2020 has been… an interesting year, to say the least.
What started out as a promising year of RV travels and other fun adventures quickly turned into something out of fiction, maybe even science fiction.
Many of us spent the bulk of spring 2020 in our homes, in isolation and/or largely distanced from society around us. When would we be able to travel again, we wondered.
Well, thankfully, the summer saw a bit of an opening. Some of us Ottawa RV and trailer enthusiasts were able to hit the open road. After all, an RV or trailer is, by its very definition, a rather socially and physically distanced form of travel.
In this month’s Ottawa RV & Trailer blog we’ll cover the highlights of two Quebec & Ontario RV road trips we took recently, admiring the fall colours and amazing scenery we have within a relatively short distance drive in your trailer or RV from Ottawa.
Mont Tremblant & the Laurentians
The first signs of fall, or autumn if you will, came in Quebec, north of Ottawa. We did a couple of day trips, in fact, hitting Wakefield and then points north such as Val des Monts, Gracefield, Blue Sea and Mont Morissette.
Even if you’re only going for the day, it’s nice to have your rig along, as an RV or trailer affords you the facilities you’ll want – kitchen, washroom, etc. – rather than having to fend for public spaces.
Once we realized Quebec was in full autumn swing, we headed up to the Laurentians for a few days.
About an hour and a half north of Ottawa, passing through the Outaouais region from Gatineau on up, you enter the Laurentians region. The highlight in these parts, of course, is beautiful Mont Tremblant.
Tremblant is truly a four seasons kind of place, famous for skiing and other winter sports but also ideal for summer activities.
rural Ontario fall scenery
In the fall, Tremblant is ablaze in colour, and we were lucky enough to hit Mont Tremblant, Lac Superieur and Tremblant National Park at what’s affectionately known as “fall peak.”
Now, in fairness, one person’s definition of fall peak can be different from another’s. Ours usually involves a full array of yellows, oranges and reds, without much green (other than the evergreens, of course) and before significant leaf drop has occurred.
Peak fall in Tremblant was a sight to see this year, especially in this odd year, and we took full advantage of having our RV with us for the 3-day trip from Ottawa. We met many others who did just the same, bringing their Ottawa RV or trailer up and not having to worry about exposure to potential virus issues in hotels, restaurants, public washrooms and whatnot.
We’ll for sure return to Tremblant and vicinity for another fall season at some point, as it’s an easy hop in your RV from Ottawa or nearby communities.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas in Your RV or Trailer
Peterborough Lift Lock historic site
Our next road trip in our RV departed Ottawa and headed west through Ontario.
First stop was Calabogie, another popular ski destination just an hour from Ottawa. Although we were just passing through on this RV road trip, admiring the fall colours and beautiful scenery before heading further afield, Calabogie is a great place to spend the weekend in your trailer or RV from Ottawa.
From Calabogie we headed west and then southwest, through rural Ontario, before reaching Kawartha Provincial Park and the Kawartha Lakes region.
brilliant fall colours in Ontario
Many RVers and trailer enthusiasts come here from Ottawa and other areas of Ontario, spending a weekend or more.
In addition to enjoying the lovely fall foliage and local Kawartha charm (in towns like Bobcaygeon, made famous by the Tragically Hip).
One of the highlights of the Kawarthas region is the Butter Tart tour. If you have a sweet tooth or are a fan of this form of pastry, indulge in butter tarts from one, two, three or up to a few dozen butter tart bakeries across Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
Prince Edward County Fall RV Adventure
From that Butter Tart Tour we ended up at Lake Ontario, having driven down from Peterborough to Cobourg for a stop at a local bakery, then on to beautiful Prince Edward County.
PEC is a popular destination for people in their trailer or RV from Ottawa or elsewhere in Ontario in the summer, but truthfully it’s great almost year round.
We started on the Loyalist Parkway off the 401 near Brighton, making our way down into bucolic Prince Edward County.
Sandbanks park & beach in Prince Edward County, Ontario
Whether you are looking for relaxing countryside, lakeside beaches and adventures, great local food or imbibing in wine country, Prince Edward County has so much to offer!
We took in wine tastings at several wineries in the County – be sure to have a designated driver for your RV or trailer rig and stick to the plan!
Sandbanks Provincial Park, which can get pretty crowded in the summertime (when people reserve RV spots or campsites months in advance) was relatively light going. AND, a bonus, the trees at the sand dunes were lit up in brilliant yellows, oranges and reds!
We even ran into friends from Ottawa, RV enthusiasts of course, taking in similar sights and flavours in Prince Edward County.
A super pleasant surprise was takeout food from La Condesa, an amazing and authentic Mexican restaurant in the town of Wellington, Ontario. Highly recommended!
Ottawa RV & Trailer Service and Advice from Your Fellow RVers
We’re already planning our trips for next year in our RV from Ottawa to… well, who knows where (and who knows what 2021 will look like?!).
In the meanwhile, we can always dream about that next RV or trailer adventure.
At Travel Mor Trailer Sales, we have all your trailer and RV road trip needs covered.
Want to get an oil change or other service before or between road trips? We’re here for you.
Looking for winterization or winter RV storage? We do that, too.
Or if you just want to chat about upcoming road trip ideas in your Ottawa RV or trailer, we’re always up for talking RV & trailer life!
