Canada : Best of the East

Day 1: Toronto
Upon arrival into Toronto, pick up your rental vehicle and proceed to your selected hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to explore Toronto’s diverse theatre and dining districts.

Day 2: Toronto
Today is yours to explore this fascinating city. Enjoy Toronto’s waterfront – one of North America’s largest, a scenic backdrop for many popular and entertaining attractions including Harbourfront, Ontario Place, Skydome, the CN Tower, and the Toronto Islands. Downtown Toronto offers museums and art galleries including The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) - one of the top 10 museums in the world; the Art Gallery of Ontario - Canada’s oldest art gallery and the Ontario Science Centre. Don’t miss the CN Tower (included) - the world’s tallest free standing structure.

Day 3: Toronto-Niagara Falls (130 kms)
Travel along the shores of Lake Ontario, and through the orchards and vineyards of the Niagara Peninsula, arriving at Niagara-on-the-Lake – the first capital of Upper Canada and one of the best-preserved 19th Century towns in North America. Continue along the Niagara Parkway heading towards Niagara Falls, one of the world’s natural wonders. Here you will experience the amazing thundering of the falls while riding on the Maid of the Mist (included), which takes you to the very edge of the 167-foot wall of water. For the remainder of the day visit Niagara Falls’ famous attractions such as Casino Niagara, the Butterfly Conservatory, filled with over 40 different rare butterfly species, and the Skylon Tower, which overlooks the falls from 775 feet above.

Day 4: Niagara Falls-Algonquin Provincial Park (375 kms)
Today’s drive takes you north, past Toronto and into Ontario’s “cottage country” bound for Algonquin Provincial Park. Take a detour en-route to in order to see such highlights such as Marie Among the Hurons near Midland, a historic site depicting a 17th century fortress and headquarters for the French Jesuit mission to the Huron nation and Ontario’s first European community (not included) or the Muskokas Lake region which makes for a very scenic drive. Famed for its 1,600 fresh water lakes and striking granite outcroppings, Muskoka has been a celebrated vacation retreat since the 19th century. Finish your day in Algonquin Park – and enjoy the serenity of the Canadian wilderness.

Day 5: Algonquin Provincial Park
Enjoy hiking, observing wildlife, canoeing (canoes are available at the lodge at no extra charge). A visit to the Algonquin logging museum and the visitor centre are highly recommended.

Day 6: Algonquin Provincial Park-Ottawa (422 kms)
In the morning enjoy the park before departing for the nation’s capital, Ottawa.

Day 7: Ottawa
In the heart of Ottawa, rising dramatically from a bluff overlooking the Ottawa River, are the Parliament Buildings. These house the National Assembly and serve as the symbol of the capital, and are the focal point of a city that has become a fascinating blend of English and French, historic and modern, ceremonial and casual. Many of the city’s attractions are within sight of Parliament Hill. Some of the attractions you may wish to visit include Confederation Square, the site of the National War Memorial; the National Arts Centre; Sparks Street Mall and the By Ward Market, a popular area of cafés, craft shops, farmers’ market stalls and nightclubs. A short distance from downtown are the Ottawa Locks of the Rideau Canal. Another must-see, is the Canadian Museum of Civilization, located directly across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill showing the rich culture and history that is Canada (admission included).

Day 8: Ottawa-Mont Tremblant (153 kms)
Today head north east to the jewel of the Laurentians, Mont Tremblant, a European styled all season resort village. Should you have missed the wildlife in the Algonquin Park, we encourage you to visit the Omega park, in Montebello (on the way to Mont Tremblant) which features endemic wildlife, or join a black bear observation tour in the Kenauk reserve, also nearby Montebello. Take some time to enjoy local activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking, horse riding, whitewater rafting, or a helicopter tour. This four-season resort has much to offer the weary traveller, including a number of spas if you care to indulge

Day 9: Mont Tremblant-Quebec City (368 kms)
Enjoy the pleasant scenery as you travel from Mont Tremblant to historic Trois Rivieres for a lunch stop and drive along the Chemin du Roy road to Quebec City.

Day 10: Quebec City
Experience the old world charm of Vieux Quebec with a guided tour of the old city on foot (included). With its cobblestone streets, fortified city wall (one of a kind in North America), and seventeenth century architecture, this UNESCO World Heritage site is complimented by artisan shops, cafes, landscaped parks, and numerous monuments. Take a stroll on the Plains of Abraham and visit the historic Chateau Frontenac. Visit one or more of the great local museums (not included) or simply enjoy the city sights at your own pace!

Day 11: Quebec City-Montreal (252 kms)
Following the St. Lawrence River, pass from city suburbs to the rural landscapes of forests and rich pastures, dotted with tiny villages that extend to Montreal. In Drummondville you may wish to visit the village Quebecois d’Antan (a faithful reconstruction of a French colonial village).

Day 12: Montreal
Discover hundreds of places of interest in Montreal including the Notre Dame Basilica - one of the masterpieces of religious architecture in North America located in Old Montreal, residential and financial districts, French Quarter, outside view of Olympic Site, McGill University and a panoramic view from an observation point on top of Mt. Royal. Montreal offers a fascinating mix of both the French and English cultures. Some of the finest shopping and dining in North America awaits you. You may wish to join a walking or biking tour of the city or a sightseeing cruise (not included) or explore the city at your own pace.

Day 13: Montreal-Kingston (288 kms)
Travel south to the city of Kingston. On the way enjoy the visit of Upper Canada Village (included), located in Morrisburg, an 1860s reconstructed village. You’ll meet loads of friendly folk from the past as you visit over 40 heritage buildings including mills, trades shops, farms, churches, homes, factories and even a one-room schoolhouse. Before reaching Kingston, stop at Gananoque to join an hour cruise of the 1000 islands (included). Affectionately known as ‘limestone’, Kingston is a city noted for its handsome 19th century limestone architecture. Once the capital of Canada (1841 to 1843), Kingston is located at the point where Lake Ontario flows into the St. Lawrence River, and at the southern end of the Rideau Canal. Visit the Kingston Mills Lock station, which is the southern entrance to the Rideau Canal system, where visitors can view the four locks raising boats fourteen metres.

Day 14: Kingston-Toronto (265 kms)
Take the time to visit Fort Henry National Historic Site (admission not included) near Kingston. The flash of scarlet uniforms, the beating of the drums and the sudden crack of musket fire echoing off the limestone battlements send visitors reeling back in time. A living museum of military life, Fort Henry was built between 1832 and 1834 to repel an American invasion that never came. The fort, once the largest military establishment in Upper Canada, now offers visitors a glimpse of the soldier’s life of those days, through guided tours, soldier’s parades and drills. The highlight and most colourful feature is the internationally renowned Fort Henry Guard: a precision trained unit of Canadian university students performing daily 19th century infantry drills. Stop in the city of Peterborough, which boasts the worlds highest lift locks, literally lifting pleasure crafts, along with the water they float in, 20 metres (65 feet) straight up. Visit the Peterborough Lift Lock Visitor Centre (admission not included), and view the world’s highest hydraulic lift lock, and slides and films about the Trent-Severn Waterway. You will also see a working model, and experience the sights and sounds of Lift Lock construction at the turn of the century.

Day 15: Toronto
Your tour concludes today upon checkout at your hotel.