Fall trip - upstate NY to Canada

[gummybear]

It’s our 20th anniversary this year and we’d like to get away for a long weekend. H has suggested Canada. We see two possibilities - Niagara Falls or Montreal. We’re coming from Philadelphia so both trips are roughly the same distance. We’d like to spend a night in NY along the way. Any suggestions for which is better? We like to eat, I’m not a drinker, he’s not into any sort of history. We’re not busy people, we’re more interested in relaxing and peacefulness.

ETA: It would be early/mid November bc we have to wait for XC to be finished but both girls (grade school and high school).

[momin2013]

I love both regions, especially in the Fall.

Niagara Falls itself (at least the touristy section) isn’t that big and you could see it in a day. If you’ve never seen the Falls before, though, it is absolutely worthwhile seeing. If you go this route, other things to do in the area would be Niagara-on-the-Lake (a cute town that you can see in about half a day), and wineries.

Montreal is a very large city with tons to see, do and eat. I personally think you could spend the better part of a week there and not run out of things to do. For a shorter trip, I’d probably focus on the waterfront area, as there is a lot that would be walkable just within that area alone. For a longer trip, you could add in the Mont Tremblant area, which is beautiful (although by November, weather will likely be getting pretty cold).

[livinitup]

I support both options! I have done both and loved both trips.

I will report back when I have more time to share details.

Question: What is your max drive time before you want to stop for the night? Pennsylvania to either location would be a straight drive for us but everyone is different. How far south are you from Philly? Just so I have an idea of drive time and what to suggest for overnight in NY.

[eb777888]

We went to Toronto/Niagra Falls this past summer and I took momin2013 advice and spent part of the day at Niagara-on-the Lake and we ate at one of the wineries. I know you don't drink, but we ate outside overlooking all of the vineyards. The view was so beautiful and it's just a lovely area. I'd definitely call it peaceful.

[gummybear]

Mar 23, 2024 10:36:17 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I support both options! I have done both and loved both trips.

I will report back when I have more time to share details.

Question: What is your max drive time before you want to stop for the night? Pennsylvania to either location would be a straight drive for us but everyone is different. How far south are you from Philly? Just so I have an idea of drive time and what to suggest for overnight in NY.

We are about 45 minutes NW of Center City. We’re right off 202, 309 and fairly close to Willow Grove on the PA Turnpike or Lansdale on the NE extension. We’d prob leave mid day Friday, drive for 4-5 hours and have dinner along the way in NY, wake up, sightsee and then drive to Canada by dinner, and use the next two days there and slog home in a straight shot Monday night.

[twilightmv]

I would pick Montreal over Niagara Falls!! Niagara Falls is basically a tourist trap.

[gummybear]

Mar 23, 2024 10:40:19 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

We went to Toronto/Niagra Falls this past summer and I took momin2013 advice and spent part of the day at Niagara-on-the Lake and we ate at one of the wineries. I know you don't drink, but we ate outside overlooking all of the vineyards. The view was so beautiful and it's just a lovely area. I'd definitely call it peaceful.

I can def be coerced into a nice cocktail or glass of wine 😃 I should clarify that I don’t drink as an activity anymore. This sounds absolutely lovely,

[eb777888]

I'll add, I think NF was really fun and a great day trip, but if I had to pick between the two, I'd choose one of the cities. We did Toronto and Niagra, but if we had to choose between the two, I'd do just Toronto. I've never been to Montreal but I've heard really good things about it. It's definitely on my list.

[livinitup]

Mar 23, 2024 10:42:40 GMT -5 gummybear said:

Mar 23, 2024 10:36:17 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I support both options! I have done both and loved both trips.

I will report back when I have more time to share details.

Question: What is your max drive time before you want to stop for the night? Pennsylvania to either location would be a straight drive for us but everyone is different. How far south are you from Philly? Just so I have an idea of drive time and what to suggest for overnight in NY.

We are about 45 minutes NW of Center City. We’re right off 202, 309 and fairly close to Willow Grove on the PA Turnpike or Lansdale on the NE extension. We’d prob leave mid day Friday, drive for 4-5 hours and have dinner along the way in NY, wake up, sightsee and then drive to Canada by dinner, and use the next two days there and slog home in a straight shot Monday night.

That sounds like a great plan and it puts you in Syracuse for dinner and a hotel - especially for Niagara Falls. Syracuse is a great jumping off point for NF because it’s a straight shot west and 3 hours in the morning to Buffalo (then over the bridge to the Canada side). If you want to get closer to NF, staying in Rochester is an option, too. Lots of hotels and dining. Definitely stay on the Canadian side of the falls. It’s not worth it to tour around in Buffalo (sorry, Buffalo!). We did 2 days at the falls and it was a great trip. There are lots of hotels - try to get one with a view of the falls, they light them up at night. During the day, we walked all around and took the tours under the falls. I’ve been twice and it’s great. Lots of walking. They also have casinos but I didn’t do that. We stayed outdoors and followed the many touristy destinations. The days felt full.

Montreal is a great trip, too. It’s farther from Syracuse and adds driving time (at least another 1 1/2 hours) and probably feels longer. If you want to get more driving done on your first leg, there isn’t much passed Syracuse (heading north). It’s easy enough to find a hotel and diner along 81 North but not much else. Alexandria Bay is your last town before the bridge with nice views of the St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands (there are hotel options here with & without the views). My recommendation for a hotel is 1000 Island Harbor Hotel in Clayton - www.1000islandsharborhotel.com/(this hotel has a nice dining room and beautiful grounds to walk around and nice walkable shops for breakfast in the morning)

Montréal is a wonderful city and everyone speaks French as their first language so it really has an international feel. We also found it drivable on the weekend, so we got to see a lot of the city. I visited and enjoyed Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. It’s gorgeous. Find and eat poutine at least twice.

Syracuse has lots of hotels and restaurants. It’s extremely easy to drive around and park. It’s a small city but there are places for dinner. Dinasaur-BBQ is popular (no reservations) and so is Pastabilities (make a reservation). A great Irish pub is Coleman’s. Look at the area around Pastabilities for lots of restaurants in walking distance. Lemon Grass is fancy. Lots of smaller bars, too. Jefferson Clinton hotel is within walking distance to lots of restaurants (Pastabilities, Lemon Grass) in Amory Square.

[Velar Fricative]

It sounds like NF is better for your travel style but Montreal is one of my favorite cities, so I’d still recommend Montreal. There’s just so much to do and see there but you don’t have to overwhelm yourself to do and see all of it, so you can keep it as chill as you want it to be.

[gummybear]

OK, this is all great feedback! Thank you!
Two things - Syracuse University is potentially a school for DD1, so I am considering that we could do that trip with the kids early next summer so she could visit. I think the kids would enjoy the falls too. I KNOW I would love the falls bc I am a huge water person (I know that sounds dumb) and it would def. be the more peaceful of the trips and all things considered, I know it's a better fit overall. If I go somewhere with lots to do I tend to get paralyzed with indecision and end up doing nothing. Montreal is a bucket list item for me as well and I think it's better suited for a couples trip. So it's probably the better choice for the occasion?

I'm going to run this all by H is and see what he thinks!

[wanderingback]

Mar 23, 2024 10:52:12 GMT -5 twilightmv said:

I would pick Montreal over Niagara Falls!! Niagara Falls is basically a tourist trap.

Yeah I was gonna say this.
I loved my trip to Montreal and would definitely go back (I went solo and my partner and I have been talking about going together). The last time I was in Niagara Falls I was a teen and it was for a soccer tournament. I might go back when my daughter is older as I think it might be a fun place with a kid. But I def wouldn’t pick Niagara for an adult getaway.