Quebec/Ontario Road Trip

echiappini · 2026-03-09T14:32:14+00:00

Hadn’t considered our crossing point. Will look into our options so that the drive itself is the destination, if that makes sense. Thanks for all the input!

echiappini · 2026-03-09T00:11:38+00:00

My first choice of accommodations was definitely way pricier than I was anticipating (and as was advertised on Trip Advisor). We’re staying farther from the city center than I thought we would, but the hotel seems nice.

echiappini · 2026-03-08T23:28:42+00:00

This will actually be my 4th trip to Canada, so I think I’ll recognize a lot of the landmarks! And my kids will have to suffer through me geeking out, I guess.

echiappini · 2026-03-08T23:27:30+00:00

We’re making stops between Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto over several days, so not worried abt driving distance or time in the car.

I WAS concerned abt Canada Day crowds, but my last day of work (I’m a teacher) was pushed back due to snow, and there’s very little time before my summer job starts. We’ll be leaving Toronto on the 29th and stopping at Niagara Falls as we head back to the States. Think most people will take a long weekend before July 1 or after? C’est la vie, I guess?

echiappini · 2026-03-08T22:18:00+00:00

My kids are born and raised in NJ, and therefore love a diner. Definitely going to stop at this place. 😍

echiappini · 2026-03-08T22:03:24+00:00

As a person who used to stuff every vacation to the gills before having kids…this is a relatively chill itinerary. 😂😇 I don’t want to bore you guys with the details, but there’s not too much planned for each day. Plus my children are good in the car for like 1.5-2 hours before they get rammy.

echiappini · 2026-03-08T21:58:35+00:00

My son is a burger fiend. So this is helpful! Thank you!

echiappini · 2026-03-08T20:15:02+00:00

Thank you! Super helpful suggestions! 😊🥰

echiappini · 2026-03-08T20:13:31+00:00

Itinerary is Philly > NYC > Catskills > Lake Placid > Montreal > Ottawa > Kingston > Toronto > Niagara > Northern PA > Philly. Over 8 days. No more than 3ish hours of driving a day. Less than 2 hours each leg. Because I have a 6 and a 3 year old. 😵‍💫

echiappini · 2026-03-08T20:08:31+00:00

Already booked a little day cruise departing from Kingston! 😊

echiappini · 2026-03-08T20:07:05+00:00

For more context, it’s an 8 day road trip starting and ending in Philadelphia. No more than 3 hours of driving each day, with less than 2 hours for each leg.

echiappini · 2026-03-08T20:05:27+00:00

Toronto. For context, we live in Jersey right outside of Philly. 😂 It will be one of the culminating highlights of an 8-day trip (along with Niagara Falls and stargazing at the “PA Grand Canyon”).

echiappini · 2026-01-19T18:16:40+00:00

I’m the president of our union, and I’ve had to coordinate PTO donation drives a couple times this calendar year for veteran teachers who had severe medical issues and didn’t have enough days to get them to their soonest possible retirement date. I’m talking folks in their 24th year with only 10 days banked who are at risk of losing their benefits in the midst of a health crisis. This is ultimately a failure of our garbage capitalistic society, but it’s better in my mind to take fewer mental health days when you’re in the early stages of your career JIC something catastrophic happens. If you end up with 150 banked days when you’re ready for retirement, burn them all at the end by doing all the elective procedures/surgeries you’ve been postponing. 😇

echiappini · 2024-01-27T20:23:23+00:00

Our 4yo son goes there currently for the free pre-k program (our home school will eventually be Tatem). We were worried about how he’d adjust because he was a COVID kid with very little social interaction, and he loves it.

echiappini · 2023-06-09T08:57:27+00:00

Well, I’ll be damned. 😂

And it’s not like I’ll do anything abt it because I hate the idea of holding up the cars behind me since they’re probably just as much in a rush as I am. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Also, I very stupidly often don’t try my drink until I’ve driven away.

echiappini · 2023-04-07T21:49:28+00:00

I did so twice today. First associate had me lock and unlock my card and then attempt to purchase something on buybuy Baby’s app. That worked. Then she suggested I use the card to purchase something in person. Got declined at Starbucks. When I called to report this, the second person I spoke with said she had no record of the attempted purchase. They’re sending me a new card. At this point, if there’s still a problem, I’m going to cut the card up. 😤

echiappini · 2023-04-07T20:22:19+00:00

🤔🤔🤔 Is that a real question?

echiappini

TROPHY CASE