Vancouver we have robin sparkles

Back to America

The eastern corridor (Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City) is great. All are in fairly close proximity to each other (Except Toronto/ Anywhere but Ottawa)

That's terrible advice.

How so?

It's a personal thing, and I'm relying on a couple of things being true to validate myself. I could be wrong and maybe that's actually not such bad advice, but I'll assume that most people interested in traveling from Canada currently reside in a city of more than 100000. Canada is a massive landmass with unique and beautiful islands, mountain ranges and some are even proud of the plains (I guess if that's your thing). I just feel that someone who takes your trip an says "I've been to Canada" is misleading whoever they're recounting to. But that's me :P. Canadian cities resemble both European and American cities of their respective ages so going to them is really nothing special, unless you simply haven't experienced a city the size of Toronto before. and the culture in such places is... Warped. I've traveled a lot over time and though I wasn't born or raised here, I've chosen to live in Ontario, Canada, and have spent years living in different cities, some of which you mentioned. Please don't think I have some kind of hate for the area, I just think that people choose to be here because it's convenient for them, not because of culture (although my sister in law lives in TO for the culture so it does happen) or beauty. Why would someone want to travel just from one melting pot city to the next? Despite living, having spent [i]years[/i] in cities like NYC, Boston, Toronto, Ottawa, Chicago, Los Angeles etc..., I could not identify any one of them from an unfamiliarity spot on the street. They're all the same shit just wrapped with a different ribbon. Architecture in Quebec City isn't unique and I wish it would stop being sold as such to sell hotel rooms. It is a neat experience if you haven't been to any actual foreign "old" city. It's still a legit thing to do in Canada I suppose though, heh. I just prefer the tight, winding roads and stone buildings found in Nova Scotia than the French' manufactured tourist destinations. I would personally recommend the tourist-friendly coasts, not that America and Europe don't have those as well, but because they're kind of like cartoony caricatures of Canadian culture (especially Newfoundland LOL) and experience as a whole aspects of life unique to Canada while also maintaining comfort and familiar things like chain restaurants. These places also have genuine markets and festivals as they have been for a long time. Toronto has these "import", though the city is gaining considerable age. More considerations such as safety and value also favor staying away from the jungle of concrete, but those things are of little matter to those traveling in luxury. Someone else could feel completely differently, and I understand that. I pity them. People who travel just to look at the same things, eat the same food and sleep in the same beds, I don't understand, and I scoff when they're the ones who are ironically ignorant. Truth be told, we're very boring here, especially in our cities. But it's comfy, and I like the people. I've lived in Thailand, Vietnam, India, etc and their cities are vastly different from place-to-place. But here, in North America, it's so cut-and dry. Yes, I've been to street fairs and festivals in Toronto, Ottawa and LA. They were a lot of fun, but those festivals are not a lifestyle. It's not an enriching experience, it's entertainment and nothing more. Unless you get to eat some good food. Food is really important, heh. If I keep rambling the whole thing will appear more of a mess than it already is. Which it is. I feel that, as a Canadian, the places you've mentioned don't represent Canada well. OK, maybe Ottawa due to it's political landscape. Parliament is pretty cool too. There are definitely upsides to exploring those regions, but I genuinely believe it to be the short end of the amazing stick that is Canada.

I can definitely agree with your points about the cities themselves not being the most interesting places, but consider what's around them : The thousand islands, absolutely spectacular. The Rideau canal (Admittedly, I don't find it that cool since I lived beside it for 17 years), Niagara falls,l. Also, in the winter, Quebec is the most beautiful city I've ever seen. There's also skiing everywhere - Bromont, St. Anne, Le Massif, etc. It all depends on what you're looking for. The east coast can be great, the west coast equally so. Areas like Banff are also amazing. It entirely depends on what someone is looking to do. Also, when were discussing Canadian culture, the eastern corridor is the heart of the hockey world.

Ye, you've made some good points too. The skiing is better in the West (I'm told), but we do have a lot of smaller hills between Ottawa and eastward. I've actually got handouts from a few on my bedside table right now :o A metric -blam!-ton, in fact. Also I was really surprised to see you mention The Thousand Islands as I currently reside in Kingston (and previously in Ganonoque), haha. Actually your post was strangely, somehow accurate and I'm weirded out LOL. You might be slightly psychic.

Hahah I've actually got a family cottage there, so I've been going there every year since I can remember. The skiing out west is far better. Places like Whistler/Blackcomb, Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, Lake Louise, Sunshine, Norquay, Big White, Fernie, and Panorama are all in a completely different class than anything east of Alberta. Not even close. They can be intimidating though, and far more expensive, and the only differences are the view (Jesus the view is beautiful), the amount of terrain, and the really steep stuff (Blackcomb glacier, whistler peak, Taynton Bowl, Whitehorn Gullies, Delirium dive, etc.), so if you're a new skier, there not much of a difference in terms of the terrain you're hitting. The stuff around Ottawa isn't bad though. I taught at Fortune for about 5 years, and places like St. Marie, Edelweiss, Cascade, and Vorlage can be great fun to ski after a day of school/work.

Oh shit yo. I used to date a guy who was CASI 3 but he had taught out west. His home was Mt Sima but he spent a long time at Whistler/Blackcomb and Big White before coming here. He circuited a lot in season, the hills you mentioned plus a few more I think. Can't remember them all. I had the thought that you two may have shared the hill at some point :o I've lived all over the world and backpacked across countries but I've never made my way further west than Toronto (North of the border, anyway). I'm a shame of a traveler. One day tho. You sound pretty inspired hahah. Mind blown. You've given me something to dream of! :D [spoiler]My cover photo on Facebook is a photo he took of one of the mountains out West but I couldn't tell you which one :/. It's pretty incredible though. Too bad I can't skii for shit LOL[/spoiler]

Alberta

Niagara Falls lol

Eh it's more American than anything. I like old town Montreal. And the southern island. They're nice people.

Stfu everyone hates quebec. Even the Quebecois hates Quebec. French people(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)