Pick up your rental car at Pearson Airport. Head south on Highway 427 to the Gardiner Expressway into downtown. Aim to be at the CN Tower area before 11am to avoid the worst traffic and find easier parking.

Book tickets online in advance to skip the line. The main observation deck at 346m gives 360 degree views over the city and Lake Ontario. Consider the glass floor section on the lower viewing level for a fun photo spot.

Walk south along Bremner Boulevard toward the Harbourfront area. Look for casual eateries along Queens Quay, or head into the underground PATH system for a quick and inexpensive food court option.

Located directly beside the CN Tower on Bremner Boulevard. The moving walkway through the underwater tunnel is the highlight. Allow about 2 hours to see the shark and jellyfish exhibits.

Drive or take the subway to Dundas Square on Yonge Street. This massive indoor mall runs between Queen and Dundas Streets. Note the glass galleria and the Canada Goose store if you need cold weather gear for the trip ahead.

Head back west toward John Street and King Street West. This area is packed with restaurants and patios. Search for a place with outdoor seating along King West or look for one of the many rooftop bars on Adelaide Street for pre-dinner drinks.

Head straight to the ROM on Bloor Street West. Arrive early to beat the school groups and grab an audio guide. The dinosaur galleries and the First Peoples exhibit are the highlights. Parking is available on site but fills fast, so consider the Green P lot a block west.

Park at the Green P lot on The Esplanade just south of the market. The South Market building is open Tuesday to Saturday. Browse the lower level for fresh produce and grab a peameal bacon sandwich from a counter vendor upstairs. Be ready for crowds at noon.

Drive east on Front Street and park in the Distillery District parking garage or the lot on Mill Street. This pedestrian-only cobblestone area has galleries, boutique shops, and the old Gooderham and Worts distillery buildings. Walk the main lane from Parliament to Cherry Street.

Located inside Brookfield Place at 30 Yonge Street near Union Station. Take the car from the Distillery District and park at the Brookfield Place garage or use the TTC streetcar west on King Street. The Stanley Cup is on display and the interactive shooting gallery is fun for all ages.

Drive back to the Distillery District and grab dinner at one of the pubs along the main cobblestone lane. Look for a spot with a patio and order a local craft ale plus a classic Canadian pub meal. The area has several historic buildings converted into warm taverns with live music on weekends.

Drive to Scarborough Bluffs Park and park in the lot near the visitor centre. Walk the shoreline trail along Cathedral Bluffs for the best views of the layered clay cliffs. Arrive by 9am to beat crowds and get decent parking.

Photo: Ahnaf Piash, Pexels

Head southwest to High Park in the west end of Toronto. Park at the Grenadier Cafe lot or use street parking on Bloor Street West. Walk the trails around Grenadier Pond where the maples turn brilliant red and orange in mid-October.

Stop at a grocery store or bakery on the way to High Park and grab sandwiches, fruit, and pastries. Set up at one of the picnic tables near Grenadier Pond or the Hillside Gardens. Bring a blanket since benches fill up fast.

Drive downtown and park at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal lots or nearby Green P lots. Take the 15 minute ferry from the terminal at the foot of Bay Street to Centre Island. Rent a bike or walk the boardwalk to see the skyline and the autumn cottonwood trees in gold.

Drive to Casa Loma at 1 Austin Terrace near the intersection of Spadina Road and Davenport Road. The castle gardens and terraces look spectacular with fall foliage. Book tickets online in advance for the self guided tour to skip the line.

Leave Toronto around 7pm and take Highway 401 east, then Highway 416 north into Ottawa. The drive is roughly 450 km. Fill up the tank before leaving and grab a coffee for the road.

Arrive early to beat tour crowds and find parking. Join the free guided tour of Centre Block, and check the schedule for the Changing of the Guard ceremony if visiting in the morning. Search for 'Parliament Hill visitor centre' on Wellington Street for entry.

Walk across from Parliament Hill via the pedestrian bridge over Rideau Street. Look for the panoramic viewpoint near the Nepean Point side for the best photo of the Parliament Buildings across the river. The park's autumn foliage makes it a prime leaf-peeping stop in October.

Head to the intersection of ByWard Market Street and George Street. Browse the outdoor stalls for local produce, maple products, and fall squash, then step inside the market building for artisan cheese and bakery items. Prices are tourist-friendly if you compare a few stalls before buying.

Located right across from Parliament Hill on Rideau Street. Walk through the grand lobby to admire the Gothic Revival architecture and stained glass, and pop into the Tea Room if you want a coffee break. The exterior is best photographed from Major's Hill Park or the canal locks behind the hotel.

Walk south along the canal pathway from the locks behind Château Laurier. In autumn the tree-lined banks are golden, and you can watch boats pass through the historic lock system. Check the schedule at the Ottawa Locks for boat tours if you want to see the water level changes up close.

Located at 385 Sussex Drive, a short walk from the canal. Check the door for Mass times or visitor hours before entering, as the interior is often accessible only between services. The carved wooden ceiling and stained glass windows are the highlight, so arrive before closing to see them in daylight.

Head to Sussex Drive and explore the impressive collection of Canadian and Indigenous art, including the iconic Maman spider sculpture out front. Check the galleries' opening times online before you go, as hours vary by season.

Walk a few blocks along Wellington Street or into the ByWard Market area for a warm spot to eat. Look for a café with soups, sandwiches, or a bowl of poutine to fill up before the afternoon museums.

Cross over to Gatineau via the Portage Bridge; this museum sits right across the river on Laurier Street. Don't miss the Grand Hall with its massive totem poles and the First Peoples Hall for a deep dive into Indigenous history.

Drive back to Ottawa's LeBreton Flats area at 1 Vimy Place. The Regeneration Hall and the Memorial Hall with the single beam of light are powerful highlights, and the building itself is architecturally striking.

Search along Elgin Street or near the ByWard Market for a warm pub or bistro with seasonal fall dishes. Look for something offering roasted squash, game meat, or a hearty Canadian stew to suit the autumn weather.

Take Highway 417 East out of Ottawa, which becomes Highway 40 in Québec and runs straight into Montréal. The drive is roughly 200 km and should take about 2 hours with normal traffic.

Start at Place Jacques-Cartier and walk east along Rue Saint-Paul, the oldest street in the city. Look for the historic stone facades and small galleries as you stroll toward the waterfront.

Enter through the main doors on Place d'Armes and look up at the vivid blue ceiling and hand-carved pulpit. Audio guides are available inside and cover the famous Casavant organ.

Walk along Rue Saint-Jacques or Rue Saint-Paul and look for a bistro with a chalkboard menu. Try the poutine or a French onion soup paired with a local beer.

Located at 350 Place Royale near the river, this archaeology museum sits on the actual birthplace of Montréal. The underground crypt shows real 17th century foundations.

Enter through the metro station at Place-d'Armes or the Bonaventure station and follow the RESO network of tunnels. Pick up a map at any station information desk to navigate the 32 km of connected malls and office towers.

Head to the Latin Quarter along Rue Saint-Denis between Rue Sherbrooke and Rue Ontario. Look for a small venue with a live music sign out front and check the set times before ordering a cocktail.

Drive up and park near the Belvedere lookout off Remembrance Road for the iconic skyline view. Take the short path to Kondiaronk Belvedere, then walk the main trail loop around the summit before the crowds build.

A 10 minute drive from Mount Royal down Queen Mary Road. Park in the lot below the basilica (fee applies) or on side streets off Cote-des-Neiges and walk up. See the dome and the votive chapel with hundreds of hanging crutches.

Drive northeast about 15 minutes on the Ville-Marie or via Jean-Talon Blvd. Park in the market's own lot off Henri-Julien Ave, though it fills by noon. Browse the produce stalls between the two main halls and grab smoked meat or a bagel from the indoor vendors.

About 10 minutes from the market along Sherbrooke St East. Use the large visitor lot off Pie-IX Blvd. Focus on the Chinese and Japanese gardens and the insectarium, the highlights in autumn. Check the seasonal fall foliage displays near the main entrance.

Drive about 20 minutes downtown on Sherbrooke St. Pay parking is available in the museum's underground garage on Bishop St, or use nearby lots around Guy-Concordia metro. The permanent collection is strong in Canadian and modern art, and the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion is the main draw.

Allow 30 to 45 minutes driving to YUL Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport via the Ville-Marie and Autoroute 20 west. Follow signs for rental returns to the consolidated facility near the terminal. Budget extra time for traffic on the 20 coming from downtown in the evening.