O Canada! She\u2019s a beauty but she\u2019s also at your convenience. Hop in your car, aim the GPS north and you\u2019ve got an international trip. <\/p>\n
But where to go? We tapped\u00a0Lonely Planet\u2019s\u00a0Caroline Trelfer to offer some classy destination dupes that sub in for a few of our favorite summer escapes this side of the border.<\/p>\n
Swap the North Fork for Niagara-on-the-Lake<\/p>\n
Drive time from NYC:<\/strong>\u00a0About seven hours.<\/p>\n Drink in this wine-soaked border town. Destination Ontario<\/p>\n Vibe:<\/strong>\u00a0Small town Victoriana.<\/p>\n What to expect:<\/strong>\u00a0This breezily charming, retro-accented small town anchors one of Canada\u2019s best wine regions and comes complete with killer waterfront perches.<\/p>\n Mark on a map:<\/strong>\u00a0Niagara-on-the-Lake sits right on the border with America, just across the river from Youngstown.<\/p>\n Where to stay:<\/strong>\u00a0Embrace the maximalist 19th-century vibe of the town by staying at the historic Prince of Wales hotel. with wood-paneled walls and overstuffed chairs. Or, opt for the riverfront Harbour House Hotel, which has a superb spa.<\/p>\n What to do:<\/strong>\u00a0There are more than 100 wineries here, all specializing in cool climate varietals so take your pick (book a tour with the Winery Guys so you can really indulge). \u201cThis is one of the few places in the world known for ice wine, made with grapes picked and pressed several months after the initial harvest while they\u2019re still frozen in December or January,\u201d said Trelfer. Once you\u2019ve sobered up, head out to the Shaw Festival, named after George Bernard, which runs through the summer and fall drawing a quarter million folks each year. One highlight for 2025: Cole Porter\u2019s classic\u00a0\u201cAnything Goes.\u201d<\/p>\n Where to eat & drink:<\/strong>\u00a0Pick up a Canadian-style, crunchy-topped butter tart at the Niagara Home Bakery, Trelfer added, but sit down for supper at Treadwell Cuisine, a high-end farm-to-table spot with a superb locally skewing wine list. \u201cThe best value is the three-course dinner tasting menu, with or without pairings,\u201d she said, which starts at $84 per person.<\/p>\n Need to know:<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s home to North America\u2019s oldest golf club, a nine-holer on the shores of Lake Ontario established exactly 150 years ago \u2014 and open to the public for tee time.<\/p>\n Swap the Adirondacks for the Laurentians<\/p>\n Drive time from NYC:<\/strong>\u00a0Around nine hours.<\/p>\n These lush mountains will have you riding high. Gaelle Leroyer<\/p>\n Vibe:<\/strong>\u00a0Canuck country living.<\/p>\n What to expect:<\/strong>\u00a0This is a winter ski destination that\u2019s more than appealing in summer and fall, with more than 16 parks and reserves in the region. \u201cThey\u2019re known for rolling hills, thousands of fresh-water lakes and cozy log-cabin chalets,\u201d said Trelfer.<\/p>\n Mark on a map:<\/strong>\u00a0Val David is the regional hub.<\/p>\n Where to stay:<\/strong>\u00a0The seven minimalist A-frame cabins at Farouche Tremblant<\/a> are embedded in a 135-acre forest, allowing complete natural immersion, plus there\u2019s a small Nordic farm on the property for locavores.<\/p>\n What to do:<\/strong> Bike a stretch of the 140-mile Le P\u2019tit Train du Nord, a one-time railway line turned activity track or head to the Mont Tremblant ski resort, which is quilted with biking trails outside ski season. Parc National du Mont-Tremblant features 400 lakes and six rivers, and is the ideal place for a hike or two amid rare silver maples and red oaks.<\/p>\n Where to eat & drink:<\/strong>\u00a0Come for a Quebecois specialty at breakfast or lunch at the 80-year-old diner, Au Petit Poucet \u2014 try the maple-smoked ham, or\u00a0pouding ch\u00f4meur,\u00a0a syrup-drenched bread pudding. Make sure to spend a summer evening on the terrace at the Archibald Microbrewery.<\/p>\n Need to know:<\/strong>\u00a0The Laurentian peaks are at a much lower average elevation than the Adirondacks, priming them for families and more amateur outdoorsy types. Try a beginner route at Via Ferrata du Diable.<\/p>\n Swap Cape Cod for Andrews-by-the-Sea<\/p>\n Drive time from NYC:<\/strong>\u00a0Eight-and-a-half hours to Calais, Maine, then 20 minutes over the border.<\/p>\n History lives in this typically English outpost. New Brunswick Tourism<\/p>\n Vibe:<\/strong>\u00a0Newer New England.<\/p>\n What to expect:<\/strong>\u00a0This is Old Country, and much of the area has remained untampered with for centuries.\u00a0\u201cIt retains the look of an 18th-century British colonial settlement, with many buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries intact,\u201d said Trelfer.<\/p>\n Mark on a map:<\/strong>\u00a0St. Andrews is the base for exploring the entire peninsula.<\/p>\n Where to stay:<\/strong>\u00a0Most rooms at the Treadwell Inn<\/a> in the heart of town have private balconies, the ideal perch to sit out and watch the bay. Otherwise, try the more resort-like Algonquin<\/a> \u2014 its red-roofed, mock Tudor design inspired Stephen King\u2019s description of the Overlook Hotel in\u00a0\u201cThe Shining\u201d\u00a0after he stayed there.<\/p>\n What to do:<\/strong>\u00a0There are whale-watching cruises from June to October, leaving from market wharf, or you can simply stroll down the gift shop-lined Water Street. Visit the painstakingly restored octagonal Pendlebury Lighthouse, too, dating back to the 1830s. Given the town\u2019s name, you\u2019d expect superb golf here, and indeed, there are plenty of courses nearby, including an award-winning one at the Algonquin.<\/p>\n Where to eat & drink:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Grab seafood chowder or a grilled lobster sandwich at the Niger Reef Tea House, then compare the recipe with the same chowder at the Gables. Expect a creamy, shellfish-packed soup at both.<\/p>\n Need to know:<\/strong>\u00a0The waters here rise and fall dramatically, meaning there\u2019s a major difference when tide is in or out. The shape of Passamaquoddy Bay, and the tidal resonance, mean they rise and fall 28 feet or so twice each day.<\/p>\n Swap the Hamptons for Prince Edward County, Ontario<\/strong><\/p>\n Drivetime from NYC:\u00a0<\/strong>Around seven-and-a-half hours.<\/p>\n The geography of Sandbanks Provincial Park is beachy keen but you\u2019ll need a day-use reservation. Ontario Parks<\/p>\n Vibe:\u00a0<\/strong>Maple syrup meets Norman Rockwell<\/p>\n What to expect:\u00a0<\/strong>Think the East End of the 1960s or \u201970s, an artsy enclave where the main appeal is vineyards, crafts breweries and high-end thrift stores.<\/p>\n Mark on a map:\u00a0<\/strong>Look for the towns of Picton, Bloomfield, and Wellington.<\/p>\n Where to stay:\u00a0<\/strong>One major moment here was the opening of an outpost of the Toronto hipster hub the Drake hotel<\/a> 10 years ago (many locals refer to life \u201cbefore the Drake\u201d and \u201cafter the Drake\u201d). It brought a renewed energy to the area and is still the prime perch. Otherwise, try a cottage at the Lake on the Mountain Resort<\/a>.<\/p>\n What to do:\u00a0<\/strong>Trelfer\u2019s tip for the beaches at Sandbanks Provincial Park here is crucial. \u201cYou need a day-use reservation,\u201d she said, which can be booked five days in advance via the park website, \u201cIt\u2019s recommended, especially for busy summer weekends.\u201d The best family beach is Outlet, though you\u2019ll likely skip the crowds heading to Lakeshore. The famous dunes here are, of course, at Dunes Beach.<\/p>\n Where to eat & drink:\u00a0<\/strong>Scarf fresh oysters on the lakeside at the Sand and Pearl Oyster Bar and try some natural wines at Stella\u2019s Eatery. Make sure to carve out time for a wine tasting tour, though, and check the Prince Edward County Winegrowers Association website to plan the best route for you (Hillier is a great starting point)<\/p>\n Need to know:\u00a0<\/strong>The beaches here can be rocky rather than universally sandy, as they\u2019re on a lake, so bring waterproof shoes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"O Canada! She\u2019s a beauty but she\u2019s also at your convenience. 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