me and my partner would like to go to canada next year,we would like to see niagra falls and some wildlife/scenery.we would like to see the REAL canada,does anyone have any tips on where to stay and where to avoid?
than
ben+craig
where to start?
8 posts • Page 1 of 1
where to start?
by luckylisp1234 on Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:20 pm
- luckylisp1234
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where to start?
by HW iaintwoeyes on Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:21 pm
Blimey, out of the fire (Goa) and into the frezzer (Canada) eh!!!...hehe
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HW iaintwoeyes - Posts: 2310
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where to start?
by tittlemouse on Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:49 pm
Canada is a vast country and how much of it you will in part of depend on the length of your stay and your budget.
Okay you can get flights fairly cheaply at the moment into Toronto, I would suggest that you hire a car, plenty to see in Toronto and that could occupy a couple of days: CNN Tower, Sky Dome, Ontario Place, ferry over to Toronto Islands, plenty of museums and art galleries, then you can head down Highway 401 to Niagra Falls, go on the maid of the mist and visit the old hydro tunnels, which you access by the table rock cafe.
If you go past the falls there is car park on the right which is fairly cheap, then you can walk up to the falls do the hydro tunnels and then walk up to the Maid of the Mist, which is awesome. Across the road from the entrance to the boat is a bus stop where you can pick up the people mover, last time I used it was $6 and you can hop on and off all day. Head up to the Spanish cable and go across the Niagra River on a very stomach wrenching journey.
Also in Niagra there is an I Max cinema which is fun and if you stay for the night you can go to the casinos.
Another place worth visiting is Niagra on the Lake, which is a very pretty town, places of interest there: are Fort George, the Angel Inn, and the Jet boats, which are expensive but you can ride the rapids, apparently the 2nd biggest rapids in North America after the Colorado River and a fantastic ride. You can opt to do the cover boat, or the uncovered if you are going on the uncovered take a change of clothes as you will need them. Plenty of BB's in Niagra-on-the-Lake but they don't come cheap.
Also when you drive to Niagra-on-the-Lake if you drive along Lake Shore drive you will pass the wineries where you can do tours, and sample the Ice wine, which I think may be more expensive than champagne.
You can then do a complete change of pace and head North from Toronto on Highway 11 to Cottage Country, so places like Muskoka, Huntsville etc. you can rent a cottage or stay at a resort and experience the great outdoors, watch out for bears and rattlers. If you are really adventurous you can head into Algonquin National park and camp or stay in a cottage there. Algonquin Park has been made famous by the Group of Seven who were renowned Canadian painters, but can be very remote, if you like hiking, fishing, trail biking and complete solitude you will love the place.
Other options you can buy a corridor pass from Via Rail, which allows you to travel within a 30 day period along the corridor so basically from Niagra-on-the-Falls up to Halifax, and you can call at other major cities: Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec.
If you have plenty of money you can buy the Can-pass from Via Rail, on that you could travel across the provinces to Vancouver, that will take you 4 days, it is not cheap. You could have a couple of days in Vancouver and may be get the ferry across to Vancouver Island. You could once in Vancouver hire an RV and head up to the Rockies, fantastic journey plenty of places for you to park the RV of a night. Be careful though because if you wanted to finish the journey say in Calgary they will charge you extra for not returning the vehicle to your original starting point. the drive along the Ice Park Highway is easy as only trucks that are delivering into the park are allowed to enter. You have to buy permits to enter the National Parks, you will not be allowed to enter without them.
Finally you can always puddle hop across Canada on West Jet, cheap company but very good.
A good company in the Uk to book flights, hotels and hire vehicles is Canadian Affairs. Hope you enjoy being with the Canucks.
Okay you can get flights fairly cheaply at the moment into Toronto, I would suggest that you hire a car, plenty to see in Toronto and that could occupy a couple of days: CNN Tower, Sky Dome, Ontario Place, ferry over to Toronto Islands, plenty of museums and art galleries, then you can head down Highway 401 to Niagra Falls, go on the maid of the mist and visit the old hydro tunnels, which you access by the table rock cafe.
If you go past the falls there is car park on the right which is fairly cheap, then you can walk up to the falls do the hydro tunnels and then walk up to the Maid of the Mist, which is awesome. Across the road from the entrance to the boat is a bus stop where you can pick up the people mover, last time I used it was $6 and you can hop on and off all day. Head up to the Spanish cable and go across the Niagra River on a very stomach wrenching journey.
Also in Niagra there is an I Max cinema which is fun and if you stay for the night you can go to the casinos.
Another place worth visiting is Niagra on the Lake, which is a very pretty town, places of interest there: are Fort George, the Angel Inn, and the Jet boats, which are expensive but you can ride the rapids, apparently the 2nd biggest rapids in North America after the Colorado River and a fantastic ride. You can opt to do the cover boat, or the uncovered if you are going on the uncovered take a change of clothes as you will need them. Plenty of BB's in Niagra-on-the-Lake but they don't come cheap.
Also when you drive to Niagra-on-the-Lake if you drive along Lake Shore drive you will pass the wineries where you can do tours, and sample the Ice wine, which I think may be more expensive than champagne.
You can then do a complete change of pace and head North from Toronto on Highway 11 to Cottage Country, so places like Muskoka, Huntsville etc. you can rent a cottage or stay at a resort and experience the great outdoors, watch out for bears and rattlers. If you are really adventurous you can head into Algonquin National park and camp or stay in a cottage there. Algonquin Park has been made famous by the Group of Seven who were renowned Canadian painters, but can be very remote, if you like hiking, fishing, trail biking and complete solitude you will love the place.
Other options you can buy a corridor pass from Via Rail, which allows you to travel within a 30 day period along the corridor so basically from Niagra-on-the-Falls up to Halifax, and you can call at other major cities: Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec.
If you have plenty of money you can buy the Can-pass from Via Rail, on that you could travel across the provinces to Vancouver, that will take you 4 days, it is not cheap. You could have a couple of days in Vancouver and may be get the ferry across to Vancouver Island. You could once in Vancouver hire an RV and head up to the Rockies, fantastic journey plenty of places for you to park the RV of a night. Be careful though because if you wanted to finish the journey say in Calgary they will charge you extra for not returning the vehicle to your original starting point. the drive along the Ice Park Highway is easy as only trucks that are delivering into the park are allowed to enter. You have to buy permits to enter the National Parks, you will not be allowed to enter without them.
Finally you can always puddle hop across Canada on West Jet, cheap company but very good.
A good company in the Uk to book flights, hotels and hire vehicles is Canadian Affairs. Hope you enjoy being with the Canucks.
- tittlemouse
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:06 pm
where to start?
by nanabo on Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:30 pm
WOW!! Tittlemouse thats some answer and some travelling, Oh Boy!! I feel out of breath just reading it
Bo
Bo
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nanabo - Posts: 580
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where to start?
by luckylisp1234 on Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:09 am
wow,thankyou so much,lots of detail.we were thinking of booking through a travel agent having never been to canada before,but oyu've given us some great info there which i know we'll use,thankyou tittlemouse.Iaintwoeyes wow man you get everywhere hehe,by the way we cant wait for THIS years trip back to goa mmmmm grrrreat heh.
ben+craig
ben+craig
- luckylisp1234
- Posts: 87
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where to start?
by tittlemouse on Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:29 am
The best travel agency would be Canadian Affairs, you can do it on line at www.canadianaffairs.co.uk or ring them for a more tailor made holiday, contact details are on the website.
- tittlemouse
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:06 pm
where to start?
by luckylisp1234 on Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:08 am
thanx tittlemouse we'll check it out
ben+craig
ben+craig
- luckylisp1234
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