Ottawa accommodations welcome you to a destination nicknamed “The City That Fun Forgot”. Known for its museums, art galleries, riverfront parks / beaches, waterfalls, hiking areas, Beaver Tails (fried dough), Canadian cheese, maple chocolate and hockey tradition, Ottawa is located at the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers’ confluence in southeastern Ontario. About 2 hours west of Montreal and 3.5 hours northwest of Burlington Vermont (driving), Ottawa’s iconic riverfront forms a natural border between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Ottawa is about midway between Quebec City (northeasterly) and Toronto (southwesterly).
Ottawa main attractions: Parliament Hill (neo-Gothic complex / Canada’s legislature – artworks, tours), CF Rideau Centre (shopping mall), ByWard Market (Beaver Tails origin, outdoor farmers market stalls, specialty food stalls, street art, retail / crafts stores, eateries), Canadian Museum of Nature, National Gallery of Canada (art gallery), Canadian War Museum, Canada Science and Technology Museum, Ottawa Train Yards (shopping mall), JOEY Rideau (restaurant), Canada Aviation and Space Museum, TD Place (stadium), Mooney’s Bay Park and Beach (riverfront park – beach swimming, playgrounds, sledding hill, family events / festivals), Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica (19th-century Catholic church), Hog’s Back Park (waterfalls, dam, hiking trails, green space, picnic areas), Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum (massive underground bunker museum – exhibits, military artifacts, events), Britannia Park and Beach, Commissioners Park (lakeside park – paths, picnic areas, tulip festival), Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Royal Canadian Mint (museum), Major’s Hill Park (city park – walking paths, seasonal events / gardens, river views), Mer Bleue Bog (boardwalk trail), Strathcona Park (riverfront park – seasonal splash pad, paths, benches, shade trees), Rockcliffe Park and the Rockeries, Ottawa Art Gallery, Remic Rapids Park (riverfront park – balanced rock sculptures), Fitzroy Provincial Park (wooded park – swimming beaches, boating, hiking trails, centennial trees, campgrounds), Stanley Park (riverside park), Chapman Mills Conservation Area (nature preserve), South March Highlands Conservation Forest (457-hectare nature preserve – hiking, mountain biking), Westboro Beach, Rink of Dreams (outdoor ice skating rink), Pinhey’s Point Historic Site (museum), Pine Grove Trail (hiking area), Eagle Creek Golf Club, Dewberry Trail (hiking area)
The Ottawa Senators play at Canadian Tire Centre on the southwest side. In Ottawa, English is widely spoken, though learning some French words and phrases might be helpful. Ottawa’s currency is the Canadian Dollar, cars travel on the right-hand side and the drinking age is 19 years old. Ottawa accommodations are some of eastern Canada’s best. Before we get to Ottawa accommodations, let’s take a look at some more background information on the area to help you along the way.
The word “Ottawa” derives from the Ottawa River, whose name itself comes from the Algonquin adawe, meaning “to trade”. Around 6,500 years ago, indigenous peoples settled in the Ottawa region after the Champlain Sea receded. As evidenced by archaeological findings (arrowheads, tools, pottery), the Algonquin likely engaged in hunting, fishing, foraging and trading. Thus, the area served as an important trade / travel center for thousands of years. During the 15th century, Europeans began settling and colonizing North America. Huron interpreter and guide Étienne Brûlé became the first known European to pass through the Ottawa-area on his way to the Great Lakes circa 1610. French explorer Samuel de Champlain, three years after Brûlé, passed through the area and wrote of its waterfalls and his encounters with the Algonquins. New England farmer, lumberman and entrepreneur Philemon Wright founded the area’s first non-Indigenous settlement, a lumber town (present-day Hull), on the river’s north side March 7, 1800. Wright’s Town became an agricultural town comprised of 6 families and 25 laborers. Pioneering the Ottawa Valley timber trade, which fueled the local economy, Wright transported timber via river from the Ottawa Valley to Quebec City. The British arrived in 1826 to construct the Rideau Canal and establish a community on the river’s south side. “Bytown” was named after British Lieutenant-Colonel John By, who oversaw the Rideau Canal’s construction. The Rideau Canal would help provide a secure route between Montreal and Kingston Ontario for supply ships, which were exposed to enemy fire near the border of New York during the War of 1812. Modern Parliament Hill was originally occupied by military barracks. Lieutenant-Colonel By also laid out a street grid and created the neighborhoods of Upper & Lower Towns. Upper Town was comprised of English-speaking Protestants, while Lower Town housed French / Irish Catholics. In 1827, ByWard Market was established. The Rideau Canal was completed in 1832, a year in which the area’s population had eclipsed 1,000. Arising from tensions amongst lumber operators, Shiners’ War (1835-1845) between Irish-Catholic immigrants and French Canadians led to Irish arrests. “King of the Shiners” Peter Aylen departed for Lower Canada near the conflict’s end, and the Shiners fizzled out. Evidenced by the 1849 Stony Monday Riot, Tories objected Bytown’s consideration as the Province of Canada’s capital. Nevertheless, Bytown was renamed and incorporated as Ottawa in 1855, and two years later became capital. Ottawa was chosen as capital due to its isolated location at the border between Canada West and Canada East. During the 1850s, lumber barons built some of the world’s largest sawmills in Ottawa. Parliament Hill, originally a limestone outcrop in primeval forest, was constructed between 1859 and 1876. Rail lines were built in 1854 and by 1885, Ottawa had become Canada’s only city with downtown street-lights powered entirely by electricity. The original Ottawa Senators ice hockey team, one of Canada’s first organized hockey clubs, existed from 1883 to 1954. Chaudière Falls hydroelectric generators started being utilized by local industrialists through “water leases” in 1889. In 1870, a horsecar transportation system began operating, but was replaced in the 1890s by an electric streetcar system, which ran until 1959. The 1900 Hull–Ottawa fire devastated much of Hull and Ottawa. Château Laurier hotel and Union Station opened alongside the Grand Trunk Railway on June 1, 1912. The city’s original Centre Block, destroyed by fire on February 3, 1916, was subsequently rebuilt in 1922, centered around Peace Tower. A former commercial district, Confederation Square was coronated by King George VI in 1939. The 1960 Greber Plan was implemented to make the National Capital Region more aesthetically pleasing, fit for a political scene. The 1960s-80s saw a large uptick in construction. Grant and Pam Hooker, founders of the legendary Beaver Tails pastry enterprise, opened their first store in Ottawa circa 1980. High tech was ushered into the city during the 1990s-2000s.
Canada’s capital, Ottawa today is home to over 1 million “Ottawans”. Ottawa is Canada’s fourth largest city, and naturally the country’s governmental center. Building height restrictions have kept Ottawa’s skyline minimal, though its tallest building is Claridge Icon at 469 feet. The oldest part of the city, known as Lower Town, is located between the Rideau Canal and rivers. Earthquakes, though rare, are possible due to the city’s location within the Western Quebec Seismic Zone. Home to a humid continental climate, Ottawa experiences four distinct seasons. Humidity is common during peak summertime, while snow and ice are typically abundant throughout winter. Additional points of interest include Downtown Ottawa, Rogers Centre, Centre Block on Parliament Hill, National War Memorial, Rideau Canal Skateway, Peace Tower (bell / clock tower), Library of Parliament, National Arts Centre, Gatineau Park, Discovery Trail (hiking trail), Lusk Cave (hiking area), Lac Philippe – Parc de la Gatineau (beach), Mont Cascades (waterpark), Eco-Odyssee (tourist attraction), Cafe Le Hibou (restaurant) and Caverne Laflèche par Arbraska (amusement park). Local foods include poutine (French fries, cheese curds, gravy), smoked meats, bacon, lobster rolls, bagels, bannock (flat-bread), butter tarts, French toast and Beaver Tails. Popular drinks are whiskey, lager beer, wine, various cocktails and hot chocolate. With some background information on the area, we’re ready for Ottawa accommodations that will help make for a fun trip.
B&B amenities: outdoor pool, solarium with wrap-around terrace, hot tub, wooden floors, flat-screen TVs, spa baths, common living room with a baby grand piano & fireplace, dining room with antiques, artwork & Victorian furnishings, breakfast (bacon, eggs, eggs benedict, waffles)
So there they are, Ottawa accommodations that will help make for a memorable trip. We hope you have found this information valuable and most of all, that you enjoy your time in Canada!
Vancouver accommodations welcome you to a destination with several nicknames. Known for its seaplanes, ferries, ski resorts, beaches, bridges, mountains, seafront, parks, gardens, squares, theatres, museums, art galleries and churches, Vancouver is located in southeastern British Columbia, 127 miles north of Seattle, Washington. A seaport city, Vancouver lies across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver Island. Once referred to as “Gastown” after John “Gassy Jack” Deighton, Vancouver has grown from a small saloon town into a major Canadian city. Gastown, the city’s first neighborhood, exists to this day and is home to Victorian buildings, restaurants, cocktail lounges, art galleries, souvenir shops and its iconic, whistling Steam Clock.
Vancouver main attractions: Stanley Park (beaches, trails, family attractions, seawall), Gastown Steam Clock (steam-powered, antique-style clock that whistles – built 1977), Canada Place (convention center), Granville Island Public Market, English Bay Beach (beach, volleyball courts, concession stand, café), Queen Elizabeth Park (set on a hill, manicured gardens, conservatory, sculptures, sports courts), Science World (science museum), BC Place (stadium), Rogers Arena, Vancouver Art Gallery, VanDusen Botanical Garden (greenery, flowers, art installations, fine dining, café), CF Pacific Centre (shopping mall), Vancouver Aquarium, Sunset Beach Park (bayside, sandy beach, open lawn, sunset views), Kitsilano Beach Park (sand, lawn, playground, tennis courts, heated outdoor saltwater pool), Totem Poles (nine totem poles preserved from remote British Columbia areas), Jericho Beach Park (bayside, sandy beach, picnic fields, sports courts, sailing center), Museum of Anthropology at UBC (heritage museum). Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Orpheum Theatre
Bordering / surrounding Vancouverpoints of interest:Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Lighthouse Park | West Vancouver (forest, trails, cedar / fir trees, lighthouse, city views), Cypress Provincial Park (hiking trails, road biking, ski resort), Cypress Mountain (ski resort), Grouse Mountain (ski resort), Cleveland Dam (long-running dam, spillway, hatchery, trails, vistas), Norvan Falls (waterfall), Buntzen Lake Recreation Area (reservoir, sandy beach area, picnic tables, boat launches, docks, hiking trails), Crystal Falls (waterfall), Golden Ears Provincial Park (lake, 3 campgrounds, hiking trails), WildPlay Maple Ridge (amusement park), Mundy Park (forest habitat, 2 lakes, sports facilities, disc golf, outdoor pool), Deer Lake Park (picnic areas, lakeside trails, art gallery, other attractions), Fraserview Golf Course, Garry Point Park (riverside park, modern sculpture, Japanese garden, beach access, snack bar)
One of the NHL’s oldest teams never to have won a Stanley Cup, the Vancouver Canucks play downtown at Rogers Arena. A popular movie and television filming location due to its impressive scenery, Vancouver is sometimes referred to as “Hollywood North”. The Vancouver Seawall along Stanley Park’s perimeter is the world’s largest uninterrupted paved path. When in Vancouver, keep in mind that fall-spring can be rainy, with minimal snowfall. Generally, the city is considered safe. Vancouver’s currency is the Canadian Dollar, cars travel on the right-hand side and the drinking age is 19 years old. Vancouver accommodations are some of western Canada’s best. Before we get to Vancouver accommodations, let’s take a look at some more background information on the area to help you along the way.
As evidenced by archaeological discoveries, Aboriginal peoples of the Coast Salish group are thought to have inhabited the Vancouver-area for at least 8,000 years. In 1791, Spanish naval officer, explorer and navigator José María Narváez became, possibly, the first European to explore Point Grey and the Burrard Inlet, though Francis Drake may have first navigated the area circa 1579. The first-known Europeans to step foot on Vancouver land were North West Company trader Simon Fraser and his crew, who in 1808 sailed from the east down the Fraser River. In 1858, the Fraser Gold Rush saw 25,000 men pass through nearby New Westminster on their way to Fraser Canyon. Vancouver’s first European settlement dates to 1862 at McCleery’s Farm on the Fraser River. In present-day North Vancouver, a sawmill was established the following year. Captain Edward Stamp built more sawmills, with Hastings Mill forming the eventual city’s nucleus. English-Canadian John Deighton established a makeshift tavern close to Hastings Mill, in what would become known as Gastown. Nicknamed “Gassy Jack” due to his talkative nature and storytelling ability, Deighton built his Globe Saloon with the help of idle sawmill workers, who, in exchange, were given all the whisky they could drink in one sitting. With the establishment of Granville townsite, which would later become the townsite of Vancouver, the Globe Saloon was demolished in the 1870s. In the 1880s, installation of the Canadian Pacific Railway diminished Hastings Mill’s central role at the settlement, though the mill remained important to the local economy until its closure in the 1920s. A relatively young city, Vancouver was incorporated on April 6, 1886, around which time the first transcontinental train arrived. Vancouver was named after British Royal Navy officer George Vancouver, who explored and charted North America’s northwest Pacific Coast. On June 13, 1886, the Great Vancouver Fire razed the entire city. As a result, the Vancouver Fire Department was established in the same year, and the city rebuilt quickly. From 1881 to 1911, Vancouver’s population grew from around 1,000 to 20,000. In the 1890s, Woodward’s, Spencer’s, and Hudson’s Bay department stores formed the core of the city’s retail sector, with fur becoming a hot item. Logging, railway commerce, sugar refining and seaport exports remained major economic contributors into the 20th century. Labor strikes were prevalent in the early 1900s. Internment work camps were set up during the Great Depression. During World War I, alcohol was prohibited in the city, and thereafter opium became a rising problem in the Chinatown and Japantown areas. As a consequence of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Vancouver’s Japanese-Canadian population was either interned or deported and was never allowed to return, resulting in Japantown’s demise.
Seaside in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia, Vancouver is home to around 660,000 “Vancouverites”. One of Canada’s, as well as the world’s, most livable cities, Vancouver ranks as Canada’s highest in terms of population density, albeit second-highest behind Toronto in cost of living. The Port of Vancouver is America’s fourth-largest port by tonnage. Forestry and tourism are the area’s largest industries today. In 2017, over 10 million people visited the city. Vancouver Island, which shields the city from the Pacific Ocean, is the largest by area and most populous island along the Americas’ entire western coastline, while Stanley Park is one of North America’s largest parks. Visible from most areas in the city, the northerly North Shore Mountains rise to a height of 6,663 feet. Southeasterly, Washington state’s snow-capped Mount Baker volcano can be seen on clear days. Home to one of Canada’s mildest and most temperate climates, Vancouver experiences warm summers and mild winters. Summer highs average in the low 70s degrees Fahrenheit, while winters remain above freezing. Additional points of interest include Vogue Theatre, Commodore Ballroom, Gastown, Granville Entertainment District, Downtown Vancouver, Granville Island, Chinatown, Harbour Centre, VIFF Centre, Pacific Coliseum, Port of Vancouver, Robson Square, Lions Gate Bridge and University of British Columbia. Local foods include oysters and various other seafoods (salmon, halibut, sablefish, prawns, crab, etc.). Wine naturally pairs well with seafood and is found notably at Vancouver Island vineyards. Craft beer is popular throughout the city. A gin-based cocktail known as the “Vancouver” consists of sweet vermouth, Benedictine, orange bitters and lemon peels. With some background information on the area, we’re ready for Vancouver accommodations that will help make for a remarkable experience.
Hotel amenities:indoor swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, tablet computers, coffee machines, desks, hairdryers, 24-hour front desk, laundry facilities, business center
Hotel amenities: cocktail lounge, indoor pool, spa, wellness center, European Oak hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling windows (that open partially), free Wi-Fi, 55″ to 65’’ Samsung TVs, Nespresso coffee machines, Italian heated marble bathroom floors, bathrobes, slippers, 24-hour front desk, bike / car rentals
Hotel amenities: library, outdoor heated salt water lap pool, garden patio, hot tub, 24-hour gym, fireplaces, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, Italian marble bathrooms, bathrobes, concierge service, business center
Hotel amenities:multiple dining & lounge options, indoor saltwater lap pool, spa, gym, flat-screen TVs, spa-inspired bathrooms with heated floors, bathrobes, slippers, 24-hour room service, business center, car rental service
Hotel amenities:restaurant, bar, city / courtyard views, fitness center, Nespresso machines, desks, heated bathroom floors, 24-hour room service, bicycles
Hotel amenities: multiple dining options, rooftop with a pool, lounge, fire pits, spa, hot tub, gym, flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, iPads, coffee makers, in-room safes, bathrobes, 24-hour in-room dining service
Hotel amenities: restaurant, spa, fitness center, yoga mats, floor-to-ceiling windows, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, designer bath amenities, 24-hour room service, concierge service, business center, car / bicycle service
Approximate cost per night (Premium One-Bedroom Suite): $758
So there they are, Vancouver accommodations that will help make for a memorable experience. We hope you have found this information valuable and most of all, that you enjoy your time in Canada!
Toronto accommodations welcome you to a destination nicknamed “Hogtown”. Known for its skyline, streetcars, parks, gardens, ravines, outdoor skating rinks, beaches, squares, museums, theaters, conference / event centers, shopping malls and sporting events, Toronto is located across Lake Ontario from Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York. The Toronto downtown-area’s Inner Harbor is shielded largely by Centre Island. Due-east of the Inner Harbor, the Port of Toronto lies within the Port Lands area.
Bordering / surrounding the city: Humber Bay Park West (lakeside, dog-friendly, picnic spot, shorebirds, bike / foot paths), Humber Bay Park East (lakeside, butterfly habitat, cycling trails, ponds), Humber Bay Arch Bridge (lakeside, Martin Goodman Trail, walkers / cyclists), Humber Bay Shores Park (lakeside, birdwatching, pathways, skyline views), Colonel Samuel Smith Park (lakeside, off-leash area, ice skating trail, bird watching, hiking), Marie Curtis Park (beach, splash pad, picnic spots, off-leash dog zone), Toronto Golf Club, Centennial Park Conservatory (greenhouse, 200+ tropical plant species, arid cacti section), Bubble Planet: An Immersive Experience (exhibit), Earl Bales Park (amphitheater, playgrounds, dog area, sports, sensory garden), Alexander Muir Memorial Garden (landscaped, colorful flowerbeds, footpaths), Sherwood Park (leafy, playground, wading pools, off-leash dog area, wooded boardwalks, trails), Toronto Botanical Garden, Comedy Bar Danforth (comedy club), Balmy Beach Park (lakefront, kayak rentals, volleyball, boardwalk trails, beach, gym equipment), Scarboro Crescent Park (lawned clifftop, lake views, playground, splash pad, 4 tennis courts), Bluffer’s Park Beach
Second in NHL trophies behind only their rival Canadiens, the Toronto Maple Leafs have won 13 Stanley Cups. Both the Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors play downtown at Scotiabank Arena. Not far westward from Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre is home to MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays, winners of two World Series titles. When visiting Toronto, keep in mind that traffic can get congested, especially during rush hour. Naturally, roadways may be icy in winter. When taking public transportation, allow people to exit before entering. On sidewalks, escalators and corridors, keep to the right when standing or walking slowly. Purchasing event / sports tickets well in advance is recommended, while 15-20% is customary when tipping. Toronto’s currency is the Canadian Dollar, cars travel on the right-hand side and the drinking age is 19 years old. Toronto accommodations are some of Canada’s best. Before we get to Toronto accommodations, let’s take a look at some more background information on the area to help you along the way.
Archaeological evidence suggests that humans have occupied the Toronto-area for thousands of years. Huron, Iroquois, and Ojibwe native tribes established the area at the entrance to one of the oldest northwesterly trade routes. The word “Toronto” gets its roots from an Iroquoian word that means “place where trees stand in the water”. Natives used tree saplings to help corral fish. Ganatsekwyagon and Teiaiagon, two Iroquois villages, were established in the area during the 1660s. The Iroquois, having abandoned Ganatsekwyagon and Teiaiagon at the end of the Beaver Wars, were replaced by the Mississauga at the turn of the 18th century. In 1750, French traders founded Fort Rouillé (present-day Exhibition Place). Like the Iroquois, however, the French abandoned the area in 1759 during the Seven Years’ War. After Britain defeated France circa 1763, the area became part of Britain’s Quebec colony. The Toronto Purchase, through which the Mississauga surrendered to the British Crown, secured more than a quarter-million acres of land for Britain during the American Revolutionary War. The area’s first town (in present-day Old Town) was named York in 1793 by Governor John Graves Simcoe. Following the War of 1812’s Battle of York, the United States briefly captured and plundered the town. The United State’s acts of arson and looting instilled a strong sense of Canadian nationalism that helped forge the nation. On March 6, 1834, York was incorporated as the City of Toronto, with Scottish Canadian-American journalist William Lyon Mackenzie becoming the city’s first mayor. In 1834, slavery was banned in Upper Canada, and Toronto absorbed some United States slaves. Irish Catholics resettled in Toronto as a consequence of the Great Irish Famine, and by 1851, Irish-born became the city’s largest single ethnic group. Smaller numbers of Orange Order Protestant Irish immigrants were welcomed by the Scottish and English. From 1850 to 1950, nearly every Toronto mayor was a member of the Orange Order, and the city was once referred to as “Belfast of Canada”. Twice briefly Toronto was the Province of Canada’s capital. During the 19th century, an extensive sewage system, gas street lights and long-distance railway lines were constructed. Toronto was North America’s largest alcohol distillation center in the latter-half of the 19th century, with Gooderham and Worts Distillery becoming the world’s largest whiskey factory by the 1860s. In 1891, electric streetcars replaced horse-drawn streetcars. A large section of downtown was destroyed during the 1904 Great Toronto Fire. The Toronto Transportation Commission, later renamed the Toronto Transit Commission, became publicly owned circa 1921. By 1934, the Toronto Stock Exchange had become Canada’s largest stock exchange. After World War II, a land boom ensued. Toronto experienced an influx of Chinese job-seekers and Italian / Portuguese construction laborers and, subsequently, immigrants from all over the world. In 1976, CN Tower was completed. Toronto surpassed Montreal as Canada’s most populous city by the 1980s.
Ontario’s capital and most populous city, Toronto is home to around 2.8 million “Torontonians”. Hogtown is also North America’s fourth-most populous city. The city’s nickname comes from its large meatpacking and livestock trading industry, which started in the late 19th century. The Toronto region received around 43 million visitors in the year 2017. Once the world’s, and presently the Western Hemisphere’s, tallest free-standing structure, Toronto’s iconic CN Tower reaches 1,815 feet in height. Port of Toronto cruise lines include Viking, Victory and Pearl. Although over 160 languages are spoken in Toronto, English is the city’s primary language. Toronto Stock Exchange is the world’s 7th-largest stock exchange. The largest ravine system of any world city, the Toronto ravine system, consisting of deep ravines and large urban forest, is spread out over 42 square miles. Accessible by ferry, Centre Island, a part of the Toronto Islands, is a fine place to take children and to view the city’s skyline. Additional points of interest include Downtown, Old Town, Exhibition Place, Scarborough Bluffs (sedimentary rock cliffs, beaches, trails, parks), Rouge National Urban Park (29 square mile urban park), Royal Alexandra Theatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Roy Thomson Hall, Princess of Wales Theatre, Massey Hall, Meridian Arts Centre, Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres, Meridian Hall, Ontario Place, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Humber Bay Arch Bridge (pedestrian / bicycle through arch bridge), Toronto Islands (15 small island chain), James Gardens (botanical garden), University College and Woodbine Racetrack. Local foods include poutine (fries, cheese curds and gravy), peameal bacon sandwiches (cooked peameal bacon on a Kaiser roll topped with mustard / other toppings), smoked meats, salted codfish, sushi pizza, dim sum, tourtiere (French-Canadian meat pie), Montreal bagels (smaller, sweeter, wood-fired, larger holes), bannock (flatbread), donair (Turkish kebab), butter tarts (small pastries), maple cookies and BeaverTails (fried dough). Canada’s national drink is the Caesar, a type of bloody Mary, while the Toronto cocktail consists of Canadian whiskey, bitters, and sugar. Popular also are lager beer, and coffee / hot chocolate during wintertime. With some background information on the area, we’re ready for Toronto accommodations that will help make for an exciting trip.
Hotel amenities: restaurant, bar, à la carte, continental or gluten-free breakfast, fitness center, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, desks, 24-hour front desk, currency exchange, concierge service, tour desk
Hotel amenities: indoor pool, terrace, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, 24-hour front desk, currency exchange, business center
Nearby restaurants / pubs:La Fenice (Italian restaurant), Victor Restaurant (Modern French restaurant), Nobu Toronto (restaurant), Tahini’s (Middle Eastern restaurant), Khao San Road (Thai restaurant), Bar Hop (gastropub)
Hotel amenities: restaurant, bar, à la carte breakfast, outdoor swimming pool, terrace, fitness center, free Wi-Fi, 24-hour front desk, concierge service, private parking
Roy Thomson Hall | Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Princess of Wales Theater
Hotel amenities: multiple dining & bar outlets, lake / skyline views, indoor salt water pool, spa, sauna, hot tub, 24-hour fitness center, floor-to-ceiling windows, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, deep soaker tubs, valet parking service
Hotel amenities: indoor lap pool, spa, hot tub, fitness center, floor-to-ceiling windows, free Wi-Fi, bathrobes, multilingual concierge service, 24-hour business center, babysitting / child care services
Hotel amenities: restaurant, juice bar, city views, indoor pool, infrared sauna, hot tub, fitness center, floor-to-ceiling windows, 46-inch LCD TVs, iPads, Nespresso machines, mini-bars
Approximate cost per night (Deluxe Corner Suite): $730
Cost per person (three people): $243
So there they are, Toronto accommodations that will help make for an excellent trip. We hope you have found this information valuable and most importantly, that you enjoy your time in Canada!
Montreal accommodations welcome you to a destination with nicknames to include “The City of a Hundred Steeples” (Mark Twain), Canada’s “Sin City” (Prohibition Era) and, more commonly, “MTL”. Known for its hockey, museums, riverfront attractions, squares, parcs (parks), rues (streets), convention / event centres, theatres, scenic spots, gardens, churches, basilicas, shopping malls, boutiques, brewpubs, restaurants, cocktail bars, cafes, salons, spas and nightlife, Montreal is located down-river from Quebec’s capital city, Quebec City. Across the Saint Lawrence River from the city of Saint-Lambert and set on an island, Montreal is the Canadian province of Quebec’s largest city.
During winter, roadways can get icy of course. When driving in Montreal, keep in mind that right-hand turns are not permitted due to a high number of pedestrians. Montreal has four-way vehicle stop signs. The first vehicle to stop advances first, while, in the case of two or more vehicles stopping simultaneously, the vehicle on the right has the right of way. Traffic cameras in certain areas will display “you’re-on-camera” signs. Before getting out of a car, watch behind for cyclists.
Be sure to pay attention while crossing the street at crosswalks. Politeness is always appreciated, but try not to hold doors open for too long if its cold and windy outside. Although Canada’s two official languages are French and English, Montreal’s official language is just French. If someone is speaking to you in French and you don’t understand, just tell them you don’t speak French. A 15% tip generally is customary in restaurants. One of the “Original Six” NHL hockey teams and winners of a league-leading 24 Stanley Cups, the Montreal Canadiens play at Centre Bell just south of downtown. Montreal’s currency is the Canadian Dollar, cars travel on the right-hand side and the drinking age is 18 years old. Happy hour, also known as 5 à 7s, is the best time to find food and drink deals. Montreal accommodations are some of Canada’s best. Before we get to Montreal accommodations, let’s take a look at some more background information on the area to help you along the way.
Evidenced by archaeological findings, First Nations natives are thought to have occupied the island of Montreal since at least 4,000 years ago, and began cultivating maze around the year 1000 AD. Two centuries before the French arrived, the Saint Lawrence Iroquoians had established the village of Hochelaga at the foot of Mount Royal. On October 2, 1535, French explorer Jacques Cartier visited Hochelaga and estimated the population at over a thousand. Migration, European disease epidemics and intertribal wars were likely causes of the St Lawrence Iroquoians’ disappearance from the area, as reported by French explorer Samuel de Champlain circa 1603. In 1611, de Champlain set up a fur trading post named La Place Royale at present-day Pointe-à-Callière. Roman Catholics established a presence in the area in 1639. Montreal’s original name was Ville-Marie, which was founded on May 17, 1642, when French military officer Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve became the settlement’s first governor. Shortly thereafter, the settlement was hit with Iroquois raids. About a decade after Ville-Marie’s founding, de Maisonneuve returned to France to round-up 100 volunteers to help boost the settlement’s colonial population. If the effort had failed, Ville-Marie was to be abandoned. The fur trade helped Ville-Marie survive, and by 1685 the settlement had grown to roughly 600 colonists. Also, the settlement benefitted as it became a base for further exploration. New France’s worst massacre occurred in 1689, when English-allied Iroquois attacked the Island of Montreal’s undefended, small settlement of Lachine. Part of the Beaver Wars, the Lachine massacre saw around 1,500 Mohawk warriors surprise attack Lachine on August 5th, resulting in 250 colonist casualties. In the early 18th century, Sulpician Order priests persuaded the Mohawks to move away from Ville-Marie’s fur trading post and settle at Kahnewake, Kanesatake and Akwesasne, all three of which remain present-day Mohawk territories. Until 1760, the territory remained in French control, but subsequently was surrendered to Great Britain following the Seven Years’ War. On November 13, 1775, during the American Revolution, Montreal fell to American forces led by Major General Richard Montgomery. American Continental Army Major General and eventual turn-coat Benedict Arnold, following Montgomery’s death at the Battle of Quebec, overtook American command of Montreal in April 1776. Southwest of Montreal, The Battle of the Cedars from May 18–27, 1776 between Great Britain / Quebec Haudenosaunee and The United Colonies resulted in a British-Haudenosaunee victory. Great Britain Captain George Forster subsequently advanced to Fort Senneville, one of Montreal’s outlying forts, but eventually withdrew to Quinze-Chênes. Benedict Arnold, previously entrenched in Montreal’s borough of Lachine, chased Forster and after a few skirmishes, a prisoner exchange was negotiated, though was never followed-through by Arnold. Benedict Arnold abandoned Montreal in June 1776, attempting to burn it down in the process, and withdrew to Fort Ticonderoga in New York. In 1832, Montreal was incorporated as a city. Two significant developments around this time were the Lachine Canal, which allowed ships to bypass the Lachine Rapids, and the Victoria Bridge, which established Montreal as a major railway hub. In the Golden Square Mile at the foot of Mount Royal, Montreal business leaders started to build homes in the 1850s, and by 1860, Montreal had become British North America’s largest municipality, as well as Canada’s economic and cultural center. Potable drinking water became a problem during the 19th century, when the city’s population increased rapidly. Drinking water had, until that point, been taken directly from the city’s harbor. A relatively significant increase in waterway traffic, however, deteriorated water quality. In the mid-1840s, the City of Montreal installed cisterns, which would hold and help purify St. Lawrence River water to be transported to desired locations. From 1844 to 1849, Montreal was the Province of Canada’s capital city. The city lost its status as capital, however, when a Tory mob, in opposition to the controversial Rebellion Losses Bill, burned down the city’s Parliament building on April 25, 1849. During World War I, an internment camp was set up at Immigration Hall. Following the war, prohibition in the United States benefitted Montreal taverns. Montreal’s Red-Light District, centered on the intersection of Saint Laurent Boulevard and Saint Catherine Street in the borough of Ville-Marie, helped give Montreal its Prohibition-era nickname, “Sin City”. During World War II, Canada’s federal government held Montreal Mayor Camillien Houde in a prison camp for his protests against conscription, and his urging of Montrealers to disobey the federal government’s registry of all men and women. In exile, the Luxembourg royal family resided in Montreal during the Second World War. Montreal’s population exceeded 1 million by 1951. In 1959, the Saint Lawrence Seaway’s opening, which allowed ships to bypass Montreal, ended the city’s economic dominance over other Canadian cities. Skyscrapers, expressways and a subway system developed during the 1960s, and Montreal’s hosting of the 1967 World’s Fair naturally helped boost the city’s economy. Unsurprisingly, given the city’s history, tensions between the French and English cultures ushered social and political changes during the 1970s. The 1976 October Crisis resulted in the departure of many of the city’s businesses and people. During the same year, Montreal hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics. On January 1, 2022, Montreal merged with 27 surrounding municipalities to form a unified city, which encompassed the entire Island of Montreal.
Located at the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers’ confluence, the Island of Montreal is home to over 2 million “Montrealers”. Named after its triple-peaked Mount Royal, which tops-off at 761 feet above sea level, Montreal is a top North American international event host. Boasting one of Canada’s largest column-free exhibition halls, Montréal Convention Centre spans 7 floors at over 500,000 square feet altogether, with 113 multipurpose rental spaces. World-renowned Cirque de Soleil is headquartered in Montreal. Montreal is home to many pedestrian ways and hiking paths. In winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing make for fine outdoor activities. MTL neighborhoods, once independent cities, range in styles from cobblestoned, to French-colonial, to Gothic-revival to bohemian. 19 large boroughs comprise Canada’s second-largest city. About 60% of Montreal’s population is bilingual in French and English. Also at around 60% is the city’s largest demographic, which is of European descent. Catholicism is the area’s predominate religion. Apart from hockey, the Montréal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League have won 8 championships. Home to a warm-summer humid continental climate, Montreal has warm / hot and humid summers, and snowy, cold and sometimes bitter / icy winters. Summer highs average close to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, while winters average in the lower 20s. Montreal’s record low is -36 degrees (-49 with the wind chill). Additional points of interest include Downtown Montreal, Tour de la Bourse (skyscraper / Montreal Exchange). Old Montreal (neighborhood est. 17th century), Place Jacques-Cartier (square), Place d’Armes (square), Montreal City Hall, McGill University, Université de Montréal, Port of Montreal Cruise Terminal and Habitat 67. Local foods include maple donuts, bagels, smoked meats, cheese curds, fois gras poutine (French fries made with duck fat), pâté chinois (similar to Shepard’s pie), tourtiere (meat pie traditional at Christmastime), cretons (breakfast pork spread), tarte au sucre (sugar pie) and pouding chomeur (maple pudding dessert created during the Great Depression). Around since John Molson began exporting it from Montreal circa 1800, whiskey is popular to this day. The Canadian Caesar is a type of bloody Mary that pairs well with brunch, while lager beer such as Molson is widely enjoyed, particularly at Canadiens games. Coffee and hot chocolate are also hot items during winter months. With some background information on the area, it’s time for Montreal accommodations that will help make for a exciting trip.
Hotel amenities:indoor pool, sun deck, gym, flat-screen TVs, fully-equipped kitchens, safety deposit boxes, laundry facilities, business center, free newspapers
Hotel amenities: restaurant, continental / à la carte breakfast, city views, street-level terrace, individual terraces, spa, gas fireplaces, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, desks, claw-foot baths, 24-hour front desk with English / French-speaking staff, valet service
Hotel amenities: bar, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, coffee machines, safety deposit boxes, desks, continental, vegetarian or vegan breakfast, 24-hour front desk, concierge service
Hotel amenities:multiple dining options, Old Montreal views, rooftop terrace, fitness center, large windows, flat-screen TVs, 24-hour concierge service
Hotel amenities: restaurant, bar, outdoor swimming pool, sun terrace, fitness center, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safety deposit boxes, desks, 24-hour front desk, private parking
Bell Centre | Eaton Centre | The McCord Stewart Museum
Hotel amenities:restaurant, lounge bar with a fireplace, free espresso bar, spa, original artwork, free Wi-Fi, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, workstations, goose down duvets, feather pillows, in-room massage services
Penthouse amenities:seasonal outdoor swimming pool, pool views, balconies, fitness center, parquet floors, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, fully-equipped kitchens
Hotel bells and whistles: French restaurant, saltwater pool, fitness center, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, digital light / curtain controls, mini-bars, marble bathrooms with heated floors & 19-inch flat-screen TVs, Asprey bath products, in-room massage services, 24-hour concierge service, business center
Nearby restaurants / bars: Maison Boulud (restaurant), La Cantina (Mexican restaurant), Ô Lounge (bar), Cloakroom Bar (cocktail bar)
Nearby misc.:SPA ST. JAMES, Tella’s Santé ou Sucré (café), LEAVES HOUSE (coffee store), Salon Mute (hairdresser), O Coiffure & Spa (hair salon), Onglerie Bee (nail salon), Art Gallery Cosner, Christofle (boutique), Marie Saint Pierre (boutique), Anthropologie (women’s clothing store), Boutique Camomille (women’s clothing store), Burberry (clothing store), Tiffany & Co. (jewelry store), Maison Cloakroom (tailor), Brilliant College (language school)
So there they are, Montreal accommodations that will help make for a memorable trip. We hope you have found this information valuable and most importantly, that you enjoy your time in Canada!
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