Creg
No experience of the States, but studied in Canada for a year then travelled for about five weeks after end of term.
Went from Toronto, to 'cottage country' to Ottowa. Took train from there all the way out west, stopping in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and finally Vancouver with a bit of car-hire to see the mountains in between (Banff, lake louise, etc.), then a boat to vancouver Island.
Train all the way back from Vancouver to Ottowa, then drove east through Quebec and onward to Nova Scotia, returning via Q city and Montreal again (where I'd been for the previous new year eve), to fly back to Amsterdam.
Man. I saw more of Canada than most Canadians!
Tell you this - it IS huge, with all the populated areas within about 100km of the US border.
It still has more of a British/European feel than I imagine the US would, although US culture does dominate.
The canucks are very quick to differentiate themselves from the yanks though, and you would see that.
I would love to return, but it ain't so easy now I'm tied to family and work.
You sound like you enjoy the active life, so somewhere in the west may suit you for biking/hiking/etc.
Whatever choice you make, I hope it is the right one for you.
