As I mentioned in the thread Future Fests as of Winter/Spring 2019 , the group of 7 who dined together in Rochester on March 23rd discussed our options for the Summer event. We favored Canada over a return to Texas for the third year in a row. In addition, I had two proxy votes by text by regular members unable to be at the March event who also voted for Canada.
This is a preliminary discussion and NOT an announcement. The tentative itinerary presented is NOT final, nor has any date been chosen. There is knowledge that we have a late start in planning given our late Winter meet, and that some do need to travel further on long distance trains to get to & from New York City, the point where most trips likely could start and end. "Official" Fest related trips will not involve any long distance trains, as Amtrak's Maple Leaf and Adirondack and VIA Rail Corridor services would be used.
A trip involving Toronto and Montreal would likely involve about 2 or 3 days & nights in each city. There also is a possibility for side trips to Ottawa to take in the new Confederation Line (light rail), and Waterloo Region (Waterloo, Kitchener) to ride the new ION light rail. However at this current time neither has opened for service and both are currently slated for debuts in the second quarter of 2019. They are not deal breakers; we have plenty to do in the two larger cities and could write either one out of the itinerary. I've looked at hotels in the Kitchener/Waterloo area, and for the majority who favor Hilton portfolio hotels, there is not much in that area. In Ottawa, there is one Hampton Inn walkable from the VIA Rail station and its not-yet-open light rail station. So we can discuss how important those two side trips would be to everyone but for now I could do without. Doing either Ottawa or Waterloo Region would add one hotel night and one more day of travel to the overall journey for each place.
The tentative itinerary so far shows the maximum trip, which would include Ottawa and Waterloo Region (Kitchener). One of both can be eliminated if we so decide, or if their reasons for being there aren't yet in service.
Another factor.... The westbound Maple Leaf leaves New York City at 7:15 AM. That is very early, given the 12-hour scheduled trip. One option could be to leave the preceding afternoon, stay in Albany or somewhere else (Utica, Syracuse, Rochester) en route in Upstate New York, and then board the Maple Leaf at a better time of day (for example 10 AM in Albany).
For those who are interested in this journey, again this is not a formal announcement but please share your ideas here!
Edited by KevinKorell, 09 June 2019 - 10:07 PM.
Removed link to TMRF since there's no M