Anyone did Toronto-Montreal-Boston drive before?

(Preface note; Yahoo Answers informed that my full Answer to you was too long. Hence I am breaking it up into at least 2 sections. This is section No. 1)

First of all, Beatle Fanatic understood you backwards, giving you instructions from Boston to Toronto instead of the other way around. His profile says he is American - the Yanks always seem to think they are first (lols). And are you a Brit? Your use of "tyre" instead of "tire" and your seeming unfamiliarity with the Canadian part of the drive suggests that you are, and not a Canadian.

In any case, it is about a 12 hour drive - total driving time - in good weather. The chances of getting hit by snow storms will be about 1 in 4 at that time of the year. And you want to see things. So I suggest you plan a 3 day trip, maybe even assume the worst and add in a snow allowance day.

The Ontario part of the drive, on Rte 401, will be remarkable for its dullness. The land is flat, flat, flat and outside of an occasional view of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River nothing scenic. There are a few historical sites in the Kingston area, and if you are a wine drinker you might visit the Cherry Valley Peninsula, where there are a few wineries (it is Canada's newest wine area, however, and many of the few tasting rooms may be closed for the winter). You might wish to sidetrip to Ottawa (go north on Rte 416) and see Ottawa, the nations capital. Like most it is full of museums, most very close to the parliament buildings. The Rideau Canal in mid-winter is the world's longest public skating rink.

Montréal of course is a different place. A very European city, and multi-cultural (though not as much as Toronto, which is currently the most multi-cultural city in the world). Make sure you fill your tummy with a warm Montréal smoked meat (viande fuméé)sandwich. Viande fumée is Montréal's take on pastrami, and it is described as the greatest delicatessen meat in the world in David Sax's recent book "Save the Deli", superior even to New York's. Local Montréalers will say that the best is served at Dunn's or at Schwartz's but my favourite is that at New Systeme, located near Atwater Market. One advisory, however, if you do not stop it your sandwich will automatically be slathered with sweet yellow mustard. And if there is any alternative (there probably will not be) it will be dijon. If you wish neither but are one who believes that only spicy brown mustard will do for a pastrami you must bring your own.

The Québec preference for mustard being mild and sweet shows elsewhere. Although Montréal is indeed a great culinary city, if you go to an ethnic place - especially Chinese or Thai - one gets dishes with spicing mellowed and sweetened if one does not demand "Faire le gout authentique, s'il vous plaît, pas a le gout québecois!!!).

For the most part Montréal's French restaurants are a Québec take. There is usually a game dish or two on the menu (usually with a sweet, often fruit and wine based, sauce) but you should treat yourself to at least one such meal.

Or try the very distinctive Le Fourquet Fourchet, inside the Palias de Congrés. (No outside sign!!). Loud, noisy, with communual seating, it not only has contemporary dishes but features recipes eaten by the settlers of 300 years ago, and also of the original Indian and Inuit (eskimo) aborigines from the far north. Reservations recommended.

Be advised that since last winter Québec MANDATES that all vehicles have snowtires - not all season tires - on all four wheels from December 15 until April 1. I have yet to personally see cops going down streets with their ticket books checking tires or at road traps checking tires but I am sure it happens.

If you are worried that you will be trapped on the highway in a blizzard and need to bring extra food and water I won't stop you but that is a bit of an overreaction. All the way to Boston they are used to snow and the major highways, especially, are full of plows. As a general rule the worst storms will not exceed 30cm, except in New England closer to Boston, which occasionally gets walloped by "nor'easters" - ferocious ocean winter storms that "explode" east or southeast of Cape Cod from the convergence of the cold Labrador Current with the warm Gulf Stream - that can dump 60-70cm in snow sometimes so blinding one can hardly see more than 50 meters but these almost always occur after January 15.

There are no tolls going to Boston via Montréal; if you come back via the typical route of US I-90 from Boston to Buffalo it is almost all tolled.

I've done Boston-Montreal before and this is the way I go.

Take 93 North to Concord, NH and exit onto Route 89 North.

Follow 89 North to Swanton Vt. and exit onto Route 78 to Alburgh.

In Alburgh VT. take Route 2 to Rouses Point in NY.

In Rouses Point take Route 11 to Route 87 North.

Follow 87 to the Canada border where the highway turns into Route 15.

Follow 15 North into Montreal.

The above route is easy, very scenic, and not dangerous. I usually stop in Burlington, VT which is about 3-1/2 hours from Boston area. There are many restaurants, shops, hotels, and things to do there because it is directly on Lake Champlain and is a touristy area. Montreal is about 2-1/2 hours from there.

I would definitely want snow tires or at least a 4-wheel drive for that time of year traveling in that area.

Border crossings into Canada are very easy but coming back it will take more time to cross. The US border patrol will ask many questions and may search your vehicle.

Toronto is the house to a vibrant mixture of tourist attractions, from museums and galleries to the world popular CN Tower and, only down shore, Toronto Islands and you are able to visit all of this if you select Toronto for yours vacation and the spot to create this decision is here hotelbye . Toronto offers a vivid Entertainment District, featuring the most recent musicals and other performing arts, and the ancient Distillery District. The Royal Ontario Museum, known as the ROM, is among Canada's premier museums by having an global status for excellence. It houses an outstanding collection and also characteristics significant exhibitions from round the world. A controversial expansion of the facility found a contemporary side offering glass and sharp aspects added on to a really conventional older building. The memorial contains selections covering a great number of intervals from all over the world.

Boston has an abundant record and a diverse neighbourhood; it's a heritage of arts, tradition, and education; Boston has something for everybody therefore find what Boston can give you with hotelbye . The three-mile Freedom Trail brings you past - and in to - 16 of the city's key ancient monuments and sites. It's easy to follow, by the line of red stones in the pavement and by footprints at block crossings. The trail will get you to Old Granary Burying Ground where Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock are hidden; may get you to King's Chapel Burying Ground, the Boston's oldest cemetery; Old South Meeting House where in actuality the ringing speeches of patriots spawned the Boston Tea Party and the Old State House, Boston's oldest public creating and the website of the Boston Massacre.

(My Answer to your Question - Section No. 2)

(I also just discovered that Yahoo Answers does not permit the same email address to send more than one Answer another email address; hence you get this from my Canadian Yahoo address instead of, as Section 1, my USA yahoo address).

.../.../...Following Beatle Fanatic's instructions in reverse he tells you to take the Autoroute 15 to the border where it becomes US I-87, then to get to Rousses Point, NY via getting off at US Route 11, which then becomes Route US 2. However, this crossing is a major one, where there is apt to be a backup of cars and where you are likely to be questioned and searched thoroughly. Cross instead on Québec route 223. To get there take the exit on Autoroute 15 for Québec route 202, eastward. You can take this about 5-6 kilometers to Route 223 then take a right to the border. You will pass a duty-free store on the left but do not be tempted. It will be cheaper to buy major brands of Canadian beer at regular prices in the States, especially at New Hampshire supermarkets, where, in addition to cheaper prices, there are no sales taxes. There are only 3 spirits brands (I know!) that are not cheaper in New Hampshire (Metaxa, Galliano and a Canadian brand of Triple Sec, FYI). Good wines are cheaper at regular prices in both New Hampshire and certain stores (like Trader Joe's) in Boston. (Note: In New Hampshire beers are sold at regular retailers; spirits ONLY at "State Liquor Stores" - like a New Hampshire LCBO - and wines under 16.5% at either).

Re: crossing the border: If you are indeed a Brit (or from another country whose citizens are not required to have prior US visas) the US now REQUIRES that you register on line for what is known as an ESTA authorization. You will not be permitted to enter the USA without doing this. It must be done at least 3 days before you come to the border. For complete information and the application go to the US government immigration service's ESTA site at www.ESTA.us/apply. (ESTA has not been as widely publicized as it should have been. I did not know of it until a British friend and her 3 daughters were refused entry at New York after flying from Birmingham!!).

Again, paraphrasing Beatle Fanatic in reverse, after you cross the border you take your first left and you will cross the bridge over part of Lake Champlain into Vermont, one of the USA's most beautiful, charming, and politically liberal states (as is Massachusetts) - although you won't believe it if you listen to Burlington's AM talk radio station. Vermont was one of the 4 American states which was originally an independent country.

After about a half hour, once you reach and are on Rte I-89, stop at the first rest area, just south of St. Albans and get one of the free Vermont maps. They also give our rather good free coffee there (and at other such rest areas)

Burlington is a lovely little city, and has 4 college and university campuses which tends to make it a bit intellectual. There are several good places to eat but particularly good in my experience (hope it is still there - I last dined there 2 years ago) is the rather unoriginally named Taste of Vermont which is near the lakefront.

As you probably know the drinking age in the USA is 21 (highest in the world except for Nepal). And it is enforced. But if you are lucky enough to be older and a beer lover you will be happy to learn that Vermont, and New England generally, is a centre for fantastic craft beers from small breweries (and brewpub restaurants), at about half the price (for packaged) you pay for the limited number of microbrew brands produced in Ontario.

You will also be happy to see once you cross the border petrol prices considerably less than in Canada.

As mentioned Vermont is charming but you are really missing something by traveling after the famous brilliant Autumn foliage has past. Still, you can get a taste of rural New England and its architecture by getting off I-89 at Montpelier (the state capital) and then meander through Barre on Rte US 302 to VT 14

and staying on Rt 14 until it intersects with I-89 at Sharon. Beyond Sharon a side trip to Queechee and Woodstock - a town which became an escape for many of the rich hangers-on to the Rockefeller family might be interesting.

Once in New Hampshire to get an even better feel for the New England small town countryside and town centre architecture, with its famous white churches and town greens, get off I-89 at N.H. Route 114 (exit 10) and take Rte 114 to Route 202 and thence 202 through the Monadnock Region (named after a mountain there) until you reach Rte 119, then take Rte 119 into Massachusetts (You would follow then MA Rte 119 until it joins MA Rte 2, and thence Rte 2 into Boston.

There are plenty of good restaurants along the way, many part of country inns along the byways I have suggested, or just places to get a snack. For many, many of them you can get a discount by registering at www.restaurants.com. This program has USA restaurants only; I do not know if there is a similar program in Canada.