I'd like to take a trip to Canada....

[royalfan5]

Next spring/early summer. I'm leaning towards Toronto, Montreal, or Calgary right now. Do any of y'all have some useful guidance? My interests in the trip would be mostly exploring cultural landmarks of sorts. I would probably try to catch a CFL game or something too.

 

[Canadave]

Personally, I'd say that Montreal and Toronto are the more interesting cities. They kind of represent modern Canada well between them (Toronto being extremely multicultural and bustling, with Montreal being very French and cultural), and it's entirely possible to visit both in one trip (with a visit to Ottawa in between, if you please) since they're relatively close. And there's tons of stuff to see and do in both cities.

Calgary I've only been to a couple of times, and it's not terrible by any stretch, there's just not a lot there. The Rockies are relatively close, and they're unquestionably gorgeous, but I remember finding that there wasn't much to do in the city itself.

Oh, and if you want to catch a football game, you can't beat the experience in Montreal. See the CFL thread over in Sports and Fitness for some pictures I took at a game there, I think they're on maybe the second-last page.

 

[Colonel Green]

My advice? Don't go to Calgary if you're interested in "cultural landmarks". Seriously. I would normally take this opportunity to bash Toronto, but in order to better emphasize my "DON'T GO TO CALGARY" position, I will decline. Also, please don't think for a second that my opposition to a Calgary trip is in any way political. Calgary is just a really boring place.

I would suggest Vancouver, but if you only have time to visit one major city and you're not super into the outdoors (in which case BC would definitely be the way to go), go to Montreal.

 

[sojourner]

Banff and the Canadian Rockies. Not so much for cultural landmarks, but the scenery is to die for.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I wouldn't mind visiting Rogers Centre to see some Blue Jays games. (Normally I hate multipurpose stadiums, but they managed to do it RIGHT! )

Also, I understand that the Corner Gas sets are still standing. Although, royalfan, you did not actually mention if you were considering rural Saskatchewan.

 

[Colonel Green]

I wouldn't mind visiting Rogers Centre to see some Jays games. (Normally I hate multipurpose stadiums but they managed to do it RIGHT!

SHOCKER

 

[Canadave]

My advice? Don't go to Calgary if you're interested in "cultural landmarks". Seriously. I would normally take this opportunity to bash Toronto, but in order to better emphasize my "DON'T GO TO CALGARY" position, I will decline. Also, please don't think for a second that my opposition to a Calgary trip is in any way political. Calgary is just a really boring place.

List of things I love about Calgary

1. It's close to the mountains.
2. It's not Edmonton.

Fin.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

SHOCKER

Why shocker?

Also: My parents once took a train trip across Canada and they freaking LOVED it. I would like to try that as well.

 

[royalfan5]

I wouldn't mind visiting Rogers Centre to see some Blue Jays games. (Normally I hate multipurpose stadiums, but they managed to do it RIGHT! )

Also, I understand that the Corner Gas sets are still standing. Although, royalfan, you did not actually mention if you were considering rural Saskatchewan.

If I were to go to Calgary, I might swing out that way, as one branch of my family settled out there. After coming over from Germany, my family farmed in Ontario for awhile, then half moved to Saskatchewan, and half to Nebraska. For a long time, my ancestors would go up to Saskatchewan to help with wheat harvest after it was done in Nebraska. This led to my Great Grandfather being robbed at knifepoint in Winnipeg. My interest in Calgary has a lot to due with the agricultural heritage of the area.

 

[Colonel Green]

SHOCKER

Why shocker?

And now you're being deliberately obtuse! Will the surprises NEVER END?!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

royalfan, DO visit the Corner Gas sets if you find yourself in Saskatchewan. (The series was set in the fictional 'Dog River' but filmed in Rouleau)

And while you're at it, watch the show.

Colonel: I'm not deliberately obtuse, just taking everything seriously. You should know that.

I was truthful, though. Normally I hate 'cookie cutters' with the fire of a thousand suns, but Rogers Centre is not a cookie cutter. It has style, and is not a cheap piece of crap like the other CCers were. (Besides, Canadians are probably just grateful that RC isn't Exhibition Stadium, so they're probably in no hurry to replace it. )

Oh, royalfan, speaking of RC: I understand they accept US dollars there as well as Canadian ones. But you might want to get your money changed anyway. This is because you will probably get a better exchange rate if you go to a bank.

 

[Canadave]

I wouldn't mind visiting Rogers Centre to see some Blue Jays games. (Normally I hate multipurpose stadiums, but they managed to do it RIGHT! )

Also, I understand that the Corner Gas sets are still standing. Although, royalfan, you did not actually mention if you were considering rural Saskatchewan.

If I were to go to Calgary, I might swing out that way, as one branch of my family settled out there. After coming over from Germany, my family farmed in Ontario for awhile, then half moved to Saskatchewan, and half to Nebraska. For a long time, my ancestors would go up to Saskatchewan to help with wheat harvest after it was done in Nebraska. This led to my Great Grandfather being robbed at knifepoint in Winnipeg. My interest in Calgary has a lot to due with the agricultural heritage of the area.

Calgary is pretty far away from an agricultural town these days. Yeah, they still have the Stampede and the like, but it's really characterized by being the Canadian HQ for Big Oil. Saskatoon and Winnipeg are both much closer to their agricultural roots (and for the love of the gods, avoid Regina).

Incidentally, Ottawa is actually home to the Canadian Agriculture Museum, though I've never been.

 

[Colonel Green]

I wouldn't mind visiting Rogers Centre to see some Blue Jays games. (Normally I hate multipurpose stadiums, but they managed to do it RIGHT! )

Also, I understand that the Corner Gas sets are still standing. Although, royalfan, you did not actually mention if you were considering rural Saskatchewan.

If I were to go to Calgary, I might swing out that way, as one branch of my family settled out there. After coming over from Germany, my family farmed in Ontario for awhile, then half moved to Saskatchewan, and half to Nebraska. For a long time, my ancestors would go up to Saskatchewan to help with wheat harvest after it was done in Nebraska. This led to my Great Grandfather being robbed at knifepoint in Winnipeg. My interest in Calgary has a lot to due with the agricultural heritage of the area.

If you go to Sask make of point of visiting Grasslands National Park, it's got quite a few abandoned homesteads.

 

[royalfan5]

I wouldn't mind visiting Rogers Centre to see some Blue Jays games. (Normally I hate multipurpose stadiums, but they managed to do it RIGHT! )

Also, I understand that the Corner Gas sets are still standing. Although, royalfan, you did not actually mention if you were considering rural Saskatchewan.

If I were to go to Calgary, I might swing out that way, as one branch of my family settled out there. After coming over from Germany, my family farmed in Ontario for awhile, then half moved to Saskatchewan, and half to Nebraska. For a long time, my ancestors would go up to Saskatchewan to help with wheat harvest after it was done in Nebraska. This led to my Great Grandfather being robbed at knifepoint in Winnipeg. My interest in Calgary has a lot to due with the agricultural heritage of the area.

Calgary is pretty far away from an agricultural town these days. Yeah, they still have the Stampede and the like, but it's really characterized by being the Canadian HQ for Big Oil. Saskatoon and Winnipeg are both much closer to their agricultural roots (and for the love of the gods, avoid Regina).

Incidentally, Ottawa is actually home to the Canadian Agriculture Museum, though I've never been.

If I where to go to Calgary, it would probably be part of an extended road trip through the Prairie Provinces. Although, at this point Toronto and Montreal are my favored destinations. I would really like to try Smoked Meat in Montreal.

 

[sojourner]

Like Nightcrawler from the X-men: Banff!

 

[Sparky]

If you are going for cultural landmarks then I would suggest visiting the Toronto/Montreal side of the nation. Calgary does not have much in the way of those since it is a fairly new city. Aside from a few areas, they have really plowed over the old to make way for the new. There is quite a bit to do in the city depending on what your interests are but cultural and historical are not on that list.

As mentioned above Toronto and Montreal are close enough that you could visit both. Both have CFL teams and I find the Canadian game far more entertaining than the NFL counterpart. The Hockey Hall of Fame is also in Toronto so that automatically gets my vote

 

[James Bond]

but Rogers Centre is not a cookie cutter. It has style, and is not a cheap piece of crap like the other CCers were. (Besides, Canadians are probably just grateful that RC isn't Exhibition Stadium, so they're probably in no hurry to replace it. )

Most Canadians don't give two shits about Rogers Centre. You must be lumping all Canadians in with Torontonians.

 

[SmoothieX]

I'd go back to either the Canadian Rockies or PEI in a heartbeat. But that's just me.

 

[Sparky]

but Rogers Centre is not a cookie cutter. It has style, and is not a cheap piece of crap like the other CCers were. (Besides, Canadians are probably just grateful that RC isn't Exhibition Stadium, so they're probably in no hurry to replace it. )

Most Canadians don't give two shits about Rogers Centre. You must be lumping all Canadians in with Torontonians.

Remember, there is no Canada outside of Toronto.

 

[Mooch]

I go to Toronto a lot, so I find Vancouver and Montreal (or even Ottawa) much more interesting. But Toronto could be cool too, I guess, for a noob.