Ontario and Québec Holidays Coach Tours & Travel
Two of Canada’s most picturesque and spectacular provinces, Ontario and Québec are shining examples of natural beauty balanced perfectly with outstanding architecture.
From the tallest free – standing tower in the world, the CN tower, to the powerful, rushing Niagara Falls, to the natural beauty of the varied flora and fauna of Mount Royal Park to the religiously significant Notre-Dame Basilica, stunning Ontario and Québec with their rich European heritage and welcoming North American hospitality make for an enchanting vacation that summarises all that is great about Canada.
View all our holidays to Ontario and Québec
Ontario and Québec Holidays - Local History
Ontario History
After the Civil war of 1812, Ontario, like the rest of the Upper Canada region, saw dramatic changes to its political and economical landscape. The single largest change to the area was the migration of many people to the area who were brought in to help rebuild the shattered land.
Come the 1890’s the march of Industrialisation was in full flow, and Western Canada began to harness its natural resources to maximum effect. Ontarians lives were changed forever by the introduction of electricity generated by the nearby Niagara Falls via vast hydroelectric plants, whilst the tapping of northern Ontario’s forests and mines for furniture building materials and fuel, produced at a great speed thanks to the influx of foreigners, saw Ontario’s economy grow at a rapid rate.
During World War I, Ontario aided the Allies effort considerably, keeping its factories open to produce vehicles and weaponry, whilst also providing many soldiers for the war effort.
After the Second World War, Canada, and in particular Ontario, saw widespread changes in lifestyle; the first television signals went on air in 1952; the first indoor shopping malls were built and public transport was forever changed by the introduction of the Subway.
Fast – forward to modern day Ontario and we see a province still full of enterprise and modernity; take a look around and we are sure you will agree that Ontario has a whole lot to offer!
Québec History
Arriving on an expedition arranged by Francis I, King of France, Jacques Cartier was the first European explorer to arrive in the area now known as Gaspé in 1534, immediately taking control of vast swathes of land previously presided over by native Amerindians and the Inuit.
Over 70 years later in 1608, Samuel de Champlain became the first European to set foot in the neighbouring area of Kébec as it was known by the native aborigines at the time, later to be named Québec. It wasn’t until 1642 that Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve founded a Catholic mission named Ville-Marie that would by the end of the 18 th century be named Montréal.
Québec’s vastly multicultural complexion is due to many years of French, English, Irish and Scottish immigrants settling in the area, mainly due to pivotal wars such as the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759.
Although the area is home to many English speaking people, it has a wonderful sense of individuality from the rest of America; in 2 consecutive referendums, the majority of residents voted in favour of remaining independent of the British sovereignty that rules the rest of Canada, and at the same time keeping French as the dominant language.
Modern Québec is a wonderful blend of European and American culture and traditions, with many sites of historical interest to be seen alongside plush modern shopping centres and natural delights.
Ontario and Québec Holidays - Where are Ontario and Québec?
Ontario and Québec are both provinces of Canada, North America. Ontario is home to some 12.5 million Ontarians, whilst Québec has a population of just over 7.5 million Québecers.
Ontario and Québec Holidays - Attractions
CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario
CN Tower - The World's Tallest Building and Wonder of the Modern World is the gateway to Toronto's entertainment district. Canada's most celebrated architectural triumph boasts attractions, shopping, and award-winning and casual dining. As well, the CN Tower offers the world's most spectacular views. The 58 second, high speed elevator ride to the top will thrill even the faint of heart. Glass fronted elevators give you a breath-taking view the whole way up. Test your nerve on the spell-binding glass floor for a 1,122' view straight down! Then take a trip to Sky Pod, the world's highest observatory at 1,465'. Experience our interactive kiosks, motion simulator rides, and Edge Arcade. 360 Restaurant offers fine cuisine, impeccable service and an internationally recognized wine cellar of nearly 500 choice labels. Add the spectacular view and you have a restaurant like no other!
Niagara Falls, Niagara, Ontario
One of the most potent symbols of the power of nature in the world, the Niagara Falls is a truly astonishing sight that has to be seen to be believed.
Just standing to the Falls will give you goosebumps; the sheer thought and sight of all that roaring raw energy is astounding – standing close to the edge feels death – defying in itself.
Furthermore, not only do you have the chance to walk along the banks of this phenomenon, but there is also the chance to walk behind it, where the Falls come away from the cliff face – a truly surreal experience! Another spectacular way to witness the Falls is the Whirlpool Aero Car, which, even after 90 years of operation and a few upgrades, still allows hundreds of thousands of visitors to view the Falls from hundreds of metres above, glimpsing a spectacular panorama. Meanwhile, the ‘Maid of the Mist’, in operation since 1846, is a wonderful diesel-engined powered boat tour feature that takes visitors to the base of the American Falls and then on to the basin of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, both of which make for breathtaking experiences.
Ottawa, Ontario
The Capital City of Canada, Ottawa is alive with culture and exquisite architecture. The city has 26 museums, including the Canadian Museum of Civilisation, the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian War Museum.
Located on Sussex Drive, Rideau Hall is considered by most to be the symbolic home of all Canadians. An elegant piece of architecture, this national treasure, constructed in the mid 19 th century, will take you a long time to explore – its 79 acres are covered in a wide range of different activities for the public to take part in; garden parties, art exhibitions, open air concerts and even ice skating rinks are often on the agenda at this splendid manor.
A permanent reminder of Canada’s British colonial past, Parliament Hill commandingly overlooks the Ottawa River; the 3 blocks that comprise to form the entire structure in its Gothic Revival and Victorian Neo – Gothic Style really emitting a sense of power and purpose. Inside and out, paintings and carvings dictating British rule yet reflecting European influences are on show to the public – a wonderful exhibition that we heartily recommend you view.
The Rideau Canal is a key focal point for much activity all year round. In the summer months you can cycle along its banks or take a cruise through the cityscape. In the winter is freezes over becoming the longest skating rink in the world!
Québec City, Québec
The oldest city North America at almost 400 years of age, Qu é bec City lies along St Lawrence River on the banks of Cap Diamant, and is crowned by the presence of the magnificent Château Frontenac, its towering golden - brown turrets overseeing the entire region. A unique sight, it is the only walled city in North America, and the various individual attractions contained within have seen the entire city declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Influenced highly by the European settlers of yesteryear, the region is littered with quaint boutiques, galleries, bistros and bars along its cobbled streets, many of which are housed in authentic 17 th century structures. Look out in particular for the ‘ Le Petit Champlain’, the first commercial shopping street in North America, where tradition is upheld and local Québecers sell arts and crafts to discerning buyers.
Religious iconography aplenty can be viewed at the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires along Place Royale, the oldest stone church in North America built in 1688, complete with intricate stonework, towering ceilings and lavish paintings. If you would like to get in touch with nature, take a stroll along The Plains of Abraham, a park on the banks of the St Lawrence that simply bustles with indigenous wildlife and compliments the glistening St. Lawrence River effortlessly. Indeed, it is hard to believe that just a few centuries ago, this idyllic haven was the site of many a battle between the British and French armies.
Further spectacular sights of the city include the powerful Montmorency Falls towards the outskirts of Québec City, whilst the exclusive Iles d’Orleans, an island sitting in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, famous for its traditional villages and parishes, will give you a real insight into the way of life in the colonial era.
A further advantage to the beautiful city of Québec is its close locality to impressive Maritime scenery to the East in the St Lawrence river of the Charlevoix and Tadoussac regions, where it is possible to indulge in the rare treat of whale – watching. The oldest trading post in Canada, the area is revered by marine biologists and casual onlookers alike, its plethora of sealife such as blue whales, seals, dolphins, minke, beluga and humpback whales gaining it special mention from the Whale and Dolphin Society.
Throw in a host of activities such as hiking, cycling, jetboating and daredevil ziplining and you have yourself a city full of life and adventure just waiting to be challenged!
Montreal, Québec
At over 360 years of age, Montreal is one of the oldest European settlements in North America, a fact that has seen the city evolve beautifully into a city crossed with European and American Culture, evident in the lively art, culture and music scenes as well as the myriad of fine dining establishments and modern bars that are the signature of this cosmopolitan city.
Signature attractions of this sparkling city include the Olympic Park with its grand Biodome, a specially constructed enclosure that scientifically mimics the 4 ecosystems of the Americas, including authentic flora and fauna and climate simulation. Close by, the inclined Olympic Tower, like its neighbour built in for the 1976 Olympic games, offers an astounding panoramic view of the city from its observatory, reachable by glassed – in cable car. Down below you will be able to make out the Botanical Gardens, the 2nd largest in the world with thousands of plants celebrating natural beauty from all over the globe.
In keeping with the appreciation of natural beauty, the 101-hectare Mount Royal Park is quite simply the most spectacular in all of Montreal. Situated on the side of a mountain in the midst of Montreal Island, this grand utopia has been preserved intimately since 1876, meaning that the areas fascinating flora and fauna has remained intact, overlooking intimate Chalets along Beaver Lake.
As well as being home to Mount Royal Park, another peak of the mountain is occupied by the University of Montreal as well as the imposing dome of St. Joseph’s Oratory on the far side of the cemeteries.
Worked on in various stages throughout the mid 19 th century, the Notre-Dame Basilica is a wonderful homage to Neo – Gothic Architecture, and is indeed one of the first major structures to be designed in such a fashion in North America.
The entire building is rigid and rectangular in shape, with features including a two towers either side of the main hall, one housing a 10,000 – kg bell and the other a magnificent ten – bell carillon.
Inside, spectacular rose – windows and intricate paintings add a distinctive European feel to procedures, whilst wooden buttresses surmounted by pinnacles and a centrepiece grand 19 th-century organ give this grand Catholic Church a powerful yet classical conclusion.
Ontario and Québec Holidays – Shopping
Ontario Shopping
Ontario is a shopaholics heaven! With Toronto and Ottawa offering fabulous city shopping and the province’s malls creating a fashion landscape to explore and enjoy!
Toronto is a shopping mecca with tens of thousands of stores, 27 km of underground shopping pathways and everything from top designers to one-off vintage pieces.
Look out for Canadian brands such as Roots, Aldo shoes and Lululemon yoga wear in the famous Eaton Centre and for top names like Gucci, Prada and Hugo Boss on Bloor Street. Head to Queen Street West for eclectic and one off fashion tastes created by local designers or trawl the delights of department stores The Bay and Holt Renfrew.
Stock up on high street favourites from Banana Republic, Nine West and United colours of Benetton. And the great thing about Toronto is that it is a very walkable city and with a great transport system should your feet tire after a day out shopping!
Malls offer shopping delights beyond the city centre. Square One in Mississauga has over 360 stores and the huge malls at Erin Mills, Yorkdale and Vaughn Mills all boast brand names and bargains galore!
Another fine place to shop is Niagara. Its 3 main malls, Pen Centre in St. Catharines, Niagara Square in Niagara Falls, and the Seaway Mall in Welland, all sell a multitude of high quality goods at reasonable prices, whilst at the same time, quaint boutiques offer something different nearby.
If you’re a fan of the ‘all under one roof’ shopping mall experience, then you will love Ottawa; the region is home to 70 large shopping centres, including the tremendous downtown Rideau Centre, the Bayshore Shopping Centre to the west, and Place d'Orleans and the St. Laurent Shopping Centre to the east, all of which cater for the discerning patrons every qualm. Like other areas, though, Ottawa is not completely divorced from its European roots – many small specialist boutiques still exist to give that personal touch should you desire it.
Québec Shopping
As you would expect from a region with strong European influences and a truly cosmopolitan complexion, Québec offers a range of products available to its visitors that you would not necessarily expect to see elsewhere in North America.
Quite quaintly, Québec’s shopping experience consists of an even blend of stylish boutiques and old fashioned colonial style building mixed with modern day shopping malls, all with one thing in common; an emphasis on providing the very best products to its visitors. Warm and friendly, store attendants will do their best to make sure you get exactly what you want, be it one – of – a – kind designer goods, rural artwork, antique furniture or even stunning jewellery.
Nice individual objects that make intriguing souvenirs include glassware, ceramics, wood - carvings and, uniquely, specialist food products such as indigenous maple syrup and berry – based liquors.
Specifically in Montreal, the grand Ste-Catherine Street is home to the highest concentration of stores in Canada, and as such, virtually anything you can think of can be purchased here, so if you consider yourself to be a shopaholic, this is the place to start! If, however, you are looking for a more authentic affair St Denis and St Lawrence streets are home to a multitude of ethnically diverse shops, restaurants and bars, selling products, food and drink from all corners of the world and really bring home Québec’s multicultural makeup.
Ontario and Québec Holidays – Cuisine
Ontario Cuisine
Famed for its exquisite fresh fish and wine scene, Ontario offers only the very best cuisine to its customers. One place this fact is particularly well illustrated in is St Lawrence’s Market in Toronto. Home to over 50 specialist fishermen all with their unique seafood hauls fished fresh from Hudson Bay and even the Atlantic Ocean, the fish market is not only the place to buy the best fish in Canada, but it is also a buzzing social scene where bantering and bartering add to a lively atmosphere. Toronto boasts over 7,000 restaurants with cuisines from all over the world – Russian, Greek, Chinese, Moroccan, Vietnamese or Ethiopian. Top chefs create fusion dishes at the city’s trendy restaurants and the Canadian favourite of steak and lobster is at its best here.
If you wish to indulge in a tipple or two of Ontarian wine, the provinces multiple restaurants, all with their distinct cultural influences, will happily oblige. With over 50 wineries in the Niagara region alone, there are many award winning wine to choose from.
One such establishment that perfectly joins sublime seafood with indigenous wines is ‘The Fish Market’ Restaurant (Byward Market, Ottawa, Ontario). Highly commended and awarded (many Ontarian restaurants carry triple A certification standard), this fine eatery can rightfully boast a seafood menu like no other; lobster, fresh fish, shrimp, crab, mussels, oysters and scallops are just some of the delights to be savoured with a glass of regional vintage wine or a classic cocktail – truly indulgent!
Québec Cuisine
Offering some of the most celebrated dishes in the whole of North America, Québec’s modern day cuisine is worthy of the French who emigrated here some 400 years ago.
Indeed, Québec’s love affair with fine food is reflected in the vast amount of restaurants available throughout; Montreal alone is home to well over 5,000!
As well as classic French and European dishes, set in elegant continental style restaurants and “Bring your own wine” bistros, Québec is home to some more casual affairs; coffee is served in pavement bars, sushi in trendy oriental establishments, tapas in Spanish lounges and American dishes in laid – back jazz cafes.
In terms of North American specialty dishes, look out for Poutine, a unique blend of chips, gravy, and cheese, a healthy dish of pot-en-pot (fish or seafood bedded with potatoes baked in a crust), Tourtière (layered meat pie), cretons (pork paté), sugar pie and buckwheat cakes. Each region also has delicacies such as magret de canard (duck cutlet), white fish caviar from the Abitibi region, mouth watering cheeses produced in Charlevoix and juicy shrimp, lobster snow crab and scallops from the Gaspésie.
Finally, if there is one foodstuff you should savour and if possible bring home, it is the world famous maple syrup. Created from Québec’s maple trees, this delicious flavouring topping is used in many an authentic Québecer and indeed Canadian dish, most notably scrumptious pancakes!
Ontario and Québec Holidays - Weather
Ontario Annual Weather
Low Temperature average of 30 °F in January, 87 °F in July/August precipitation (rainfall and snow) averages 1 inch per month
Québec Annual Weather
Québec enjoys mainly a humid continental climate in the hotter parts of the year (June through to August/September), although there are 4 very distinct seasons. Lowest temperatures are in January, when it can hit as low as –18 °F in mountainous areas in January, with a vast amount of snow falling, whilst highest temperatures occur in July, when highs can hit 79 °F in some low – lying areas.
Archers Direct Holidays
Archers Direct offer a huge range of great holidays including touring holidays (coach holidays), cruises, beach & resort holidays, river cruises, short breaks, multi centre holidays & twin centre holidays, special interest holidays, rail holidays, & safaris.
We offer year round holiday travel so we have hundreds of holiday ideas for summer holidays, winter holidays, Christmas holidays & Xmas holidays, New Year holidays, half term holidays, Easter holidays, school holidays and bank holidays (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November & December).
We fly via Chicago to Toronto either direct or via the following UK airports: Heathrow Airport, Manchester Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport, Teeside Airport, Glasgow Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Aberdeen Airport, Inverness Airport and Belfast Airport.
Booking direct holidays with Archers Direct means you don’t pay travel agent's commission, which is great news if you’re searching for cheap holidays, bargain holidays, last minute holidays, holiday deals, discount holidays, package holidays & budget holidays. We offer great deals on trips for single travellers and groups and we are we are members of ABTA & ATOL.
