pittVRS

I've always fancied a long break in Canada, but it's such a vast Country I just wondered where the must see places were?

I've heard that Montreal / Quebec and other east coast cities are a bit more frenetic than the more laid back mid west / West coast cities.

All advice welcome.

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KenONeill

IMO the Canadian Rockies, Niagara Falls, and Quebec is not the East Coast of Canada!

bigal rallyred

My wife and I did a fly drive for our honeymoon which started and ended in Toronto.
The trip included Montreal, Quebec, Kingston, Ottowa, Niagra, Midland, Pembroke.
As you said the bigger cities are quite frenetic but not as bad as you think, even in Toronto and Montreal you are only a short distance from the wilderness.

Canada has all the benifits of the U.S but it's not full of american's.
People were so freindly and the different places and completely different.
C.N tower is great and you can have a meal in the 360 degree restaurant, best as the sun is starting to go down, Quebec is stunning in a French/Canadian kind of way.
Niagara is like Blackpool on heat but is worth a visit for the day, we stayed at the Falls View Hotel and could see the falls full on from our room window.
Ottowa is the capital and is kind of government building central but the Byward Market if great and very cosmopolitan.


I can't comment on other parts of Canada but can safely say it's the best holiday I've ever had and would go back in a second.


HTH.

devonutopia

I highly recommend Vancouver Island, out west as far as you can go basically. Had a great time there while my mate was marrying one of it's residents.

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bigal rallyred

East coast would be Nova Scotia!

KenONeill

And there's Newfoundland and New Brunswick too.

Basil

I lived in Canada for six years. Loved it - the nicest country I have ever been to, and I've travelled a fair bit...
People have all the best qualities of the British and the Americans. Dont go to francophone areas (Montreal and further East) unless you speak French - although they speak English they refuse to!
Was in Toronto and Ottawa mostly, used to ride a Motorbike and go on long trips down to the USA NY state...
I've heard that Vancouver is really great as well tho' never been there....
Don't hesitate to go if you can - as a Brit you have all the rights of a Canadian except the vote - bet you never go back to the UK again!!!!

HTH
Bas

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KenONeill

Omnia Canada in deux partes divisa est.

anonymouse

Why not PM m17rkj - he's in Calgary, Alberta ?

I recommend a 10 year stopover, at least

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matt@theforce

went to Banff, alberta and surrounding area for our honeymoon. can't praise it enough, such nice friendly people stunning views we only wished we culd have stayed. The Hot Springs in Banff is excelent, sat outside in munis C temperatures in water looking up at the scenery.

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philc

I've been to the Toronto area on business, and always found the people really nice, Toronto is a great city and the further north you go, the more spectacular the country gets.
I also went to the Rockies quite a few years ago. Flew into Calgary, drove to Banff, then onto Jasper and back via Lake Louise. It's stunning country around there.
I'd recommend it for a holiday. I want to get to Vancouver one day, too.
It's the only place I've been to where even the passport officers are friendly!

Phil

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johnjohnhealy

Fantastic place, I can only echo what others have already said, so I wont bother!

Just go!

damo :-)

My brother lives in Montreal, lovely around the old port area.
It is a very busy city though, and would be stacks better without the french

We went to the man made beach down by the St Laurence river, but to get to it you have to drive down the grand prix track. The race had been the weekend previously, so all the stands etc were still up, cue lots of brrrrmmmm noises driving round

We then went on to Toronto for a few days and did the whole niagara falls, cn tower experiences. The boat trip under the falls is something everyone should experience before they peg out

What I saw of Canada (considering its vastness was not that much), was beautiful and I would love to see lots more, which as my brother lives there is entirely possible.
Maybe a motorhome trip right across, or the long train ride through the rockies.

Wherever you go you will have a great time, its Fantastic

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neilwilliams

I went to Whistler, about an hour or two from Vancouver for a skiing break last December. To me it looked like America but the people were more like the UK used to be 15-20 years ago.

I only saw Vancouver on the way back to the airport and the traffic was murder but that was the only downside to the whole trip. I'm seriously considering a return visit in a year or two.

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heresmo

FWIW I reckon that as it's like 3K miles across, then for a holiday, it'd have be what I really wanted to see. We had the opportunity to move to Montreal (some years ago) but that's different, if only cos -40 in winter. My choice for a holly wolly would be the autum leaves (New England is it?). Also I'd like to see the Great Lakes (bigger than England) and Detroit - surely where Pimp My Ride was born Not to mention the Detroit sound.

Mo dreaming again

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m17rkj

did someone mention me?

We are in Calgary and we love it here! theres a dusting of snow on the rockies and the sky is crystal blue and there is'nt anywhere else i'd rather be!
If you are coming to the rockies all the usual suspects as mentioned are well worth a visit, Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise etc, there are also a lot of hidden gems off the tourist trail that are better than the above (see avatar!) that i could guide you to if you need. I have a good friend from Nova Scotia and he raves about the place, not recommended in winter tho', it gets a bit windy! Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Is are all worth a visit especially if you are interested in the history of the place, as is Montreal and Quebec City.
If you are looking west Vancouver is a great city and Stanley Park is a great place for a relaxing bike ride, although the homeless people (panhandlers) are a tad tiresome. Vancouver Island and Victoria are beautiful and retain a real British atmosphere, whale watching trips are a must do. Whistler is awesome for skiing (winter olympics there 2010), but very dull off season unless you're into mountain bikes.
Here in Calgary we have the Stampede in july which is the worlds biggest rodeo, it is superb and a great week on the drink! also east from here we have the Alberta Badlands and Drumheller which has the worlds largest dinosaur museum and dinosaur (great for the kids) and some awesome scenery then its 1500 miles of wheat fields till you hit Ontario!
There is also the Yukon, NWT and the Arctic North. And if you like Polar Bears, Churchill, Manitoba is the place to go.

if you need any more info drop me a PM!

Mark, your friendly Canada holiday rep!

p.s. below is a picture of lake minnewanka (s******!) nr Banff taken just last week.

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jec

Can I come too???

th4neuk

Banff.

it is just stunning.

All of the rockies is a big yes.

we hired a camper in calgary and drove to vancouver. Fantastic holiday.

envious you are going.

cheers

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Shifty

I was born on Vancouver Island. Comox to be exact. It is clearly the finest place in the world

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4x4t

I went in 2004 to Whistler to go mountain biking and it was the most stunning place i have ever been for sight seeing.The drive from Vancouver to whistler is excellent (take a camera)and the people are very friendly.I want to go again but have stopped doing the big jumps and drops and only ride trail/xc.If i went again it would only be a one way ticket.Do a direct flight aswell not one that stops off and takes about 20 hrs.

pittVRS

Thanks for all the replies guys.

It sounds absolutely stunning and I'm saving my pennies to make the trip as we speak. I think I'm edging towards the West with possibly a couple of short breaks in Toronta / Montreal. I'm hoping to go next year if situation allows so will do some more research based on what you have told me.

I have relatives who live in Calgary (it's not you, mk17rkj is it? lol) and my gran was from Vancouver. It's a long held ambition that I have to realise one day.

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Babs

I was born there, and only really been in Ontario and Quebec

Ontario is lovely, but Quebec is full of pretentious French people who hate Canada, but still sponge off it...

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m17rkj

Hear, Hear. theres plenty of frenchies over here in Calgary, to say they are not popular is an understatement! the Acadians (Acadians - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) are a top bunch tho', mainly coz they hate the french too even tho' they kinda are french! bizarre!

oh, and pitt, to the best of my knowledge we are related only by our interest in Skoda's! let me know if you come out this way the wife wants some Dairy Milk!!

Mark

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anonymouse

You're asking fer it with a reply like that

IIIRC - Roy is a top Guy - you sahould be safe

Best

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hana

I went a few years ago and loved it Montreal was lovely, the underground city is fun and Toronto is awesome. Do go up the CN tower and look through the glass floor. Terrifying if you've no head for heights. Most of Montreal speaks French. Niagara town is horrid, but falls are good value. Niagara on the Lake is a pretty town. . I'm told the Bay of Fundy is impressive, but haven't seen it myself.
It's huge, as you say, but well worth a trip