebec third. But - it's always a matter of personal taste. I live in Canada, and have travelled it extensively. Where are you coming from? If from the U.S., the slightly "European" flavour of Montreal and Quebec City might appeal (not so much if you're from Europe). The west coast has the advantage of offering something for everyone - big cities, small cities, spectacular and unique scenery, lots of nature, some quite touristy areas, some rather off-the-beaten-track areas, etc. Nova Scotia is generally "quieter", although Halifax is a nice mid-sized city, and as mentioned B.C. does have its share of "quieter" destinations too.

I don't know where you ARE, to begin with, as that would help project the future in terms of what you might one day get back to with kids.

I believe that my (ahem) "advice" would become more clear and confident if I had a sense of from where you are originating.

IF you are, say, east of the Mississippi river, I think I'd go for Vancouver for this trip. It is among the more beautiful cities on the continent and easily has something for everyone. If you tire of Vancouver after a few days, the sidetrips you could take are endless.

You spoke of things you probably won't be able to do with kids. The relaxing spots on Vancouver Island are places that you might find that kids simply wouldn't put up with for very long.

I would be hopeful that you could land Vancouver area hotels on Priceline.com for perhaps $75 U.S. per night and, if done ideally, you might spend the first 3 days IN Vancouver, then perhaps 6 days on Vancouver Island (2 or 3 Victoria, and 3 or 4 Tofino, etc.).

For that you could swing it withOUT a rental car except for the middle 6 days.

IF you need to reduce costs to make the trip doable, you'd just cut away part of that middle of the trip. At the very worst, you'd make it a 10-day stay IN Vancouver, with perhaps side trips on some days to outlying spots.

Sometimes Priceline rooms can be had for less, but considering August is the peak of tourism season, I am using $75 U.S. per night.

Just now looking at biddingfortravel.com and saw that someone on May 9 of this year booked the 4-star Westin Bayshore Vancouver (August 20-22 stay) for $89 U.S. per night... and that does suggest that at least 3-star rooms could be had for $75 per.

Lets use TEN days as your trip length, to better fit your stated budget.

Even at $100 U.S. per night for all hotel related expenses (using PRICELINE!), that leaves $1500 US or $1650 Cdn for your time there.

Renting a car for a week may indeed put the trip beyond your stated budget, but I think that Vancouver could sure offer a truly enjoyable vacation even if immersed in the center of the city for 10 straight nights.

The weather in Vancouver is seldom such that it inhibits walking around and seeing the sights, and the local bus system and "Sky Train" are very handy for getting around the area.

I wish I knew what state you were coming from, that way I'd have a stronger sense of which is best. I've been to all three spots mentioned and I go to Vancouver 10 to 20 times a year.

Vancouver would be great in August. Quebec would be better than Vancouver during June.

Hello Everyone - Thanks for your advice. We are in Atlanta, GA. But, half of my husband's family is in upstate New York, so Quebec is something we could do later as part of a trip up there. We were thinking of Quebec because it seems romantic, and it seems a little more exotic because of the French culture. We are also thinking of going to Europe, but we're not sure if we can afford it. We have figured out a way to save more money, but Europe is so expensive. We're still weighing our options. Thanks Again!

For some 'French Canadian' culture as well as friendly maritime culture and loads of nature and national beauty you might consider a trip to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

I can provide more info if you are interested.

Jerry

Hi again - it's true you can get a little French culture so-to-speak in parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but it's small town French Acadian (the original 'Cajuns) as opposed to the more cosmopolitan French-Canadian of Montreal and Quebec City.

I don't know, maybe it's because I've spent quite a bit of time in Quebec and one of my parents was French that I don't think of Quebec as being terribly exotic. But, you know, with 12 days - you could actually get a good taste of both Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces. When we drive from Toronto area to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, we usually spend a night or 2 in Quebec City on the way. So - depending on how much driving you're willing to do - Fly into Montreal, rent a car and head to Quebec City for a couple of nights (long enough to tour the whole "Old Walled City pretty thoroughly), then off towards the Maritime Provinces - spend say 7 or 8 days split between Halifax and Cape Breton, then make your way back to Montreal (take a night in New Brunswick if needed on your way there) for your last couple of nights before coming home. This will certainly give you lots of variety, and although there is a fair bit of driving, it's not an unreasonable amount for a 12 day trip - and you will find the time on Cape Breton extremely scenic and relaxing.

If you do decide to come to NS, then I think you should spend some time in New Brunswick as well...In my opinion, we are every bit as nice (I think maybe nicer, but I am biased) then Nova Scotia. If you spend just a few days here in NB, you need to see Hopewell Cape, Fundy National Park, and if you want a city stay, Fredericton's Downtown area is amazing. It is the capital city of NB, very small, compared to Halifax. Most of the buildings are still standing for a long time ago...you can see the Changing of the guard, there are always outdoor concerts in Officers Square in the Summer that are free, with local music. If you come to any province in August though, aim for the first weekend in August, as that is a provincial holiday. In New Brunswick, we call it New Brunswick Day, and there a parades and lots of celebrations and activities.

It really depends on your kids (age, interests. etc/).

Vancouver is a big city and is one of the most beautiful locations around with the ocean and the mountains and there's loads to do there - the only downside is price (very expensive place for hotels, etc.).

My personal preference is Nova Scotia with the combination of Halifax (not a big city but big enough) and the unbelievable combination of beauty and friendly people all around the province. Top places to visit (aside from Halifax) include Peggy's Cove, Lunenberg, Cape Breton National Park and Louisbourg (also on Cape Breton). August is a great time to be in Nova Scotia and there are great beaches for the kids.

bookmarking

The OP has probably already made her choice, but I wanted to add a different take on this topic.

My husband and I live in the Boston area - we love driving out to Montreal, Quebec city at least once a year, and have been to both Halifax/Cape Breton NP and Vancouver/Whistler.

All these places are beautiful - Vancouver probably is the most stunning, but they will have a good time in any of these places.

Now that we have a baby, we think we can go back to both Nova Scotia and BC with our daughter and have a great time - they are both very family friendly places. But Montreal/Quebec City would be tough to really enjoy with a baby - its more a city/European experience. Its the food, and the "ambiance" and sipping wine over long dinners, or enjoying live music while looking at stars and sipping beer kind of place. I am not sure we can do that very well with a baby or even a young child - maybe more doable with older children.

Anyway, just wanted to add my $.02.

Hope the OP has a great time wherever they go!

Thanks,
DG