Me and a friend are toying with the idea of going to Canada. The trip would last about 3 weeks (in september). The general plan would be to rent a car and drive through Canada, switching between nature and cities. I would like to ask you for advice on how to make this more concrete.
What kind of route would be optimal for switching between a couple of days of nature and a couple of days of city (if it's an interesting city of course)? Is it possible to drive from Vancouver to Ottawa in 3 weeks while checking out all kinds of stuff on the way?
Recommendations? Specific cities or parks that you feel are must-sees?
I don't really know anyone here, but if someone would feel inclined to meet up and go party or whatever, I'm also open to that.

ella_guru

Canada1741 Posts

February 21 2010 15:03 GMT

Most of Canada IS nature. This place is big. Their are several different stretches along the way that you wont see any major cities for many many hours. Most major cities on your route will have great park land near it. (I dont think Toronto does?)

15 minute drive from downtown ottawa is this:

+ Show Spoiler +

And that's our capital city.

I've only been to Saskatoon, but it seems the farther West you go the more hilarious and "Canadian" people tend to be. And the northern Ontario people. Well, and the easterners.

Oh god, just expect this:
+ Show Spoiler +

Denotate

Canada294 Posts

February 21 2010 15:14 GMT

Firstly, there is really only one major route across the country by road, which is the Trans Canada Highway. There are bypass routes in each province, but if you just do a Google search for Trans Canada you'll get all the information you need.

When you're doing a trip across the WHOLE FREAKING COUNTRY, it's difficult to suggest specific attractions since there are so many. I also don't want to be like, 'For good food go to Johnny's in Windsor, ON - good beer!', since it really doesn't help you at all.

What I do suggest is to first figure out your travel route, then do a quick search of the major cities and towns you'll be passing through to see if anything grabs your attention. If you have a specific thing you find interesting, then you can certainly post to find out if anyone else has done it or been there. Also, we don't know what you're interested in, so doing a little preliminary research can help people help you.

If you're in Toronto and are looking for some help, I'd be happy to give it. Just pm me before you arrive.

Warrior Madness

Canada3791 Posts

February 21 2010 15:27 GMT

More than half of your trip will be spent driving. It takes three days just to drive from Toronto to Winnipeg.

PGWodehouse

United Kingdom16 Posts

February 21 2010 15:44 GMT

Hi there! I'm travelling out to Canada in a month or so myself, staying for four and a half months, travelling from toronto to BC, then up to the Yukon, exploring Queen Charlottes, Victoria Island, etc. I've heard great things about British Columbia, and plan to spend a substantial amount of my time there. Your road trip sounds excellent, I don't have a car sadly, so i'm gonna have to train and bus it.

Achromic

773 Posts

February 21 2010 15:45 GMT

Bring polar bears, some areas don't allow cars.

illu

Canada2531 Posts

February 21 2010 15:49 GMT

I think driving only around Ontario (or Quebec, since you are from Belgium you can probably speak French) is good enough. There is no need to go too far.

ManBearPig

Belgium207 Posts

February 21 2010 15:50 GMT

On February 22 2010 00:27 Warrior Madness wrote:
More than half of your trip will be spent driving. It takes three days just to drive from Toronto to Winnipeg.

Ok that's a good point. I'm a Canada-noob. Turns out that going across the entire country would take quite some driving.
So this makes my questions all the more pertinent: if you would have to recommend a piece of your country to a tourist who likes to check out nature and make walks etc, but would get tired of this after a few days and need some hardcore city junkfood booze party kind of stuff (with the occasional museum perhaps), which piece would it be? In a rough kind of north/south/east/west kind of separation, which part do you recommend most and why?

stalife

Canada1222 Posts

February 21 2010 16:24 GMT

I'd suggest going to the Banff, Rockies, Vancouver, and fly to Toronto, & Quebec. (no need to see whatever's in the prairies.

Masamune

Canada3401 Posts

February 21 2010 16:24 GMT

#10

Honestly, if you want to see a nice scenic part of Canada with great cities, I'd stick to Western Canada with British Columbia and Alberta. Vancouver and Calgary, being around the Rockies, are great cities to focus around with those two provinces having a lot of stuff to check out.

alffla

Hong Kong20321 Posts

February 21 2010 16:27 GMT

#11

go to nova scotia for lobster burgers at mcdonalds!!! :D

SkepTicAL

Canada872 Posts

February 21 2010 16:29 GMT

#12

On February 22 2010 01:24 stalife wrote:
I'd suggest going to the Banff, Rockies, Vancouver, and fly to Toronto, & Quebec. (no need to see whatever's in the prairies.

I'd go with this. If you can't fly over to Toronto then you wanna goto either Ontario or Quebec to start and drive your way around both. Toronto to Montreal is a 5 hour drive, but both provinces are huge too and both have multiple big cities along with multiple (naturistic???) spots.
B.C and Alberta both also have alot of major cities and nature spots.. and again they're beside each other, although the drives would be farther.

Either of those 2 would be good, the praries are kinda... well boring(sry ppl who live there

), and driving around Canada can take you 3 weeks lol, and thats without gettin back to your original landing spot lol.

Masamune

Canada3401 Posts

February 21 2010 16:30 GMT

#13

hahaha alffla

yeah, the Maritimes are nice for being scenic as well but when foreigners think of Canada's nature (kayaking and climbing mountains etc.), they really are thinking of places like Banff in the West.

Edit: Here's another recent thread about Canada: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=111952

Mastermind

Canada7096 Posts

February 21 2010 16:32 GMT

#14

The areas I would recommend would be Ontario, Quebec, and BC. The only problem is BC is far from Ontario and Quebec and the area between those provinces is just barren land that is not exciting to look at. Avoid Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta because they are just empty flat farm land for as far as you can see.
BC has Vancouver, which is the second largest city in Canada, and also very beautiful city. It has a great night life for when you are looking to party. The rest of BC is just mountains and forest. Really beautiful. Lots of parks and wildlife and shit to look at.
+ Show Spoiler +

edit: If you go to BC you will want to stop in Wells Gray park(where that pic is from), Banff Park, and Jasper Park. All 3 are beautiful with lots of wildlife. Just driving down the highway in Jasper you can see tons of massive elk just roaming along the side of the road. They are impressive animals to look at and they are everywhere. Technically Banff and Jasper are in Alberta, buts its right on the edge of BC before you get to the shitty/ugly part of Alberta.

eXNewB

Canada291 Posts

February 21 2010 20:07 GMT

#15

I grew up in Banff Alberta, and I think you should forget about going to the east coast at all. Anywhere past Alberta is a waste of time. There is more than enough to explore in 3 weeks from just going from Vancouver to Calgary. Starting with Vancouver, that place is amazing itself. From there in, interior B.C. is filled with mountains , which means campgrounds, lakes, animals are everywhere. Plus, the mountain roads are freaking sketchy at night, so I would advise not going in the winter :D:D

Feel free to send a PM to me if you want more details, I know a lot of great places to go in B.C. and Alberta.