CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Niagara, Ontario
Notre Dame Basilica, Montréal, Québec
Château Frontenac, Québec City, Québec
Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario
Staff Choice:
Gosia Does Ontario & Québec
Our staff are bursting to tell you about their own favourite Archers Direct holidays. This month our Long Haul Product Co-ordinator , Gosia Toogood, shares her recent holiday experience of the beautiful Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Québec.
Gosia's Quick Guide to Canada
Renowned for its clean environment, lush forestry and rugged mountain landscapes, Canada’s people are amongst the friendliest and most outgoing in the world. Although much of this great land remains as nature intended, the areas where Canada has been built upon by man show real ingenuity and echo the passion of the people, not least the provinces of Ontario and Québec.
Signature to Canada’s style is it’s blend of Gothic European with modern North American architecture, reflective of the influx of French, British and American immigrants who have embedded their cultures on the region over the last couple of centuries. Add to this a cuisine scene that takes the best of European (mainly French) and Native America cuisine and an art culture scene to die for, and you can see why Canada attracts millions to its peaks and cities every year.
Gosia’s Sent Spinning
Upon arriving in Toronto, Ontario, the first thing that came to mind was ‘eat’, as, despite the relatively short 6 hour flight, I was craving the local delicacies that I have heard so much about from friends that had been recently. Luckily for me, within a quick taxi’s distance from the airport, a network of fine eateries serving everything from French to Italian, Chinese to Canadian cuisine opened up before my wide eyes. I came across a quaint little French restaurant with a lovely wooden beamed ceiling where I promptly began to tuck in to a salad followed by mixed seafood platter, before paying and hailing a cab to my hotel where my head quickly found the pillow. If I thought that this was the pinnacle of Ontarian cuisine, however, I would soon be happily corrected!
For the next day, hundreds of vertical metres up in the sky, I was literally sent in a spin, dining at the fabulous 360 Restaurant in the centre of the CN Towers spire. Not only did the masterful food send me into orbit, but the powerful panoramic views from this ever – turning restaurant had me feeling on top of the world; you can see for well over 10 miles in any direction!
Gosia Shops, Hops and Falls
After a few days shopping, enjoying the sights and more shopping in Toronto’s underground and over ground malls, where I picked up some great designer gear, gifts and high street bargains, I decided to head over to the second major sight I had in mind to see on my ‘must see’ mental list – the gigantic Niagara Falls.
To say that I was overwhelmed by this natural phenomenon would be as big an understatement I am ever going to make; the sheer size, power, ferocity and capacity of the Niagara Falls cannot be justifiably put into words, you literally have to see it for yourself to see what all the fuss is about.
Being the adventurous type, however, I was not simply content with standing on the bank. No, for me, I wanted to get up close and personal and, one $15 ticket later, I was on the ‘Maid of the Mist’ tour, a grand boat ride that takes you within metres of the foot of the Fall, as well as close to the naturally occurring whirlpool further down stream. Let me tell you that the crashing of thousands of gallons of water ever second may be deafening but above all it will leave you feeling empowered and at one with nature – a truly exceptional experience.Gosia Views Québec
After my final day in Ontario I headed to Québec, and more specifically, Québec City, where the sights were equally beautiful but totally contradictory to what had gone before. North Americas oldest city (founded around 400 years ago), Québec City is home to some architectural delights, the likes of which may come as a bit of a surprise to you, due to their Gothic – European style and appearance.
I have always been a fan of fascinating architecture and the likes of the Chateau Frontenac with its sun – shimmering golden spires along the St Lawrence River and the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires along the Place Royale did not disappoint. Both monuments stand out from their immediate surroundings thanks to their sheers size and intricate beauty in their craftsmanship, something that has been superbly preserved thanks to the entirety of the walled region of Québec City being declared on the UNESCO World Heritage site list years ago, quite an astonishing feat. As a result, I’m sure that aficionados of amazing architecture will, like me, fall in love with this magical fairytale – like city.
Take a wander around, however, and a vibrant, heavily French influenced cultural scene opens up in front of your very eyes, highlighted by a cuisine scene that is arguably unmatched by anything else in the world. Although many dishes are primarily French in concoction, the array of exquisite bistros, cafes and restaurants that fringe the quaint cobbled streets of Québec City are all currently dabbling in ‘New Québec’ cuisine, dishes which marry European and North American flavours intricately. Indeed, Québec City boasts some of the finest chefs not only in North America but possibly the world, reflected by the many ‘triple A’ rated restaurants that bequest the region – believe me, the delicious duck foie gras starter followed by scallops stuffed with mushrooms main that I had at the acclaimed ‘Le Saint – Amour’ restaurant was testament to their culinary expertise!
Gosia Gets Colourful
After a hearty meal, it was time to work off my lunch by taking a look around the colourful town, both in the literal sense (the roofs of the Chateau’s and shops project a virtual paint palette of colours onto the streets) and the characteristic (everyone I conversed with seemed friendly and outgoing).
All this colour got me in an artistic mode, and before long I was popping in and out of the various galleries and antique shops along the intricate network of streets, casting my eye over some truly wonderful pieces. Structures and areas that I particularly feel summarise Québec’s unique mix of European and North American cultures include the Place Royale, the ancient Nôtre Dame des Victoires church and the quintessential Petit – Champlain shopping enclave - truly picturesque.
Gosia’s Gold Medal Performance
With my time in Canada, and more specifically, Québec coming to a close, I decided to end my sightseeing venture in the Olympic City of Montreal, site of the 1976 games. Nowadays, the city is home to a beautiful Botanical Garden, which I had the pleasure of viewing straight from above in a cable – car, as well as the city as a whole. Close by the 101 – hectare Mount Royal Park sits in the centre of Montreal Island, which has been left in pristine condition. The sheer amount of flowers and species of trees and plants is a real treat for the eye; a tour de force for any wannabe landscape gardeners seeking inspiration!
Like Québec City, Montreal Island features a buzzing cosmopolitan atmosphere, captured perfectly by the multicultural environment and European style restaurants and cafes that run along the streets. Montreal is rightly proud of its superb seafood dishes – I stopped to try a mixed seafood platter and I was not disappointed – it took me a good hour to work my way through an assortment of fresh fish, scallops, mussels, prawns and various other delicacies at a local café – the chatty waitress did her best to keep me content!
After a quick lap around Montreal to pick up a few more bits and bobs to take home to loved ones, it was back to the hotel for a good nights sleep, before heading back to Toronto Airport the following day for the flight home.
All in all, I found Ontario and Québec to be friendly places with a wonderful blend of friendly cultures, superb cuisine and wonderful sights both natural and structural to see. My only regret is having to return home!
Gosia’s Conclusion
Before coming to Canada, I had reservations over how awe – inspiring some of the sights I would encounter would be. Well, I can say, hand on heart, that my expectations were surpassed; the mountains crowned with gigantic trees, themselves dusted with snow poking through the clouds, will have leave you gape – jawed. Once you find your way to the likes of Ontario and Quebec, a world of European sophistication, Native American hospitality and above all cuisine unequalled anywhere in the world to be enjoyed to a background of classic and modern architecture develops in front of you.
Heartily recommended!
Got a Question for Gosia?
If you would like to ask Gosia a question about this destination email her at gtoogood@cosmos.co.ukand she will get back to as soon as possible.
Follow in Gosia's Footsteps
Has Gosia's holiday inspired you to visit Ontario & Québec? If so use our search panel at the top of this page to find our holidays in Canada, and specifically Ontario & Québec. You'll find full holiday itineraries, availability and prices. You can even book online in four simple steps.
Click here for our previous Staff Choice article.
