New year, new excitement about Canadian travel. We had hopes for 2020 and even 2021; there was some cross border travel but not as much as people hoped. Requiring a PCR COVID-19 test made getting into Canada a lot more difficult, even if you were Canadian. We love when Canadians visit the United States; our goals is to get Americans to Canada.
When Americans get a chance to reasonably enjoy Canada, they would need to do some research for finding a bus option within Canada. 2021 marked the final time Greyhound did business in Canada. The obvious exceptions were U.S. buses arriving in the Big 3: Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver.
Some local bus companies have taken over some routes. Take Toronto-Ottawa as an example. Flying out of Toronto to Porter Airlines to Ottawa requires getting to both airports, waiting. The flight itself is brief and nice. The problem is the cost.
ViaRail gets you conveniently from Union Station to the Via Rail station where you can take the new Confederation Line from Tremblay west to downtown. The bus takes you from Bay and Dundas in Toronto and puts you on Bank Street sort of halfway between downtown and TD Place, home of the Ottawa RedBlacks in the CFL.
When your humble narrator took Greyhound from Toronto to Ottawa and back, I was able to travel overnight to cut down on my lodging bills. This was a few years ago but was able to travel one-way for $20. The trick was paying for Toronto-Montréal, which was further yet cheaper than Toronto-Ottawa.
We wouldn't recommend a specific bus service, especially without trying it out. Schedules may not be as flexible and costs may be higher.
Greyhound leaves Canada for good
2021 brought a few "well, you can sort of come if, if, and if" scenarios. This was well-suited to those who lived really close to the border. We are happy for them and want others to join in the fun.
U.S. to open border to fully vaccinated travelers starting today
Opening Day for fully vaccinated Americans to cross into Canada with caveats
August 9 is the date fully vaccinated Americans can cross into Canada with some fine print
With limited travel, we have had some fun with different types of travel articles. Fogo Island in Newfoundland is now a destination thanks to new infrastructure. Sometimes, travel issues are local when someone complained about how difficult getting to see a football game was in Toronto.
60 Minutes takes us to Fogo Island in Newfoundland
Getting to BMO Field in Toronto should be a good experience
Innovation. Improved infrastructure. This would help get more Americans on a train to Canada. Many travelers would rather take a train over a bus.
Improving train travel options between the United States and Canada
Though more Americans can get legal marijuana, there is still an argument for marijuana tourism in Canada. We just haven't had a chance to see this in motion.
A slim chance of marijuana tourism in Canada in 2021
For a lot of people in North America, travel between the countries has little to do with vacation but a practicality of having part of your community across an international border.
How the Canada-U.S. border closure has affected border towns
Alberta is an amazing pretty place whether mountains to the west and flat areas to the east. I might be a bit reluctant to venture to Alberta until the pandemic is truly settled, not just if Alberta premier Jason Kenney says so. The "pro-business" mentality has really screwed small, local businesses. Being more cautious and willing to make unpopular decisions for the better good: that is truly being pro small business.
Alberta dials back COVID-19 tracking to dangerous levels
We have tracked this idea for a few years ago. Where to go. Where do I want to go?
A trip back to Montréal. A first trip to Saskatoon. A chance to see relatively new CFL stadiums in Regina and Hamilton. The Icefield Parkway in Alberta. Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. Gander in Newfoundland. Churchill in Manitoba, though that might be a pipe dream. The interior of British Columbia, a world not Vancouver or Victoria.
I've been to Quebec City but would like to try areas of the city I didn't get to see. Stratford, Ontario as an adult: have been there as a kid. Explore the Acadian part of New Brunswick.
Even as your humble narrator has been to all 10 provinces, there are so many Canadian travel possibilities.
Where to visit Canada in 2021
Where to visit Canada in 2020
Where to visit Canada in 2019
Where to visit Canada in 2018
Where to visit Canada in 2017
All Canada national parks are free in 2017
Where to visit Canada in 2016
Where to visit Canada in 2015
Where to visit Canada in 2014
Even if you are able to travel, right now, travel sucks. Not what it used to be or what it should be. Do research. Hope that trip will be what you want that to be. Someday. Please make it soon.
CanadianCrossing.com now has stories grouped by provinces and territories
CanadianCrossing.com border crossings coverage
CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage
Wish the short-term future was better for tourism in Canada. Even a day trip in Windsor would improve my mood.
Share your Canadian tourism wishes for 2022 in the comments section below. Time to make travel plans.
map credit: Ezilon.com
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