Best Canadian Small Town

[indigoiis]

Help us plan our vacation.
Tell me, which is the coolest Canada vacation spot? With lots of cool outdoorsy stuff, but enough of a town to get a cup of coffee?

Eastern Canada is where we are thinking but we are open to ideas.

Indy

[Grog]

Do you want to stay in the same place for your whole vacation?

And how long would that be?

[indigoiis]

It's going to be June, and we may take our bikes. So a "base camp" with interesting stuff within 100 mile radius.

We'll stay about a week.

[Irulan]

Eastern Canada is where we are thinking but we are open to ideas.


Well that rules out BC. There's great road riding loops and cool towns in BC.

I was thinking of Nelson, Golden, Revelstoke etc but never mind.;)

[roadie gal]

How about Banff?

[evangundy]

Or even Penticton area (BC again), between the lakes, lots of riding in area, orchards, uphill to ski area (fun downhill), etc. But I guess I'm biased, it's where I lived two different times, and met my DH and vacationed every summer for about 16 years :-)
http://www.penticton.ca/main.asp\

Edna

ps: and a link for info for the Banff/Jasper area

http://www.icefieldsparkway.ca/

[indigoiis]

Ah, BC looks so beautiful.
It's the flying thing... he doesn't fly well.
But I'll show him some of these links...

[PamNY]

If you want rural and outdoorsy, Cape Breton is fabulous. Plenty of small towns to choose from, and it's gorgeous.

Pam

[Grog]

Eastern Townships? Little towns like Magog and others offer all the amenities and there is really great riding to do around there.

It's not in Canada, of course, but Vermont... Oh, Vermont! *sigh*

[ilima]

Nova Scotia & Newfoundland sound wonderful.

http://travelqa.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/an-outdoor-vacation-in-newfoundland-and-nova-scotia/?scp=2&sq=%22cape%20breton%22&st=cse

There was another article, I believe about cycling Cape Breton, in the NY Times in the last year or so, but I can't find it.

[shootingstar]

Certainly Quebec with Route Verte routes are recommended. Not sure if it's just cycling tons of mileage or mountain biking /hiking that you are interested in.

As Canadians, we might be taking the Quebecois history/culture for granted, here Grog. :rolleyes: Based on the Americans I've spoken with , Quebec is often perceived as another world because of the French language use there.

Or Prince Edward Island. Lobster season there is in June. Mussels were cheap there. It is home of the Malpeque mussels. We camped and cycled for 10 days there. Some fantastic scenery because of the red soil, wild lupine flowers, ocean. Different from Rhode Island.

Or be totally innovative, the French Islands of St. Pierre and Miqueolon near the mouth of St. Lawrence R. One friend of mine went solo cycling there for 1 wk.. Be forewarned that it can get windy ...on any island there. These islands belong to France. (mind you, I had better check the internet to confirm...)

[crazycanuck]

How about St John's, Newfoundland? Great place for hills & cool scenery...Oh yea the place names ;)

[shootingstar]

How about St John's, Newfoundland? Great place for hills & cool scenery...Oh yea the place names ;)

I've never been to Newfie land yet, but I've heard great things there from others.

Just don't stay in a town too remote since I knew some cyclists who could barely find enough food at any corner store in a town of 2,000 after they cycled for over 160 kms. during the day.

St. John's has sufficient things to see and do and there are serious hills to mount around the area, with scenice fishing heritage homes.

Every person I've met/worked iwth who has moved from NFld to live elsewhere in Canada, reflects Newfie land: warm people with a great sense of humour and humility.

My sister went hiking Gros Morne national park which is magnificent. There was also spot to see where the Vikings landed centuries before.

[crazycanuck]

If you position yourself in one place for a while-such as Gros Morne National Park, St John's or ? i'm sure you'll have no problem. Just remember it's really windy!!!

Another idea could be kayaking. I can't remember the place nor the company I did a day trip with.

For accommodation, i'd look into it now!!! You can try & stay at the residences at Memorial Uni but that should be your last resort!!!

Another thought..What about cycling through Saskatchewan?? The Qu'appelle valley sounds nice. Saskatchewan=flat in most places..

[eclectic]

If you position yourself in one place for a while-such as Gros Morne National Park, St John's or ? i'm sure you'll have no problem. Just remember it's really windy!!!

Another idea could be kayaking. I can't remember the place nor the company I did a day trip with.

For accommodation, i'd look into it now!!! You can try & stay at the residences at Memorial Uni but that should be your last resort!!!

Another thought..What about cycling through Saskatchewan?? The Qu'appelle valley sounds nice. Saskatchewan=flat in most places..

Thanks for the nice vote of confidence crazy canuck! I am from Saskatchewan and now live just south of the border - the Qu'appelle valley is nice but not very big in the whole scheme of things. Also, Yes, the Regina plains are flat but they are WINDY, not a whole lot of anything to block it. (or to look at)

Although Sask. is my home province and I do love the prairies I would vote for anywhere in the Maritimes.(maybe because I want to go there) Anyway - unique, interesting culture, beautiful scenery, many options on activities

Yup, my vote goes for the Maritimes.

For others looking for a great vacation - come on out to North Dakota/South Dakota. We have the badlands,(Theodore Roosevelt N'tnl park) with a GREAT 36 mile loop in the south unit (and no, North Dakota isn't all flat :D this loop can be a killer so start early in the AM)
A lot of good hiking trails too.
Go to the North unit of the park and ther is the Ma'ah da hey mountain bike trail. (I think it is about 100 miles of trail)

Time it right and take in a genuine Native American Pow Wow in MT ND or SD

Canoe on the Missouri just like Louis and Clark

then head down a short jaunt to Deadwood So dak and get on the Mickelson trail - a great 110 mile rails to trails project w/ lots of on and off points.
Also you can visit the best dinosaur museums in the country (both ND and SD have them), Mount Rushmore etc. etc. etc.

Take a lazy drive home and swing up to the Peace Gardens. Stay at Lake Metigoshe state park - which has a nice 10 mile loop or ride your bike to the Peace Gardens and back, 40 mile round trip, plus however much riding you want to do in the park - just remember your ID you have to come back through American customs.

ND doesn't have a lot of traffic and they treat cyclists kindly on the main roads. (one of the guys on Candisc tour last year couldn't wait to get home and tell his friends he rode on the interstate and lived to tell about it)

And don't forget to stop in Rugby just so you can take your picture in the "Middle of North America"

North Dakota - the best kept secret

No I don't work for the Dept of tourism I just really love this state :D

[shootingstar]

Hey, eclectic, you might as well promote Alberta near the border..not that much further away. :rolleyes:

Now that we've given the impression that Eastern Canada is a hard place to figure out oodles of suggestions for best little town with great scenery and routes for day bike trips ..

Still think Maritime provinces or Quebec (for its "foreigness" due to its French-Canadian roots and language is a good one.)

Mont Tremblant in quebec in the summer offers all sorts of things. (winter it's known for skiing.) It's something like a smaller Whistler, B.C., but it's an area known for mountain biking. There are routes for road cycling, include a Route Verte route nearby. We were stationed there for 3-4 days in June a few years ago and did cycle around.

Have you been to Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec? Sight of Perce Rock. I believe there is camping site there.

I got myself mixed up on St. Pierre island ..closer to Newfoundland. I was thinking of the Magdelan Islands which are in the mouth of St. Lawrence River. Magdelan Islands are part of Quebec province.

http://www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/magdalen-islands/micro_rando_ang.cfm

http://www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/magdalen-islands/decouvrirLArchipel_larchipel_ang.cfm

http://www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/magdalen-islands/activites_cultureEtPatrimoine_ang.cfm



http://www.st-pierre-et-miquelon.com/english/cartes.php

[indigoiis]

You guys are awesome. I have my homework ahead of me!
I speak French, and have been to QC and Montreal, but this time would like something small-town to get a real flavor of the community / culture.

And 2010, we'll do the Dakotas. ;)

I love Vermont, too. But we've already done that a lot. My DH has never left the country so I figured this would be a good trial.

[Grog]

Well, I'll stand for the Eastern Townships of Quebec again, then. It's an environment where he won't be totally thrown off if he speaks only English, yet it has a definitive French flavour to it. (And lots of tasty cheeses!!!!) There are a few towns of interest, and superb cycling (the Route Verte but others as well). Let me know if you'd like more info, I'll dig my old routes out.

[tulip]

St. Charles on the Route Verte between Quebec city and the Saguenay (I think). Artist retreat, hilly, beautiful, and with enough tourism to offer better stuff to eat than poutine (apologies to all the Quebecoises out there in TEland).

[indigoiis]

Well, I'll stand for the Eastern Townships of Quebec again, then. It's an environment where he won't be totally thrown off if he speaks only English, yet it has a definitive French flavour to it. (And lots of tasty cheeses!!!!) There are a few towns of interest, and superb cycling (the Route Verte but others as well). Let me know if you'd like more info, I'll dig my old routes out.

I'm looking at the Magog region... anyone know anything about topography thereabouts? Weather?

[Grog]

I'm looking at the Magog region... anyone know anything about topography thereabouts? Weather?

There are some hills, including serious climbs in the area (you can go up Megantic I think) but overall it's mostly rollers. And definitely no super long climbs.

Weather should be the same as Montreal minus 2 degrees Celcius usually, and the temperatures drop lower in the morning than they would in the city of course.

If you officially want me to look for more details let me know, I'll send you references by private message.

[tulip]

Charlevoix is the artist colony town that I was thinking of. It's on the Route Verte and it's like a northern Santa Fe, a bit, which has its plusses and minuses. I liked it when I was there about 10 or 15 years ago

http://www.routeverte.com/rv/voyager.php?code=charlevoix

[Grog]

Charlevoix is the artist colony town that I was thinking of. It's on the Route Verte and it's like a northern Santa Fe, a bit, which has its plusses and minuses. I liked it when I was there about 10 or 15 years ago

http://www.routeverte.com/rv/voyager.php?code=charlevoix

Charlevoix is actually a whole region.

Saint-Jean-Port-Joli is probably the Santa Fe-like town you're thinking about, tulip.

It's gorgeous, splendid area to cycle in, but now we're talking very serious climbing. Check this out for an idea:
http://www.velo.qc.ca/voyages/index.php?code=Fjord&d=1
I know people who had their front tires explode from the heat generated by too much braking down those hills. :eek: I wish I could go cycling there sometime.

For the Eastern Townships, you can check those town names for ideas:
Farnham, Mystic, Stanbridge East, Frelighsburg, Sutton.
Sutton, Glen Sutton, Mansonville, South Bolton, Lac-Brome (Knowlton).
Lac-Brome (Knowlton), Fulford, Bromont, Farnham.

Gorgeous riding. The pavement is not as nice as in Vermont, though, be forewarned.