Canadians: I have a question

[Aristocat]

You could give Ottawa/Gatineau a look. A government and tech town primarily, bike paths and lanes that span the city, a few man-made beaches in the city, lots of outdoors and parks, a pretty clean city, a good comfortable size at about 1M ppl and doesn't take more than 30-40 min. to get across town outside of rush hour, 2 universities and 2 colleges, and about a 2 hour drive from Montreal so your gf doesn't feel too homesick/bored. Not much in the way of mountains but there are the Gatineau Hills with a couple smaller ski resorts. There's cross-country skiing "trails" pretty much anywhere there's a park, and there's a good amount of open land within the city between the 'burbs. There's also the Rideau Canal that's 4-7 km outdoor "skating rink" from Jan-Mar. for some winter novelty. Winters average -10C but I've seen it go as low as -30C overnight for a few days some years back. How am I doing for promoting tourism?

That sounds awesome.

We're both thinking about traveling anywhere and not really saying any place is off the table. She's travelled a lot more than I have but I'm happy to go anywhere.

We both played ice hockey growing up so it'd be cool to get back on the ice in general. I'm in the south and that's a mysterious concept

 

[BYTOR]

I love the seasons in Canada. I used to wish that I lived somewhere warmer year round like Arizona, New Mexico or Texas. But now I realize I like the change in weather. It's nice to mix things up. The change in temperature equals a change in fun outdoor activities.

Fuck that! I was born in Canada but have lived in both the Caribbean & Florida since I was 9. Paradise.......

Can't stand the snow/cold except if it's just a short vacation.

 

[bulletproof_funk]

You could give Ottawa/Gatineau a look. A government and tech town primarily, bike paths and lanes that span the city, a few man-made beaches in the city, lots of outdoors and parks, a pretty clean city, a good comfortable size at about 1M ppl and doesn't take more than 30-40 min. to get across town outside of rush hour, 2 universities and 2 colleges, and about a 2 hour drive from Montreal so your gf doesn't feel too homesick/bored. Not much in the way of mountains but there are the Gatineau Hills with a couple smaller ski resorts. There's cross-country skiing "trails" pretty much anywhere there's a park, and there's a good amount of open land within the city between the 'burbs. There's also the Rideau Canal that's 4-7 km outdoor "skating rink" from Jan-Mar. for some winter novelty. Winters average -10C but I've seen it go as low as -30C overnight for a few days some years back. How am I doing for promoting tourism?

That sounds awesome.

We're both thinking about traveling anywhere and not really saying any place is off the table. She's travelled a lot more than I have but I'm happy to go anywhere.

We both played ice hockey growing up so it'd be cool to get back on the ice in general. I'm in the south and that's a mysterious concept

Dude, this might be the town for the both of you. Hockey is quite big in Ottawa, indoors and outdoors. Lots of local community rinks run by volunteers in winter, there's bound to be one close by for a good weekend afternoon session of outdoor shinny, and you certainly can't beat the admission price. There's also indoor leagues and pickup hockey (co-ed) around town, and you can actually play year round. Don't get too attached to any car you own as the roads are salted in winter. Also, Quebec residents are mandated to have snow tires in winter if you happen to live on the Gatineau side of town.

 

[rlord1974]

You could give Ottawa/Gatineau a look. A government and tech town primarily, bike paths and lanes that span the city, a few man-made beaches in the city, lots of outdoors and parks, a pretty clean city, a good comfortable size at about 1M ppl and doesn't take more than 30-40 min. to get across town outside of rush hour, 2 universities and 2 colleges, and about a 2 hour drive from Montreal so your gf doesn't feel too homesick/bored. Not much in the way of mountains but there are the Gatineau Hills with a couple smaller ski resorts. There's cross-country skiing "trails" pretty much anywhere there's a park, and there's a good amount of open land within the city between the 'burbs. There's also the Rideau Canal that's 4-7 km outdoor "skating rink" from Jan-Mar. for some winter novelty. Winters average -10C but I've seen it go as low as -30C overnight for a few days some years back. How am I doing for promoting tourism?

That sounds awesome.

We're both thinking about traveling anywhere and not really saying any place is off the table. She's travelled a lot more than I have but I'm happy to go anywhere.

We both played ice hockey growing up so it'd be cool to get back on the ice in general. I'm in the south and that's a mysterious concept

Dude, this might be the town for the both of you. Hockey is quite big in Ottawa, indoors and outdoors. Lots of local community rinks run by volunteers in winter, there's bound to be one close by for a good weekend afternoon session of outdoor shinny, and you certainly can't beat the admission price. There's also indoor leagues and pickup hockey (co-ed) around town, and you can actually play year round. Don't get too attached to any car you own as the roads are salted in winter. Also, Quebec residents are mandated to have snow tires in winter if you happen to live on the Gatineau side of town.

Just keep in mind that Ottawa is one of the coldest major cities in Canada, except for Winnipeg and Edmonton.

 

[tfridgen]

Come to Renfrew.

/thread

 

[rlord1974]

 

[Aristocat]

Just talked to Mark D about it. He said don't go to Windsor. Don't know why but I believe him.

We're probably gonna start on Quebec and keep heading east. Check out Alberta and Vancover too.

 

[metalmaniac93]

Just talked to Mark D about it. He said don't go to Windsor. Don't know why but I believe him.

We're probably gonna start on Quebec and keep heading east. Check out Alberta and Vancover too.

Windsor is a HELL NO!!! I have not lived in the Toronto, Montreal, or Quebec City, but they are great places to visit. Can't say I would like to be in a French-Canadian area since lviing in Belgium was tough enough trying to learn the language for me. The bonus for me would be the abundance and passion for hockey!! I heard Vancouver was the best place to live in Canada and even the best palce in North America!!

 

[bulletproof_funk]

Just keep in mind that Ottawa is one of the coldest major cities in Canada, except for Winnipeg and Edmonton.

But in Ottawa it's a sunny dry cold, not the deep bone-chilling kind like in the Maritimes! Montreal on average is not too different being 2 hours away. I've lived in Saskatoon and there was no blocking of cold air in those flat prairie lands! Ottawa is to Saskatoon as Toronto is to Ottawa.

 

[snowdog]

There is an off topic section.

 

[metalmaniac93]

There is an off topic section.

Eh!!!

 

[bulletproof_funk]

Oh yeah gear talk... the colder drier parts of Canada won't be great for your guitars in the winter months without a humidifier.

 

[Aristocat]

There is an off topic section.

Didn't think it'd take off.

This is also a lot more legitimate than the other bs threads as of late.

 

[Jdguitar]

This is on topic because we have great guitar tone up here!
There other advantage of living up here is there are plenty of opportunities to catch Rik Emmett live...as well as Kim Mitchell, April Wine, Honeymoon Suite...etc.

 

[rlord1974]

Just talked to Mark D about it. He said don't go to Windsor. Don't know why but I believe him.

Believe him. There's nothing going on in Windsor worth being a part of.

I heard Vancouver was the best place to live in Canada and even the best palce in North America!!

Who told you that? Somebody that lives or lived in Vancouver? Not knocking it - it's a beautiful place that I love to visit. But it's not ALL THAT.

One of the advantages of Ontario is that you are only a few hours away from other metropolitan areas, such as Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Philly, Cleveland, Buffalo, NYC, Boston, Baltimore, etc. Easy access for road trips/getaways. If you live in Vancouver, other than Whistler and Seattle, you have a hell of a drive to get to another major city. There's plenty of trees and mountains though. It really boils down to what is most important to you.

 

[John4021]

There is an off topic section.

Eh!!!

Yeah what's that aboot.

 

[metalmaniac93]

This is on topic because we have great guitar tone up here!
There other advantage of living up here is there are plenty of opportunities to catch Rik Emmett live...as well as Kim Mitchell, April Wine, Honeymoon Suite...etc.

Yeah, those are all great bands but there is one problem. You have Justin Bieber!!!

 

[Jdguitar]

bahaha. I know Windsor quite well! it's not all that bad. Some winters it doesn't even snow. The Motor City is a stone's throw away. hmmmm, let's see, what else... Windsor does have the best pizza in the world! 5 minutes from Detroit, 3 hours from Cleveland, 3 hours from Toronto, 5 hours from Chicago, 9 hours from Nashville. ...but it's no Florida!

 

[metalmaniac93]

bahaha. I know Windsor quite well! it's not all that bad. Some winters it doesn't even snow. The Motor City is a stone's throw away. hmmmm, let's see, what else... Windsor does have the best pizza in the world! 5 minutes from Detroit, 3 hours from Cleveland, 3 hours from Toronto, 5 hours from Chicago, 9 hours from Nashville. ...but it's no Florida!

Oh I was just dogging Windsor because I am originally from the Detroit area. Nothing wrong with it. I used to go there back in the day when I still lived in the Detroit Area.

 

[Jdguitar]

The music scene is even making a comeback in Windsor. Here is a video of some local guys playing at the casino.