Canada: Ontario and Quebec

Capital: Ottawa

Largest City: Toronto

Population: 40.1 million

Currency: Canadian Dollar

Languages: English, French

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Canada is a beautiful country with ten provinces and three territories. It is one of the largest countries in the world. Most of the population lives within 100 miles of the border of the United States. Ontario and Quebec are two of those provinces. They are situated next to each other, but they could not be more different. Ontario has the largest city and capital of Canada. Quebec is the only predominantly French-speaking province.

Ontario: A Bicycle Ride, Toronto and Niagara Falls

I grew up not too far from the Canadian border. After 21 years, I finally made it across to Canada for the first time in 2014. My boyfriend (now husband) and I took a fifty-mile roundtrip bicycle ride to Marine City, Michigan where we took a ferry ride across to Sombra, Ontario. Unfortunately, we went on a Monday and everything in Sombra, as we learned, was closed on Mondays. Despite not being able to see or do anything in Sombra, I did enjoy my first visit ever in a new country. Most people drive or fly into their first country, but I got to take a bicycle.

Since visiting Sombra, we have visited Ontario several more times (being married to a dual Canadian/American citizen has its advantages). We have done multiple trips to Sarnia. We did a trip to Toronto in August of 2014 where we visited the Hockey Hall of Fame. We had plans to explore more of Toronto, but my husband recommended visiting Toronto Island. We loved exploring Toronto Island and the clothing optional beach, and spent most of our time on the island rather than in the city.

Viewing the Toronto skyline and watching airplanes from Toronto Island

We've also been to Niagara Falls twice -- once in April of 2015 and again in July of 2026. Niagara Falls is amazing. It was the first waterfall I have ever seen, and it really does make each waterfall I visit afterwards seem disappointing because it takes a lot to compare to Niagara. Niagara Falls sits on the border of Canada and the United States. You can walk across a bridge between the two countries for a small fee. Both sides have a number of options to do with restaurants, attractions -- the Canadian side has a bit more options, especially considering the largest fall is on the Canadian side.

Getting soaked by Niagara Falls

Quebec: Montreal, Quebec and Mother Nature

When I was younger, I had a French Canadian radio station that I would listen to. That station was music to my ears as I fell in love with the Québécois accent.

I have always wanted to explore Quebec and hear the accent that I fell in love with.  In high school, I took French and the class would always take a student trip to Montreal. When I was in the class, it was the last year of the class, so we did not get that option. Since than, I've always wanted to find a way to explore the city and see the Notre-Dame Basilica.

We went to the largest city in Quebec, Montreal, for the first time in early March of 2015. It had snowed 5 inches the day prior and made for a very snowy, difficult visit.

At the end of April of 2024, we returned and I thought the weather would be different than the initial visit in 2015, but silly me, I underestimated the power of mother nature. We arrived in 60 degree weather. The next day it was windy, rainy and cold. And it started to snow on our walk back from the basilica!

Despite the weather trying to damper our trip, we did try to make the most of our time in Montreal. We ate a smoked meat sandwich at the 1928 famous deli, Schwartz's. We also went to Montreal Biodome, which showed animals that live in different regions around the world. It did not have as many animals as I hoped for, and I saw a few of the animals there in the wild on previous trips and left a bit disappointed. I also finally got to see the Notre-Dame Basilica, which was as grand and beautiful as I expected.

The magnificent pipe organ of the Notre-Dame Basilica

Once finished with Montreal, we went the capital of Quebec, Quebec City. We stayed in historic Quebec City. It was 18 degrees and blistering cold. We had a poutine dinner, and the cold walk must have been too much for my husband to handle as I had to explore historic Quebec City alone the next morning.

After exploring Quebec City, we debated on what to do next. After not enjoying the Biodome, I decided to skip the planned aquarium visit and instead drove north to Saguenay.

In each of my visits to Quebec, I have fallen in love with the snowy mountains with the cellphone towers sitting on top. The drive to Saguenay was a perfect way to spend our final day in the province and see the snowy mountains that I love.

Falling in love with the snowy mountains of Quebec

Two more places of note that we visited are: Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! and Riviére-du-Loup. Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! is not very big, but we wanted a photo with the welcome sign because of its amazing name! In Riviére-du-Loup, we enjoyed a chicken dinner for my husband's birthday that took absolutely forever at the diner next to our hotel.

Final Thoughts

Canada is one of my favorite countries. I am glad I finally got to see Quebec after all these years. Quebec is currently my favorite Canadian province. Ontario has a lot going for it as well with Toronto and Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is unforgettable.