New York to Canada- two weeks, ideas?

[Twoshoesnewshoes]

I’m planning to book a surprise trip for my DH next year, he’s always wanted to go to New York.
we’ll probably only go once so I’m thinking we could travel up to Canada after a few days in NY.
any ideas? Is it worth going to Niagara Falls?
we like cultural cities, mountains, lakes, epic landscapes. We are not so keen on touristy places, lots of people, etc.
im thinking we could fly back from Montreal or Quebec?
TIA

Hi, I really enjoyed visiting Niagara Falls but keep in mind it is a very busy touristy place. The Maid of the Mist boat trip is a must do. I had seen enough after a day though. Quebec City exceeded my expectations & Montreal is nice to visit too.

NYC seems like a strange choice if you don’t like populated touristy places - or is it that you know it’s going to be like that & have accepted this? 😊 And then want somewhere more laid back for after?

When I think epic landscapes in North America I think of the Grand Canyon, Yosemite or the Rockies. Do any of these appeal to you? Or even somewhere like Smoky Mountains or Lake Tahoe.

What time of year are you thinking?

My DH has always wanted to go to NYC, hoping it will be cultural as well as touristy?
im planning on going in September, maybe we could drive up through autumn colours…

I’m planning to book a surprise trip for my DH next year, he’s always wanted to go to New York.
I never understand the desire for secrecy in these situations. Why not tell him your idea and discus the itinerary together? Then you can have months of delicious anticipation, instead of a nano-second of "surprise!"

I will tell him once I’ve given him the flights for his birthday. I’m just getting ideas for the trip generally.

It's cultural in that there are world-class museums, theatres, concerts, opera performances (late September), lectures.

You can avoid the touristy things, but that probably means skipping the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Radio City, etc., i.e. all the things people have always heard about. Some of these places are so touristy that many New Yorkers have never even been to them! 😂
A foliage drive would be a bit tricky for September. The NYC foliage usually doesn't change until October. You would have to be further upstate for fall foliage in September.

I don't mean to rain on your parade, OP. I just wouldn't want you and DH to be disappointed.

Thank you, that’s helpful to know.
@Vanillalime i think I’d really like to see Niagara. So maybe if we fly from NYC to buffalo, then get a car - would people suggest going north via Ottawa to Montreal? Where would be good on that route? Or south via Saratoga Springs?

September will be a lovely time to visit 😊

Whet about something like:

4 nights NYC
2 nights Lake George (Sagamore Resort looks good)
2 nights Montreal
2 nights Ottawa
3 nights Toronto (day trip to Niagara Falls)
or
3 nights Niagara by the Lake

or you could do:

4 nights NYC
3 nights Finger Lakes
2 nights Toronto/Niagara
2 nights Ottawa or Montreal
2 nights Montreal or Quebec City

Ooh thank you so much, those itineraries look great! I’m going to go and look up those places!

We went to Canada in October and the colours changed just before, so September is a bit early.

You can do a lot in NY without the big things but some are really good, we went to the 9/11 museum for example, very well done. I survived without the Statue of Liberty.

If you are interested in antique books, the Manhatten public library has an amazing collection on show. Also the JP Morgan libray, I could have spent hours looking at them.

You need to look at flights to go to the Niagara Falls, you would spend too much time on the road if you are only going for two weeks. But instead of going to Monteral and Quebec you could also check Vermont or New Hampshire. Quebec is amazing but it is quite a distance away.

I would do your time in NYC then go to Toronto. 3 or 4 days in the city, with a day trip to Niagara Falls. Then rent a cottage in the Muskoka lake region. Lots of gorgeous cabins in the woods, on the lakes. You could stay down closer to Toronto near the towns of Bracebridge or Gravenhurst, or you could go further up or north east to get closer to Algonquin Provincial Park (staying close to Huntsville or Haliburton). Algonquin would be great for wildlife, canoeing, hiking, etc.

https://www.discovermuskoka.ca/

I spent 4 weeks in NYC alone doing a mix of cultural and touristy. There are so many museums, going to the shows, wandering about.

Honestly for 2 weeks I'd skip Canada.

I'd give the east of Canada a miss tbh. It just doesn't compare in any way to the west IME. Ottawa is not very interesting, Niagra is a horrid tourist trap and the towns around it are tacky. Toronto I also didn't find very exciting. I haven't been to Montreal though. None of it is like NY though, which is an exciting and interesting city with loads to do, I would want more than 3 full days for sure. For a two week trip I definitely wouldn't bother with east Canada, I'm sure there are cool National Parks to visit closer to NYC if you wanted something apart from city.

You can get a train that goes from NY to Niagara.
We flew to Toronto last September and then took trains to Ottawa, Quebec City and Montreal with the intention to fly from there to Boston. A huge storm cancelled our plans to fly and we ended up driving to Boston instead.
The trains were so comfortable and gave us a valuable few hours off our feet to relax between cities!

I agree that Ottawa isn’t very exciting - it is basically just federal government offices and dead at night. The museums / art galleries are set up to mostly be of interest to Canadians. Montreal and Quebec City are more interesting and lively.
Porter Airlines flies from NYC into the airport right in the downtown area of Toronto (Billy Bishop Airport) and most Torontonians use that service if they fly to NYC.

Toronto is a very cultural city, you just need to know where to look. We have the most awesome food - every type of food imaginable, and I love all the different ethnic restaurants- the best ones are the hole in the walls or in strip malls on the edge of the city but even downtown food choices are unrivalled. September is play off season and it is quite fun (and reasonable) to watch the Blue Jays. Check AskTO Reddit for up to date recommendations and events while you are in the city.

We did DC - NYC - Montreal - Quebec City 1st fortnight of October. Flew into DC and home from Montreal and caught the train between cities. Awesome trip. Definitely saw the autumn colours.

Be prepared for 20 degree difference in temperatures the later you leave it between US and Canada..

I was so glad I took my fleece jumpers/hoodies to go under my autumn coat, scarves and gloves, we had frost in the morning in Quebec. But then it was warm-ish during the day. So lots of layering up.

We've just come back from New York - it is very very extra. Think London turned up to 11 and then some.

It's an extraordinary place but you need a plan.

To throw in a curve ball - how about a few days in Boston on the way. It is a very walkable and attractive city with a lot of history. You are also an easy journey from places Province Town and Salem.

Also of you are in to culture you have to go to MOMA in New York - it is an exceptional art gallery.

I wouldn't spend more than one night at Niagara. It's very very touristy (dare I say, tacky...) my husband wanted to propose to me there in 2011 but the vibe of the place immediately put him off so he waited until we were somewhere a lot more secluded in Ottawa.
The boat trip is good though and there are some nice restaurants, and Niagara by the lake is a sweet enough village/town to wander around.
Big fan of Toronto- would definitely do a few nights there and unlike a PP we really liked Ottawa as more of a chilled feel. Wouldn't recommend any of the towns in between particularly but the thousand islands (?) are fun for some boat trips.
I haven't been to Montreal or Boston but have heard good things. And New York is definitely an experience. Enjoy!!!

We combined Boston with NY and loved it.

I’ve been thinking of something similar but planning to get th train from NY to Canada - apparently is really beautiful. Takes the inside of a day I think.

It is a very long way indeed to drive from New York to Niagara Falls. Buffalo is a really interesting city with a very good modern art museum, so could be a good stop off https://buffaloakg.org/ - it is also possible to park on the American side of the falls and walk into Canada and their falls over the bridge, I think we had to pay small amount for the Canada entry.

The train from Boston to New York (or vice versa) is great. Very comfortable train and beautiful scenery - loads of quaint waterside towns full of clapboard houses. Just don't expect to get anywhere quickly!

DH and I plan to attempt this in a few years for a big birthday.

Fly to Washington and stay for 2 nights,
Train to NY (4hrs) stay for 3 nights,
Train to Rhinebeck (4hrs) stay for 1 night, Train to Montreal (Full Day) stay for 2 nights, Train to Ottawa (3hrs) stay for 2 nights, Train to Toronto (5.5hrs) stay for 5 nights but include a day trip to Niagra falls. Fly home from Toronto - 15 nights in total.

@Twoshoesnewshoes We did a holiday the other way round and finished in NY but went north of Boston then got train to NY.

I don’t actually think you need to go out of the USA. New York State itself is very varied. I would look at the great holiday info about the state and what you can see and do.

Personally I would not fly up to Canada when you have also got New England. However we going to Nova Scotia in early Sept. This is totally different from Niagara Falls and more cities. We are visiting Cabot trail, Bay of Fundy and staying in small inns and beautiful villages.Doing self drive and want to discover the history of the area, the music and see some whales. We fly to Halifax NS. I feel you would enjoy this part of Canada which most posters won’t have been to or considered.

To sum up: New York State, New England via Boston or Nova Scotia.