14 day trip to Canada - single mum and teen dd - all ideas welcome.

[LumberPainJackie]

We have never been to Canada and don't know anyone there to visit or ask.
DD has asked for it post GCSE as a celebration/special holiday and I honestly don't know where to start.

We are not sporty but would enjoy a flat cycle not on a road - max 4hrs. We have done canoeing before but again, don't want to revolve the holiday around it. Generally not keen on mountain hiking but do appreciate good views and scenic displays. I would like to go on a scenic train journey or two. A few of our holidays have been rail based which we like as we can read and chat and enjoy the surroundings.

I don't mind hiring a car if that is a sensible option. Just quite aware of the cost being quite high for most things in Canada. If anyone can suggest costs with ideas to give a rough idea of the budget that would be appreciated. Trying to keep it open to all but some things like skiing or 1st class train tickets will be beyond our reach.

Oh and DD loves trying local baked goods and food, so if there is anything niche or special anywhere worth visiting for that, we can add that to the list!

Thanks for any ideas!

Niagara Falls

We’re doing 2 weeks West coast next year - Vancouver, Vancouver island (Campbell River, Tofino, Uclulet, Lake Cowichan) Whistler then final
night in Vancouver before home.

Lots of nature, whale watching, some light hiking / biking and canoes / surfing planned. There’s huge cable cars up the Whistler mountains. Baseball in Vancouver too.

It is VERY expensive. You might fare better as we needed family rooms so might be better for standard double room but everything was already booking up fast and what was left was pricey. Got a few good options via Airbnb and used booking.com to find places but then booked direct.

we’ve hired a car can’t comment on rail options.

You might be better off on the east coast

I’d budget around £6k for 14 days. Car hire is a necessity!

We did whale watching in Ucluelet years ago then again in Sooke. Both amazing!

I have done the West Coast starting in Vancouver, and it is amazing. I've also been to Ottawa, Toronto and Quebec.

However, I'd recommend the Maritimes/Atlantic Coast. Here is an example of a trip. https://www.canadianaffair.com/blog/how-to-spend-2-weeks-exploring-atlantic-canada-the-ultimate-guide

Driving is very easy and relaxed, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton and Halifax were my highlights.

The Atlantic Coast looks great and DD loves seafood!
I know tipping is 15-20% so will factor that in for food. Any other safety or general no-no's we should be aware of?

West coast is beautiful but extremely expensive from the UK.

Montreal (check out the railway that’s now a cycle path), Quebec, further out and up to Newfoundland - GORGEOUS. Fly in and out of Toronto, prob cheaper. Your DD has had an excellent idea!

We are doing the west coast next year so watching with interest. Also doing an Alaskan cruise to see the glaciers, from Vancouver.

Do west coast, more to see and do

I have been to both coasts and would definitely choose the west coast, Vancouver Island and Whistler were stunning, the scenery is just to die for!

So I began booking hotels yesterday. So far we have 3 days in Toronto, train to Montreal, 2 days there then train to Quebec for 3 days where I am planning to hire a car and drive over to New Brunswick down to Fredericton, St Martins and Fundy before Peggy's Cove and Halifax. I have upped it to 16 days so we can have a couple of days in Halifax before returning.

May have also got a bit carried away saving places to eat on each City Google Maps...

Much as I would love to do the West Coast I don't want to feel too rushed and it gives us something to go back for after A' Levels if DD still wants to travel with me! I would love to see Vermont (not least thanks to Gilmore Girls) but think it will have to wait. Maybe fall is a better time of year for that one?

I have hesitated on the rental car as I actually have never hired one before. I usually take our car to France and haven't driven abroad anywhere else. From what I can see I need to take the card I use to book with us in Quebec, obviously driving licence and passport, proof of return ticket but also have in the region of £1k in my account for them to "hold" until the car is returned in Halifax? It is the bit I am stuck at in the booking as I don't want to get it wrong and end up with rooms booked we can't get to because I messed up the hire car aspect! Have I missed anything?

Sounds amazing OP. I haven't been to Quebec or Montreal but have visited the others. Try and get to see the Blur jays in the skydome at Toronto. The atmosphere is amazing! Get out to Toronto lakes - you can cycle around the parks - and scale the CN tower. Chinatown is fab in Toronto and reasonable to eat in.
I love Halifax. The snow crab is amazing. Visit the Citadel and the Titanic museum. Peggy's cove, Lunenburg and Mahone Bay are all worth a visit to. Fredricton is a quaint town. We didnt find much there to see but did stop at Magnetic Hill and the Zoo. Fundy National Park is beautiful. This is the place to go hiking, cycling kayaking.

Thank you @Lordofmyflies - we are big crab fans which is what swung the East Coast for us if I am honest! DD really wanted to go back to Japan and Hokkaido for this reason alone as a man we met at a sushi bar was telling her they have a whole crab festival! I can't wait to try all the food.
Thanks for the heads-up on the Titanic Museum too, DD will love that.