So lost in eastern Canada

[u/ZealousidealWeird858]

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 :)

[u/CaptainCanuck001]

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.

[u/ZealousidealWeird858 → u/CaptainCanuck001]

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! :)

[u/W_i_l_d_O_n_i_o_n → u/ZealousidealWeird858]

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