To Canada or Not to Canada

This is the 2013 Toyota RAV4 that replaced the stolen 2012 one.

A little over a year ago, I found myself in a what I thought was a fairly secure paid parking lot in Montreal, Canada, on Canada Day with my best friend and my three children, carless. We, the Carful of Kids, had been a victim of international crime from an alleged organized car theft ring that exports stolen cars to Africa. Our Toyota RAV4 and its contents were stolen unnoticed moments after I had locked it. Still hard to believe.

We made it though the moments immediately following the crime amazingly level-headed and fit-free; I managed to get the carful of kids back schedule within eight hours time. Our trip was saved and we didn’t have to return back to the US prematurely even after we discovered my husband’s passport was stolen.

It was a defining moment in my career as a freelance travel writer and former flight attendant—I really considered writing off the blog and curtailing our family road trip adventures, like somehow I was to blame for the theft. When I got back from our summer road trip, my time was dedicated to replacing our stuff and filing insurance claims, I just couldn’t write about the experience yet.

Summer cooled and the kids went back to school, fall was filled with sports and projects before you know it I was staring at this screen trying to piece together our annual Christmas letter. I knew it was time to write about it so I did. It was great to get the story out, at times, it was funny.

After the Christmas decorations were put up, I sat down and somehow managed to piece together enough photos from my iPhone to blog our road trip. Then I started to look forward and think about another adventure--this time out West to show my kids Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.

That was not enough, I wanted to show them Banff National Park in Alberta. Yes, I wanted to cross the border again.

Was I tempting fate? I was told I was a fool and several people shook their heads and laughed at me when I told them I was headed back to Canada to give her another chance.

I just didn't care, I wanted to see more of the country and finish my quest of showing the Caful of Kids the lower 48. So come along as we discover the wonder and beauty of the Canadian Rockies.

Up Next: Getting out of Texas.

Quebec City--like Europe only closer

Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City

My travel muse has smiled on us and we are headed off on long weekend without the carful of kids. Yes. There is NO car and NO kids--just my husband and myself on a long weekend of great food and sightseeing in picturesque Quebec City, Canada.

The carful of kids are at the most magical of places--it is full of candy, unlimited cartoons and a pair of facilitators that love them in spite of their tantrums and sibling war. It is Grandma and Grandpa's house and I don't need to know what happens there when I'm not there to witness it.

My husband loves to travel as much as I do and we love visiting new places; Quebec City is one of the few places we haven't been to before. We can't wait, it has a reputation for being the most European-like city in North America and we absolutely love Europe.

We leave out of Austin-Bergstrom Airport early and arrive in the afternoon at Jean Lesage Airport in Quebec City. The airport is on the smaller size so it does take a bit of time to clear customs but we are on the bus and headed to the old city soon enough.

UNESCO World Heritage Monument

More so than the more modern Montreal, Quebecers also speak French. You will hear a Bonjour, Hello! to say hello and to determine your language of choice. But unlike the French, Quebecers love to share their language so if you are brave and speak just a little bit of French, use it.

We are in for a treat, we are staying at the Chateau Frontenac, a National Historic Site of Canada and one of the most photographed hotels in the world because it's perched on top of the hill in Old Quebec. Opened in 1893, it was built by the Canadian Pacific Railroad to lure tourists to travel across Canada; today it is managed by Fairmont Hotels.

Old Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was founded by the French explorer Samuel Champlain in 1608 after he discovered Port Royal, Acadia, now Nova Scotia. Champlain explored the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes region and governed New France until his death; he is considered the Father of this area.

Champlain established and built the Saint-Louis Fort and  the Ramparts of Quebec starting in 1620. The fortified walls are still intact and also a National Historic Site of Canada.

After we check into our room at the Chateau Frontenac, we head out for a walk around the hotel, Old Quebec is a great walking city. Outside the hotel doors along the Dufferin Terrace is the Saint-Louis Forts and Chateaux National Historic Site (open daily in the summer from 10 to 6, $3.90 CAN/adults, $1.90 CAN/youth).

The tour starts under the boardwalk and you walk through the excavations of the old forts and chateaux that were the official fortifications and residences for the French colony until it was conquered by the British in 1759. This is a quick tour and a great introduction to the history of Old Quebec.

After returning to the boardwalk, we walk by the statue of Champlain and the UNESCO World Heritage Monument on our way to visit the Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral.  We dart down the Artists Alley, or Rue du Tresor, looking for a souvenir.

Notre-Dame 

Holy Door

Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral is a Roman Catholic basilica that has been on this site since 1664 and is the oldest parish outside of Mexico in North America. It has been destroyed by fire twice and in celebration of its 350th year, it installed and opened a Holy Door.

Notre-Dame's Holy Door is the first one outside of Europe but closed in December 2014 and will remain closed until 2025. Notre-Dame is a National Historic Site of Canada and is free and open to the public during daylight hours.

We decide to walk back a different route to the Chateau Frontenac enjoying the centuries old stone buildings along the cobblestone streets covered with  flowerpots dripping with color.

After an amazing dinner at the hotel, we decide to walk along the Dufferin Terrace to look at the lights of the city and share an ice cream cone. A fabulous end to our first day in Quebec City.

Up next: a guided walking tour of Old Quebec

What Happens After You Get a Car STOLEN on Vacation

The light peeks through the gap in the drapes, just enough to get my brain spinning. What city am I in and where am I driving to next, are the usual thoughts first thing in the morning when I'm out on the road.

But then it hits me hard, our SUV was stolen from the old port area of Montreal, Canada, last night. The carful of kids can't drive on to the next stop on our three-week road trip from central Texas to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, without a car.

I'm up now, no coffee needed--time to regroup. I told myself not to make any hasty decisions last night. But it's morning and I have to figure this out; three kids will wake up soon and I need some answers for them.

I turn over in bed and grab my iPhone, my remaining lifeline. I vaguely remember remotely deleting my MacBook and iPad late, last night--all my professional work, my life. Here's to hoping that back-up is safe and sound back in Texas.

Time to check the messages and email. My husband has been busy overnight and he's on it. Great.

Next problem--clothes. I tiptoe around the room to see what we have left. The girls are good but the boys lost their suitcase, all that's left is the dirty stuff in the laundry bag.

If I let them, they would wear dirty clothes for the next two weeks; I grab their bag and head to laundry room. Loading the machine, I see I'll have to replace some stuff before we leave Montreal. Time to start a list.

Back in the room, the kids roll over and Melissa is up. I motion to the bathroom, needing Melissa to join me for a conference.

Me: "Ok, here's what I've got. Spencer got us a rental car reservation with a mid-morning pick-up. I need to stop by the police department to get a copy of the report for the insurance claim he placed overnight, plus I have to report that his passport was stolen and that's a big deal."

Melissa: "OK, so what are we doing? Should I look for some flights home?"

Me: "Not for us, we can't get on a plane with the kids. They only have passport cards."

Melissa: "Aren't we suppose to check-out this morning?"

Me: "Let me go downstairs and get a late check-out. That will give us some time to regroup. I'll take a cab to pick-up the rental car and stop by the police station. Hopefully I can get all that done before noon or so."

Melissa: "OK, what about the kids?"

Me: "Can you stay with them for the morning, hang out at the pool while I deal with all of this?"

Melissa: "Are you sure you don't want me to come along?"

Me: "Nope, I think it's best for the kids to have some fun at the pool. Forget about last night and look forward."

Melissa: "What about our reservation at the park? Do you think we're going to make it? All the camping stuff was stolen right?"

Me: "We still have our sleeping bags and air mattresses. The camp site is equipped so we just have to replace our food, cooler and a lantern. Let's see how the morning goes, maybe we can get there by late afternoon."

Melissa: "OK, sounds good. Breakfast?"

The kids are already chatting when Melissa and I get out of the bathroom. Time to talk.

Me: "Dad's got us a car; what do you guys want to do, we could head back to the US or continue on to the national park for camping?

Boys: "We're going to get our car back. Can you get us some guns and hand grenades?"

I spend a minute listening to the boys relay their plan. This is a real-life adventure complete with bad guys. After a talk, the carful of kids decide to continue on with our trip. We have too, we won't let the bad guys win.

After a little research, I find a police station within walking distance of the rental car agency. The front desk calls a cab and I'm on my way.

On my way into Downtown Montreal, I see a Target. I make a mental note of its location for later.

Time to call Spencer.

Me: "Hey, I'm headed to get the car. What's up?"

Spencer: "Trying to get another passport on the fly."

Me: "You can get one, if you can work the system and prove need. I knew flight attendants that replaced them in 24-hours but it requires a trip to the passport office and all of your documentation in order, plus new pictures. The closest one is in Houston or Dallas. I think you need to open with My family has been a victim of international crime."

Spencer: "I pulled out my old one last night and I talked with a couple of buddies that gave me some advice. Can you fax a copy of the police report when you get it? I'll add it the file. How's everyone holding up?"

Me: "Great, we talked and we are moving forward; we'll be in Maine tomorrow to pick you up. Keep me posted on the passport, I don't even want to think what we are going to do if you don't get a new one."

Spencer: "Yea, I'm trying. Waiting for the passport offices to open so I can talk to an actual person. I got a toothbrush and boxers in my computer bag. I'm hoping to hop a flight later this afternoon if I can get an appointment for tomorrow morning."

Me: "Good Luck, I'll call you later."

At the rental car agency, I tell the agent my tale of woe. It seems they have lost rental cars at the port area, too. Great, good-to-know.

I get into my new KIA and look at the dashboard and see it's in KPH. This should be interesting; next stop, the Montreal Police.

I stand in line and see that there's a female officer, here's to hoping she takes care of me.

Officer: "Suivant." (Next.)

Me: "Je m'appelle Catherine Parker et je habite au Texas. Ma voiture a été vole la nuit dernière." (My name is Catherine Parker and I live in Texas. My car was stolen last night.)

Officer: "I know English, I went to university. I heard your story this morning when I started my shift." The French accent prevails.

Me: "Great, I am here for a copy of the police report." Good to know the carful of kids made an impression.

Officer: "Number?"

I hand her the card that the officers gave me last night with the number hand-written on it.

Officer: "It is not in the system. You will have to wait until the reporting officers finish the report."

Me: "And when will that be?"

Officer: "After they report for duty."

She goes on to explain, the finished report will not be ready for 14 to 21 days after the initial report is filed and I will have to request a copy in writing along with a check for $15, Canadian.

Me: "I need to add some additional items also."

I am trying my best to be polite. I hand her the list that we compiled over the last few hours.

Officer: "Who is Spencer Ford?"

Me: "He is my husband."

Officer: "Where is he?"

Me: "He is in Texas."

Officer: "Why did you have his passport?"

Me: "He thought he might forget it so he gave it to me for safe keeping. I'm meeting him in Maine tomorrow night."

Officer: "He's an adult, right?"

I used to like a French accent before they stole my car and insinuated inferiority with every statement.

Me: "Yes, he's an adult." Obviously, this officer is not married with three kids.

Officer: "He needs to keep his own passport if he's an adult. I can't make a stolen passport report unless that person is here to make the claim themselves. You don't even have the same last name."

Me: "I see, what if it was for my children? Would you accept my claim then, they have a different last name?"

Officer: "Yes, of course."

I take a deep breath and explain that my husband has put a stolen passport claim into the passport office back in the United States already and they have flagged it as stolen. I just needed to follow up and put it on the police report. It seems the US doesn't have the same issue.

Me: "I will work with my government and their passport agency. Can you just add it to the report along with the other stuff?"

Officer: "We like Americans, we have a special relationship." She hands me a printout of what she has on file.

I feel real special right now as I grab the paperwork and head for the door. I hop into my rental and make my way back to the hotel across the St. Lawrence River. It might be a while before I want to come back to Montreal again.

When I arrive at the hotel I find Melissa has loaded all of our stuff on a valet cart and they are sitting in the lobby, dressed and ready to go.

Can't steal my smile!

WOW, that's a friend.

I fax what I have in lieu of a police report to my husband's office. Everyone pitches in and gets the rental loaded. It's just a bit after noon and with a quick run through Target, I think the carful of kids can make it to La Mauricie National Park by the late afternoon.

Hotdogs for dinner and muffins for breakfast; new jeans, new underwear and a couple of shorts for the boys; new water shoes for all and of course, marshmallows. I stuff the receipts into an envelope from the hotel labeled THEFT/INSURANCE.


Before heading out of Montreal's cell phone range, I call my husband. After a quick update, we merge onto Autoroute 40 and head north out of Montreal.

La Mauricie National Park is in the Laurentian Mountains in between Montreal and Quebec City and is two hours away. I have reserved an oTENTik for the night, part A-frame, part platform tent.

I unload the rental, Melissa fires up the grill and the kids find wild strawberries.
There is a wildflower meadow right next to our campsite. I take a deep breath and enjoy the moment, I have earned it.

As I walk over to Melissa, I look over my shoulder to see if the kids are busy.

Me: "Hey, Spencer is on his way to New Orleans to try to get a new passport but that storm we have been watching, it's strengthening and threatening to shut down the East Coast now."

Melissa: "Geez."

Bienvenue au Canada--Welcome to Canada!

The carful of kids are headed to Montreal, Canada, later in the day but first we wrap up Vermont by exploring Burlington. Yesterday, we explored the Waterbury/Stowe area and loved it. Between the fall color and the skiing--I wish we lived closer so we could visit during the different seasons.

The carful of kids walk along the Church Street Marketplace, a four-block pedestrian shopping district.  For the kids there is Ben and Jerry's ice cream to eat and giant boulders to climb and for the adults shopping and sidewalk cafes--they also have festivals year-round.

The carful of kids load up in the SUV and look north to Canada even though we want to stay in Vermont a little longer--maybe another time. This is the kids' first visit outside of the United States and they are excited to get going.

Church Street Marketplace

It takes about an hour to drive to the the Canadian Border from Burlington, Vermont, through the idyllic countryside. But to take your car, kids and contents across the border there are several things that you need to keep in mind.

I pulled together a folder full of documentation for crossing the border, remember that the border agents have the authority to deny entry into Canada if they want to. I am traveling into Canada with my children that are under 18 with only one parent present so I want to have all my documentation accessible to make the process as easy as possible.

The carful of kids got passport cards earlier in the year, there are inexpensive ($40) and good for five years.  Passport cards are good for land and sea travel into Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

Items I carry in my travel folder:

• Passports and Passport cards and a copy of Melissa's passport (just in case)
• Notarized letter of consent--see below
• Copies of the kids' birth certificates--I left the originals at home 
• A copy of our itinerary which includes the addresses of hotels and campgrounds plus their reservation numbers.
• A copy of our car insurance. If your state issues a paper car registration add that as well 

The notarized letter of consent:

• A statement from my husband stating he is a legal guardian of our kids with their full names, dates of birth, and passport numbers
• The full names and addresses of the people the kids are traveling with (Melissa and myself) along our passport numbers and dates of birth 
• The dates we are traveling and when we will return
• His contact information
• His signature
• Notary stamp and signature

At home I have left a similar folder with copies of all the information for Dad as well, just in case. 

We say good-bye to the US and approach the Canadian Boarder Officer-- we roll down the windows, pass them our passports and offer them the folder. The agent takes it and looks over the letter of consent and asks the kids a question. They thank me for pulling together the appropriate information and let us through. Yea.

Beaver Lake

Another hour or so to get to Montreal, but this is when I realize my navigator doesn't read or speak French but the driver can speak and read enough to get by. We spell the street names instead, remember French is the official language in the state of Quebec.

Our first stop is Parc du Mont-Royal, named by Jacques Cartier in 1535 for his royal patron, it's in the center of the city and a devoted green space. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, he designed the gardens of the Biltmore Estate, it includes hike and bike trails, sculpture garden, playgrounds, and the popular overlook--Belvedere Kondiaronk, or Mount Royal Chalet.

The view from Mount Royal Chalet

The carful of kids spend the afternoon exploring the park, stop for a picnic dinner and hike to the Chalet. Large city parks are a great place for kids to unwind after sitting in the SUV. 

After several hours exploring Parc du Mont-Royal, we load up and drive over to St. John's Oratory, a Roman Catholic Church that was commissioned in 1904. St. John's has the third largest dome in the world and is a National Historic Site of Canada; it is also another popular site to see the city lights.

The carful of kids climb the stairs to the top and then enjoy a moment to sit and enjoy the view. 

Up next: Another packed day, more to do in Montreal.