justforpostings@iprolink.ch wrote:
>
> For having travelled most of the region between Niagara
> and New Brunswick over the last 25 years at almost all
> seasons, I would recommend May/June or September for
> a first visit from Europe.
Good advice. We get some nice weather in May and June. July and August can
get hot and sticky, and it is when most Canadians and Americans take their
vacations so accommodation tends to be harder to find, and more expensive.
We get some really nice weather in September and October, though it will be
cool in the evening, and it can sometimes get quite cool during the day.
>
> Nevertheless, I enjoyed the several winter-trips, even with
> temperatures below -20 and even once -35 degre Celsius.
-35 is damned cold. The southern parts of Ontario and Quebec tend to have
high humidity. The air is dryer further north, so the cold temperatures
don't seem as bad.
>
> First its relatively dry when really cold (partially compensated
> by the wind blowing often enough directly from North Pole).
> Sure that outdoor activities are somehow limited, but
> I liked crosscountry skiing, skating on frozen canals, did
> (but did not like) a few tries on snowmobiles (prefer "real"
> motorbikes) and found downhill skiing kind of limited.
Limited how? The ski hills aren't as high as some of those in the Alps or
the the western mountain ranges, but they can still be a lot of fun.
>
> On the other hand, interesting places to visit, such as
> the "underground world" in Montreal, the ice-hotel now in
> Sainte-Catherine de la Jacques-Cartier (neat Quebec-city),
> or simply watching old Quebec-city with Chateau-Frontenac
> on the "taversier" crossing ice-covered St.Lawrence
> to Levy and back. Niagara-Falls (kind of far from Montreal,
> but at one hour driving from Toronto) are special in winter!
I think that winter is the best time to see the falls. It looks
exceptionally nice with a nice fresh blanket of snow and the branches
covered with the ice mist glistening in the sun.
>
>
> In addition, might be worth mentionning that a few years
> ago, temperatures in Southern Quebec were above freezing
> (10 degre Celsius and more!) during a vacation late
> February - no snowmobile tour, no crosscountry skiing!
In southern Ontario we often get a January thaw like that. You can't count
on it happening every year or in any particular week.
>
>
> If I had to choose between February and early April for
> a trip to Southern Ontario and Southern Quebec, I would
> definitely opt for February.
Definitely. April is usually cool, damp and drab, not a great time for
tourists. It's not cold enough for snow and winter outdoor activities, and
not warm enough or dry enough for summer activities. Mid winter is great
for outdoor sightseeing, but I have never been keen on walking around in
cities in the cold.
>
>
> Regarding possible tour: you might fly to NY-City or
> Boston (I prefer), use public transportation or taxi for
> visiting the city/cities, take a train to Montreal (worth the
> experience ? Have never used a train in North America),
You would be disappointed. Travel by rail is not our forte. Only the main
corridors have train service, and trains do not run frequently enough to be
a convenient option. It is a more comfortable way to travel than bus, but
it just isn't very flexible.
> and rent a car there for touring Quebec-City and/or Ottawa
> (imho more interesting for visitors from Europe than
> Quebec-city) or even Toronto/Niagara
>
Ottawa is a great city to visit, but be prepared for cold weather in
winter.
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