CANADA EAST - Ontario and Quebec: Off the Beaten Path

Toronto, Canada's largest city, stretches along the shores of Lake Ontario with a skyline dominated by the soaring CN Tower, the metropolis's symbol, from whose top a dizzying panorama unfolds. Cosmopolitan and multicultural, the city is a mosaic of ethnic neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, Little Italy and Kensington Market, where cultures and flavours from around the world coexist. The centre pulses with life around Yonge Street, the Financial District and the Distillery District, with its Victorian brick buildings now home to galleries, cafés and shops. Among the attractions are the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the modern lakefront, from which ferries depart for the Toronto Islands. The city is also an ideal base for reaching the nearby Niagara Falls. Dynamic, welcoming and ever-growing, Toronto is a metropolis open to the world, a showcase of Canadian diversity and modernity.

Blue Mountain is the largest and most renowned ski resort in Ontario, set on the slopes of its namesake height along the scenic Georgian Bay, a short distance from the town of Collingwood. Its lively pedestrian village, with colourful alpine-style buildings, welcomes visitors at the foot of the slopes with boutiques, restaurants and venues in a festive atmosphere. In winter the snow draws skiers from across Ontario, while in summer the mountain becomes an adventure park, with mountain biking, suspended courses, golf and trips on the bay. The views range over the turquoise waters of Georgian Bay and the surrounding hills. A holiday destination in every season, Blue Mountain offers the pleasure of mountains and fun just minutes from Toronto.

Tobermory occupies the tip of the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, where Lake Huron meets Georgian Bay, famed for its crystalline turquoise waters and numerous sunken wrecks. The Canadian capital of diving, it is the gateway to Fathom Five National Marine Park and spectacular Flowerpot Island with its rocky pillars. The Bruce Peninsula trails and white cliffs complete a surprising landscape. Tobermory is a watery paradise at the edge of the Great Lakes.

Killarney is a charming and remote Ontario village, set along the northern coast of Georgian Bay at the entrance to the magnificent Killarney Provincial Park. An old fishing village reachable only by water for centuries, it preserves an authentic and isolated atmosphere, famous for its historic fish and chips stand facing the lighthouse. The surrounding park is famous for its spectacular white quartzite hills, the La Cloche Mountains, and for the crystalline turquoise lakes set in the wilderness, a paradise for canoeing and hiking. The landscapes inspired the famous painters of the Group of Seven. Between turquoise waters, white hills and calm, Killarney embodies the wild, pristine beauty of northern Ontario.

Huntsville is the main town of the Muskoka region in Ontario, famous for its many lakes, forests and landscapes that make it one of the most beloved holiday destinations in eastern Canada. Surrounded by lush nature, it is the gateway to the famous Algonquin Provincial Park, a vast reserve of lakes and woods ideal for canoeing, hiking and wildlife viewing, particularly spectacular in autumn when the maples blaze with colour. The town offers a charming centre, art galleries and a relaxed atmosphere. The area's lakes are dotted with cottages and resorts where you can spend holidays in contact with nature. Between water, woods and autumn foliage, Huntsville is an ideal destination for those seeking relaxation and outdoor activities, the heart of the picturesque Muskoka lake region.

We leave Huntsville and Agolquin Provincial Park behind us, and travel through the beautiful Muskoka area and past small villages and quaint towns such as Whitney and Barry's Bay. Continuing east, you pass through lush forests, rivers and lakes, with occasional scenic rest stops ideal for taking in the scenery. The stage offers a mix of natural beauty and rural views before arriving in the vibrant and historic city of Ottawa, with its museums, art galleries and iconic Parliament Hill. Ottawa, Canada's capital, lies on the banks of its namesake river, on the border between Ontario and Québec, and is an elegant, orderly city rich in museums and national monuments. Its symbol is Parliament Hill, with the majestic neo-Gothic Parliament buildings and the Peace Tower dominating the river. The Rideau Canal, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, crosses the city and in winter becomes the world's longest ice-skating rink. Ottawa hosts some of the country's most important museums, from the National Gallery of Canada to the Canadian Museum of History across the river. The lively ByWard Market offers fresh produce, restaurants and bars. Bilingual and cosmopolitan, rich in green spaces and cultural life, Ottawa is a human-scale capital where history, politics and culture meet in a refined and welcoming atmosphere.

Québec City, capital of the eponymous province, is the most European city in North America, the only one north of Mexico to have kept its fortified walls, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set on a promontory above the St Lawrence River, it is dominated by the unmistakable silhouette of the Château Frontenac, a sumptuous hotel towering over Vieux-Québec. The cobbled streets of the old town, divided into Haute-Ville and Basse-Ville, enchant with their stone houses, boutiques, cafés and Francophone atmosphere, especially magical under winter snow. The Petit-Champlain district, among the oldest on the continent, and Place Royale preserve the charm of New France. The Terrasse Dufferin offers scenic walks over the river, while the gastronomy celebrates Québec cuisine. Romantic, historic and uniquely characterful, Québec City is a city to be explored on foot, among fortifications, alleys and old-world atmospheres.

The journey from Quebec City to Montreal offers an experience through the beautiful Quebec countryside. Along Autoroute 20 or Autoroute 40, the main highways linking the two cities, we pass through various landscapes, from green hills to open plains, with the St. Lawrence River accompanying much of the journey. Arriving in Montréal, the difference between the two cities is striking: so much Quebec is tied to its religious and military past, so much Montréal appears international, dynamic and progressive. Recommended activities for your free day in Montreal: a walking tour of the city’s Old Port, or bike rental to explore the extensive cycling paths and the Formula 1 circuit. You may visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts or the Montreal Botanical Garden and Biodome, or enjoy shopping in the boutique and shopping mall district along St. Catherine Street.