While most North Americans shiver through the winter months and wait for the spring, Ottawans are embracing winter's chill and enjoying the annual Winterlude festival. This three-week celebration takes place during the coldest time of the year, when temperatures often plummet below -20°C.

Montreal is in the midst of a transformative infrastructure project, the first of its kind since Expo 67. The Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM), a brand-new light rail system promises to revolutionize transportation in Greater Montreal. I had the chance to ride the first section between downtown Montreal and Brossard just days after its July 2023 opening, and I'm excited to share my experience with you.

The P'tit Train du Nord, a popular bicycle trail north of Montreal, has been on my bucket list for over five years. As a train enthusiast and avid cross-country cyclist, this trail held a special allure for me, combining my two passions. In July 2024, I finally had the opportunity to fulfill this dream, tackling the most popular section of the trail between Mont-Tremblant and Mont-Ronald alongside my close friends. In this article, I'd like to share the fascinating story of the P'tit Train du Nord, a railway that offers a rich history, stunning scenery, and warm hospitality for those who take it. Let's pedal through time and celebrate the rebirth of this iconic railway, now a vibrant driver of tourism in the Laurentides!

This is the second part of a story about my backpacking adventure to the Eastern Townships in late May 2023. In the previous article, I talked about some logistical challenges to travel without a car in Canada as well as my experience in the town of Sherbrooke. In this article, I'll cover the rest of my trip including the town of Magog, Mont-Orford National Park, and some places between them.

I’m continuing my experiments with car-free backpacking travel in North America to prove that not only is it possible, but it can actually be quite an enjoyable experience. Backpacking travel presents two key benefits over traditional car-centric travel: a focus on sustainability and a deeper connection to nature and local cultures. After all, if this form of travel has successfully thrived in numerous European, Asian, and Latin American countries, it is only logical to question why it would be any different in Canada and the United States. Right?

I bet you think the largest francophone community outside of Quebec is located in New Brunswick. The truth is, that almost three times more francophones, over 600,000 people, reside in the province of Ontario. Expectedly, the majority of them live along the Ontario-Quebec border, with the highest concentration - in towns and villages east of Ottawa. I happened to recently visit one of those typical Franco-Ontarian towns, called Casselman, where most people speak French in their daily lives. I hope to give you a sense of it, although you can't expect much from a small town during a province-wide lockdown in the middle of a brutally cold winter. Definitely give it another try in the summer.

Montreal has a special place in my heart. My two-year-long immigration project revolved around this great city. Before I set foot in Canada, I already had a pretty good idea of where I would live, work, send my kids to daycare and school, shop for groceries, spend weekends and so forth. And while I was seriously planning to settle in Montreal, I secretly envied those who could afford to live in Vancouver. So far, neither city ended up being my home. This did not prevent me from exploring Montreal though where I have spent quite a bit of time over the past 10 years. And you know what I like the most about this city? Not bagels, not smoked meat, not even poutine. Its métro! Here are my reasons why.

I'm not going to judge Québec for how quickly they are reopening their economy after a very strict lockdown and being hit pretty hard by COVID-19, but for someone who lives in Ontario, the difference in the reopening approaches between the two provinces seems very noticeable. When the right opportunity came, I didn't think twice before booking our first family camping of the year at Parc National du Mont-Tremblant. Incidentally, camping in Ontario was not even possible in mid-June. Travelling to Québec brought a very nice and completely unexpected bonus: the ability to eat inside a restaurant even if it's only pizza and ice cream. Indoor dining has become a faraway luxury after the four months of lockdown. If you're still questioning whether you should go camping at Mont-Tremblant or, frankly, any other provincial park in Québec, the answer is "Absolutely". Let me tell you why.

Contrary to popular belief, Québec does not only bring an old European city to mind but rather has its own distinct French-Canadian flavour, unlike anything you can find in Europe. Québec looks and feels fabulous in many ways. I know quite a few people who aren't big fans of Montreal, but not a single person who wouldn't fall in love with Québec after visiting it. Even in the middle of winter, when it's freezing cold outside and there is a real chance of getting frostbite, Québec somehow manages to attract busy crowds for its world-famous winter carnival. Mesdames et messieurs make the acquaintance of Québec, one of my favourite places in Canada!

As the April days are getting longer and warmer, you must spend more time outside. Especially when you can still enjoy it mosquito-free! I don't know about you, but I become very excited when I get a chance to explore a new place. And, by the way, a new place does not mean going far. Even if it's your own city or town, I guarantee there will always be something new yet to be discovered. That has been the case for me in Montreal where I happen to spend quite a bit of my time over the past two years. I've walked pretty much everywhere in the 5 km / 3-mile radius of the central train station. Mostly after work though when it's already dark outside. But longer spring days let me see more in daylight, that's why I'm always up for a nice walk after work. Continue reading to learn about an itinerary that I really enjoyed. It's strenuous due to its length and slightly off-the-beaten path, but I'm sure you'll like it too.

As someone who moved to Ottawa after spending six consecutive winters in Toronto, I can tell you that Ottawa gets much more snow than Toronto. But snow in Ottawa is business as usual, so people don't make a big deal out of it when it's snowing. I'll tell you more: most people in Ottawa put on winter tires and drive according to weather conditions, so roads remain pretty safe and accident-free. But the best part of the winter in Ottawa is that there are plentiful sunny days due to cooler temperatures, and exposure to sunlight stimulates the production of serotonin, a hormone of happiness, that boosts mood and helps sustain through long Canadian winters. So winter in Ottawa isn't that bad, it's actually quite the opposite thanks to a surprisingly large variety of winter activities in and around Ottawa.

Vieux Port de Montréal (or Old Port of Montreal in English) draws about six million visitors a year.  For most Americans and Canadians from English-speaking provinces and territories, the Old Port of Montreal is a quintessential piece of Europe carefully preserved by the Québécois over the years. If you're up to cobble streets with old stone buildings, cozy cafés, delicious crêperies, bakeries selling fresh French croissants and baguettes, and sharp gothic spires, look no further - Old Port has it all. But to have the best experience, try to visit it after dark on a weekday in May or June, and you'll be amazed at how intimate and lovely this place can be.

You still have a few weeks left to visit MosaïCanada 150 - a collection of 33 chef d'oeuvres made of plants commemorating Canada's 150th Anniversary. The exhibition is hosted in Gatineau, Quebec in Jacques-Cartier Park. Admission is free and it's the 'must-see' while in Canada's Capital region.

Gatineau and Ottawa sit on the northern and southern banks of the Ottawa River respectively and make the capital of Canada. But how similar or distinct are they? Well, very much distinct, like the provinces they are in - Quebec and Ontario. Gatineau is a much smaller city and often overlooked under the shade of its 'big brother' Ottawa. This spring alone, Gatineau made the national headlines due to the widespread flood, but usually, visitors rarely go beyond the Canadian Museum of History and Jacques Cartier Park. The latter offers the best view of Parliament Hill across the river as well as hosts one of the most famous winter festivals in Canada - Winterlude. But there are other places in Gatineau, lesser-known yet still worth visiting. Let's see them together.

Saguenay Fjord is one of my favourite places in Canada. Not only is it the southernmost fjord in North America, but also it's one of the most beautiful ones with very diverse flora and fauna. It's fairly accessible, too, so don't miss it out while in the area: only a 2.5 h drive from Quebec City along the northern bank of the magnificent Saint Lawrence River will take you there.

If you ever feel tired and exhausted from day-to-day routines or just being in the city, you should consider the healing magic of Mother Nature. Fortunately, there are many such places in North America close to big cities where you can reload and energize. One such place is called Jacques Cartier National Park (Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier in French), only a half-hour drive from Quebec City.