In October I had the honor of travelling back to Canada with the luxurious Scenic Tours. As my last visit was to the West Coast this time I had the opportunity to visit the East Coast.
In 9 days our tour included 6 major cities and their attractions these included Toronto, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Montebello, Quebec City and Montreal.
Toronto Canada’s largest city stay at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel a landmark in Toronto, first opened in 1929 it was the tallest in the British Commonwealth. When you visit the CN Tower you will ascent 346m to the top, it maintains its coveted title and features in the ‘2010 Book of Guinness World Records’ as the world’s tallest tower. Visit the hockey hall of fame and even attend an ice hockey match!
Niagara Falls was an unforgettable experience! The Falls are composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island; Horseshoe Falls, the majority of which lies on the Canadian side of the boarder and the American Falls on the American side. Board the Maid of the Mist dress up in blue ponchos as this cruise takes you right below the falls to feel the spray of the falls. Niagara also has Canada’s largest observation wheel, the Niagara Sky Wheel towering 53m, allows you to observe the falls from a different perspective. Walking up town you can begin to call Niagara falls a mini Vegas, the street is filled with flashing lights, rides, bars, café’s, bowling alley, casino’s and more! The Hilton Niagara Falls is a stunning property, the apartments are huge and there is nothing better than a view of the falls from the bedroom window.
A stop at Montebello is a must and you need to explore Parc Omega, a 1500 acre park where native wildlife such as Black Bears, Buffalo, Deer, Moose, Bison, Wolfs and many more live in their natural habitat. Pile into an old school bus and hand out carrots to feed some of the animals. Montebello Fairmont Le Chateau is a unique red cedar log Fairmont on the shores of the Ottawa River, the lodge is very homey and relaxing with fireplaces centered throughout the reception.
On the way to Quebec City we stopped to sample traditional Quebecois fare at a local Sugar Shack, the delicacies of the regions Maple Syrup. Quebec is a beautiful city it’s the only walled city in North America and an important UNESCO world Heritage Listed site. Enjoy a Scenic Free Chose activity such as a horse and carriage ride it’s beautiful to sit and take in the sceneries while being guided through the streets.
In Montreal we enjoyed a local tour including viewing the Olympic Complex, St Joseph’s Oratory, views of the city from the parklands of Mt Royale and of my favorite stops on the tour visiting the exquisite Notre-Dame Basilica. This church has an imposing Gothic Revival architecture and once you walk through the doors it is just mind blowing, this is also were Celine Dion was married! The Queen Elizabeth Fairmont’s location is in perfect position to the shopping streets and even access right above the underground station.
I had a wonderful time with Scenic Tours, I had the opportunity to make some great new friends as well as learn and experience the ins and outs of the East Coast of Canada. Yes definitely the East Coast is very different to the West Coast however it is a must to go visit and experience a different side of the country!
