Suggestions for Cross Canada Drive with Kids - Practical Advice & Stops to Make/Avoid

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by SebC

I'd assume they'd want to into Montreal, to, ya know, see and do stuff.

Personally I think the kids are a bit young for the trip - a 6-year old won't be remembering all that much.

Fair point. He will turn 7 on the trip, but I get what you're saying.

[FlamesKickAss]

Wisconsin dells looked like a cool place to stop the times we've driven through it..

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

Throwing this out to the CP Community, expecting more than a few to question my sanity...

I am a teacher who has often flown to Nova Scotia to visit my wife's parents extended family with our 3 children (age range is 6 to 11) in past summers. For this upcoming summer of 2023, my wife & I are strongly considering driving out to the Maritimes through Canada, then back to Calgary through the United States. We have always wanted to do this at least once as a family, and we know that this window of time will not remain open forever.

We definitely are not planning to drive to save on the price of flights (We are keenly aware that it costs much more to fly to Halifax than it does to Europe... ) nor to get there as quickly as possible. Instead, my rough estimate currently looks like this:

• 10-14 days driving East through Canada
• 10-21 days in the Maritimes (Staying with family, so no additional accomodation costs unless we travel within the Maritimes)
• 10-14 days driving West through the United States

My wife is not a teacher, so we will also look at such things as having her fly out to Winnipeg to meet us or back home from a place like Minneapolis in order to maximize her vacation time.

We will enter the US at St. Stephen's NB/Calais ME. The one stop I really want to make is Cooperstown NY for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Other than that, our itinerary is extremely flexible, which is why I am open to your suggestions. While we have ideas of our own right now, I am interested to discover what my fellow Puckers will suggest for us!

And go!!!

Just my opinion.

After Cooperstown I would consider crossing back over into Canada via Niagara Falls and take the #3 across to Detroit and re-enter the US to continue west, It's a nicer drive than the bore-fest thru Pennsylvania and Ohio and of course the family will love the falls.

And I agree with the other posters, Yellowstone is a must that the kids will never forget. Crazy trip though, can't wait to hear how it went

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

Wisconsin dells looked like a cool place to stop the times we've driven through it..

Definitely stop at the Dells for some waterpark action for the kids. It is a great place for slides. Also the Mall of America would be a good stop in Minneapolis.

[Derek Sutton]

https://www.thehouseontherock.com/

Had some family stop here years ago and said it was really something to see, could’ve spent a day or two. Not sure if it’d be a thing for you or the family, but I want to check it out one day. Was at one time a 5 star AMA tourist attraction.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_on_the_Rock

[vtec260]

This thread reminds me of our eastern trip when we lived in 'Peg about 15 years ago. Before moving to Calgary, we decided to do a road trip east during summer holidays and see the other side of Canada. Kids were 5 and 8 years old then. We had a minivan that held tons of stuff and roof top carrier to carry even more goodies.
Drove through US as interstate had better road, better rest areas along with cheaper gas at the time.

Here is our travel path: 'Peg-Chicago-Detroit-Niagara Falls-Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec City-Moncton-PEI. We were running out of time so time to head back home (still in my wish list to tour Newfoundland and NS in future).

Coming home, we went down to US again: Maine(awesome whale watching)-Vermont-NH-outside Boston-Syracuse-Buffalo-Cleveland-Chicago-'Peg.
We only booked the hotel night before and if we wanted to stay longer in certain area/city, we can as we are not obligated to move on with hotel reservations. If the weather was foul, then we drove on to the next destination. Priceline was fantastic, then, in scoring hotels deals for like $35-40/night which helped with our overall expense. Our Dodge minivan survived almost 8000km trip unscathed. I don't think I'd do it now in my 50's, but it's something my family still talk about which is priceless.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

Wisconsin dells looked like a cool place to stop the times we've driven through it..

Ditto this. Wisconsin Dells is good.

Personally I’d skip the Canada route and do both ways through the US. Sask, Manitoba and Northern Ontario are boring.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Ditto this. Wisconsin Dells is good.

Personally I’d skip the Canada route and do both ways through the US. Sask, Manitoba and Northern Ontario are boring.

You can save a bit of time going through the U.S. and there are more options for towns. I think I cut a few hours off before going south of the Great Lakes.

It probably goes without saying, but thought it was worth mentioning that it is important to make sure that you have proper accident and health insurance for anyone going through the U.S. Confirm with your insurance companies (like double-check). I would hate to see someone getting screwed financially if god forbid, there was an emergency of some kind.

[bagofpucks]

No advice, but this sounds like an awesome trip and I will be following this thread as I’d love to do something similar when our kids are a bit older.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by vtec260

This thread reminds me of our eastern trip when we lived in 'Peg about 15 years ago. Before moving to Calgary, we decided to do a road trip east during summer holidays and see the other side of Canada. Kids were 5 and 8 years old then. We had a minivan that held tons of stuff and roof top carrier to carry even more goodies.
Drove through US as interstate had better road, better rest areas along with cheaper gas at the time.

Here is our travel path: 'Peg-Chicago-Detroit-Niagara Falls-Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec City-Moncton-PEI. We were running out of time so time to head back home (still in my wish list to tour Newfoundland and NS in future).

Coming home, we went down to US again: Maine(awesome whale watching)-Vermont-NH-outside Boston-Syracuse-Buffalo-Cleveland-Chicago-'Peg.
We only booked the hotel night before and if we wanted to stay longer in certain area/city, we can as we are not obligated to move on with hotel reservations. If the weather was foul, then we drove on to the next destination. Priceline was fantastic, then, in scoring hotels deals for like $35-40/night which helped with our overall expense. Our Dodge minivan survived almost 8000km trip unscathed. I don't think I'd do it now in my 50's, but it's something my family still talk about which is priceless.

Ahh that reminds me. I have a Thule Box you can borrow, as I only use it for the winter season.

[You Need a Thneed]

Terry Fox memorial, just east of Thunder Bay, worth a stop.

[wretched34]

Noticed Mt. Rushmore being mentioned, this is just an hour away: https://mammothsite.org/ I haven't personally been, but it's on my to do list.

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Ahh that reminds me. I have a Thule Box you can borrow, as I only use it for the winter season.

We may take you up on this offer!

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Ditto this. Wisconsin Dells is good.

Personally I’d skip the Canada route and do both ways through the US. Sask, Manitoba and Northern Ontario are boring.

I have family in Winnipeg that we want to visit, and they also have a cottage in Kenora, so while a great suggestion, it isn't a choice we can make on this particular trip.

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

You can save a bit of time going through the U.S. and there are more options for towns. I think I cut a few hours off before going south of the Great Lakes.

It probably goes without saying, but thought it was worth mentioning that it is important to make sure that you have proper accident and health insurance for anyone going through the U.S. Confirm with your insurance companies (like double-check). I would hate to see someone getting screwed financially if god forbid, there was an emergency of some kind.

And passports. Don't NEED them but should have them and it makes things easier with the kids. Also, may need a parent consent travel letter if the wife is not with you the whole time.

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

I have family in Winnipeg that we want to visit, and they also have a cottage in Kenora, so while a great suggestion, it isn't a choice we can make on this particular trip.

You can always choose to skip Winnipeg. W=ANG (Also No Good).

Straight to the cottage makes sense though.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

We may take you up on this offer!

Just fire me a PM

[FlamesAddiction]

Another thing I just remembered from a previous trip I did, is the ferry that takes you from Manitoulin Island to Tobormory in Ontario. This may not apply directly to the OP's travel plans, so just a general tip.

There is a ferry you can catch between Manitoulin Island and Tobormory just north of Owen Sound. If you are traveling directly to Southern Ontario from the west (and vice versa). The ferry allows you to bypass Sudbury, Parry Sound, and Orillia. Not that those areas have nothing to offer, but it saves a bit of time and is a nice break from driving. It's called the Chi Cheemaun Ferry.

https://www.ontarioferries.com/ms-chi-cheemaun/

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Titan2

And passports. Don't NEED them but should have them and it makes things easier with the kids. Also, may need a parent consent travel letter if the wife is not with you the whole time.

Maybe I'm reading your post wrong, but if you're going to the US, you absolutely need your passport. Ontario used to have an enhanced driver's license that worked, but they discontinued, so unless Alberta has something similar, passports are a requirement.


Also, while most border agents don't ask, technically you still need to be vaccinated to cross. Every once in awhile people get stopped and get upset and go to the news crying, but I know lots of un-vaccinated who cross with no issues.

[calgarygeologist]

Check out this place outside of Montreal for some pretty cool waterslides and other rides. We had a lot of fun there and it was reasonably priced (bought passes at Costco.) They have a fun luge/downhill coaster and a pretty sweet zipline.

https://www.sommets.com/fr/montagne-...saint-sauveur/