If you’ve visited Canada, tell me your thoughts on Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver BC

[Anonymous]

What type of person would enjoy each? Traveling with a family of 5.

As far as me, I’m a bit of a foodie who enjoys museums.

[Anonymous]

I took my young teen to Montreal for a weekend, we stayed in the historic district, went to the cathedral (which has street performers outside it), the Old Port, Biosphere, rented a paddleboat, did a boat ride. Also went to Tremblant for a day.

I've heard QC is better but we enjoyed.

[Anonymous]

I've visited all of these places however only Quebec and Montreal as an adult. I can say that you feel like you've been transported to another time in Quebec City and parts of Montreal. The food scene I think is great but beyond just enjoying trying lots of local foods, I'm not exactly a real "foodie". There's lots of interesting restaurants though most are traditionally Quebecoise food or French. I've been told that Montreal is a great foodie destination with lots of international and fusion foods. I did see that when I was last there!

I loved visiting Quebec with my kids but we are more foodie/cool architecture/history/outdoors spaces people than just food and museums. Hope that helps a little!

[Anonymous]

Only went to Toronto to visit cousins one summer, but we enjoyed it, and they pressed us to move there, pointing out that there was better weather north of the Great Lakes than immediately south of them, and that my research scientist husband would surely find work at the university there, which has a world-wide reputation. We went for a cruise on the lake and picnicked on a island, which was fun, but the beach closest to the city is full of needles, so beware. The city is pretty diverse, we ate at all kinds of fun restaurants. However the architecture is modern, not historic. I wanted to do an outside walk - edgewalk with harness - at the top of the CN Tower, but DH wimped out! The restaurant at the top rotates for 360 views of the city, and the food is pretty good.

Looking for comments on Montreal, as my son is applying to McGill!

[Anonymous]

I visited Vancouver when I was in high school and thought it was fun-very similar to Seattle, which I also visited on the same trip. At the time they were filming the X-files in Vancouver so we were on the look out for David Duchovny the entire time, haha! (It was a high school trip).

[Anonymous]

Did Tremblant several times a year for over a decade before covid, great resort town for quick ski get away. Canada has lost my tourism dollars for the foreseeable future.

[Anonymous]

Quebec City is smaller and really french is a kind of backwater way. But beautiful and historic and walkable. Plus lots of nature-ish things to do outside of town - syrup farms, waterfalls, hiking etc - that are easy to get to because the city is so small.

Montreal is a moderate sized city, has it's own cultural scene that's very different than anywhere in NA but not similar to anything in europe. It straddles the line between a regular midsized city that has typical chain stores for shopping on busy streets, but also has a distinct grungy montreal vibe that is cool to some folks (me!) but could feel low rent and off putting to others. Just for example, lots of restaurants that are converted row houses that still feel kind of grimy inside but you're getting an awesome creative gourmet meal that's not expensive. It also has interesting historical stuff, the old port, hiking on the mountain, museums, etc. Montreal does have tons of good eating......

Toronto is a typical large north american city, and has tons of city stuff to do - good shopping, restaurants, museums, sports events, festivals, etc. It's my favorite of the four, but i like being in cities.

Vancouver is a moderate sized city (probably similar to montreal) and i think really disappointing if you're looking for a cool urban city. But outdoorsy people love it because it has a lot of nature right in the city. And tons of nature stuff to jump to pretty close to the city. So don't go to vancouver for shopping or dining or sports or other "city" stuff. Go for the outdoors vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only went to Toronto to visit cousins one summer, but we enjoyed it, and they pressed us to move there, pointing out that there was better weather north of the Great Lakes than immediately south of them, and that my research scientist husband would surely find work at the university there, which has a world-wide reputation. We went for a cruise on the lake and picnicked on a island, which was fun, but the beach closest to the city is full of needles, so beware. The city is pretty diverse, we ate at all kinds of fun restaurants. However the architecture is modern, not historic. I wanted to do an outside walk - edgewalk with harness - at the top of the CN Tower, but DH wimped out! The restaurant at the top rotates for 360 views of the city, and the food is pretty good.

Looking for comments on Montreal, as my son is applying to McGill!

I went to mcgill, as did everyone in my family. McGill is an awesome school in an awesome city. Being a student at mcgill is very different than visiting Montreal for a weekend. It's just a very cool city to be young and poor in.... so much fun stuff to do.

[Anonymous]

Quebec for foodies (both Montreal and Quebec City are lovely) especially French/Québécois food and everything historical. If you can swing it, take the full day to take the train from DC to Montreal — it’s a beautiful trip.

Toronto is super diverse: all kinds of amazing food and lots of museums and music and theatre.

Vancouver feels more modern to me — great for outdoorsy people with beaches and hiking and things like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quebec City is smaller and really french is a kind of backwater way. But beautiful and historic and walkable. Plus lots of nature-ish things to do outside of town - syrup farms, waterfalls, hiking etc - that are easy to get to because the city is so small.

Montreal is a moderate sized city, has it's own cultural scene that's very different than anywhere in NA but not similar to anything in europe. It straddles the line between a regular midsized city that has typical chain stores for shopping on busy streets, but also has a distinct grungy montreal vibe that is cool to some folks (me!) but could feel low rent and off putting to others. Just for example, lots of restaurants that are converted row houses that still feel kind of grimy inside but you're getting an awesome creative gourmet meal that's not expensive. It also has interesting historical stuff, the old port, hiking on the mountain, museums, etc. Montreal does have tons of good eating......

Toronto is a typical large north american city, and has tons of city stuff to do - good shopping, restaurants, museums, sports events, festivals, etc. It's my favorite of the four, but i like being in cities.

Vancouver is a moderate sized city (probably similar to montreal) and i think really disappointing if you're looking for a cool urban city. But outdoorsy people love it because it has a lot of nature right in the city. And tons of nature stuff to jump to pretty close to the city. So don't go to vancouver for shopping or dining or sports or other "city" stuff. Go for the outdoors vibe.

I've been to all four, and this is accurate (enough.) I enjoyed all of them, for the reasons described.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quebec City is smaller and really french is a kind of backwater way. But beautiful and historic and walkable. Plus lots of nature-ish things to do outside of town - syrup farms, waterfalls, hiking etc - that are easy to get to because the city is so small.

Montreal is a moderate sized city, has it's own cultural scene that's very different than anywhere in NA but not similar to anything in europe. It straddles the line between a regular midsized city that has typical chain stores for shopping on busy streets, but also has a distinct grungy montreal vibe that is cool to some folks (me!) but could feel low rent and off putting to others. Just for example, lots of restaurants that are converted row houses that still feel kind of grimy inside but you're getting an awesome creative gourmet meal that's not expensive. It also has interesting historical stuff, the old port, hiking on the mountain, museums, etc. Montreal does have tons of good eating......

Toronto is a typical large north american city, and has tons of city stuff to do - good shopping, restaurants, museums, sports events, festivals, etc. It's my favorite of the four, but i like being in cities.

Vancouver is a moderate sized city (probably similar to montreal) and i think really disappointing if you're looking for a cool urban city. But outdoorsy people love it because it has a lot of nature right in the city. And tons of nature stuff to jump to pretty close to the city. So don't go to vancouver for shopping or dining or sports or other "city" stuff. Go for the outdoors vibe.

I've been to all four, and this is accurate (enough.) I enjoyed all of them, for the reasons described.

+1. I also agree with this assessment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did Tremblant several times a year for over a decade before covid, great resort town for quick ski get away. Canada has lost my tourism dollars for the foreseeable future.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quebec City is smaller and really french is a kind of backwater way. But beautiful and historic and walkable. Plus lots of nature-ish things to do outside of town - syrup farms, waterfalls, hiking etc - that are easy to get to because the city is so small.

Montreal is a moderate sized city, has it's own cultural scene that's very different than anywhere in NA but not similar to anything in europe. It straddles the line between a regular midsized city that has typical chain stores for shopping on busy streets, but also has a distinct grungy montreal vibe that is cool to some folks (me!) but could feel low rent and off putting to others. Just for example, lots of restaurants that are converted row houses that still feel kind of grimy inside but you're getting an awesome creative gourmet meal that's not expensive. It also has interesting historical stuff, the old port, hiking on the mountain, museums, etc. Montreal does have tons of good eating......

Toronto is a typical large north american city, and has tons of city stuff to do - good shopping, restaurants, museums, sports events, festivals, etc. It's my favorite of the four, but i like being in cities.

Vancouver is a moderate sized city (probably similar to montreal) and i think really disappointing if you're looking for a cool urban city. But outdoorsy people love it because it has a lot of nature right in the city. And tons of nature stuff to jump to pretty close to the city. So don't go to vancouver for shopping or dining or sports or other "city" stuff. Go for the outdoors vibe.

I've been to all four, and this is accurate (enough.) I enjoyed all of them, for the reasons described.

+1. I also agree with this assessment

Agree with that assessment.

But I liked them in this order due to personal preference: QC, Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto

Found QC/Montreal to be more interesting.

[Anonymous]

Foodies need to visit Vancouver, Canada! The others cannot compare.

[Anonymous]

I’ve only been to Vancouver. It has awesome options for a foodie. I had a lot of fun as a shopper — enjoying both Canadian and British stores and brands. Friends with kids absolutely loved Stanley Park. I think it would be a great travel option for most people. History buffs might want to also visit Victoria.