3 Couples (college friends) going to above and would like to know what to do. We are renting a 3 bedroom condo and hope to do a lot of sight seeing with out getting bored. Since the 2 other couples does not play golf we are not bringing clubs. I am not sure what city we are staying in Quebec but i will post it soon. I want to start with Calabogie first. Thank you for your in advance. Bellie
going to Calabogie Toronto in June/ July and Quebec also!!!
Let me know if you decide to detour through the Nation's Capital - Ottawa. Smaller city than Montreal or Toronto, but lots to see and do here.
Ann
I did not know where Calabogie was located but it is sure way closer to Ottawa than Toronto and Quebec City. Also not so far from Montreal! I would think that is several hours drive to Toronto.
Calabogie is a bit west of Ottawa. The map shows White Lake (the village is right on the north end of the lake) where Sandy (Sanannie) lives. It takes me almost exactly 1 hour from my house in the east end of Ottawa to hers. Probably 1 1/2 hrs to Calabogie.
Ann
Duh - helps if I paste in the link for the map.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=calabogie,+ON&ie=UTF8&ll=45.431226,-76.349487&spn=0.463549,0.933838&z=10&om=1
This message was edited Nov 13, 2007 12:27 PM
Calabogie is a beautiful area. Here is a link with a few local things to do.
http://www.calabogie.com/events_localattractions.asp?site=cal
Thank you for the link. the lodge that we are staying is 1 hour away from the airport i was told. this is our first visit to Canada. I am glad there are plenty of museums for DH, who loves to spend hours reading everything. Not me!!! Too much time, would rather shop!! LOL!!! Does Canada have a lot of lobster and huge crabs??? there is a fish called black sea bass that is very pricey here and would really enjoy few lbs of it!! LOL!!!! Swordrfish in Europe was very cheap so i had my fill. Thank you. Bellie
bellieg - You'll find a lot of lobster on the East coast, but the Ottawa area is getting aways inland; so seafood has to come a distance. Huge crabs - I think most of them come from the west or nowadays, the Bering Sea area. Where do you fly to for Calabogie? There are a couple of airports out that way, but pretty small ones unless you are flying into Ottawa.
Ann
Ann,
We luck out!!! We are driving via Buffalo, will take 12 hours according to DH GPS. We will save $$$ on car rental since there are 6 of us so we should have a mini van or sUV which would have been expensive. The 2 other couples are from California and I was told that they will be coming in to Ottawa.We will spend 7 days in toronto and our 2nd week is Quebec. I am very excited.!!!Thank you!!! you. bellie
Hi Bellie,
Wow - Calabogie is only about 20 minutes from me! Are you staying at Calabogie Lodge or at Calabogie Peaks? At Calabogie Lodge, there is a wonderful restaurant we go to on special occassions. I know it will be difficult if you are travelling with other non-gardeners - but maybe I could 'steal' you for a day and we could go on a little road trip to see some gardens and nurseries? At least, I hope you can come and visit all my hostas for an hour or so (you could get your hosta fix!) Hey, there is a Museum two minutes from my house where non-gardeners could hang out while you and I talk hostas in my garden!
By the way, Bellie, to clear up any confusion, Calabogie is a town in the province of Ontario and Toronto is a city in the province of Ontario. Just as Virginia Beach is a city in your state of Virginia, of course. Which city in Quebec will you be staying? If I could choose for you, it would be Quebec City. Everyone should go to Quebec City in the summertime. The big secret, though is to stay within the walled city (the old part). It's just like being in Paris! Sidewalk cafes, caloche rides, hidden alleyways of artists, wonderful shopping, people speaking French, fantastic food, the whole ambiance is just wonderful.
OK, back to Calabogie. Do you mean you will be spending 7 days in Calabogie, Ontario? It's just a tiny town, really, so unless you like to sit poolside, or go hiking or golf, etc., you'll have to do some daytrips to experience the area. It's a beautiful area but it's out in the middle of nowhere, if you know what I mean. There's still lots to do around here. But keep in mind, if you want to do any serious shopping, you'll have to make a day trip to Ottawa. There's lots of interesting things to keep you busy in Ottawa that's for sure!
Feel free to D-Mail me too. As we only go to Calabogie occassionally, I'm not an expert of the area. However, I could give you some more links to places that might be of interest so you could build your itinerery. I could also give you some feedback for the places we've been.
Sandy
Great advice, Sandy. Of course, the accompanying people could go shopping in Ottawa or go to museums and we could all go visit Papou's garden (after you've visited mine and the Beechwood Cemetery, of course.) [BTW, have you visited the Hosta garden at the Experimental Farm recently? I keep saying I need to go, but haven't made it a priority. Can't say I was impressed the one time I saw it, but that was really before I got SERIOUSLY into Hostas.]
Day trips - I could see maybe Perth, and Pakenham areas but you, living up the valley, probably have better ideas.
I have to agree with Sandy about Quebec City. Montreal is a BIG city, albeit with a French flair, but Quebec City within the walled city is really quaint. I was lucky to live there for about 1 1/2 years when I first got married. But I've been in Ottawa since 1970.
Ann
Sandy and Ann,
This is very exciting!! Off course I want to see your garden, Dh can spend hours going to museum. We are now in Alabama since Saturday visiting our daughter so as soon as I get home I will check our itinerary where we are staying in both places.I know that we will be going to side trips to see places nearby which we always do.No golf for me this time !!! I will keep in touch. Thank you. Bellie
Calabogie is an hour north of Perth, Toronto is 4 hours west of Perth, and Perth is an hour west of Ottawa (have I confused you yet?, lol)
Perth has bits of shopping, and a pretty little town, well known for it's historic stone buildings.
enjoy your visit to Canada!
driven - I agree Perth is a lovely town! Unique shops and historical landmarks. I always make time, in the spring at least, to 'make the loop' to Perth to get to Rock Wall Gardens and Kiwi Gardens, then back through Smiths Falls and stop at that great antique place looking for 'garden art'. Found a great cast iron fireplace screen that I put at the base of my Cimicifuga to hide it's bare legs it seems to acquire by midsummer.
Sandy
Good grief Sandy, and you have never been to Richmond Nurseries???? House plant heaven!!!
lol, sanannie, if you've been to Kiwi Gardens via hwy 7, you are really close to my house.
There's an antique shop just south of Perth that has a lot of accidental cast iron yard art...... bought our windows/doors for my greenhouse there....
There are also a couple of antique shops at Balderson (just north of Perth 10 - 15 minutes) via hwy 511... in at Balderson Cheese shop
Balderson Cheese is the VERY BEST place to stop for ice cream........ on hwy 511, between Perth and Calabogie, lol
June in this area has every thing lush and green (last frost usually May 24th or so)
driven - I think I'll have to take a drive out that way next spring.
Ann
let me know when you plan to get out this way, we should get together...
Sounds like a road trip!
three - you bet I get to Richmond Nurseries at least once - they have the best selection of annuals around these parts, especially if you get there early enough. I'm a nursery hound and I love to get around and see what's new and exciting (in plants).
Sandy
I got it but has difficulty understanding which is the city or town . I think we will be occupied in Calaboogie and so I need to know about Quebec. We have reservations at a resort in Mont sainte Anne. Beaupre, QC Goa. Which one is the City? How far is it from Calaboogie? What are the sites? Accoring to DH GPS it is 220 miles so driving is not bad.DH likes driving so we can stop at interesting sites. We will go to tours too if they are available. I am so excited most especially that DH is paying for this vacation. LOL!!!! Thank you, Bellie
Mont sainte Anne - ski resort is in Beaupre, QC
http://www.mont-sainte-anne.com/1/
How to get there:
http://www.mont-sainte-anne.com/1/Nousjoindre/Commentserendre/tabid/165/Default.aspx
It's actually about 300 miles from Ottawa. Count on 4 hours to get there plus however long it takes to get through Montreal. Been a long time since I've been to Quebec City so I can't comment on the quality of the roads, but the one north of the St. Lawrence (40) is a toll road. The one south (20) is not. It's only a bit outside of Quebec City; so you'll be able to get into the city easily. Be sure to go out to Isle d'Orléans - the big island in the middle of the river. It was really picturesque when we lived in Quebec City although that was a long time ago. Check it out on Google Earth if you have it.
Bellie,
As Ann mentioned, Mont Sainte-Anne's claim to fame is it's winter skiing. I've never been there, been certainly heard of it.
I found another website for you. I don't know whether you'll be staying in these particular chalets, of course, but they have excellent information under 'Activities' of things to do in the area.
http://www.chalets-village.com/index_en.html
According to the website, you'll be only 30 minutes from downtown old-Quebec City. It looks like there'll be lots to keep you busy. Even the Pope is visiting the area June 15-22! (see Activities page and click on Calender of Events).
Sandy
Ann,
Thank you for the link,I am glad it is summer vacation because I do not ski. The reason why I am asking what we can do in both places because the 2 other couples are from California and are very concern on how to spend the 2 weeks. Thay are used to guided and escorted tours.DH and I like to drive taking our time infact we went last month to Palm spring to play golf for 1 week and spent 2nd week in Reno via Pacfic Coast.The view at the Pacific Coast is amazing. I like to go back to San Francisco ,we only spent just a day which was not enough. We spent a day in Tahoe and a day at the yosemete park.
Maybe someone else will add to what you just told me. Thank you again. Bellie
Sandy,
We will be satying at the club vacancesToutes Saisons and as I told Anne I am glad it is summer because I do not ski.Thank you for the link. Bellie
This message was edited Nov 18, 2007 5:36 PM
I mentioned Isle d'Orléans. Dunno if it is still true, but they used to grow strawberries there big time. Brought them into the city to peddle in July. So you could probably get your fill.
Ann,
I love strawberries especially the huge ones like Cailfornias. I like to eat them with little sea salt. Yum!!!! Good night . Bellie