Canadian vacation

[Laredo291OH]

For the last several years we take a 2 week vacation with our kids, for next year we were thinking of heading to Canada. We are in Ohio so we would be crossing at either Detroit or Sault St. Marie. I have never traveled much in Canada, what is best from there, east or west? We were in Glacier National Park in Montana a few years ago and really liked that. We were at Acadia National Park in Maine last and liked that also. We already have passports so that's not an issue, just wondering from our resident Canadians on the forum which way would you go and what would you see?

[deadeye]

I think it would help to know what you would like to do. Each part of Canada has some beautiful area's. We live in eastern the eastern part so area's like old Quebec city and the Gaspe are nice. The Maritimes have some great parks and area's to visit. We been to western Canada and the Rockie's werer something else. From Ohio either cost is going to be a lot of driving.

[GMcKenzie]

Canada is a big country. Bigger than the US. More history in the east, more views in the west. Saskatchewan is a big wheat field

Did Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise this summer. Was nice but we kinda crapped out weather wise. Hard to take great pictures when the top 1/3 of the mountains are in the clouds. But still lots to do.

How old are the kids?

[Desert185]

I tend to like more of the mountainous, wide open spaces with less population and traffic, so western Canada is my choice. Jasper, Banff (even with it's populous beauty), Penticton, Kelowna, Smithers, Liard River hot springs, Fraser River canyon on the way south to Bellingham, WA have all been enjoyable areas with typically friendly folks. Big cities, in transit or otherwise, are usually crossed off the possibilities for us.

[theallde]

FYI .... We checked into traveling to Canada with our health carrier (SelectHealth in Utah) and discovered that they only cover "emergency room visits" and anything else you have to pay for "but" you can submit a claim for possible reimbursement.

[Laredo291OH]

Thanks for the ideas, hadn't thought about the insurance, will definitely have to check into that. My kids would be 12 and 16. We are still debating where to go, we may head to the southern US next year. We have a project of getting the kids to the lower 48 states, have a little over 1/2 of them in right now and don't have many summers left with the 16 yo.

[Canonman]

We loved Alberta Province, Banff, Jasper, Yoho etc.
Be sure to arrive at destinations early before the tour busses and you'll be much happier. If you're thinking about heading to the south west we'd be happy to help with other suggestions.

[mazboy123]

just go either direction. easy to cross over at the soo too.

make sure cellphone and car/medical insurance are all set for canada.

as for prices, assume it is at least 2 1/2 times of what you normally pay for something. breakfast for 2 can cost $30-35.

enjoy, canada is beautiful.

[Festus2]

Originally Posted by mazboy123

just go either direction. easy to cross over at the soo too.

make sure cellphone and car/medical insurance are all set for canada.

as for prices, assume it is at least 2 1/2 times of what you normally pay for something. breakfast for 2 can cost $30-35.

enjoy, canada is beautiful.

There are some things that cost considerably more in Canada such as gas, diesel, dairy products, wine, beer and spirits. Many things are only slightly more, some are at par and a few items even cheaper. Like the USA, prices vary from region to region and from province to province.

Having said that, and having spent considerable time vacationing in WA and the PNW, it would be a stretch to say that things in Canada are, on the whole, over twice as much as they are in the US. I'm not sure what items you are referring to that you might pay "at least 2 1/2 times" more in Canada. I have never experienced that much of a difference.

Also, don't forget that your dollar is worth about 25% more once you cross the border into Canada so you will save yourself some money on all the transactions you make here.

Breakfast costs? Depending upon where you eat, breakfast can cost $30 - $35 (on both sides of the border) for two but you can get a decent breakfast here for much less than that. I would say that you would be looking at $20-$25 for 2 for breakfast at most places.

[Desert185]

Do some shopping with your credit card companies to find out what their foreign transaction fees will be. Cash doesn't always return the best rate, either.

As far as cellphones, Rogers has been the Canadian provider when I've gone to Canada. I turn my cellphone off to avoid their pricey roaming charges.

[notanlines]

What ^^^^Festus said. DW and I put almost 3000 miles on the Harley in Canada this summer so I can speak with a little authority. Winnipeg to Toronto the diesel generally averaged about $3.35/gallon American and regular averaged about $3.70/gallon American. We used premium in the motorcycle and I think we were about $4.80 or so. Bring your own cigarettes if you smoke. And plan on about 30% higher on alcoholic beverages. Motels were about the same, but groceries as a whole seemed to be about 20-30% higher. And let me clue you in to one other very, very important fact. You are heading into the doughnut capital of the entire world. Tim Horton's will be your friend! Every kind imaginable, and every single town has at least one, maybe more Tim Horton's. Glazed blueberry cake doughnuts or custard filled long johns or.....well, I could go on and on. We dearly love Canada, coast to coast.

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by notanlines

What ^^^^Festus said. DW and I put almost 3000 miles on the Harley in Canada this summer so I can speak with a little authority. Winnipeg to Toronto the diesel generally averaged about $3.35/gallon American and regular averaged about $3.70/gallon American. We used premium in the motorcycle and I think we were about $4.80 or so. Bring your own cigarettes if you smoke. And plan on about 30% higher on alcoholic beverages. Motels were about the same, but groceries as a whole seemed to be about 20-30% higher. And let me clue you in to one other very, very important fact. You are heading into the doughnut capital of the entire world. Tim Horton's will be your friend! Every kind imaginable, and every single town has at least one, maybe more Tim Horton's. Glazed blueberry cake doughnuts or custard filled long johns or.....well, I could go on and on. We dearly love Canada, coast to coast.

I don't know if memorializing Canada as Timmy's being the highlight is a good thing.

My son and I rode a couple of motorcycles from Anchorage to the Lower 48 (Outside as they say in AK) in 1999. We hit the border at Beaver Creek and stopped for breakfast after spending the night in Tok. He wanted wheat bread and the options were "white and brown" bread. He asked me why they called it brown bread instead of wheat. I told him, "because you're in a foreign country." It was his first time going international. We had a great time.

I just paid $2.15 for 87 and $2.26 for diesel with a 1:1 exchange rate on a cash back credit card with no transaction fee in Nevada.

Going over the border to Kalifornia today to pick up a Hammond B3 that a friend is giving me. As a long time Jimmy Smith fan, I'm excited in spite of having to go to "a foreign country" for a couple of days.

I do miss Timmy's, though.

[Larry1013]

From my escapes to Canada over the years before I acquired a trailer, I would take PH 2 (TransCan) to Regina and then north to Saskatoon. From Saskatoon over to Edmonton and then at times to Banff and Jasper. I would then drop out of Canada near Glacier National on I 15 and head back towards Alabama across I 80 or I 90.

In and near Regina is the RMCP museum and mint that makes the Canadian coins. The Battlefords are scenic areas and then coming into Edmonton is wild life refuge and a Ukrainian settlement park. The others have describe Banff and Jasper so won't dwell there. Back in USA you can go by Crazy Horse near Mt Rushmore in South Dakota.

Lots of beautiful country out there.

[GMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by Larry1013

In and near Regina is the RMCP museum and mint that makes the Canadian coins.

Pretty sure the mint is in Winnipeg. As as a Blue Bomber fan, don't let me catch anyone mistaking Regina for Winnipeg.

[slow]

Originally Posted by GMcKenzie

Pretty sure the mint is in Winnipeg. As as a Blue Bomber fan, don't let me catch anyone mistaking Regina for Winnipeg.

It is only a 6 1/2 hour drive away!

[gearhead]

Originally Posted by Desert185

I don't know if memorializing Canada as Timmy's being the highlight is a good thing.

My son and I rode a couple of motorcycles from Anchorage to the Lower 48 (Outside as they say in AK) in 1999. We hit the border at Beaver Creek and stopped for breakfast after spending the night in Tok. He wanted wheat bread and the options were "white and brown" bread. He asked me why they called it brown bread instead of wheat. I told him, "because you're in a foreign country." It was his first time going international. We had a great time.

I just paid $2.15 for 87 and $2.26 for diesel with a 1:1 exchange rate on a cash back credit card with no transaction fee in Nevada.

Going over the border to Kalifornia today to pick up a Hammond B3 that a friend is giving me. As a long time Jimmy Smith fan, I'm excited in spite of having to go to "a foreign country" for a couple of days.

I do miss Timmy's, though.

Your friend giving you Leslie speakers with that B3?
Regardless, that's worth driving for.

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by gearhead

Your friend giving you Leslie speakers with that B3?
Regardless, that's worth driving for.

No Leslie's, and yes, worth the drive.

[gearhead]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVMQ__bqJhg

It was maybe better in about 1968 with Spencer Davis on the bass. Saw them at the old Catacombs club about where the Galleria is now.
Spencer Davis looked about 50 years old and Stevie Winwood looked about 15.

[Desert185]

A very young Paul Shaffer, too. Good stuff.

[66joej]

Originally Posted by Desert185

A very young Paul Shaffer, too. Good stuff.

Was a milkman in Thunder Bay, Ontario (Paul's home town, used to be called Port Arthur/Fort William) delivered milk to the Shaffer household back in the 60s. He was a lot younger then. Oops dating myself.