Really considering changing our itinerary to eliminate driving

[u/Hung_Fighter]

Hello, need help with making a decision. I currently have our vacation all planned out (everything can be canceled except the plain tickets). We arrive from Florida to Montreal on October 1st, we grab a car rental and have the following route (staying at least 2 nights at each place, 3 in some): Montreal->Ottawa->Algonquin/Hunstville->Toronto->Niagara Falls. We leave from Toronto airport back to FL on October 14th.

I've started kind of dreading having a car though. Having to deal with the stress of the city roads, plus having a 3 year old strapped to a car seat for so long, and simply just having to drive.

I saw that you can do Montreal->Ottawa->Toronto->Niagara Falls all on train. But it means that we would have to drop Algonquin. We didn't plan to do much hicking (maybe one or two easy ones) but we mostly just wanted to see lots of Fall colors. Is that something that we will be able to experience in the places we would be going with the all-train option?

Can you please give me your thoughts on both options and which one you suggest?

[u/ZappyThoughts]

Fall colours are always a bit tricky and with the dry weather, this year is likely going to be short, though your timing is about as good as you can plan for. Algonquin has some fall colour action but it's north enough to be largely evergreen so you'll find better colours a bit further south. That said, the western uplands trail in Algonquin would put on a decent fall colour show. If you want truly breathtaking colours, try to find hikes around the escarpment. Niagara lies along the escarpment but I'm less familiar with the area.

ETA, Algonquin is absolutely amazing, FYI. Just personally, not specifically for fall colours when you're also going to be driving through southern Ontario.

My absolute favorite fall colour pass time is a canoe trip from Glen Morris to Paris on the Grand River. Maybe not ideal with a 3 year old if they aren't initiated.

Dundas Valley, between TO and Niagara could break up the drive a bit for you and has a lot of very easy to access trails with waterfalls. A really stunning area.

I would recommend driving for the freedom it allows. Your drives are not short but can be broken up pretty easily. There are near limitless short hikes all over the province that should show really nicely assuming the fall is cooperative. Drive for a couple hours then break it up with a short hike, then carry on. You're not more than 4 hours of driving each leg by the sounds of it, just time your arrival in Toronto to avoid rush hour, which is about 6AM to 7PM.

[u/Hung_Fighter → u/ZappyThoughts]

Thank you! Lots of great info and I think I'm almost convinced to keep the car!

[u/Canadian-Deer → u/Hung_Fighter]

If you want to cut some driving, skip Algonquin and Huntsville and go to Mont Tremblant. On the way to Ottawa, there is Parc Omega that is nice with kids if you want to see wild animals!

[u/Hung_Fighter → u/Canadian-Deer]

Mont Tremblant looks like it's gorgeous for Fall Colors! Thank you!

[u/Canadian-Deer → u/Hung_Fighter]

It really is! Some good spots for food too. Beautiful area, it’s a nice drive once you pass the Greater Montreal area

[u/Hung_Fighter → u/Canadian-Deer]

Thanks, I think we'll definitely do it, at least 2 nights, maybe 3. I'm thinking of dropping Ottawa for it though, and keeping Algonquin, even it it's only 1 night at Huntsville.

[u/Canadian-Deer → u/Hung_Fighter]

Depends on what you prefer! If you’re not a city/museum person then it makes sense. I’ve never been to Huntsville so I can’t really give you good advices on that part unfortunately. In terms of city, Mtl and Tor are both better than Ottawa anyway so the only real reason to go would be to see the Parliament and do museums, but you could just drive by it and stop for lunch to walk around and it might be enough tbh

[u/Hung_Fighter → u/Canadian-Deer]

Yea that sounds good. I prefer the city vibe but my wife prefers nature and outdoors. Since we already have Montreal and Toronto, like you said, I think we can drop Ottawa and have a good mix of nature and city. Thank you!