Nova Scotia - Cape Breton (Sydney) - seafood and Scottish heritage
Quebec - Quebec City - history - charming in winter, close to Mt. St. Anne for skiing
Ontario - Niagara-on-the-Lake (Toronto is close enough to get to the consulate when necessary) - Shaw Festival
Alberta - Banff - (Calgary is close enough to get to the consulate) - breathtaking scenery
BC - Central Vancouver Island (Qualicum Beach, Comox, Campbell River) - scenery, deep sea fishing (Victoria is close enough to get to the consulate)
Most of my suggestions require that you have a vehicle at your disposal.
I've been to Banff/ Calgary last year - it was great. Unfortunately I think I'm going to be stuck without a car though - mostly I'm going to be sitting in the consulate for an entire day or more, waiting to see someone to renew my visa.
All depends what you are looking for really. For the hustle and bustle of a big city and a pretty good nightlife, choose Toronto, for a more cultured atmoshphere and a little European flavour, take Monteral. For gorgeous scenery Vancouver or Victoria would be the place to go. Again, these are just my opinions. But you can't really go wrong with any of these choices.
Originally posted by Gordon:
Seems like a good place to ask.
I have to visit a US Consulate in Canada, and I can pretty much choose which city I go to. Given the choice, which Canadian city would you visit for a long weekend and why ?
As for visiting for a weekend, well depends on what you like. Having lived mostly in Vancouver and Victoria, I'd say you can't go wrong with either. Victoria's smaller and less hectic...
Try sitting on on a session of Parliament, though! And if you go all the way to the Island, you should probably go up to Burchart Gardens -- I didn't the one time I was there, and I've regretted it ever since.
I've been to Vancouver several times, and to Kamloops, Winnepeg, Ottawa, and Montreal once each (like 20 years ago!). As I recall, Winnepeg had a great zoo/park area, and all of them seemed cleaner and friendlier than their US counterparts. I hope to take Isaac and my dad to Vancouver next year. If I have a camera which will take a time exposure, I really want to try taking a shot of the beach near dark, with the ski run lighting up the mountain in the background.
I forgot one, Charlottetown. Celtic music abound and open mike at pretty much any pub downtown. The locals are very friendly and will direct you to their favourites.
Toronto (indoor):
1. Ontario Science Centre (accessible by public transportation (bus))
2. Royal Ontario Museum: You can walk there from the consulate partly through the university (of Toronto) if you like or at least through Queen's Park (nothing noteworthy there though).
3. Try to arrange having a beer/drink with Michael Reichmann or Charles Poynton.
4. Get high in the CN Tower (downtown and a comfortable city walk from the consulate).
Toronto (outdoor):
1. Visit the Don Valley Brickworks (nearish the subway line, but better by bike/car)
2. Edward Gardens is a little gem and fairly accessible by bus.
3. The Toronto Islands are easily accessible from downtown (by foot or subway/streetcar).
4. Not quite as accessible is Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie Spit), but it's a great birding location.
5. Hike along the Bruce Trail.
6. The Royal Botanical Gardens is excellent, but you'll need to rent a car and make time for the journey (an hour outside Toronto approximately).
7. Make time (2+ hours drive) and rent a car to visit Algonquin PP.
Alert me if you decide on being in Toronto: I'll likely be able to arrange ferrying you about by car if you wish.
Alert me if you decide on being in Toronto: I'll likely be able to arrange ferrying you about by car if you wish.
Thanks for the offer :) Not sure where/ when though, it may well be Montreal anyway. Its mostly going to be a visit to a consulate to sit around and wait for hours on end unfortunately.
I agree with Frisca - if you can visit just one city, visit Montreal. It's beautiful there (although Ottawa isn't so bad either). The food is great (in Montreal) and you can bring your own wine. And people won't let you practice French, because they're so blooming polite and everytime I try to speak in French they smile and answer in English.
Another Vancouverite here. But I might move if the Olympics don't get cancelled.
Put your stuff in storage, rent/sublet your place for mega-bucks, take a vacation. You will be able to afford a new camera or something.
I could certainly do that my General. But that wouldn't get back my tax dollars, or solve the problem of schools collapsing and hospitals closing because those tax dollars that should be spent on THEM are being spent on another highway or transit line to service a two week hobby and commercial bun-fest.
Thanks for the offer :) Not sure where/ when though, it may well be Montreal anyway. Its mostly going to be a visit to a consulate to sit around and wait for hours on end unfortunately.
Yeah, to be honest, Montréal is the better choice. I have no idea where the consulate is, but it is imperative that you find your way to Schwartz's and have some of the best smoked meat on the continent.
Old Montréal is quaint and most people tend to head over to the Notre-Dame basilica too; there's quite a bit in walking distance of the basilica. Mont Royal provides a nice walking space as well as a view of the city.
Crescent Street is a must for the nightlife. Sir Winston Churchills is a great pub and above it is a incredible Rest/Bar that serves teh most enjoyable cheese & pickles as complimentary appertizers. The oven baked pizza is quite nice as is the steak.
If your going there with just the guys, Chez Paris can not be missed. :p
