Diane/Alberta-congratulations on your

great attitude. Because you love the buildings & architecture
you may want to check around a bit, here they periodically
schedule tours (ie:house tours, garden tours) of the older,
more historically interesting neighborhoods. People actually
do open their homes to strangers. Try the equivalent of the
chamber of commerce or the tourism bureau up there. If you
ask around about it long enough, someone usually comes up with
a person or a place that will be able to help you. Also, here
many historical neighborhoods have their own preservation &
local interest groups (check the phone book under the
neighborhood names), they are usually very accomdating. It
would be a shame if you couldn't enjoy something that would
give you so much pleasure in a new & different location.
Hope this was of some help.