Traveling through Canada and the UP

Taking a bit of a road trip and plan to return from Boston to Minnesota via Canada. Up to Montreal and Ottawa, across to Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie via Trans Canada highway. Then through the UP to Duluth and back to Minneapolis, MN.

We'll be doing the normal research, but looking here for suggestions of interesting sights. We don't have a lot of time, so unfortunately far off track excursions are not viable. Plan to take 4 days from Boston to MN.

Will be traveling with our dog and, being summer, need to be places where we can bring her as too hot to leave her in the car. So that eliminates most indoor activities and we won't be able to use public transportation in cities. But will have the car and not afraid to walk.

Since we have the dog, will probably be overnighting outside of city centers where is easier to find a hotel that allows dogs. Easy enough to identify places that are part of chains, but suggestions for less well known hotels are welcome.

Thinking of spending some time in Old Montreal (though I hear street parking can be difficult). Not sure how "dog friendly" that area is (here in Minneapolis, many restaurants with outdoor seating will allow dogs). And we aren't at all averse to grabbing decent "takeaway" and eating in a park.

Also, how strictly are highway speed limits enforced in Canada? Here in US, I typically set my cruise control for 4 mph over the limit (except in work zones) and don't worry about it. I find myself about in the middle of the actual flow of vehicles in terms of speed.

Enjoy your road trip!

On the major 4 lane divided highways like the 401, the speed limit is 100kph. 115 is no problem. The cops are looking for 120+. On secondary 2 lane highways like #7, the limit is 80kph, and 90 is safe. Just go with the flow of regular traffic. My impression is that Canadian cops are not as strict as in the US. Our speed limits are silly slow.

A year old but might be useful

http://www.mtlblog.com/2015/03/5-montreal-bars-cafes-where-you-can-actually-take-your-dogs-to/

Add 10% for speed limit in Ontario. I recommend keep it on the speed limit in Quebec. They like to speed ticket in this province. Also no red lights right turns in Montreal. Parking is not a problem. Dogs are treated like humans.
Four days for trip like this is mostly driving. Don't worry about photography and finding places to look at....
Montreal is all walkable around Old port. Where is trail from old port by the channel and lake to griffintown and back. Great for photography and four hours at least. Ottawa just get close to Parlament. Driving up north is spectacular all the way

Make sure you save some film for Sudbury: http://sciencenorth.ca/dynamic-earth/exhibits/details/index.aspx?id=2976

You will most likely have researched this already, but there are some requirements for bringing both yourselves and your dog across the border.

Lots to see in that trip - but lots of driving too.

Thinking about it, KoFe is correct about speeding in Quebec. But still, go with the flow. It ticks me off that slow drivers think they're being safe by creating a traffic flow obstruction and adding to the frustration levels of the majority of other drivers. If speed limits were rational and reflected road conditions/sight lines, I'd try harder to follow them.

Requirements to bring dog into Canada aren't too onerous: vaccination records and commercial dog food only. Plus she's an Australian Shepherd, so she may be considered part of the British empire already (but mistakenly, since Aussie Shepherds aren't really from Australia, but that's another story).

mgb74 said:

Plan to take 4 days from Boston to MN.

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Wow! only 4 days for all that distance. You could easily spend that much time in Michigan's UP alone. There are a lot of great places along Lake Superior, but with only 4 days travel time, I suspect your route from the Sault will be well south of them.

MattKing said:

Make sure you save some film for Sudbury: http://sciencenorth.ca/dynamic-earth/exhibits/details/index.aspx?id=2976

Lots to see in that trip - but lots of driving too.

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Remember to go to Dynamic Earth for a true underground mine experience Also, the scenery up here is beautiful ....

+1 for Sudbury. Kind of like being on the moon. I've taken several roots form NH to Duluth. You will be driving most of the time.

shoot6x7 said:

Also, the scenery up here is beautiful ....

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I totally agree.
But the nickel still makes me chuckle.

Sudbury used to be like the moon, but following the regreening program in the seventies it isn't.
It is true that the Apollo astronauts conducted training missions here but not because it looked like the moon. It was because they wanted exercises in searching for items of geological interest.
Sudbury i also known for its lakes and incredible fishing opportunities.

In the U.P. on the Duluth leg of the journey you will find a park area called BOND FALLS. It is near a cross roads named Bruce's Corner. (No relation.). When I was their it was raining and I caught a few minutes between showers and was able to get a couple 4x5's. They might be in my APUG gallery for reference.

Bond Falls looks interesting and pretty much on the route back.

Google maps tells me about 25 hours of driving over 4 days. Not ideal, but not too bad in summer when days are long. None the less, this isn't really a photo trip, but a more scenic way to drive from Boston to Minneapolis.

frank said:

Thinking about it, KoFe is correct about speeding in Quebec. But still, go with the flow. It ticks me off that slow drivers think they're being safe by creating a traffic flow obstruction and adding to the frustration levels of the majority of other drivers. If speed limits were rational and reflected road conditions/sight lines, I'd try harder to follow them.

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+1. I take the posted limit as a "suggestion," one I generally only adhere to only if the weather is inclement, traffic density has hit a point of inflection, or I see one of our finest out and about. A window mounted Escort also helps...

Radar detectors are illegal in Ontario, I think in Quebec too (but not certain.)

frank said:

Radar detectors are illegal in Ontario, I think in Quebec too (but not certain.)

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Borrow a page from BC: Change your government (we also did away with "The Great Cash Cow" - aka photo radar - when we punted ours. lol If you are being spied on, you really should be aware of the fact.

Difference between Canadians and Americans: greater awareness/emphasis of social responsibilities vs individual rights. I'm good, thanks.

frank said:

Difference between Canadians and Americans: greater awareness/emphasis of social responsibilities vs individual rights. I'm good, thanks.

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Uh, Frank, Bradley is Canadian.
Left Coast Canadian (like me) but Canadian.

Oops, sorry. Thanks for the correction Matt. But I think my point, though misdirected, is valid.

Radar detectors are legal out west?

Legal in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Andrew O'Neill said:

Legal in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

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Which just about describes Andrew's route if he decides to drive back to Saskatchewan.

MattKing said:

Which just about describes Andrew's route if he decides to drive back to Saskatchewan.

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He wouldn't get all those amazing photos if he didn't drive! When I lived in Kamloops I used to drive home to Manitoba with no issues, but I didn't really push the speed limits anyway, as I was always looking for interesting places or things to photograph.