Sault Ste. Marie to Montreal

[Roy_Lynne]

We are planning a trip from Seattle to New Hampshire to visit the grand kids this summer and would like to go thru Canada. Wondering if there are any sites not to miss, great places to camp and any hints you might advise from Sault Ste. Marie to Montreal.
We like history, birding, and geology and hate big city driving but love small town ambiance.
Most likely would be in June.
Thanks in advance.

[TimnJo]

Just a note - the main Parliament building, called the Centre Block, with the Peace Tower, is closed for renovations and will be for the next decade.

[daveB110]

We had a good visit to Ottawa by staying at an RV park south of the city, then driving to a Bus station for the bus ride into Ottawa (Those buses into town have there own two lane road into the city and very close to the Canadian Parliament buildings. You can tour these. A popular attraction is the Canadian War Museum, which has displays that document wars which include the Boer War, WWI, WWII prominently. We took local buses to get there and enjoyed not driving pretty much the entire day.

[deadeye1]

If you are coming to Montreal you should add a couple of days and visit Quebec City.

[wilber1]

If you like history, St. Joseph Island just east of the Sioux. Ft St. Joseph National Historic Site. A ruin now but the place where the War of 1812 began with the British attack on Mackinac Island. It is also located on a bird sanctuary.

[Roy_Lynne]

Thanks Timnjo, I will really take the bug spray, as mosquitoes really love me as it is.

[TimnJo]

Stop at Wesley Clover Parks ( http://wesleycloverparks.com/campground-2/ ) then visit Canada's capital, many museums - war, civilisation, aviation, natural history.
Fill up before you cross the border to Quebec, fuel prices are much higher once there.
Bring lots of bug repellent if it is June when you'll be travelling, the mosquitoes and especially blackflies will eat you alive.

[camp-n-family]

Not sure about private parks as we usually stay in the Provincial parks. Here is the link for the Ontario Provincial Parks website. You can find all the parks available and make reservations (5 months to the day in advance).

The closest provincial park is Fairbanks. We stayed there a few years ago. It was nice but still a fair drive (57kms but close to an hour drive) from Sudbury with no gas nearby.

If you’re into birding and geology then the Fielding bird sanctuary, Big Nickel & Dynamic Earth (science north) tours are a must. Easy info if you google them.

[Roy_Lynne]

Are there any nice campgrounds in the Sudbury area?

[Roy_Lynne]

Thanks so much. Sounds awesome and since we have lots of time will take your suggestions.

[camp-n-family]

Hwy 17 takes you from the Soo to Ottawa and then on to Montreal. It’s a nice drive but not a lot to stop and do along that route. Not sure how much time you want to spend but i would suggest a stop in Sudbury. They have a nice bird sanctuary, nickel mine tours and the science north museum which is amazing. From there if you go a little south I would suggest going hwy 69 through the French River area and stopping at Grundy Lake provincial park. Rent a canoe and paddle the lakes. From there go through Huntsville (nice little touristy town) and camp at Arrowhead pp. Then take hwy 60 through Algonquin park. Several campgrounds to choose from there. Great sightseeing, hiking, fishing, birding etc at each of them. Maybe spot some bears and moose. It would be a longer, less direct route but well worth it in my opinion. If anything, go through Algonquin. You will need reservations at each place though.

[RICK-ards_Red]

Crossing at the Soo you can stop at the locks and watch the big ships going thru the locks, interesting to watch. Stopping in Sudbury for the nickle mines and the history of the area due to early smelting from the mines (NASA trained the moon missions there). Travel on Hwy 11 to North Bay to avoid the 400 and 401 series of Hwy - high speed, high traffic.

We have stayed at the Sturgeon Falls KOA right on the river, very pretty area near North Bay, carry onto Ottawa - nations capital- very pretty then a short hop to Montreal.

We did this route last year and will go this route again this year when we go to the East coast.