Places to go in Canada

This section addresses some basic travel destinations in the predominantly Englishspeaking province of Ontario, and the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec. Having lived in Ontario for eight years, I will mainly address the province with which I am most familiar.

First, and foremost, it is advisable for visitors to Canada to carry valid travel documents, especially if your trip takes you to the international airports at Ottawa or Montreal. Second, if you plan to shop in Canada, then it might be wise to consult the U.S. Customs website “Know Before You Go” at http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/trtext.htm. This site will provide some idea of what can and cannot be brought back to the U.S., or the duty that might be levied on your purchases.

Several Eastern Ontario cities and towns can be reached from Canton within one to two hours’ drive. There are three ways to get into Ontario by car, over the international bridges at Ogdensburg (north of Canton on Rt. 68/Rt. 37), Wellesley Island (northwest on Rt. 12/I-81 north), and Massena, New York (northeast on Rt. 37). It is also worth noting that Via Rail, Canada’s passenger train service, passes through or connects with all of the cities and towns listed below. For more precise information visit their website: http://www.viarail.ca

The following section (listed alphabetically) is by no means exhaustive, but does include a few points of interest and a brief description. Additional information can be obtained at the Ontario Tourism Network website: http://www.ontournet.com or, for Quebec Tourism: http://www.quebectel.com/tourisme/0000ag.htm.

  • Brockville: A truly Loyalist town named for War of 1812 hero General Issac Brock. The city has a pleasant waterfront where boat cruises originate. The waterfront is also home to some great restaurants. There is also a museum of local history and an art gallery.
  • Cornwall: Houses two museums that display the city’s history from the 18 th through the 20th centuries. As well, the North American Indian Travelling College (a Living Museum) conveys the culture of the Cree, Ojibway, and Iroquois peoples since the 18th century.
  • Gananoque: Along the Thousand Islands’ Parkway, the town is a resort from where boat cruises originate. It has great restaurants, bed-and-breakfasts, a museum, and is a pleasant town for walking. Also, the 1000 Islands Playhouse operates from May to October.
  • Kingston: Canada’s first capital during the mid-19th century. The city offers several excellent restaurants, many of which are located in the Confederation basin in the city’s downtown. Bellevue House, now a National Historic Site, was home to the nation’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Queen’s University houses the Agnes Etherington Art Centre; and, several museums and historic sites of note are located in or near Kingston, including Fort Henry on the grounds of the Royal Military College, the Maclachan Woodworking Museum, the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes, and International Ice Hockey Federation Museum. Also, nationally and internationally known artists frequently perform at the Grand Theater.
  • Morrisburg: Noted for its depiction of life in 19th century Ontario at Upper Canada Village, an interpretive museum. Nearby is a park and monument recounting the battle of Crysler’s Farm, a key encounter during the War of 1812. A site with a more tranquil history is the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary, an autumn fly-off point for Canada geese and other birds.
  • Ottawa: Canada’s national capital. A plethora of fine restaurants, hotels, museums, art galleries, and a variety of entertainment can be found here; in fact, too abundant to adequately list. A practical feature is the city’s international airport.
  • Prescott: Fort Wellington protected this town from American invasion during the War of 1812 and throughout the 19th century. Today, the fort is a national historic site and interpretive museum. As well, the Forwarders’ Museum presents the town during its heyday as a commercial port along the St. Lawrence River.
  • Smith Falls: Similar to New York State, the province of Ontario underwent a commercial and transportation revolution during the 19th century. The Rideau Canal was key to the success of many business ventures and its history is chronicled at the Rideau Canal Museum. The second phase of this revolution involved railways, a history that is presented at the Smith Falls Railway Museum.

Neil Forkey is the primary author of this chapter (1999).

“Everything always takes three times longer than you think it will.”
Catherine Jahncke, Physics