I am interested in anyone's experience & recommendations for Algonquin. I'm already part of myccr where there is loads of information and trip reports but I wanted to get a QJer's (or two) suggestions on where to go (EP, lakes to hit, etc.). Is coming from the north a better way in than one of the southern entries for example? Have a family trip with another family that is in the works for 2014 and need a basecamping/leisurely trip (not more than a 1-3 portages, shortish in the 40 to 50 rod range). Any ideas?

Algonquin was where I learned canoe tripping.  It is an amazing park with a long history.  It is ridiculously beautiful.  That being said it is also, as ST points out, close to Toronto and is along with Killarney, the busiest canoeing park in Ontario.  If WCPP has under a thousand paddlers each season and Wabakimi under 2000, Algonquin has over 10,000.  Busy.  So if you're looking for solitude of the sort you might expect at WCPP - days or even weeks without seeing another human - forget it.  On the other hand there is no motor boat traffic in Algonquin.  There are no fishing lodges.  It is a dedicated canoeing park.
The northern part of the park, the Kiosk entrance, by virtue of the fact that it is furthest from Toronto, is somewhat quieter but really not by that much.  Shoulder seasons will be better than the height of summer but in any case you will be wise to book your trip many months in advance to assure that you will have access to campsites.  You don't have to say which specific campsite you will be staying at but I believe you do have say which lake you will camping on each night.
A couple of leisurely trips: Put-in at the Rock Lake campground (#9 on the map) and paddle south.  There are two ports, the first is 375 M, which takes you into Pen Lake.  At the south end of Pen there is a second port, 275 M, which takes you into Clydegale.  You could reasonably do Rock to Clydegale in a day and it is a nice lake to hang out and base camp.
Another nice little trip is to put it at Shall Lake (#17 on the map) and paddle over to Booth Lake.  There are 2 ports.  The first, you can paddle up in the spring and is, at any rate, a mere 90 M.  The second is 550 M.  Both are very easy.  Booth is a good lake for fishing - Northern, Smallmouth and Lake Trout.  I've caught some nice 5 and 6 pound smallies in the Fall.  Booth has lots of excellent campsites and is a good place to base camp. 

An orange flagged campsite marker will seem like a luxury! Thanks all for the advice and suggestions. Northern route sounds like the best option for relative solitude. Had no idea (hadn't really checked into it) about the "Toronto-traffic" but it makes sense. Will do some more digging for maps and canoe trip reports on myccr. Thanks!

Haven't been canoeing in A for 30+ years, but my recollections are consistent with the above comments. Northern entries tended to be less crowded back then (further from T.O.).

Nowadays, the "go to" map is called Jeff's map - google for it.

That wasn't the map I was referring to which is the "official" map distributed by the park: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
but, in fact, Jeff's maps really are better and when my "official" map finally turns to dust I'll likely replace it with one of Jeff's.

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IF I ever go there again, I'll go heavier on the brook trout type lures.
If you come in from North, you'll have access to streams which should hold plenty of stream trout.
I did well in them, less so in the lakes?
That might of been because I always seemed to be fighting a wind and often crossed the lakes as fast as I could. Not the best for fishing.

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I don't fly fish, but there were numerous spots around/near portages that I wished I had some lightweight maybe waist high waders.
Summer might be okay to wet foot, but spring was way to cold for extended fishing.
I would anchor my canoe in stream and cast little spinners.
Fairly tight quarters, but if you have the skills, a  fly rod might be alot of fun for brook trout/small mouth bass and even the big toothy critters.