Eastern Canada – A Region full of Surprises...
Canada is the world’s second largest nation in area, with the vast majority of its population living within 100 miles of the U.S. border. 70% of that population lives in Eastern Canada, where England and France once struggled bitterly for sovereignty over the resource-rich land. England was the victor, leaving Ontario and the four Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland) almost totally English-speaking. Quebec retained its French culture, laws and language, today a dialect that in accent and idiom more closely resembles 18th century French than the language of contemporary France. But history runs deep and the English and French have intermingled and hybridized, creating a North American nation that is distinct from any other.
Eastern Canada is an ancient land of Precambrian rock topped by an ocean of forest - pine, birch and maple. It is cleaved by the Great Lakes and spectacular Niagara Falls, whose waters flow to the Atlantic through the mighty St Lawrence River. Its vastness of land, much of it tundra, lake and farm, is in high contrast to its highly sophisticated cities, Montreal and Toronto, and to the national capital, Ottawa and the Quebec capital, Quebec City. The cities and towns of the Maritime provinces are regional centers of power with slower lifestyles that form a distinct Canadian identity. Industry and commerce are concentrated in the great cities, with country towns still slow-go and charming, supplying gourmet foodstuffs from field and orchard. Eastern Canada is a proud and exceptional destination best seen through a uniquely Canadian lens – self-assured yet politely reserved, outward-looking and always welcoming.
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Ottawa – A city for all seasons
Ontario’s second largest city, Ottawa is Canada’s capital city. Visit Parliament Hill with its impressive Neo-Gothic Parliament Buildings. Nearby is statue of Terry Fox, the 21 year-old hero who ran half way across Canada in 1971 to raise money for cancer research – with only one leg. In warm months, enjoy the tulip gardens (a token of grateful appreciation from the Dutch government) and the colorful Changing of the Guard ceremony. In winter, join locals who skate through the heart of the city on the miles-long Rideau Canal. In summer slow cruise the Rideau all the way to the spectacular 1000 Islands – Seaway region. Close to Ottawa in Gatineau, Quebec is the Canadian Museum of Civilization, a landmark celebrating Canadian and world cultures.
Toronto and the Niagara Region – Canada’s throbbing heart
Canada’s largest city, cosmopolitan multicultural Toronto is a magnet for the arts, culture, shopping and dining. It hosts top-rated theater, festivals and events, the creative businesses of the Distillery Historic District, the Frank Gehry-redesigned Art Gallery of Ontario, the Hockey Hall of Fame and the epitome of destination produce shopping - St Lawrence Market. On the shores of Lake Ontario, it is a stunning city, viewed on land from the CN Tower or from the water via lake cruises. Drive around the end of Lake Ontario to the Niagara Region – its charming towns, excellent wineries, beautiful parks and gardens are a bucolic getaway capped off by a visit to Niagara Falls.
Montréal, the most engaging city in North America
Considered by many to be the most vibrant, exciting city in Canada, sophisticated Montréal is avant-garde, bon vivant and très chic, a center of great creativity and a trend setter in fashion and design. Predominantly French-speaking, Montréal is considered by many to be the most European city in North America, with a joie de vivre that is purely French Canadian. Travelers have been beating a path to this island in the St. Lawrence since 1535, making it one of the oldest, most appealing North American destinations. Go to the top of Mount Royal, the extinct volcano in the center of the city, for 360° views over the island, taking in the skyscrapers of downtown, the many ethnic neighborhoods with 24/7 bagel bakeries and renowned Montréal smoked meat, the Olympic Stadium, the gracious Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks, the famous Shrine on the mountain and beautiful McGill University.
Québec City – the Oldest City in Canada
Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain on a high promontory overlooking the St. Lawrence River, old Québec City retains many of its centuries-old cobblestone streets, packed shoulder-to-shoulder with original stone buildings. Their three-foot thick walls were built to block cold air, but today make for charming restaurants, boutiques, galleries and museums. Québec City saw its share of history, including the battle for Canada on the Plains of Abraham, just outside the city. Its charm is in its Upper and Lower Towns, its old fortifications and alleyways, its iconic Château Frontenac, its glimpses of life past and its sophisticated cuisine based on fresh local produce. Québec is an exuberant city, especially during Winter Carnival when the population welcomes guests from all over the world.
Charlevoix Region – Québec’s authentic back door
Located on the north bank of the St. Lawrence River, northeast of Québec City, the rural Charlevoix region has been designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. With fabulous views over fjords, bays and the widened Saint Lawrence, Charlevoix’s gentle hills and headlands nestle charming towns, artist colonies and exceptional natural sites. This is authentic Quebec, where even the French language has resisted modernization and change. Journey further up the St. Lawrence into the Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean region for scenic wonders - majestic fjords and the immense Lake Saint Jean, a true inland sea. The whole region is rustic, fresh and inviting – a seeming escape from the work-a-day world with plenty of places to poke around.
Gourmet Routes
If you delight in seeing, touching and tasting some of the region's best culinary produce and products, try Québec’s Gourmet Routes, a feast for the senses! In these guided visits you’ll find a regional passion for fresh food and local products, lovingly prepared, with techniques that draw on traditional Québec cuisine and the gastronomy brought to the province by its waves of immigrants.
