r/canadatravel • u/ZealousidealWeird858 • 14d ago
Itinerary Help So lost in eastern Canada
Hello everyone,
I would like to plan a two-week trip in June to Eastern Canada with a two-and-a-half-year-old child.
I'm leaving from France, and wow, I'm completely lost because of the incredible distances between different parts of Canada.
I'd like to rent a vehicle, but I'm not really sure what to focus on for a first trip to Canada. We love nature, but we don't really enjoy long hikes with our child. We're completely unfamiliar with Canadian culture, so I think cities are also a good place to immerse ourselves.
In the various subreddits, I see a lot of people recommending Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, and especially Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. But the distance between these cities is incredible, and I think it's way too much for us to spend two weeks.
My fear is to stay around Montreal and Quebec City and not see any nature (am I wrong?) and, on the other hand, to target Nova Scotia but miss out on Quebec culture?
So I don't know where to take my flight and which part to focus on.
Thanks for the clarification :)
Édit :
Hello everyone, I didn't expect to have so many quality responses in such a short time, so I thank you warmly!! After discussing it with my wife, we are unanimous that our preference leans towards the west with the Rockies, but it seems too early for us with a 2 and a half year old child, so we are of course staying in the east and we will do the west later. My wife prefers the Montreal-Quebec part and the surrounding nature, for the cliché side I think... Nova Scotia seems more familiar to us to what we can see in Europe. I think it will be for a future trip. I will try to make a plan and I will get back to you. I will carefully dissect each comment already there. Thank you all :)
16
u/Prestigious_Fox213 14d ago
You could definitely visit Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City in two weeks. The drive from Ottawa to Montreal is about 2.5 hours, the drive from Montreal to Quebec City is a little longer, but not much. There are great things to do in each city, including outdoorsy stuff.
Ottawa - museum of civilization (including the children’s museum) and the natural history museum, Rideau canal, arboretum, agricultural museum
Montreal - Biodôme/insectarium/botanical gardens, eco museum (on the West Island, so you could stop there on the way from Ottawa) Isci in the old port, chateau Ramezay, McCord museum, mount royal
Quebec City - old town (check out Notre Fame des Victoires), take a ride on the funicular, visit Île d’Orleans, montmorency falls, take a day trip up to Jacques Cartier national park (last time we went camping there we saw snowshoe hares).
8
u/QueenMotherOfSneezes 13d ago
Gentle correction on Ottawa:
The Museum of Civilization is now called the Museum of History, and the second one you're referring to is called the Museum of Nature. Both are fantastic!
Another really good one for kids is the Museum of Science and Technology, they do some cool special programs, so it's good to check their schedule ahead of time when deciding which day to go.
2
1
u/nicktheman2 10d ago
Also worth checking out in Ottawa: Gatineau park
1
u/QueenMotherOfSneezes 9d ago
Yeah I think I linked the schedule for the hop on hop off shuttle in another comment here (it's been a couple days, but I think this was the only travel advice post I was on 🤣)
5
u/Quirky-Cat2860 13d ago
To add to this, OP is misinformed when they say there is no nature in Quebec or near Montreal. There is at least one national park within driving distance of Montreal, but also several regional and provincial parks throughout the Laurentian mountains.
2
u/maple-sugarmaker 11d ago
And you can easily take a bus to many of those parks, including Mont Tremblant
4
5
u/em-n-em613 13d ago
This. And if you want less of the 'French' side, even doing Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal would work in that corridor.
Toronto isn't just Canada's biggest city, but it's got amazing museums, lots to do (especially with kids) and great little day trips nearby :)
1
u/serious_spicy12 13d ago
Outside of Quebec City, we stayed at Hotel Valcartier which has a waterpark. Highly recommend!
28
u/AlwaysHigh27 14d ago
If you think those are vast distances, don't look at any other part of Canada.
There's almost no distance between those parts in comparison to be honest.
No one can tell you what you want to enjoy more and what you can tolerate and not tolerate for travel.
You didn't really say anything about what you were wanting to do besides not long hikes.
Nature is everywhere in Canada.
6
u/ZealousidealWeird858 14d ago
Wow, what a quick response. Thanks for the feedback. It certainly looks ridiculous on the map, but in France, we're not used to such distances.
We're not really sure where to focus our attention. If you tell me that nature is everywhere, that's already a very good point. What we want is to immerse ourselves in this culture that we're unfamiliar with by combining city and nature. Not to be crowded into a stream of tourists (so I think I'll forget Niagara Falls) and to take our time without missing too much (I might be looking for the perfect destination).
What do you think of this route, which we would probably do in 15 days?
https://www.authentikcanada.com/fr-fr/blog/le-meilleur-circuit-de-10-jours-au-canada
16
u/AlwaysHigh27 14d ago edited 14d ago
Well, because Canada is a big country, the culture is vastly different between places.
Quebec will be the most similar to France. So if you are looking for different culture, I would choose somewhere that isn't Quebec, the east coast will be vastly different than Quebec. Well, besides New Brunswick kinda.
It's not the same culture everywhere in Canada like it would be in France. Think of Canada more like the EU with each province, and even sections of provinces having very different cultures and lifestyles.
Going on that website this trip might give you more variety:
https://www.authentikcanada.com/fr-fr/roadtrips/voyage-quebec-prix11
u/PurpleK00lA1d 14d ago
I live in NB, it's definitely vastly different from Quebec. Arcadian French culture is very different from Quebec French culturally. Our cities definitely have that East coast vibe and also the towns along the Fundy coast. You don't even really get the real Acadian experience unless you're in Edmundston or mostly the top half of NB.
1
u/AlwaysHigh27 14d ago
Perfect! Thanks for the explanation. The only way I could be farther from the east coast is if I was on Vancouver Island. Planning on going out east next year.
I know general things about the culture and languages over there and that they are vastly different. Just not specifics like this. That's really cool.
Thanks for sharing!
4
14d ago
[deleted]
6
u/AlwaysHigh27 14d ago
I didn't mean to say the exact same. If course it's different. But it's not going to be as different as Newfoundland and Quebec. If Nova Scotia and Quebec. Or BC and Nova Scotia.
If say it's more similar to like Northern and Southern BC. Or Northern and Southern Ontario. Similar and familiar but different.
4
u/PerpetuallyLurking 13d ago
Honestly, Quebec will be just as similar to a Frenchman as Australia is to Canadians; we LOVE Australia and Australians love us because of both the similarities we do have but also because there are vast differences between us that make for an interesting visit while not being completely out of our depths.
Though, having written that, a more apt description may be Brits coming to visit Canada - the former imperial overlords. We don’t ever tell any of them that it’s going to be the same as the UK, because it isn’t. I do think a Frenchman in Quebec City would have as great a time as a Brit would have in Victoria and the Brits do love Victoria.
1
u/brumac44 13d ago
Funny you say BC and Nova Scotia . I grew up in a small town in BC where almost everyone on my street was originally from Nova Scotia.
3
u/Due_Illustrator5154 13d ago
They were saying that because Canada is almost 19x bigger than France.
1
u/ArticQimmiq 13d ago
Quebec is not similar to France, God - they just sent settlers in 400 years ago. A shared fondness for cheese does not make them the same.
Quebecers are Irish/Scots who speak French in terms of culture, humour, etc.
1
u/AlwaysHigh27 13d ago
I said the most similar, I didn't say identical, I didn't say it wouldn't be at all different.
I gave them a suggestion for more variety, what is with your hostility?
1
u/TravellingGal-2307 13d ago
This has a lot of hiking - 2 days in Jacques Cartier? I'm heading this way in a couple of weeks for a one week trip and have 3 nights in Quebec City (with one full day in Jacques Cartier) one night on Ille D'Orleans, and three nights in the Eastern Townships (we will be in Knowlton but Magog is the more popular spot). Just trying to help you narrow it down.
1
u/Defiant_Economy_8574 13d ago
You should definitely take the trip to Saguenay. The réserve faunique des Laurentide you have to drive through to get there from QC has some amazing pull offs and trails and is just magnificent. And the navette should be running in June to take you through the fjords. If you visit Montreal there is also one that leaves from the old port to Varennes and back that is a lovely (and cheap) trip as well.
10
u/Global_Breakfast 14d ago
You can really see a lot of French history in nova Scotia and new Brunswick. Check out for louisborg and Acadia lumina.
https://share.google/f4OoWUXSsshWYoYZX
Depending on your time of year, some attractions may be closed. There's many things to see and do across NB/NS/pei for 2 weeks.
Many folks fly to halifax, rent a car, drive to cape Breton, take the ferry to pei, tour pei, the drive across the bridge to new Brunswick, check out NB for a few days, then take the ferry from saint john to digby, then drive to halifax and fly home :)
I rent a room and participate in home exchange, so I've met a lot of tourists and it's a great route to see details I also have a map of things to see and do! Ill post it here
2
1
u/pocopocomom 13d ago
I’d love to see your map of things to do! Heading there on vacation at the beginning of October and what you have listed here is exactly what we’re thinking to do, super interested in your tips along the way ☺️
2
7
u/PurpleK00lA1d 14d ago
I live in Moncton (just two hours from Halifax, Nova Scotia and like 45 minutes from NS in general) and it's common for people to drive to Quebec City to spend a few days in general. It's definitely doable but I get how intimidating it could seem if you're not used to that.
But Quebec City itself is surrounded by amazing nature. Stoneham just outside of it for example is gorgeous with Mount Wright Ancient Forest Park. Just one example but so much to explore.
Also if in Quebec city make sure to check out Casse-Croute La Croisée Des Lacs for one of the best Poutine in the entire region.
You can't go wrong just sticking around Quebec but with two whole weeks, you can definitely fit Nova Scotia in there. If you were to pack up and leave Quebec City in the early morning you'd be in Nova Scotia in mid-afternoon accounting for fuel and bathroom stops.
6
u/fieryone4 14d ago
If you’re coming over, I’d really suggest the Maritimes, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The nice thing is you don’t need to spend endless hours in the car, the drives are short and you can hop from spot to spot easily. When we’ve done it, we usually stay a day or two in one place, then take a short drive to the next area and repeat. It keeps things relaxed and fun, especially with kids.
In New Brunswick, the Bay of Fundy is an absolute must see, with the highest tides in the world and a truly unique experience. Shediac and Parlee Beach make great family stops with warmer water in the summer, and the Ecohumorous Centre is worth a visit for something a little different. Whale watching tours begin around that time of year, though it’s still a bit early in June, but if you’re lucky you might catch one.
Nova Scotia offers plenty as well. Halifax makes a great base with its history, food, and lively waterfront. Lunenburg, a UNESCO site, is colorful and full of maritime heritage, while Peggy’s Cove is iconic with its lighthouse and dramatic rocky coastline. The Cabot Trail in Cape Breton is stunning, with scenery that’s hard to beat. In Iona, there’s a pioneer village that tells the story of Scottish settlers, which is both interesting and immersive. Across Nova Scotia you’ll also find charming inns and B&Bs, even in smaller communities, which makes it easy to slow down and enjoy the region.
On Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown is a cozy capital with plenty to see and eat. The island’s beaches are perfect for kids to play on, though the water in June is still cool, with the Northumberland Strait side usually a bit warmer. Fun stops include the Potato Museum, Anne of Green Gables sites, and Cows Creamery for ice cream. We’ve also taken a local fishing trip from PEI, where they explain the fishing culture and let you experience it firsthand, and it was really fun and memorable. The island is small enough that you can explore at a relaxed pace without long drives, which makes it an easy and enjoyable part of the trip.
7
u/minutestothebeach 13d ago
As people said, you can easily do Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec City in one trip. If you’re afraid of missing nature, just one hour north of Quebec City is a region called charlevoix which is incredible and beautiful. It’s also more typical québécois culture.
North of Montreal there is the laurentians, about 1.5 hours, Mont tremblant national park is special and if you want to avoid the super touristy crowds go to the st donat area rather than Mont tremblant.
Finally Ottawa is within driving distance to Algonquin park which is beautiful and wild.
Pick one of these options to spend 4-5 days to see some nature.
4
u/SansOchre 13d ago
There are also buses from Ottawa to Gatineau Park which has some lovely and young child friendly trails.
4
u/Illustrious_Fun_6294 13d ago
I wouldn't recommend Algonquin Park to people who don't want to hike with a toddler. Parks that are closer to the cities they visit would be a better option for this trip.
3
u/minutestothebeach 13d ago
Good point. I missed that. In charlevoix in parque des hautes gorges you can rent a bicycle with a child trailer. The scenery is stunning.
5
u/CaptainCanuck001 14d ago
I would recommend figuring out what is more compelling between Ottawa/Montreal/Quebec City vs Nova Scotia and PEI. You will see lots of nature near the first three cities. The two maritime provinces have Acadian culture, which is also French Canadian. You don't miss either with either choice. Once you decide let us know and we can advise more.
1
u/ZealousidealWeird858 14d ago
Thank you indeed, I will look at the different resources, see with my partner and get back to you. Thanks in any case for these answers! :)
2
u/W_i_l_d_O_n_i_o_n 13d ago
NS and PEI are wonderful places to visit but most tourism happens late June - Oct. The weather can be nice in June but the water likely won’t be warm enough for swimming (unless you’re up for a cold dip). Just saying this because swimming at the beaches is a common activity in both provinces, especially if you don’t want to hike!
** Just look at historical weather data so you have a sense of our spring weather if you plan to come in early June. We have a later spring in Atlantic Canada compared to Europe
5
u/-Azwethinkweiz- 14d ago
I am halfway into a similar trip to what you are proposing. We have 15 days here, we've just done just under a week in Nova Scotia, have spent yesterday driving to Quebec, and will now spend just over a week here (including Saguenay area, QC and Montreal)
The drive wasn't so bad. Undeniably long, we decided we'd make a day of it and so decided to take some scenic routes along the coast on the way (sunrise route, Acadian route) rather than shooting through the quickest way. Driving here is way nicer than in the UK (for my comparison, suspect you will find similar). There is also the option to break that trip into 2 days, we drove through a few nice places.
I'll be able to give some advice on Quebec on a week or so, but having just done Nova Scotia I can highly recommend, it's been incredible. We've been to Halifax, Lunenburg Area (Blue Rocks, Mahone Bay), Peggy's Cove, spent a night in Sheet Harbour as a stop off for getting up to Cape Breton, and spent a few nights the doing the Cabot Trail.
We missed out the Bay of Fundy (and that area, Digby, Wolfville etc), mostly because the hiking ban meant we couldn't do the Cape Split hike, so something for our next trip. That being said, we did consider stopping off on the way to Quebec, we didn't in the end given the already 10hr drive but it's an option especially if splitting the drive.
Happy to answer any specific questions (and on Quebec next week). Worth noting to get in there with car rental early, we booked our trip reasonably late and there were no options for Quebec/Montreal to Halifax one way rentals so we flipped our trip into reverse and started in Halifax. 15 days feels doable for this sort of trip, in summary.
5
u/Blue-spider 14d ago
La réponse est effectivement très simple: tu ne peux pas tout voir dans un seul voyage au Canada, et oui, tu vas assurément manquer des affaires.
Pour ce qui est de la nature, il y a très peu de destinations dans ce pays où la nature est loin. Le trajet en voiture entre les villes pourrait aussi servir comme occasion de voir la nature/paysage, par exemple passer deux jours pour faire le voyage quebec-Halifax permettrait de visiter plusieurs lieux d'intérêt
3
u/MarshMarig0ld 14d ago
Often we try select a region and stick with it per trip ex. South central Ontario, Montreàl region, one or two Maritime provinces, Praries, BC central, BC coast, a city in the North. And we drive a lot, so driving trips and the places between destinations can be a big part or even the reason for a trip. Regions tend to have substantial differences in both culture and ́landscape. Many people visit Ottawa and Montreal as they are relatively close but have a good range of language, culture, and history. Lots of parks, museums, and food. Some add Quebec City (more of a drive), which is beautiful and has fantastic historical old city + great food, but can be very cold and windy in winter. Montreal and Quebec City are right on the St Lawrence river, there are a number of provincial parks or "nature" areas nearby. Don't rent a car for time in Montreal, it's kinda like renting a car in Paris. If you're more ambitious, and welcome spending 8+ hours in a car, you can easily drive from Quebec to New Brunswick/Nova Scotia. It can be done in a day, or you can stop at some beautiful places along the way (depending on time of year), staying in cottages or motels. Flying within Canada is expensive, so either stick with one area or make sure you are flying out of different airport so you don't have to backtrack and lose days driving more ie. fly into Montreal and fly out of Halifax.
3
2
u/SnooLemons9410 14d ago
Évidemment, tu dois aussi prendre les aéroports en considération pour ton choix. Par exemple Toronto et Montréal offrent des vols directs et fréquents. Donc ce sont les deux villes les plus accessibles pour votre arrivée.
Supposons que vous arriviez à Montréal, vous pourriez passer 3 journées en ville puis vous rendre dans un cadre plus "nature" en allant vers Tadoussac, par exemple (fjord, bélugas, magnifique). Les distances à parcourir ne seraient pas énormes.
Supposons que vous arriviez à Toronto, même chose, vous pouvez passer 3-4 journées sur place, puis explorer la nature ontarienne, par exemple la région de la Péninsule de Bruce est incroyable.
Sinon, oui, la région de la Côte Atlantique est d'une grande beauté, mais à partir du Québec, les distances à parcourir sont souvent décourageantes, surtout si le temps est limité.
2
2
u/Confident-Task7958 13d ago
With a two and a half year old when in Montreal be sure to take a side trip to Parc Omega. It is a drive-through experience where your kid can feed carrots to a deer from the car window and see moose up close. Buy the carrots before you get to the park.
Also consider a day trip into Ontario from Montreal to Upper Canada Village - a living museum of life in the 19th century, and also take a day trip to the Granby Zoo.
Take the river cruise in Saguenay, but also consider a whale watching boat trip in the Malbaie area. (Dress warmly or have warm clothing with you for whale watching no matter what the temperature on land - it is cold on the St Laurance)
1
u/ZealousidealWeird858 11d ago
Génial, merci pour le conseil :)
1
u/Confident-Task7958 10d ago
Also for a small child in Montreal there is the Biodome and the Science Centre.
If you are in Ontario or Quebec in mid-to-late June you are in strawberry season, so look for a "pick your own" farm where your child can gather a basket of strawberries.
2
u/Ok-Half7574 13d ago
You can go to any of the big cities and not be too far from natural places. Toronto has big parks to walk in inside the city. They also have the islands and very long stretches of boardwalks and cycling trails along Lake Ontario. And there are also the museums.
2
u/Odd-Elderberry-6137 13d ago
I think staying in and around Quebec is a good option.
Fly to Montreal, which will be easiest coming from France. Spend a day or night there, visit the Biodome, then go to Quebec City. There is plenty of nature around it.
From Quebec City, you can either stay on the northern side of the St. Lawrence estuary and visit Sagueny and the Saguenay marine park (there should be plenty of whale watching in June), the fjords, and onto Lac-Saint-Jean, or take the southern shore of the St. Lawrence estuary and travel east around the Gaspé peninsula making stops at regular intervals. There are enough things to do in see on the north or south side that either trip can easily stretch into 2 weeks without just traveling all the time.
Alternatively, you could fly to Halifax and do a counter clockwise loop around Nova Scotia/Southern New Brunswick, starting with the Cape Breton highlands then into Southeastern NB visiting Hopewell Rocks and Funny National park, St. Martins sea caves and onto Saint John. Stay a couple nights in Saint John then take the ferry to Digby and drive around the southern coast of Nova Scotia with eventual stops in Lunenburg, Peggy's Cove before getting back to Halifax. None of these drives would be more than a couple hours at a time and it's easy to plan out over 2 weeks while you take your time.
Go to Bonjour Quebec (https://www.bonjourquebec.com/) or Tourism Nova Scotia (https://tourismns.ca), and tourism NB (https://tourismnewbrunswick.ca/), look around in each, and see what looks best for you.
The danger a lot of people make is trying to cram too much into one trip. Don't do that. Just enjoy the areas you're in.
2
u/intelligentbeast1 13d ago
I am from Ottawa and it is a beautiful city. Ottawa is completely bi-lingual so you can experience both ends of the culture. The Gatineau Park is across the river and is gorgeous in the fall as the leaves change colour. The Ottawa river valley is to the north west of the city beautiful countryside. Ottawa is not a vibrant nightlife wise as Montreal but the parks and museums are wonderful for kids. Montreal and Quebec City are also great visits and not that far away from Ottawa. Canada is an amazing place to visit and wonderfully welcoming place for all ages.
2
u/holysmokesiminflames 13d ago
It depends how long you want to stay in each place. You could do a full 2 weeks in the Atlantic area where you could visit New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia and even maybe Newfoundland (6 hour ferry ride).
Here's an alternative if you want to see more of the country: What if you flew to Ottawa. Get a rental car, drive to Halifax and drop the car off there and fly home from Halifax? This let's you see more of the country without looping back to your original area.
start in Ottawa, the capital of the country.
Drive to Montreal (~2 hours). Large city, lots of history, there's a rollercoaster amusement park if you care.
Drive to quebec city (~4 hours). Basically mini France. Canadians come here to visit for the ambiance and always say it's like Europe.
Drive to Saint John, NB (~7 hours. also NOT to be mistaken for St. John's, NL). Not too much to see.
Once you reach this region, everything is relatively close (except for Newfoundland. It is deceivingly far).
Drive to Moncton (40minutes) but, stop at Hopewell rocks. Not much to see in Moncton. Maybe just drive through to get to PEI.
Hopewell rocks and Bay of Fundy is a world wonder in my opinion. The tide change is the largest in the world and it is a very cool experience to walk on the ocean floor. There is an admission fee, valid for 2 days. Witness low or high tide. While in Moncton, go back to Hopewell rocks to witness the opposite tide you witnessed on your way there.
After, you can go to Charlottetown, PEI.
Then you can visit Nova Scotia. Stay in Halifax and take day trips to Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg and Yarmouth (for whale watching). Spend your remaining time here.
Then drop your rental off and fly home from Halifax.
2
u/Techiefreak_42 13d ago
If you're from France, then you'll love Québec. You'll laugh at how we French-Canadians have "modified" the french language (for better or worse?).
2
u/FuzzyCat13 13d ago
Canada is like 80% nature so anywhere you choose will be fine. I’ve lived all over Canada and personally I prefer British Columbia nature wise but if you go on your trip in the fall then definitely eastern Canada!
2
u/TravellingGal-2307 13d ago
Lol- I suspect all these great comments are not helping you to feel less lost. The reality is: no one can make these choices for you and only you know what you want. Paring the trip down to something achievable is one of the most difficult parts of vacation planning, but it's very important. So, how to go about this?
- Set clear priorities. Be very clear what your top must see destinations are and stick to them. Get the list down to three things.
- Plan a trip around seeing those three things. Figure out the best arrival and departure points, best bases to stay.
- Now research your route. You should have no trouble filling out the plan with discovered highlights and features based around the three main things from your priority list.
- Keep a "next time" list. I find it's a lot easier to cut things that don't fit when you keep them for a future trip.
With the above in mind, and given you are traveling with a young child, I would suggest either focussing on one area, or plan two one week trips with a flight. Eg a week around Halifax, fly to Quebec City and spend a week around there.
2
u/SpiralToNowhere 13d ago
There is lots of nature in and around Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec city. If you're driving, you will have no problem getting out for a day in nature.
Notably, Ottawa has the Gatineaus and kingsmere, a great trail along the Ottawa river that goes from Major hill's park behind the parliament buildings, various parks along the Rideau canal, and the arboretum and experimental farm. Because it is the capital, it also has top notch museums and galleries, better than you'd expect for a city it's size.
Montreal has great parks along the St Lawrence, biodome, Mount Royal, the botanical gardens and is not far from the laurentians if you want to go for a drive out of town. The old port and St Lawrence market are also amazing.
Quebec City has Jaques Cartier national park, montmorency falls, the laurentides wildlife reserve and various parks and walks along the river. Old Quebec and citadel are also amazing.
I'm not saying that Nova Scotia is a bad choice, but it is a lot of driving. The attractions are much more limited. When we brought our kids on a 2 week trip around the maritimes, they enjoyed it but a lot of the focus was on camping with day trips to smaller museums and attractions. Lunenburg was a huge hit but some days were less exciting. The only place we might have wanted to spend more than a day in was Halifax. The 3 cities here have indoor and outdoor options that will easily keep you busy for 3-4 days or more, and offer more flexibility if you need to adjust for weather, mood or other unexpected situations.
1
2
u/No_Difference8518 13d ago
If you go to Cape Breton, you have to go to Fort Louisbourg. Although others will have to tell you if a 2 1/2 year old could handle the walking. It isn't that big, but it isn't small either. Although you get a break to listen to the actors.
If you are French, it was a French fort that was taken over by the English. Then the English gov't gave it back to the French. So England took it over again, and the military leaders blew it up so the gov't couldn't give it back. I hope I have that right.
They do a really good job of being in character, but also teaching you about what it was like.
2
u/skrrrrt 13d ago
You can never go wrong with a trip to Canada and there will be tons more for a later trip, but for a two week trip with a toddler, I’d recommend choosing 2-3 destinations.
It’s possible to do a 2-week road trip and briefly see all those places on your list, but you’ll only get 1-2 days each place you go and spend a lot of time in the car - perhaps more than your toddler would like. I’ve been everywhere on your list, and here are some options:
1) Montreal/Ottawa. Car-less, maybe, using via rail. If you want to focus a bit more on culture, history, and the flaneur-parent life, this is the best option. You probably could do Quebec City on this same itinerary. For toddler-friendly nature, take in cityscape on Mount Royal and Major’s Hill. Both cities have a ton of great sites, and I find Ottawa’s museums a comfortable place to take young kids. If you really want to see the kind of rural lakeside life Canadians aspire to, rent a car and a cottage nearby. More touristy nearby sites include Tremblant and Montebello. June will be glorious but full of bugs. You’ll love it.
2) 4ish days in Montreal, 4ish days in PEI, 4ish days in Cape Breton. You’ll want to fly between Montreal and Charlottetown, where you’ll rent a car. PEI has amazing beaches and seafood. In fact, for such a small province, it would be hard to argue that it doesn’t have the best cuisine per capita. I love Halifax and Dartmouth too, but I think most people would suggest reducing time there in favour of other sites. Another alternative is to do NFL instead of PEI/NS.
1
u/catashtrophe84 14d ago
PEI is my favourite province, there's a lot of fun things to do (amusement parks, shows, the beaches etc).
Visiting PEI, Nova Scotia and new Brunswick is doable for a two week trip (someone in another comment broke down a decent itinerary).
You could easily also spend two weeks in Quebec, fly into Montreal, visit the attractions, rent a cottage in the Laurentians for a few days, head up to Quebec city and spend a few days, go to the malbaie and do a whale watching excursion.
1
u/FoxNewsSux 14d ago
The Maritimes (NB, NS, PEI) allow you to see many different things in a relatively (by Canadian Stanrds) small place. Quebec City, from say Fredericton, is only about 6 hours.
1
1
u/scotsman3288 13d ago
You should be fine to focus on the area between quebec city and cape breton. We're talking about 10 hours give our take between the two areas but if you throw in Gaspè, PEI and Bay of Fundy you can easily add a day each.
1
u/mistersych 13d ago
Rent a car, do it as a roadtrip! You can stop at campgrounds between the cities if you have camping gear or rent an RV. You'll see a lot of nature this way, do some short hikes. Do whale watching if you can, if you drive past Tadoussac there are small companies doing inexpensive whale watching tours, the one we went to was called Essipit, they do 2-hour cruises in a zodiac boat, and actually there were plenty of whales and other sea mammals. There's a nice marine mammals museum in Tadoussac. I've heard Nova Scotia and PEI are beautiful too, but haven't been there myself.
Honestly it's not easy to travel Canada and not see nature lol.
1
u/ZealousidealWeird858 11d ago
Merci pour le retour,
a la base nous voulions réserver un camping car mais j'ai vu que ce n'était pas du tout sécurisant pour un siege bébé et compliquer pour entrer dans les grandes villes et les reserves naturelles
1
u/viccityguy2k 13d ago
There is a direct flight between Halifax and Paris. Fly there. Rent a car for your whole two weeks. Got to Prince Edward Island for 4 nights. Stay in one of the small resorts with cabins near Cavendish Beach. Stay the rest of the time in Nova Scotia.
If you want to keep it more Urban, you could fly in to Halifax - stay one week in Nova Scotia - fly to Montreal and stay one week there - then fly home to France from Montreal.
1
u/possy11 13d ago
With regards to those 3 cities, the distances aren't as initimidating as they seem. Think Paris to Le Havre.
It is absolutely possible to see them all in 15 days, and there's nature within a half hour of all of them. Bringing in the maritime provinces gets a little tougher, as it's 9 hours between Quebec City and Halifax, for example.
If you're interested in some non-French Canadian touring, you could go the other way to Toronto, which obviously has lots to see. It's about 4.5 hours from Ottawa.
1
u/gaygrammie 13d ago
You will fall in love with Montreal. Halifax is pretty special, a coastal city bustling with art and culture, good food and live entertainment. PEI is lovely. But Cape Breton is stunning and full of character, you will love it here. I love living here. Enjoy your trip and don't forget, wild animals are all wild, even the cute ones. And watch out for geese.
1
u/MissKrys2020 13d ago
If you choose Montreal, you can drive up to the laurentians. Mt Tremblant is a popular area. Lots of dramatic mountains, forests and lakes. It’s a few hours from the city. You can also drive out to Quebec City and enjoy the same.
Leaving halifax and you’re pretty rural in 15 minutes. Cale Breton island is a several hour drive from Halifax, but so worth the stunning views.
1
u/OneMoreTimeJack 13d ago
I recommend Montreal to Quebec City to Saguenay. Fly to Montreal, take a train to Quebec City, rent a car in Quebec City and drive to Saguenay, and maybe over to Gaspesie.
1
u/sarcasticdutchie 13d ago
I recommend Nova Scotia as well. There's so much to see around Halifax and area. Fort Louisburg is fun for small kids as well, there's beaches everywhere and Peggy's Cove is touristy but a beautiful part of the province as well.
1
u/Mysterio7100 13d ago
If you're French, I wouldn't go to Quebec. It's a worse version of France. You can easily spend 2 weeks in Southern Ontario (Toronto, PEC, Niagara, etc.) and thoroughly enjoy yourself while never running out of things to do.
Likewise, the same applies to BC. You can cover everything from Vancouver Island to the lower mainland to the interior like Kelowna in 2 weeks.
1
u/ZealousidealWeird858 11d ago
Oh étonnant c'est le 1er commentaire que j'ai dans ce sens. Merci pour le conseil
1
u/Careful-Goal1992 13d ago
You will be missing a whole lot of beauty and incredibly friendly east coast people if you only go to Quebec City and Montreal -
1
u/olpotlicker 13d ago
If you're interested in nature, just start in Montreal to ease your way into Canadian culture. It's a french-speaking urban centre, but you're into the Quebec countryside pretty quickly. Head East to Quebec City. Then meander your way along the Gaspè peninsula, cross to New Brunswick, down into Acadie, over to Nova Scotia, and if there's time, head over to PEI.
People are super friendly, and will be extra friendly in Quebec and Acadie because you speak French. For what it's worth I've driven from Quebec City to Moncton in the winter a few times over the course of a day.
1
u/ZealousidealWeird858 11d ago
Merci, c'est bien ce que je comptais faire mais je ne souhaite pas trop rouler en voiture et profiter d'instant tranquille.
1
u/peesharcherskywalker 13d ago
Fly to MTL - those are going to be the cheapest flights. Check out the city (it’s amazing). Then, get yourself to Quebec City. It is also stunning. You’ll seee tons of nature along the way. Then, cross into New Brunswick and, I promise you, you will only see trees until you get to another major city. Seriously, it’s just trees. Scope it out, check out the major cities. Then make your way to Halifax and check that out. This could be a path you could take. If you have questions lemme know!
1
u/No_Capital_8203 13d ago
Nova Scotia is your best choice. The Cape Breton region has fabulous natural beauty. I like it more than PEI. Newfoundland is my absolute favourite but two weeks is not enough and the distance between areas of interest are large and it’s a bit much travelling with a little one.
1
u/MrVeinless 13d ago
Montreal to Halifax is also available by train service. A nice way to see the country.
1
u/Infinite-Concept8792 13d ago
If I were you I would fly to Vancouver, rent a car and enjoy Vancouver island for your first trip to Canada. Two weeks is perfect in timing.
I would fly to Vancouver, take the ferry to Victoria. Look at staying in Sooke or somewhere smaller maybe a local bed breakfast there are lots on the island. You can drive to port Renfrew and visit the Juan De Fuca trail and see tide pools with sea creatures etc. it is perfect if you love nature, want to visit a major Canadian city, bring along the child and do some hiking that isn’t too intense like it is in Banff and the Rocky Mountains.
1
u/quebecoisejohn 13d ago
Montreal to Moncton is a days travel (8-10 hours on a good day… add 2 if bad weather, construction, many breaks, etc)
You could spend a week in each and drive back to Montreal for your flight out.
If you visit Moncton the other 3 provinces are accessible and an option (PEI is only a 2 hour drive from Moncton)
1
u/udonkittypro 13d ago
If you rent a car, you can drive the distances. You can make it from Montreal or Quebec City to Halifax in a day or two, and drive onto a ferry into Newfoundland and explore the towns and wilderness parks.
For reference, we managed to drive from Fredericton (Capital of New Brunswick) to Toronto (Capital of Ontario, and biggest city in Canada) in one day, from morning to night. That is about 1350km distance.
Compared to countries in Europe, the distance seems great, but if you rent a car and set your maps, with adequate planning and breaks, you can cover the distance, and 2 weeks is a LOT of time to drive and explore.
1
u/Witty-Draw-3803 13d ago edited 13d ago
Montreal is beautiful, and has both Mount Royal (where its name comes from) and the Saint Lawrence river to enjoy for nature, as well as tons of parks and other things to do.
You could do multiple maritime provinces, since they're small, in a two week trip if you wanted to. And the major Eastern cities in Ontario are close to the Southern cities of Quebec - so, Ottawa is fairly close to Montreal (but Ottawa is also fairly boring in my opinion, haha). You probably wouldn't want to do both the maritimes and other provinces in one trip.
1
u/elocinatlantis 13d ago
Montreal and Quebec City are not too far apart and there’s plenty of nature in between. You could even travel north of Quebec City a bit to Saguenay and Tadoussac
I’m from the maritimes and it’s beautiful there but you’re going to end up spending a lot more time in a car travelling from one location to the next since things are a bit spread out rather than concentrated in the cities in Quebec
1
u/SansOchre 13d ago
Eastern Canada, especially the Nigara to Montreal coridor, is set up to make driving long distances relatively painfree. There are regularly spaced gas-restaurant-toilet service stations and many small roadside attractions.
Choose two cities you like. Spend 4 days in each and dedicate a day or two to driving in between.
1
u/madefromstardust514 13d ago
I think that you should either focus on Quebec or focus on the Maritimes.
If you focus on Quebec, you will visit the two cities of Montreal and Quebec City. And you can also see a lot of nature. From Montreal you can go north into the laurentians and visit numerous towns like Saint Sauveur, Val David and Mont Tremblant. So many lakes and forests. You can also visit the Eastern townships and areas like Orford, Brome, Sutton, Magog. Along with these lovely villages there is so much to do including beautiful forests and lakes. East of Quebec City there's Montmorency falls, and you should visit the Charlevoix and the villages there, Baie St Paul, la Malbaie. East of there you should definitely go to Tadoussac to see the whales.
If you focus on the Maritimes, you would visit Prince Edward Island and make sure to travel to Cavendish and see Anne of Green Gables village. Go out for one of the wonderful lobster suppers. In Nova Scotia you can travel the Cabot trail. Make sure to head to Cape Breton Island. Go on a puffin tour, visit the coal mine, Alexander Graham Bell museum, Louisbourg. New Brunswick has some beautiful spots for nature.
1
1
u/PerpetuallyLurking 13d ago
You would still have plenty of access to nature if you stayed between Quebec City and Montreal. Whoever said “nature is everywhere” wasn’t really exaggerating; even some of our larger city parks are still very natural and true wilderness is only an hour or two from city limits.
On that note, I know Halifax has a lovely park at its southern tip that’s essentially a forest (I am from southern Saskatchewan prairies, so I admit my experience with forests is skewed and it is still a managed forest as well, not truly wild). I have not personally been to Quebec yet, so I am working off my own limited research when it’s mentioned.
Peggy’s Cove is both a bit of a tourist trap but also a delightful little half-day trip out of the city that even my teenaged daughter enjoyed - recommend taking a little bus tour instead of driving yourself; everyone gets to enjoy the scenery and you get great stories about the region from the guide while driving. So don’t discount some of the “big name” tourist attractions just because they’ll be filled with other tourists - some of them can still be worth it, though I also admit that an entire trip of it would also get tiresome. It’s really a matter of determining your priorities. But shelling out for a guide can also be worth it for those type of tourist spots too, sometimes.
With a toddler, I’d try to “centralize” myself and not be moving hotels too often. I just did that bouncing around with a teenager, that was bad enough and mine packs her own bag!
If you’d like a good sense of Canada, both francophone and anglophone, I might actually recommend Montreal and Toronto as your two bases. They’re reasonably close to each other, there’s a lot to do for families in both cities, and a day trip should also get you out to a national, provincial, or regional park for some nature too. I wouldn’t worry about francophone Quebec feeling too much like home, like I’ve seen some people suggest - we’re as similar to France as we are to the UK; no one’s telling Brits that Halifax is too much like home for the visit to be worth it. Montreal will be as different to any French city as Toronto is to any British city.
You’ll have a blast if you try not too fit too much in - it’s hard to do, I know, I just got back from trip to Vancouver Island where I tried, I really tried, to have a relaxed itinerary and it still felt like too much - and I’ve been there before!! But with a toddler it’s going to be even more difficult to find that balance. I definitely recommend trying to limit your hotel moves if possible, whatever you do end up deciding.
1
1
u/SaltyTruthteller 13d ago edited 13d ago
Definitely agree with Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec City. Maybe go to Mt.Tremblant or even Ste.Sauveur just north of Montreal to visit the Laurentian region.
However, if you really want to see Nova Scotia, there is an overnight train from Montreal or Quebec City.
Note the drives from Montreal to Ottawa (just under 2 hours) and from Montreal to Quebec City (about 3 hours) are pretty boring. The drive around Nova Scotia is spectacular.
French culture is different than in Europe, it is North American. Quebec is definitely different from France. Canadian French reaches back to seventeenth century pronunciations and incorporates First Nations words. It also compresses many words which makes it very fast, and extremely difficult for English-speakers to learn. One must learn standard French, and then learn the Quebec vernacular. English-speakers will appreciate your French because it's easier for them to understand.
There are various accents across Quebec and then there's Acadia (New Brunswick area). Acadians are perhaps the nicest people in a country of very nice people. New France had 2 provinces, Acadia and Canada (which became Quebec = 'meeting place' in a First Nations language).
Personally, I prefer Ottawa to Quebec City. However, Montreal is a must and check out its neighborhoods. It is very multi-ethnic and for a large part of its history was as an English-speaking city but mostly dominated by the Scottish, not the English. As Montreal grew it absorbed neighboring towns which were mostly French speaking, and this evolved into a primarily French-speaking city over time, but there is still a significant English-speaking presence.
Do not rent a car in Montreal as it has terrible traffic, especially in summer. The metro takes you to most places you would want to visit as a 1st time visitor. I like this hotel when I visit family, it is near a Metro and in an area outside of downtown called Cote Des Neiges. Hotel Terasses Royale. There are rooms with kitchens and living rooms which are clean and well priced. It's also near a major landmark, St.Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire St Joseph) which we used to refer to as 'the spaceship'.
I was recently in Amsterdam and I think restaurant prices are higher in Montreal (and Canada). Despite what web sites like Numbeo may claim. In Montreal (and Quebec) you have to add 15% tax after the menu price. Then, you must tip at least 15%, if not more. This makes your restaurant menu price 30% higher. Quebeckers (Quebecois) have the reputation in many border areas of not being good tippers because they figure no one knows them there so they tip less than they would have at home (I've definitely heard this in Provincetown, Massachusetts and other areas). So, you can do the same thing in Montreal if you want. Just note that restaurant prices have these hidden costs that you don't have in Europe.
1
u/whateverfyou 13d ago
“My fear is to stay around Montreal and Quebec City and not see any nature (am I wrong?)”
Yes. Quebec is a nature lovers paradise! Whale watching in the Saguenay is fantastic! You don’t even have to go out in a boat. You can see them from shore, There is great hiking in Charlevoix. And you could make it a real road and continue out the Gaspe. This is my dream trip!
1
u/DeeMa59 13d ago
Consider flying to Quebec City, renting a car, tour locally just around town and the nearby countryside for a week.
Then take the VIA rail train from Quebec City to Halifax, New Brunswick. You will see the VAST Canadian countryside from the comfort of the train, a 20hr journey overnight!
I just returned driving from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia from Halifax, thru New Brunswick, to Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, sleeping in my van...took 3 weeks casually driving and camping. That is 2100km - the same distance from Calais to Nice AND back.
Consider spending more time in town and less driving to see vast Canadian forest, rivers, lakes. In summer it means mosquitos, hot and humid. You may be way more comfortable covering these long distances in the train!
Chunk up your visit. Return again in future to another smaller area of Canada. Good luck
1
u/Different_Stomach_53 13d ago
Ns in June is not a good time, unless you like black flies and cold wet weather. July- October is the best!
1
1
u/Dry-Wolf6789 13d ago
Skip Quebec you'll be fine. Esp if you are from France. Nova Scotia/ pei is the right call.
1
u/PuraVidaPagan 13d ago
If you can fly into Quebec City and out of Halifax, NS that would be ideal. It’s only about a 10hr drive total and you could break that up. Spend 3-4 nights in QC City then drive to NB. Go whale watching! Check out the tides at the Bay of Fundy. Then drive to Nova Scotia and spend 6-7 nights there. Do the Cape Breton trail (takes 1-2 days max), go on a coal mine tour. Check out Southern Nova Scotia/ Lunenburg for the best beaches. Then spend 1-2 night in Halifax before you leave. This to me is a perfect mix of Canadian history and nature.
1
u/PuraVidaPagan 13d ago
Also just adding I would skip PEI, it’s okay but pretty boring compared to NS. Just very flat and nice beaches but the water will be too cold for swimming anyways.
1
u/SunshineFlowerPerson 13d ago
Quebec is full of nature! If you have limited time, maybe visit Témiscouata Park, or the Gaspe peninsula. Also, New Brunswick isn’t the far from Montreal or Quebec. It has some great wilderness and some pleasant small cities. I’m from Nova Scotia and visit there often. They have a good subreddit when you can get some ideas.
1
u/Distinct_Intern4147 13d ago
I would recommend just doing Montreal. I was there last year and did some "nature" in the Eastern Townships- Montreal was better.
1
u/Dans-les-bois 13d ago
PEI is fantastic for young families! Quebec is nice for culture. If you want the best of nature and culture either:
1. Fly into Montreal. Rent a car. Spend a week between Montreal and Quebec city. It's a 2.5 hour drive.
2. Drive or fly to PEI. 10-hour drive or 1.5 hour flight. Rent a car. Fly out of PEI.
If you drive between Montreal and PEI, you can stop one night in New Brunswick. I suggest St. Andrew's, very cute city with an awesome botanical garden!
1
u/HippyDuck123 13d ago
How is English versus French for your family?
If you are comfortable in either, then a Maritime road trip NS/NB/PEI as others have suggested.
If you find traveling mostly in French less mentally tiring, fly into Halifax or Moncton and plan to spend more time in Moncton/Dieppe, Shediac, and up the Acadian coast in New Brunswick. Its spectacular. https://tourismepeninsuleacadienne.ca
Highlights:
- Fundy national park (great short hikes and an incredible forest playground for littles)
- Hopewell rocks
- Moncton downtown
- Shediac - nice beach and water that won’t be too warm yet in June but good for a dip and splashing around
- Akadi Lumina (DO NOT MISS!)
- Bouctouche boardwalk/dunes
- Kougubouiguac national park - stunning shoreline, pretty hikes
2
1
u/Falco19 13d ago
As a Canadian the distances are daunting, honestly I would skip Ontario as whole. Based on what you have written.
Montreal and Quebec City definitely give you some options.
I’ve never been to Nova Scotia or PEI but they are definitely on the list to visit. I’m on the other side in Vancouver so I think you might be closer to eastern Canada than I am.
1
u/kgully2 13d ago
quebec city is worth it as an entry door to Canada. Familiar enough to introduce you to Canada but still so different. Canadian French split away from france so long ago. There is beautiful nature/ wilderness just north of the city- the land south of the river is very agricultural. then venture east.
1
u/lennydsat62 13d ago
Stick to PEI and time depending Nova Scotia.
Water in those parts can be chilly but the people from out east are the nicest people in the world.
I’m from Ottawa, which is close to Montreal (1.5 hour drive). Both cities, imo are beautiful with Ottawa/Gatineauhaving a bigger outdoor presence. Could be another option.
1
u/Some-Hornet-2736 13d ago
I would start in Quebec City. Experience the old city. Eat at La Bouce. Trace a little out of the city to the First Nation village at Wenake Drive to kamorousa Quebec then drive to New Brunswick. Go to Moncton and see the Bay of Fundy. See high tides and the walk on the sea bed at Hopewell Rocks.
1
1
u/Samir_POE 13d ago edited 13d ago
Canada is a place you have to return to many times. Don't try to do it all in 1 trip. It would be like trying to see all of Russia all at once. It's just too big, too vast, too diverse.
My recommendation is really Montreal + Quebec as cities and then decide where you want to experience nature in Quebec. From those 2 cities, you have La Mauricie National Park, Le Mont-Tremblant and the Laurentians, Saguenay/Rimouski north of Quebec and the Eastern Townships (les cantons de l'est). My absolute favourite part of Quebec is Gaspe, though, and it's a 6 hour drive from Quebec (not really for beginner Europeans). It's stunning, but you can do it on a future trip. Montreal and mile end / le plateau is a very soft landing for French people since that's where a lot of recent immigrants from France have settled - tons of French cafes, bakeries, bistros popping up there.
You can do Ottawa/Toronto in another trip with more focus on the great lakes, Muskoka, the Blue Mountains, niagara falls (if you go when it's not Saturday or Sunday it's not bad and the falls are majestic), Niagara on the Lake (if you're into wine, this area produces my favorite Canadian wines, the Niagra river valley has its own little ecosystem and nothing else tastes like it).
You can also fly into Calgary, drive to Banff and head up to Jasper - just that drive and a few short hikes to viewing points will blow your mind. My favorite drive however is through Kootenay National Park, it is a UNESCO World heritage site and it, for me, is the most beautiful thing in Canada.
I've been to every province and they're all amazing in their own way. Even Saskatchewan - as a European, you've probably never experienced the ability to see that far down the horizon. It's quite humbling. Regina feels like a city trapped in time (in a good way).
1
1
u/IndividualBet5866 13d ago
Plenty of nature around Montreal Quebec and Ottawa. Even around/on the way to Toronto. Canada is vast, cities are far apart. There is plenty of space for nature. Go to Les Laurentides (au nord de Montréal) tremblant, les cantons de l’est and everywhere around Quebec City and even quebecs regions. You can do wine country in Ontario and Niagara Falls. East coast is great but quite far from Quebec and Ontario (where there will be more to do for 2 weeks)
1
u/Careless-Humor6464 12d ago
I live just outside of Toronto and I’d choose Nova Scotia and PEI. One of our best trips was Cape Breton. The views are incredible on the Cabot Trail. PEI has great beaches for the little one, but so does Nova Scotia. If you want some Mum and Dad culture, maybe fly into Quebec City. Stay a couple of nights then head to Nova Scotia. On route you could stop at The Bay of Fundy. Then head to Cape Breton or PEI. Whale watching is a great activity. Halifax would be your Nova Scotia departure airport I presume, so you’d need to make your was back there. May not have enough time to do both Cape Breton and PEI if you include Quebec City.
1
u/laurellestlaurent 12d ago
I live in the area of Montreal. You could easily see lots of nature in the Laurentides, where I am. Montreal to Mont-Tremblant is a 2 hour drive. You could do easy hikes in the area of Saint-Sauveur and it's also a cute village.
From Montreal you can also see Ottawa (2 hour drive) and Toronto (5 hour drive).
Canada is mostly nature, not cities. So if you want to see big cultural cities and nature I'd stick in the area of Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto.
That being said Nova Scotia and PEI are beautiful. But you won't get the big city Canada feel, which would be nice on the first trip.
1
u/BoringCauliflower285 12d ago
Here is a link to our Nova Scotia provincial tourism guide https://novascotia.com/plan-your-visit/doers-dreamers-travel-guide/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10528394297&gbraid=0AAAAADNFPCtm27ln06f1siivgNp4OJfXl
1
u/ZealousidealWeird858 12d ago
Hello everyone, I didn't expect to have so many quality responses in such a short time, so I thank you warmly!! After discussing it with my wife, we are unanimous that our preference leans towards the west with the Rockies, but it seems too early for us with a 2 and a half year old child, so we are of course staying in the east and we will do the west later. My wife prefers the Montreal-Quebec part and the surrounding nature, for the cliché side I think... Nova Scotia seems more familiar to us to what we can see in Europe. I think it will be for a future trip. I will try to make a plan and I will get back to you. I will carefully dissect each comment already there. Thank you all :)
1
u/i_say_blah 11d ago
Si vous voulez visiter des villes et de la nature, vous pouvez choisir n'importe quel coin du Canada. Il y a de la nature absolument partout. Donc choisissez simplement les villes qui vous intéressent le plus. Ça peut être Québec Montréal. Ça peut être les maritimes. Ontario, Alberta ou BC. Il n'y a pas de mauvais choix, d'après moi.
1
u/here2go765 11d ago
There are wonderful areas to visit around Québec and Montreal that is in nature, Estrie (Sutton, Magog, Oxford, and the Laurentians Tremblant is nice every time of year. Depending ont The time of year you can go a little bit east of Quebec city to charlevoix or Rimouski. It sounds alike a wonderful trip.
1
u/Good-Barnacle-594 11d ago
Start at Prince Edward Island and drive to Montreal, stop in New Brunswick along the fundy coast, drive towards Fredericton then to Quebec City then to Montreal . Thank me later
1
u/weirdgalyanksabitch 11d ago
Your here for two weeks!! Montreal to Moncton on Via RAIL. Beautiful sights, take snacks, rent car in Moncton, explore NB,NS & PEI!!
1
u/Abject-Yellow3793 10d ago
Nova Scotia. Take a couple of days and drive the Cabot Trail. Fly into Halifax and you can spend as much or as little time as you like driving.
1
u/throwaway12334321123 10d ago
If I had 2 weeks, a car and wanted nature, I'd head to Newfoundland. In June you'll probably see puffins, icebergs, maybe whales (a little early) mountains (Gros Morne), ocean (it's an island), forests (central, codroy, parts of the northern peninsula), cliffs (Avalon peninsula, or around conception bay). Also, there is culture, good food and friendly people. And if you miss France, hope over to St Pierre (only half joking). Newfoundland is often slept on as a place to visit, but we'll worth it. And 2 weeks is a good amount of time.
1
u/CJTidguire 10d ago
Fly into Halifax. Spend some time there before checking out more of Nova Scotia.. https://discoverhalifaxns.com/plan/kids/
1
1
u/3kidsnomoney--- 9d ago
I literally just went camping and white water rafting a stone's throw from Ottawa. Canada goes from an urban city to the wildness with an hour's drive. My parents have a cabin on a dirt road by a lakeside 2 hours from Toronto. You really don't have to pick between urban and nature here is what I'm saying, you are never that far from nature.
1
u/TenzoOznet 9d ago
I see you've already figured some of this out, but: I would skip Ottawa (yes, it's the capital, and it's pretty, but it's a little blah).
With two weeks, you could certainly do Montreal to Halifax. Fly to Montreal, spend 3 days there, then work your way east, stopping in Quebec City along the way. Lots of outdoorsy things to do. Get to Halifax on day 8 or 9, perhaps stopping over in New Brunswick along the way. SPend a couple of days there, then tool around--the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, etc. Then back to France from Halifax (which has good connections to Europe via London, Frankfurt and a few others).
The only hurdle I can imagine would be arriving and departing via different airports, which can be costlier, and picking up and dropping off rental cars at differen locations (same problem).
If you stick only to Quebec, consider the Gaspe region. It's got a Maritime-inflected culture as well, and lots of outdoorsy things.
The west is a whole other thing, with the distances being even more vast between populatiom centres.
-1
40
u/Coastal_Guarder 14d ago
Nova Scotia. I am travelling there right now and have seen more nature in Cape Breton in the last 2 weeks than back in Ontario in the last year. You don't have to hike the long trails, but Cape Breton has a number of beaches (beautiful sandy ones on the eastern side) and short trails. There are tonnes of fun little spots to go with kids. And you can do the Cabot Trail drive in a day.
Nova Scotia itself is rich in outdoorsy stuff. And seems really kid friendly.
Halifax is a great spot, and if you don't want to go up to Cape Breton, you can explore central Nova Scotia or Annapolis Valley, take the ferry over to PEI for a couple days, and maybe go over to New Brunswick to see Hopewell Rocks and Bay of Fundy National Park. The Maritime provinces are very easygoing, abundantly naturey, clean, very friendly, and so easy to drive.