A WEAK CANADIAN DOLLAR  and the expansion of nonstop flights between Sarasota and the Great White North make now a great time to visit the provinces. Elite Airways in July announced direct service to Halifax, boosting connections between SRQ airport and the neighboring nation. “Last year was the first year for Air Canada summer service,” says Rick Piccolo, president of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, “which shows growth in the Canadian market.” So where’s the best place to check oot* winters beyond the wall? 

Toronto (YYZ) Air Canada provides nonstop service between Sarasota and Ontario’s capital city daily during season and twice weekly in the summertime. Check out the exhibits at Royal Ontario Museum, which hosts a special Vikings exhibit starting this month, and dine at CN Tower’s revolving 360 Restaurant, where you can enjoy a view of the entire metropolis from every angle. You can stay in the iconic Adelaide Hotel, a top-rated resort on TripAdvisor, for just over $400 a night in November, but there are plenty of downtown hotels in the metropolis you can book for about half that price.

Halifax (YHZ)  Elite Airways now flies twice weekly between Sarasota and this Nova Scotian paradise. Once you land, head to Cape Breton, rated by Travel + Leisure as the No. 1 island destination in North America, so you can hike or bike the Cabot Trail. You can find lush views and luxury accommodations at the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa for as little as $115 a night in November, or rent a rustic cottage at White Point Beach Resort for about $118 a night. Or rough it in the north and pitch a tent at one of the island’s many scenic campgrounds; just make sure to bring a thermal sleeping bag designed with winter temperatures in mind.

Quebec City (YQB) As long as you don’t mind changing flights in Toronto, Toronto can get you to Quebec City. Brush up on your French and brave the menu at Légende, a fine dining farm-to-table establishment whose reputation transcends language. Once you’ve finished your amuse bouche, learn some history at the Citadelle of Quebec or bask in the beauty of Montmorency Falls. Sarasotan circus lovers may feel the call to the nearby town of Baie-Saint-Paul, the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil. You can stay at Château Frontenac, one of the more famed hotels in North America, for less than $175 a night in this architectural wonder. 

* Canadian for “out”