Astra's Eastern Canada Adventure

In August 2025 Pettitts Travel Team Leader, Astra Beadle, travelled to eastern Canada for a two-week road trip adventure exploring parts of Ontario and Quebec. Visiting Toronto, Huntsville, Mount Tremblant, Montreal, Kingston and Niagara-on-the-Lake, take a read of Astra's highlights and top tips.

"If you're looking for a holiday that blends vibrant cities, charming towns, and stunning natural landscapes, this trip is perfect for you! Feel free to give me a call to get started!"

Contact Astra today to start planning your Canada holiday, or view our Canada holidays.

Toronto, the largest city in Canada and the capital of Ontario, was the perfect starting point for our Ontario and Quebec adventure. During our stay, we visited the iconic CN Tower and took the elevator to the top — worth it for the stunning 360-degree views. It was a fantastic way to kick off the trip and get our bearings in the city.

A lunchtime highlight was the vibrant St. Lawrence Market, packed with a wide variety of food stalls to suit every taste. We also explored the Distillery District, a must-visit for fans of boutique shops and unique eateries and soaked up the bohemian vibes of Kensington Market.

We wrapped up our time in Toronto with a relaxing boat tour around the harbour and the Toronto Islands, offering breathtaking views of the city skyline — a truly memorable finale.

Top Toronto Tip: Head out early to sightsee! We found the city stays fairly quiet until late morning, which gave us the rare feeling of having it almost all to ourselves.

Nestled in the heart of Ontario’s Muskoka region, Huntsville is a charming town that perfectly blends small-town charm with easy access to natural beauty, including Algonquin and Arrowhead Parks. We began our day with an early start on the Hunters Bay Trail, which led us along a scenic boardwalk skirting the lake and guiding us into town. After enjoying a relaxing lunch and a bit of shopping, we made our way up to Lions Lookout, where we were rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. In the afternoon, we ventured to the nearby village of Dorset to visit its iconic lookout tower, taking in even more spectacular vistas.

Top Huntsville Tip: Relax with a drink and a tasty bite at On the Docks Pub, where you’ll enjoy a vibrant atmosphere and stunning waterfront views.

Tucked away in the scenic Laurentian Mountains, this charming town offers much more than just skiing—it’s a vibrant year-round destination with something for every type of traveller. Our journey from Huntsville took us through the stunning Algonquin National Park, where impressive viewpoints greeted us at every turn. We paused to enjoy a delicious serving of poutine for lunch.

During our day in Tremblant, we embraced adventure with a Zip Trek Eco Tour. The experience began with a cable car ride to the top of the mountain, followed by hiking and zip lining down—an exhilarating way to explore while learning about the local environment. Although heavy rain obscured the views we’d hoped for, we were treated to the rare experience of zip lining through a cloud inversion, something few get to witness! If you’re considering a similar adventure, be sure to check that your insurance covers it.

Mont Tremblant Top Tip: Book a stay at the Fairmont Tremblant. Their outdoor heated spa pool was the ideal place to unwind and warm up after a day of exploration.

Situated on an island in the Saint Lawrence River, Montreal perfectly combines historic charm with a contemporary energy. During our visit, we wandered through the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal and the vibrant neighbourhood of Le Plateau Mont Royal. Despite the persistent rain, we climbed the hundreds of steps up Mont Royal and were rewarded with panoramic views of the city. We also embraced our playful side with a ride on the Grand Roue, taking in even more spectacular sights from above.

Montreal Top Tip: Savor a lunch or dinner at Jardin Nelson in Old Montreal, where you can enjoy fresh, flavourful dishes accompanied by live jazz music in a charming, tucked-away terrace courtyard.

To break up our trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake, we decided to spend two nights in historic Kingston, home to Queen’s University. This charming small city boasts beautiful heritage buildings, cosy cafés, and unique boutique shops, and serves as the gateway to the Thousand Islands. We enjoyed a nostalgic trolley tour and a relaxing Heart of the Islands Cruise aboard the Island Queen, a classic Mississippi-style paddle steamer. Cruising through the Admiralty Islands within the Thousand Islands while listening to live music made for an unforgettable experience.

Kingston Top Tip: Stay at the charming Secret Garden Inn at Argyle Place, a lovely historic bed and breakfast. Don’t miss out on their mouth-watering 5-course Fondue experience!

Nestled along the shores of Lake Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake is a picturesque town that feels like stepping into a storybook. Known for its quaint streets, historic architecture, stunning waterfront views and close proximity to the roaring Niagara Falls. We chose to end our holiday on a high with a stay in this beautiful town. Whilst here we enjoyed lakeside walks, delicious ice wine a local speciality and of course a visit to Niagara Falls where we spent a couple of hours like kids playing in the arcades at Clifton Hill, boarding the Hornblower for an up close and personal view of the mighty Niagara Falls.

Niagara Top Tip: Reserve a spot on the Niagara Whirlpool Aero Car—a one-of-a-kind cable car that glides high above the breathtaking Niagara Whirlpool.