Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask whether to visit the East or the West of Canada?

39 replies

LitterPicker1236 · 17/03/2022 18:18

This year will be our last family holiday as youngest DC leaving for uni. Wanted to make our last family holiday one to remember. Would like to go to Canada, but it is so vast that we are having difficulty pinning down which bit to visit.

Does anyone have any ideas? We like cities and landscapesGrin

OP posts:
5foot5 · 17/03/2022 23:31

Another one here saying West.

We have had two holidays in Western Canada.

The first we spent 3 weeks. Started in Vancouver which is a fantastic city. Visited Vancouver Island for a few days then came back to mainland and got an RV to do the Rockies. Banff, Lake Louise, Icefields Parkwat to Jasper. When we got back to Vancouver we had a few days on the Sunshine Coast.

Second time we had DD and only 2 weeks. Started in Calgaryand once again did RV through Rockies then back to Calgary.

Lovely memories

CobraChicken · 17/03/2022 23:51

Definitely the West (I'm a bit biased as I live close to Jasper.) Distances are huge so I'd really advise flying into Vancouver and out of Calgary, or vice versa, rather than doing a return/loop type road-trip that has you arriving and departing from the same airport.

EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 18/03/2022 00:32

@Seafog

I lived both places, so I'd ask what you like to do, and what month you'd be here, as the weather is so varied.
I'd second this.

My preference is for the West but I liked Ottawa for Gatineau park (other more obviously tourist areas of the East are available).

MangyInseam · 18/03/2022 00:45

I suppose I'd think a bit about what you think of as typically "Canadian". What kinds of things do you want to see?

The prairies are kind of impressive, and there are some nice things in the cities there, but they are probably not going to compare to a city experience in the UK. Alberta has the mountains which are quite amazing, and cowboys, but while Calgary is ok it's probably not any more interesting than you'd see at home.

Lots of people as you can see love Vancouver, It's very large, expensive, on the water, a very modern city. There is a lot of homelessness similar to places like Seattle though you can avoid it.

The North is pretty amazing if you like outdoors stuff, but there will be a lot of blackflies in the summer. The long days are really neat though.

Ottawa is nice, the Great Lakes are nice, the Niagra Valley is nice if you like wine.

PEI is very charming and rural, lots of stuff for tourists.

Quebec is totally different, Montreal is an exiting, and in many ways rather European, city. Quebec City is also very charming, more French than Montreal.

New Brunswick is fairly rural, more well known for winter activities but pretty.

Nova Scotia is older, so the main city is more of a mix than some of the western cities., and there are a lot of historic sights. There is a growing wine industry and a lot of small craft breweries. A number of good music festivals.

Newfoundland is very different in some ways, St John's is a very charming city and the landscape is very beautiful in a stark kind of way.

The Atlantic provinces overall have a better music scene, IMO.

MangyInseam · 18/03/2022 00:48

Of, I didn't mention Toronto. Well, ...

That's mean, but it's not a city with a lot of character, these days. At one time it was very Old Canada, people used to call it Toronto the Good. But not anymore.

Loncan · 18/03/2022 00:59

Definitely Western Canada! As a Ontarioan, I always tell people to go West when they ask which part of the country to visit. Eastern Canada is nice too, but I feel like it’s very reminiscent of the UK scenery wise (particularly Newfoundland). Banff is absolutely stunning, and Vancouver is an amazing city.

AuntTwacky · 18/03/2022 01:00

Both great but Vancouver is the nicest city

dipdye · 18/03/2022 01:25

Been to both, we now live on the East of Canada.

If you can only see one part, see the West coast.

Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Whistler, Lake Louise, the Rockies, Banff. Calgary is indifferent but you aren't there to see the city, it's the gateway to the Rockies. Vancouver is amazing, spend a good 3/4 days there.

EpitomeOfIndifference · 18/03/2022 01:27

I’m another Canadian saying go West (I live fairly close to Toronto and it’s nothing special). The West is just breathtaking. I have seen less of the East coast and to be fair what I saw was beautiful, but you won’t regret a trip to BC or Alberta.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 18/03/2022 01:50

Brit expat now in Canada. I’d say go West too.
Greetings from Canmore!

AIBU to ask whether to visit the East or the West of Canada?
octoberfarm · 18/03/2022 02:09

Haven't seen much of the eastern side but travelled around the west when I was on my gap year for a short while and my goodness, it is beautiful. I did Vancouver, Jasper, Calgary, Banff and Lake Louise and wouldn't have missed any of it. BC as a whole is just phenomenal, and ditto Alberta. Only place I'd probably not do again was Edmonton, but only because the rest was so phenomenal. Have an amazing time!

Vanillalatteplease · 18/03/2022 02:20

@Tokyo89

I would suggest West (fly to Calgary and make your way over to Vancouver/Victoria island) before flying home. Don’t plan to stay in Calgary for long as its really not beautiful, nice place to live but not really to visit.

Or do the east coast, not Toronto/Ontario. Montreal can be interesting. But Newfoundland, PEI and Nova Scotia are beautiful and unique I think.

All good advice except I think you mean Vancouver Island not Victoria Island. Don't book a trip to Victoria Island op. It's way way way north in the Acrtic. Very Very different places
NutsandPuffs · 18/03/2022 02:46

Another vote for the West! I lived in Vancouver for 8 years and am now on the Sunshine Coast (mainland West Canada coast but only accessible by ferry or float plane), it's beautiful in BC.

LitterPicker1236 · 18/03/2022 13:22

Looks like the consensus is that West is best!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread