Advice on two possible Canada itineraries

[NotABeliever]

Which one? 13/14 nights. Family of 5, youngest child is 15 yrs old. We’d like a misture of cities and nature including some hikes. Flights from London to Montreal and/or Boston. Driving between Canadian destinations.

thanks

LON-BOS
Boston 4 nights (fly to)
Ottawa 4 nights
Mount Tremblan 3 nights
Montreal 4 nights
MON-LON

Or

LON-BOS
Boston 4 nights (fly to)
Montreal 4 nights
Quebec City 3 nights
Charlevoix 3 nights
YUL-LON

I think Quebec City is far nicer and more interesting than Ottawa personally.

I live in Montreal and agree with tiptop in that Québec city is more interesting than Ottawa. Ottawa is kind of bland.

Where in Charlevoix are you thinking?

Also, four nights in Montreal might be a lot. Bear in mind the city isn't what it used to be, there's quite a problem with homelessness.

I’d be tempted to spend less time in Ottawa (couple of days enough really, but we liked it), less time in Montreal (we didn’t spend long there but didn’t feel like we missed much). Perhaps add time in Muskoka Lakes and perhaps Niagara Falls (to tick off!), and maybe Toronto (good for catching a baseball match if dates work). Mont Tremblant is great - teens will enjoy the Ziptrek zip line.

Any suggestions to the above tentative itineraries are greatly received including around Charlevoix!

Including how many days to spend in each place. Ideally no more than 5 stops
🙏

Max a day in Ottawa to see Parliament but if you don't mind missing that, skip Ottawa completely.

Second is way more interesting. Sanguenay fjords are spectacular. Empty in comparison to tremblant. Whale watching in tadoussac is the best in the world. check out the saq (parks of Quebec) website. You can get beautiful, basic log cabins for peanuts and they have barbecues, outdoor seating and often have amazing lake swimming. The rotating restaurant at sundown is also amazing. What time of year are you going (as we might need to change the advice!)

Sepal sorry! www.sepaq.com/en/reservation/cabin/parc-national-du-fjord-du-saguenay

When are you thinking of visiting?

As PPs have said Ottawa isn’t very interesting. It’s nice if you are passing but I wouldn’t go there as a destination.
4 nights in Montreal is a lot too. I love Montreal but it’s not a big city.
Quebec is also nice but only for a few nights.
Tadoussac area (can’t spell) is worth a visit but beware of the time of year you are visiting as you don’t won’t to go during the bug season (which is most the spring and summer🫣)

We went to Montreal, Quebec City and Sherbrooke. Lots to do in and around Sherbrooke - murals, a water park and illuminated forest off the top of my head - a fabulous holiday. Afternoon tea at Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City was another highlight, and the Montmorency Falls. We also loved Montreal - the museums, cafes, shops. Would def recommend.

I’d personally skip Boston and fly directly to Canada.

That would let you do both Québec City (which IMO is a must) and Mount Tremblan.

Thinking of going either early April or early June
thanks for all the comments! Keep them coming!

early April

Or as the Canadians call it Splinter. Thawing, so too unpredictable for winter stuff, too crappy for Spring.

I'd rethink the whole concept. Canada has meh cities and amazing, world-beating outdoors. Get outdoors, in a (hated) RV or car and camp. Or rent cabins. Go to the lakes and mountains and fjords and all the other stuff that you really can only see in a vast, unpopulated country. Get in a kayak or swim in a lake. Paddle board or surf.

I've been to the actual North a couple of times. genuinely an experience. Yukon and the north of Ontario. I don't suggest you start there but the vast expanses and lovely people are very different.

We did 25 nights in Canada flying into Halifax and out of Toronto. The last week we spent lakeside in Ontario in one spot, two hours from Toronto.

I didn't think much of Montreal but had primary aged children so just remember all the sex shops.

Quebec city is gorgeous and I'd go again. We enjoyed a night in Halifax also loved Cape Breton ( drive from Halifax) and parts of new Brunswick - st Andrews where we went whale watching and Moncton for the Bay of Fundy. Mont morency falls also amazing.

I have family just north of Montreal and they had more snow over Easter weekend (and are pretty miserable about it as it’s been a long winter for them!) so I’d go June. September is my favourite time as out of bug season but still warm!