Stuff to see/do in Montreal/Toronto/Ottowa

[paudie]

Going to Canada in September. Spending 3 days in Montreal, 2 in Ottowa and the rest of the time in Toronto and the rest of Ontario.

Anybody have recommendations for things to do & see. Am going to Niagra Falls obviously.

Thanks.

[superfrank]

The Toronto Islands are a great experience. Fort York was pretty interesting. Also, the waterfront is great at night-time and the Asiatown area is pretty impressive.

The national history museum in Ottawa is great but very big. You'd want to leave the best part of a day for it.

The walk up the Mount Royal in Montreal is amazing. I think there was a Scottish-Canadian museum in Montreal that was pretty good as well.

I loved Canada and can't wait to go back one day.

[Risteard]

Well I'd love to check out some of the local musical talent coming out of Montreal.
Should be a few good rock pubs there.

[paudie]

Thanks lads.

[BleusAvantTout]

When you're out shopping always remember that the price shown against the item is always less than what you pay. Provincial tax and government tax are always added. However this is no Provincial tax in Alberta.

[brendy_éire]

Dragging this one back up -
Heading to Toronto for a few days in June, combined with a few days in Detroit.
Just wondering if people think it'd be worth the extra driving (5 hours or so) to head to Montreal? Considering it's a 4 hour drive from Toronto to Detroit aleady, the missus is somewhat unconvinced that Montreal will be worth the extra hassle.

[BonnieShels]

It's not worth the extra hassle to be honest.

Driving here takes it outta ya. And Quebecers can't drive. By the time you'd reach MTL you'd be sick of the place.

Save it for another trip and do it and Quebec City properly.

What's in Detroit?

[passinginterest]

Niagara falls is probably on your itinerary already but if not it's worth a visit. It's part Bray Seafront, part wonder of the world! The trip out on the Maid of the Mist is well worth it, didn't get to do behind the falls but I have heard that's a brilliant experience too. Didn't get to do a whole lot more touristy stuff in Toronto because it was a fairly short trip for a wedding but it's a nice city just to wander around.

[brendy_éire]

What's in Detroit?

Friends of hers. Not looking forward to that bit. She said it's the worst place she's ever been, and she's from Lisburn.

Niagara isn't on the itinerary, but suppose could have a look at it.

If I was to sack Montréal, would there be anywhere else in the Toronto/Detroit area worth visiting? Buffalo or Cleveland maybe?

[passinginterest]

Went to a big shopping centre just outside Buffalo on our trip, didn't think it was really worth it to be honest. Most of the same chain shops are pretty much everywhere over there, don't think there was much else in Buffalo to make it an attraction. My view may be slightly more negative because there was massive delays at the border crossing from Canada to US that day and it didn't help my mood.

[Closed Account 2]

Friends of hers. Not looking forward to that bit. She said it's the worst place she's ever been, and she's from Lisburn.

Niagara isn't on the itinerary, but suppose could have a look at it.

If I was to sack Montréal, would there be anywhere else in the Toronto/Detroit area worth visiting? Buffalo or Cleveland maybe?

There is a good NASA museum in Cleveland, and also the Rock & Roll hall of fame is good. It can be a bit iffy after dark in the Eastern areas of the city, but if you're coming in from Detroit it wont be anything like as rough as that.

You could take a train from Toronto to Montreal in about 4h 30 min.

[BonnieShels]

I was in Niagara in 2009. Thought it was a complete joke of a place. The wineries in the area are worth a look but you'd be better off being a tourist proper in Toronto than heading down SE Ontario.

I would do my best to check out a Jays game or some CFL while in TO.

Montreal and Ottawa would be worth the journey if you weren't going to Detroit. So how firm is that?

Any chance she can get her mates to visit you in Canada?

[SkStu]

I would have to echo Bonnie's last post. Niagara is a kip. In fact I hated TO too. A bit like NY. Preferred Hamilton to be honest.

Montreal and Quebec City are awesome, especially QC. Worth a dedicated trip.

[BonnieShels]

I was trying to low ball that one.

But kip does it more justice. Avoid.

TO is a Marmite city. You'll have a good time there and there's lots to do. But it's no coincidence I chose Ottawa either.

[passinginterest]

Ah Niagara itself is, as I said, a bit like Bray seafront, tacky as hell but kind of fun none the less. Then behind that all you have the falls, which is stunning and the boat trip to the foot of the falls is a great experience. You could pretty much avoid the tacky parts and just go and do the boat trip/behind the falls and then leave.

[brendy_éire]

Thanks for all the advice.

Played about a bit with flights and found a route flying into Montréal (2 nights), train to Ottawa (1 night), flight to Toronto (2 nights), with a flight back from Toronto-Dublin. That leaves us 3-4 days to play about with, which we'll probably spend most of in Detroit. Her friends aren't keen on meeting us somewhere nice, they've three young children.
The NASA museum looks interesting now. Would probably go to Niagara, if only because it's the touristy thing to do, but don't think I'd stay the night near it.

Will do the eastern coast of Canada at some point in the future, so can include Quebec town at that point.

[BonnieShels]

Deadly.

There's a whacking great trip there.