Day One: Fly into Toronto, drive to Niagara Falls. Stay at the Marriott Fallsview Hotel. Explore. Dinner at Margaritaville.
This day was hectic but exciting! After not seeing my best friend for over a month, she landed in Toronto in shortly after I did.
Since I got there first, I sorted out the rental car and headed back to the terminal to pick up Tiff. Now, I’m not great with directions on a good day, and in a different country? Even tougher! Before leaving the rental car pick up, I double-checked if it was easy to return to the terminal. The guy assured me, “Oh yes, just follow the signs.” Well, it turns out airport signs in Canada are a whole different ballgame! After a bit of a detour to the wrong terminal, I eventually found my way to the right one. Finally, my bestie and I were reunited for what promised to be an amazing vacation.
Niagara Falls was supposed to be just an hour away from the Toronto airport, but it ended up taking us an hour and a half, with a few wrong turns along the way. Finally, we arrived at our hotel, and the view from our room was absolutely breathtaking! I had my doubts that it would live up to the pictures on the website, but it exceeded my expectations. Before making the reservation, I had called ahead to inquire about the best room option. Surprisingly, I was advised to book a superior room rather than the most expensive one. Apparently, these rooms are guaranteed to be on the 22nd floor or higher, offering the best views. So, that’s exactly what I did.
After marveling at the stunning view from our room, we bundled up in warm clothes and set out to get a closer look at the falls. It was foggy and misty, but that didn’t faze us. Among the crowd of tourists snapping photos, we spent a good amount of time simply awestruck by the sheer power of the waterfall. Later, we made our way back to the hotel, making a pit stop at Margaritaville for dinner before calling it a night.
Day Two: Starbucks and watch the falls from the room. Check out. Explore. Rainbow Bridge. Icewine Festival.
This morning, we woke up to a VERY foggy view, with nothing but white and raindrops on the window. So, we decided to grab Starbucks from the hotel lobby before loading up the car and checking out. Despite leaving the hotel, we stayed parked at the Marriott while we explored the area.
Our day consisted of revisiting the falls and strolling down the road alongside them, heading towards the Rainbow Bridge. However, we hit a snag when we discovered the staircase to the bridge was closed for the winter. That’s when we met Reg, the owner of a nearby candy shop where we sought directions. Reg, who has been making and selling his own fudge since he was 18, kindly directed us to the Rainbow Bridge and even exchanged some dollars for loonies, which we needed to access the bridge. Standing in the middle of the Rainbow Bridge, we found ourselves in two countries at once.
After making a pit stop at the Niagara Brewhouse and Niagara Distillery to redeem our free samples from the hotel, we drove to Niagara on the Lake for the Icewine Festival. This charming town, affectionately known as NOTL, greeted us with its quaint streets. While the festival itself wasn’t huge, we enjoyed walking around and exploring the area. However, we quickly discovered that neither of us were fans of Icewine due to its overwhelming sweetness and thickness. It is diabetes in a glass. Seriously. Despite this, we appreciated the experience.
During our time in NOTL, we learned about its rich history, passing by landmarks such as the oldest golf course in North America and the site of the Battle of Fort George. After our exploration, we headed back to Toronto, where we stayed at a fantastic Airbnb called Wits End.
Day Three: I Deal Coffee coffee shop. Explore Toronto. Dinner at Pizzeria Defina.
We kicked off the day with a visit to I Deal Coffee for some much-needed caffeine and a breakfast sandwich. I tried a maple latte, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. However, Tiff thoroughly enjoyed her sandwich; I found mine a bit too greasy, although the tomato on it was exceptional.
Afterwards, we hopped on the streetcar to begin our exploration of Toronto. It turned out to be a day filled with plenty of walking
as we ventured to iconic spots like the CN Tower, Graffiti Alley, the Financial District, the Entertainment District, and the Distillery District.
As evening approached, we made our way back to Old Toronto and headed to Pizzeria Defina for dinner, a recommendation from our hosts. This pizzeria had earned international acclaim for one of its pizzas back in 2013, and Tiff wholeheartedly agreed with the accolades.
Day Four: Walked to Salvation Army. Took the streetcar into Toronto. Rode through Chinatown. Went to Little Canada. Walked to Toronto sign at Nathan-Philips Square and watched ice skating. Went to St. Lawrence Market. Ate Indian Food at Bindia.
Today, Tiff had her heart set on finding new winter coats, so we strolled over to Salvation Army where she happily scored two. Afterward, we hopped on the streetcar back to Toronto, passing through Chinatown, and set our sights on Little Canada. We weren’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a delightful surprise! We spent several hours at Little Canada admiring all of the miniature exhibits, getting our pictures taken at the Littlization Station, and looking for Maurice the Moose. Little Canada was a blast, and I imagine it is fun for most ages! I had been looking for a Canada sign, and in Little Canada we learned about Nathan Phillips Square, where the Toronto sign is, so we went there next. We also went to the St. Lawrence Market, which we saw in Little Canada. There we asked for a recommendation for Indian food, and Bindia, the recommendation we got, did not disappoint.
Day Five: Coffee at Cherry Bomb Coffee. Walked to High Park. Checked out of Airbnb. Drove back to High Park to see Maple Leaf. Drove to Blue Mountain. Walked around Blue Mountain Village. Dinner at Sparky’s. Bluemination trail.
Today marked our final day in Toronto. We tried out a different coffee spot, Cherry Bomb Coffee, which I found much more to my liking. Following that, we took off on a stroll to High Park, only to realize that it was much larger than we had anticipated. Sensing that exploring it on foot might be a tad ambitious, we opted to return to our Airbnb, check out, and drive back to High Park.
Upon our return, we discovered the park’s zoo and the iconic maple leaf, making for a fitting end to our Toronto adventure. With our sights set on our next destination, Blue Mountain, approximately two hours away, we bid farewell to Toronto and hit the road.
Blue Mountain greeted us with its breathtaking beauty, and our stay at Le Petite Chalet proved both pleasant and convenient. We arrived after dark, but the resort was still adorned with twinkling Christmas lights, lending a charming ambiance to the surroundings. We took a leisurely walk around Blue Mountain Village, wandering along the “Bluemination” light trail and taking numerous photos along the way. Our dinner at Sparky’s was delicious , as we indulged in a mouthwatering chicken quesadilla.
Day Six: Walked around Blue Mountain Village. Spy Cidery. Mountain coaster. Scandinavian Spa.
Today, we returned to Blue Mountain to enjoy some coffee and walk around the area in the daylight. Afterward, we decided to venture up the road to the back of Blue Mountain, where we stumbled upon the Spy Cidery — a fantastic find indeed. Despite not being much of a cider enthusiast, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying all four ciders I sampled.
Following our cidery excursion, we made our way back to Blue Mountain to ride the mountain roller coaster. The air was chilly, but the ride was an absolute blast! For a late lunch/early dinner, we enjoyed a delicious bowl of French onion soup before treating ourselves to some well-deserved relaxation at the Scandinavian Spa. It was the perfect way to cap off the day.
Day Seven: Flight to Quebec. Drive to Ice Hotel. Ice Hotel self-guided tour, drinks at ice bar. Tubing! Arctic Spa. Slept in Ice Hotel.
Today was the day we had been waiting for — the highlight of our trip, the Ice Hotel. We left Blue Mountain bright and early, making our way back to Toronto for our flight to Quebec. By 10:30 am, we had arrived in Quebec City and drove to Valcartier, home of the Ice Hotel.
Upon our arrival, we were able to check into our ice room, although our regular room wasn’t yet available. This meant we couldn’t unpack, but we were thrilled to see where we’d be spending the night. We did the self-guided tour of the Ice Hotel, marveling at the chapel, intricate ice sculptures, Ice Hotel rooms, and, of course, the Ice Bar. We indulged in a few Canadian ice drinks, with the Erabliere — maple whisky and maple cream — being my personal favorite.
At 4 pm, we finally checked into our regular room, allowing us to unload our bags, settle in, and prepare for the adventures ahead. Eager to embrace the winter wonderland, we headed out to the tubing hill, which turned out to be the best snow tubing experience we’d ever had. After an action-packed afternoon, we grabbed some food before unwinding at the Arctic Spa, an exclusive amenity reserved for Ice Hotel guests, featuring three hot tubs and a sauna.
Following our spa session, we refreshed ourselves with a shower and gathered everything we needed for our night in the cold. Then we made our way to our Ice Hotel room, ready to embrace the unique experience that awaited us.
Day Eight: Woke up in the Ice Hotel. Coffee. Walked around Valcartier. Drove to Quebec City. Checked into Hotel des Coutellier. Walked around Quebec City, Winter Carnaval.
After a great night’s sleep, we woke up this morning in the Ice Hotel — what fun! We had a relaxed morning, walking around Valcartier and drinking coffee to warm ourselves up. Then, we set off for a day of exploration in Quebec City.
Our accommodation at Hotel des Coutellier turned out to be perfectly situated, allowing us ample time to wander the city streets and grab a bite to eat before rushing off to catch the highly anticipated Winter Carnaval parade. Following the parade, we stumbled upon one of the carnival stations conveniently located near our hotel.
There, Tiff scaled a polar bear rock wall, we did some more tubing, and we enjoyed the live music. It was another unforgettable day filled with laughter, adventure, and cherished memories.
Day Nine: Walked around Quebec City. Drove to Tricera.
This morning, we continued our exploration of Quebec City. We enjoyed more carnival activities like
tobogganing and making maple syrup taffy. We rode the Funiculair, and we admired the majestic Chateau Frontenac. The excitement continued as we joined the enthusiastic crowd to cheer on participants in the canoe race.
After the race, our curiosity led us to an area set up for ice fishing, where we couldn’t resist trying our hand at this winter pastime. Unfortunately, we didn’t catch any fish, but much to Tiff’s delight, our neighbor did! After another full day of adventure, we made our way to Lac Beauport, where our final Airbnb, Tricera, awaited us.
Day Ten: Montmorency Falls. Quebec City.
Day Eleven: Quebec City. Evening at Tricera.
As our time in Canada drew to a close, we made sure to revisit some favorite spots in Quebec City for a final round of photos. Along the way, we did a bit of souvenir shopping to bring a piece of our Canadian adventure home with us. And, in typical Nicole and Tiff fashion, we decided on a whim to try cross-country skiing at the Plains of Abraham – so much fun, and such a great workout!
After a well-deserved late lunch, we picked up some fire starters and made our way back to Tricera to enjoy our peaceful Airbnb and its firepit. Eager to make the most of our last evening, we even strapped on snowshoes for a bit. As the sky painted an incredible palette of colors, the bonfire crackled, and we were happy.
With our spirits content, we called it an early night, preparing for an early morning wake-up at 3:30 am to make our way to the airport.
Day Twelve: Fly home.