From Toronto to Ottawa, Omega Park, and Mont Tremblant. Oct, 2020

Every autumn, we set off in search of beautiful places where we can enjoy nature and discover something new.

Planning this trip was not easy. Although we had no intention of visiting crowded places, we had to change our itinerary several times as new COVID-related restrictions and travel advisories were announced. In the end, it was all worth it. Careful planning allowed us to experience so many unforgettable places and moments.

So, here is the story of how we visited a unique gallery, tasted the most delicious apple pie, spent a night with wolves, fed deer, climbed into the mountains, wandered through an enchanted forest during a magical nighttime show, soared above the treetops, got lost among the trees, relaxed at a spa resort, explored Canada's capital, and, of course, enjoyed plenty of stunning autumn scenery and delicious food along the way...

Day 1

We leave Toronto early in the morning and, after about an hour and a half, arrive at the very unusual Primitive Designs gallery. It features an extraordinary collection of exotic and antique pieces made from metal, wood, and other materials, gathered from all over the world

Our next stop is The Big Apple. This famous attraction features apple orchards, a bakery where their famous apple pies are made, and a small petting zoo. They say this giant apple is the largest in the world. A sign of the times — this one is even wearing a face mask.

As soon as you walk in, you can see the bakery at work, along with a gift shop filled with local treats and souvenirs

I had never seen such an incredible selection of maple syrups before. There's also a very original entrance to the restrooms — and, of course, the famous apple pie 

We had also planned to visit the Brockville Railway Tunnel, Canada's first railway tunnel. Unfortunately, the attraction closed just one day before our trip. :(

As we continue our journey, we arrive at our first overnight stop. It is a truly unique place — and definitely not for everyone. Deep in the forest, far from civilization, is a famous wildlife park where many of Canada's native animals roam freely. Next to the park is a resort where you can spend the night surrounded by this incredible wildlife, including wolves and bears.

This was our little cabin in the woods. And if you're willing to splurge (around $1,000 per night), you can stay in a cabin that comes with its very own pack of wolves right outside

No alarm clock needed here — the wolves will take care of that... Some of them had already enjoyed their breakfast 

Day 2

We stock up on 5 kg of carrots and a bag of celery before heading to Omega Park. The park features a 12-kilometer self-drive route that winds through forests, around lakes, and past countless animals living in their natural surroundings

The most unforgettable experience was feeding the deer right from the car window 

The deer were absolutely adorable. We also spotted a mother wild boar with her striped piglets. There was even an area where visitors could get out of their cars and feed the deer up close 

Some of my favorite shots are the bears high up in the tree and this serious-looking guy :) 

In the evening, we celebrated Iris’s birthday at the very cozy C'est la Vie restaurant. I had reserved all of our breakfasts and dinners in advance, and I was glad I did, because due to COVID restrictions there were no available tables left.

For those with a sensitive stomach, it was probably better not to read the menu that evening — many of the animals listed had been running around the park just that morning. :)

The raw meat was served on hot stones, and we cooked it ourselves to our preferred level of doneness

Day 3

In the morning, we all treated ourselves to a relaxing massage at the spa, followed by some time enjoying the water facilities. Luckily, there were not many tourists around, and we had the pool all to ourselves

A delicious breakfast at Le Charlotte Cafe 

And then we head to the town of Mont Tremblant itself 

We take the funicular up into the mountains, enjoying the views of the village below and the beautiful autumn colors all around us 

We take some time to relax, then head back down to the village for a delicious dinner 

In the evening, we had a very special experience planned — the magical forest show Tonga Lumina.

The funicular takes us high into the mountains, where we are dropped off in a dark forest. We follow a trail illuminated by changing light displays and glowing decorations, surrounded by music and immersed in a magical story unfolding around us

Unforgettable emotions! We head back down to the village and stop for a bite at a nearby pub. Suddenly, we spot some unexpected guests outside the window. Young deer had wandered onto the busy street filled with shops and pubs, simply stopping by to enjoy some fresh grass

Day 4

We leave Mont Tremblant and head to Tyropark, where we are going to soar above the forest on a zipline adventure.

We put on our safety gear and, together with a group of other travelers, make our way deep into the forest. The whole experience takes about three hours. We walk through the woods from one launch point to another, and then fly high above the colorful autumn forest, enjoying breathtaking views along the way

Our journey continued into completely unfamiliar territory. Deep into the province of Quebec, to a high mountain surrounded by the St. Lawrence River. The drive took us more than three hours, but along the way we passed through some incredibly beautiful autumn landscapes

The hotel is almost entirely built from wood, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. We relax by the fireplace and then head to the spa to unwind 

Outside, there was also a beautiful complex of warm pools and hot tubs, but photography was not allowed there. For dinner, we head to a very interesting restaurant that has its own brewery

By the way, almost our entire trip took place in the province of Quebec, where French is the main language. We were lucky that our daughter, who attends a French school, helped us place orders and simply communicate in many places far away from civilization.

Day 5

Early morning. From our balcony, we see the river below and decide to walk down to it. The hotel is surrounded by numerous forest trails and hiking routes of different difficulty levels.

We make our way down and enjoy some peaceful time in nature

We get ready to hit the road again. But first, we take some time to warm up and relax before continuing our journey 

Our journey was now taking us back home, toward Canada’s capital city, Ottawa. There, we planned to meet with friends who were also traveling at the same time. Even though our friends are our neighbors and we already see each other quite often, it was still wonderful to spend some time together. And here we are, standing near Parliament Hill, with the St. Lawrence River below. Unfortunately, Parliament was under renovation, so we couldn’t get very close.

We had a wonderful evening and enjoyed dinner at a delicious restaurant. Due to COVID restrictions, we had to dine outside, under the warmth of glowing patio heaters

Day 6

Near Ottawa lies the enormous Gatineau Park, stretching over 361 square kilometers. It is a beautiful area of forests, mountains, lakes, ponds, and waterfalls, with countless hiking and cycling trails for all levels. We chose a short 4–5 km trail deep into the forest to explore the ruins and admire the waterfalls.It was a perfect autumn day

And here is our long-awaited destination — the ruins and waterfalls. Long ago, before they became ruins, this place was a home belonging to Canadian chemist and scientist Thomas Wilson. The building was part of his laboratory