First family holiday to Canada
Discussion
OK I would love to go to Canada next year for a family holiday. The wife also want's to go but wondering where is best to go
Would be going with my well traveled 7 and 10yo girls in toe.
So suggestions on a post card please. Where would be a ideal base to stay.
We would like to travel around a bit, not too much due to the kids. as I said have a base or 2. see the sights, shopping, entertainment etc..
Whats worth seeing and where would it be ideal to take a family who have never been before
cheers
Matt
Would be going with my well traveled 7 and 10yo girls in toe.
So suggestions on a post card please. Where would be a ideal base to stay.
We would like to travel around a bit, not too much due to the kids. as I said have a base or 2. see the sights, shopping, entertainment etc..
Whats worth seeing and where would it be ideal to take a family who have never been before
cheers
Matt
What kind of things are you into? Outdoors? Then has to be west coast Vancouver where you have skiing in winter and hiking / mountain biking etc.
Museums / galleries / theatre - Toronto. Toronto is Canada's heartbeat. In addition to all of the museums, and shopping, it houses baseball, hockey and basketball teams so regardless of when you go, you'll be able to catch a game of something. Great restaurants, and of course, a base to get to Niagra falls (less than 90 mins away from downtown Toronto).
From Toronto you can also drive to Montreal which is also a great couple of days.
The total flip side, for quiet, village-esque, pure down-time doing nothing apart from wandering some streets, is East Cost. Halifax.
I work for a Toronto based company and go every month. I love Toronto, over 15 trips in 2 years and manage to go somewhere new / see something new / do something different every time.
Museums / galleries / theatre - Toronto. Toronto is Canada's heartbeat. In addition to all of the museums, and shopping, it houses baseball, hockey and basketball teams so regardless of when you go, you'll be able to catch a game of something. Great restaurants, and of course, a base to get to Niagra falls (less than 90 mins away from downtown Toronto).
From Toronto you can also drive to Montreal which is also a great couple of days.
The total flip side, for quiet, village-esque, pure down-time doing nothing apart from wandering some streets, is East Cost. Halifax.
I work for a Toronto based company and go every month. I love Toronto, over 15 trips in 2 years and manage to go somewhere new / see something new / do something different every time.
we have enjoyed int he past going to New York and Florida, I know it's not going to be the same but we just fancy a change. Really anywhere that has enough for the kids to do, wife to shop and me to just enjoy.
I gather like in the US a hire car would be the best bet for travelling around the areas
I gather like in the US a hire car would be the best bet for travelling around the areas
I have a sister in Ottawa and a brother in Vancouver so have spent a fair amount of time in both locations. Have to say I prefer BC to Ontario; plenty of things to see and do around Vancouver especially as you have a young family. Canada is a vast place so unless you're planning to hire a Winnebago for 6 months you're never going to be able to see it all!
Newfoundland to London is 2400 miles
Newfoundland to Vancouver is 2900 miles, just to put the place in perspective.
I live in Toronto, but it would not be my choice as a base. I would base in either Montreal or Vancouver. Each has a very distinctive character and lots to do for families....
Newfoundland to Vancouver is 2900 miles, just to put the place in perspective.
I live in Toronto, but it would not be my choice as a base. I would base in either Montreal or Vancouver. Each has a very distinctive character and lots to do for families....
I've done Calgary to Vancouver in an RV, via the Rockies, Banff, Jasper, Lillooet, 100 Mile House, Whistler etc. Fantastic trip, one of the best in fact.
I spent 9 weeks working in Vancouver, which I've decided is one of the few places in the world I'd be happy to live.
We spent a couple of days in Toronto, as a bit of a detour from a New England trip (decided to head over to Niagara to see the falls).
A couple of years ago we toured around Nova Scotia, PEI, and New Brunswick. This is much quieter, more hiking/out-doors/villages and sea-side type of stuff, but fantastic nevertheless. That was in a car and hotel/motels.
You have to be prepared for the weather though, it can be similar to here, in that you can get anything, although Calgary gets rather warm in the summer. Vancouver is mild all year round.
I spent 9 weeks working in Vancouver, which I've decided is one of the few places in the world I'd be happy to live.
We spent a couple of days in Toronto, as a bit of a detour from a New England trip (decided to head over to Niagara to see the falls).
A couple of years ago we toured around Nova Scotia, PEI, and New Brunswick. This is much quieter, more hiking/out-doors/villages and sea-side type of stuff, but fantastic nevertheless. That was in a car and hotel/motels.
You have to be prepared for the weather though, it can be similar to here, in that you can get anything, although Calgary gets rather warm in the summer. Vancouver is mild all year round.
You didn’t say if it was a summer or winter holiday.
Either way,
Head for Vancouver and BC.
Take a ferry over to Vancouver Island, look round Victoria.
Maybe explore the island.
You can drive north out of Van, get a ferry at Horsehoe bay over to Vancouver island, drive down the island to Victoria and get a ferry back to South Van.
You’ll get to see some great stuff.
Horseshoe bay in on Highway 99 – it’s well worth driving the whole way up to Whistler as the drive is amazing.
When you get to whistler (depending on time of year) you can ski, mountain bike, bear watch, play golf, hike, swim in a lake, ice skate, kiteboard on a frozen lake.
Then you could go over to the Island on the way back down.
Do you sail?
There’s some great sailing around there too.
Either way,
Head for Vancouver and BC.
Take a ferry over to Vancouver Island, look round Victoria.
Maybe explore the island.
You can drive north out of Van, get a ferry at Horsehoe bay over to Vancouver island, drive down the island to Victoria and get a ferry back to South Van.
You’ll get to see some great stuff.
Horseshoe bay in on Highway 99 – it’s well worth driving the whole way up to Whistler as the drive is amazing.
When you get to whistler (depending on time of year) you can ski, mountain bike, bear watch, play golf, hike, swim in a lake, ice skate, kiteboard on a frozen lake.
Then you could go over to the Island on the way back down.
Do you sail?
There’s some great sailing around there too.
Vancouver and Victoria best by far for families. There are lots of things to see and do such as whale watching, tours of every description both on land and sea, a wide variety of restaurants and theatres, it really cannot be topped. Rent a car and do some travelling around. Fly Canadian Affair direct to Vancouver. You will not be disappointed.
A well followed path is fly to Calgary, see the Rockies via Banff, Lake Louise and maybe Jasper, then drive (2-3 days?) to Vancouver, spend a few days there, then either a few days in Whistler or a few days in Victoria before flying home from Vancouver.
Calgary isn't much to get excited about, but it has an international airport close to the Rockies, so big tick there. Banff is well worth some time, and the Rockies are properly spectacular. Time spent sightseeing there is well spent.
Between Calgary and Vancouver there are some small towns that work well as stopovers but not much else. Nakusp is a very sleepy small place with an idyllic lake - good for a day of lying around. Hope and Kamloops are to be avoided save for fuel stops. Revelstoke is worth a stop off, although there's not a huge amount to do there.
Van has all sorts. There's shopping downtown. Grouse and Cypress mountains are worth a trip. Ditto the Capilano suspension bridge, the Aquarium, Granville Island, Gastown and Stanley Park.
Whistler in summer has tons to do: hiking at the top of the mountains, picnicking around the lakes in the valley, cycling, walking, golf, kayaking, kids adventure playground thing at Blackcomb, downhill mountain biking, float plane tours, bear spotting...very easy to spend time there. Ideally aim to there in or around August. If Crankworx is in town the place has an additional buzz.
Victoria is quaint. OK shopping. You can go whale watching on trips from the harbour. Busch Gardens is worth 1/2 day; there are other attractions on the island around there but I'm not so familiar with them. Tofino on the west coast is worth a visit - you really feel like you're on the edge of the world. You can whale watch from there. It's a slow drive to get there though.
Driving in a large SUV (Explorer or larger) is a good way to get about. One way hires from Calgary to Van are common.
Calgary isn't much to get excited about, but it has an international airport close to the Rockies, so big tick there. Banff is well worth some time, and the Rockies are properly spectacular. Time spent sightseeing there is well spent.
Between Calgary and Vancouver there are some small towns that work well as stopovers but not much else. Nakusp is a very sleepy small place with an idyllic lake - good for a day of lying around. Hope and Kamloops are to be avoided save for fuel stops. Revelstoke is worth a stop off, although there's not a huge amount to do there.
Van has all sorts. There's shopping downtown. Grouse and Cypress mountains are worth a trip. Ditto the Capilano suspension bridge, the Aquarium, Granville Island, Gastown and Stanley Park.
Whistler in summer has tons to do: hiking at the top of the mountains, picnicking around the lakes in the valley, cycling, walking, golf, kayaking, kids adventure playground thing at Blackcomb, downhill mountain biking, float plane tours, bear spotting...very easy to spend time there. Ideally aim to there in or around August. If Crankworx is in town the place has an additional buzz.
Victoria is quaint. OK shopping. You can go whale watching on trips from the harbour. Busch Gardens is worth 1/2 day; there are other attractions on the island around there but I'm not so familiar with them. Tofino on the west coast is worth a visit - you really feel like you're on the edge of the world. You can whale watch from there. It's a slow drive to get there though.
Driving in a large SUV (Explorer or larger) is a good way to get about. One way hires from Calgary to Van are common.
Many moons ago I had the chance to see the Calgery Stampede. Well worth it if you can time it in.
Edit
Yeeeee ha!
Edit edit
http://www.calgarystampede.com/
Edit
Yeeeee ha!
Edit edit
http://www.calgarystampede.com/
Edited by jmorgan on Monday 11th June 18:48
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