AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON
 ·Rogers Hi-Speed
| Inexpensive long weekend getaway?
I have some family visiting from the US and I figure it'd be nice to get away from the City for the long weekend. Don't wanna spend too much though - gas is the biggest killer nowadays.
I was thinking - a B&B place near the 1000 Islands? Or Niagara and the Lake?
Any other suggestions? The above might be impractical from a $200-300 price point since I haven't really looked yet but that's my desired budget.
Thanks. |
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Kalford
Seems To Be An Rtfm Problem.
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-20
Ontario | Take them to Mosport and/or Canada's Wonderland. |
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horsemouth
Premium
join:2002-03-13
canada | reply to AR
I'm thinking north up the 400. At that price point and this time of year might work. |
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Kardinal
431st Air Demo Sqdn
Premium
join:2001-02-04
N of 49th
clubs: | reply to AR
Is that $200-300 for the entire weekend, or per night? |
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Desi
Premium
join:2002-05-05
Kanata, ON
clubs:
| reply to AR
Come over to Ottawa maybe? I did a trip to Oshawa and back and burnt $96 in fuel two weeks ago, and that was in a land-barge Impala. It wouldn't be bad at all in your Mitsubishi. 1000 Islands is actually along the way to so you could leave in the morning, take the boat tour out into the St Lawrence and then continue up in the evening.
You've got the benifit of a semi-large city when looking for accommodations, meals and the like while having quick access to the Gatineau Hills and other scenic areas around the valley. At the same time, there are numerous more urban tourist destinations of a national scope around the city that would compliment your guests' Canadian experience.
If you want more info or need help planning if you do decide on here, let me know. I do this kinda stuff for tourists here on a daily basis.
--
The User formerly known as Desi StYlE |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON | reply to Kardinal
Entire weekend - basically Sat. and Sunday nights, returning Monday. |
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Hydraglass
join:2002-05-08
Kingston, ON
edit:
May 12th, @08:18AM
| Oh heck if I don't push Kingston I'll never forgive myself.. hahaha... but seriously - you could get a room in one of the downtown hotels here by the waterfront for maybe $125/night this time of the year - you're a 15 minute drive from Gananoque and the 1000 islands boat tours, you can take the free ferry over to Wolfe Island and explore a bit, there's Old Fort Henry on the waterfront, a nice lively "ye olde fashion" feel to the downtown shopping, and if you plan it at the same time there's some event going on, the new downtown arena has all sorts of entertainment acts going on. You can drive north a few minutes and see several of the Rideau Canal locks along there - now a "world heritage historical site" - and of course, if they are like most family from the US, a stop at the Gananoque Casino for a little gambling won't hurt either. |
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Clipper
join:2002-05-23
Stoney Creek, ON
| reply to AR
My uncle runs a B&B in Bloomfield. It's not quite thousand island country, but it's a beautiful area. Gorgeous victorian style home. It was built in the 1860's and has been fully restored. Bloomfield is about 30 minutes this side of Kingston near Lake Ontario.
They are very busy all summer long, so they may be booked already. But if you want more information, PM me. |
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shaner
Premium
join:2000-10-04
Calgary, AB | Pillar and Post, NotL.
That might be out of your price range. |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed
edit:
May 12th, @11:44AM
| reply to Hydraglass
I'm leaning towards Kingston. My dad hasn't been on the cruise yet plus he's an academic so Queens University campus tour on Sunday will appeal to him.
If I time this right, I could drive in on Saturday, do the cruise bit on Saturday afternoon, check into the hotel, do a walk about town and grab dinner.
Then Sunday, check out the University campus and some other local attractions.
And then Monday, we could head back.
I really want to keep all this to $300. But I don't think I can - not with gas being where it is. |
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DKS
Damn Kidney Stones
Premium,ExMod 2002
join:2001-03-22
Owen Sound, ON
clubs: | And hotel rates in Kingston are not cheap. |
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Hydraglass
join:2002-05-08
Kingston, ON
| reply to AR
The 2 nights of the hotel and the gas prices would probably eat up your budget - but luckily most of the "to do" things are pretty inexpensive - the boat tours aren't too expensive, Queens is free, driving up the Rideau Locks is free, food here is more affordable than places like Toronto - get breakfast one morning at The Golden Rooster downtown - more breakfast than you can eat with home made baked goods for $7/pp - Kingston has more restaurants per capita than most places in Canada so no shortage of places to have a nice dinner etc.
If wandering around Queens etc - continue south of campus right down to the waterfront, and wander by the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes - for a few $ - a good spot to pick up some history - a nice "follow up" after going for the boat cruise where they show you some of the more infamous shipwrecks, etc.
If you have any questions about the area let me know - I've lived here 7 years and my wife was born and raised here. |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON | Thanks, Hydra.
Maybe then I should limit us to 1 night hotel/BB stay and come in on Sunday and leave Monday. |
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Hydraglass
join:2002-05-08
Kingston, ON
| It's only about 2 1/2 hours from west/central Toronto to here in Kingston - so it wouldn't be too hard to leave bright and early in the AM (7am) and hit Kingston still quite early in the day (9:30) and you would avoid the vast majority of the traffic. However if you're doing this on the Canadian long weekend you would want to re-evaluate driving back to Toronto from here on the Monday night - the 'return of the cottagers' and holiday travelers can make 401 evil. (2 hours to get from Clarington to Scarborough - but still no where near as bad as 400 is coming back in at the same time) -- You might consider doing the Saturday/Sunday and spending the Monday back home, doing things around the city etc. |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| 1 tank of gas for me is $80 - I don't think I'll find a room with 2 beds at that price.
So I'll eliminate the hotel stay, drive into Kingston early AM Saturday, do the 1000 Island cruise, wander about town and do everything as above in fast forward mode, drive back Saturday night.
Sunday noonish: go out to the Niagara on the Lake area, do the Falls and the regular touristy stuff and come back same night. That's another $80 in gas. Return same night.
Then Monday, just hang about the City on the waterfront and Distillery District. Maybe check out other downtown areas.
This sounds more doable within $300, no? |
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andyb
Premium
join:2003-05-29
SW Ontario
 ·Bell Sympatico
·TekSavvy Solutions..
| Some B&B places in kingston found here
»www.kingstonlodging.worldweb.com···akfasts/
but yea 300 aint gonna go far.One night at a BB and your at ~200 or more. |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| Yeah...tough times, my car is eating up all my spare cash. 
I'll have to manage on the cheap now - all relatives (including parents) should have realistic expectations in these tough economic times!  |
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andyb
Premium
join:2003-05-29
SW Ontario | Heh take mine for a drive.76 Grand LeMans 350.$80gets ya about 3/4 of a tank. |
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Devanchya
Smile
Premium
join:2003-12-09
Pickering, ON | reply to AR
You can grab the Via from Toronto to Kingston, see some of the sights along the way. You can probably get a car rented dirt cheap perhaps?
Weird thought, but I figured I'd offer it. |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON | Thanks, man. Yeah, I could do a rental but probably wouldn't save much after the price of the weekend rental. Still gotta pay for gas, no? |
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