TakeTheFG Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 I live in the dc area and my family and I are planning a 4 day trip to toronto.. I have a few questions whether we should plan to live on the american or canadian side of the border? What are some good things to visit in toronto and we are also makign a side trip to NIagra Falls? Where is a good place to say in toronto and if there are close to the attractions there? Is 4 days enough? My family was planning to do a Wed-Sunday trip.. Any more advice is great.. Thanks ES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IONTOP Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 I live in the dc area and my family and I are planning a 4 day trip to toronto.. I have a few questions whether we should plan to live on the american or canadian side of the border? What are some good things to visit in toronto and we are also makign a side trip to NIagra Falls? Where is a good place to say in toronto and if there are close to the attractions there? Is 4 days enough? My family was planning to do a Wed-Sunday trip.. Any more advice is great.. Thanks ES Stay at the skydome... it's also got a hard rock in it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeTheFG Posted April 30, 2007 Author Share Posted April 30, 2007 Stay at the skydome... it's also got a hard rock in it... the skydome is a stadium:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PleaseBlitz Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 Go to Montreal instead. The strip clubs are far superior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dockeryfan Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 Look for the donut shops. There pretty much on every corner. They love them some donuts in Toronto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 the skydome is a stadium:laugh: It's also a hotel. It's a lot of things. ~Bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 the skydome is a stadium:laugh: There is a hotel in the stadium. But its very $$$$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeTheFG Posted April 30, 2007 Author Share Posted April 30, 2007 ok thats out of my price range for just to sleep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjTj Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 I have a few questions whether we should plan to live on the american or canadian side of the border?FYI, Toronto is on the Canadian side of the border. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurgundyMalaise Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 Yea me and my friends are going in July as well. Any input would be appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 Fly into Buffalo - its a lot cheaper usually. Stay on the Canadian side on Niagara Falls since its also cheaper (especially with the exchange rate). Niagara Falls to Toronto is about 90 miles or so. If you go to Toronto, have dinner (make a reservation) at the CN Tower. Its about $30-50 a person..but its a free ride on the Tower. If you drive to Canada - you don't need your passport (although its recommended) until Jan 1, 2008 to get back. If you fly into Canada, you do need your passport right now to get back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeTheFG Posted April 30, 2007 Author Share Posted April 30, 2007 we are planning to drive and go to both niagara falls.. we want to stay in toronto and maybe make a day trip to niagara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 stay on the canadian side then...the canadian side of the falls are better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjah Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 Definitely go to Niagara Falls and hang out on the Canadian side. It has gotten very commercial, but it's still a wonder to behold. Toronto has some nice areas. It's worthwhile to wander some of the marketplaces, check out Honest Ed's for some hometown kitsch, and of course go up the CN Tower on a sunny day if you aren't a big chicken. I have made the drive to Toronto a couple of times, and I also have taken the high-speed ferry from Rochester across the lake to Toronto instead of driving around. The ferry is the more expensive option, but it isn't any slower -- it's a damned fast boat -- and it gives a fantastic view of Toronto as you approach or leave the dock. There's also a good number of theaters in Toronto, so if you're into that kind of thing, see if you can score some discount tickets to a show one evening. Four days basically breaks down as almost a day to drive there, two days between Toronto and Niagara, and then almost a day to get back. I'd aim to insert maybe one more day into the trip, but that's just my opinion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeTheFG Posted April 30, 2007 Author Share Posted April 30, 2007 its techincally five days but whose counting . we leave wednesday morning and leave there around sunday afternoon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SackMachine Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 Niagra Falls is cold as hell at night. Try going to the CN tower, unless you're scared of heights, the floor is made of glass... And yes, Montreal does have superior stripclubs, but I doubt that's where he's taking his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsOrlando Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 Went last september on business, stayed at the renaissance at skydome, china town was cool, defintiely go try dim sum(I think thats how it's spelled), very interesting experience. The art musuem wasn't all that good, not much classical art. Definitely try to catch a jays game either at the bar at the renaissaince or actual seats, that thing is cool as hell when the roof is open. Was only there 3 days and mostly business thats about all i can tell ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmonkforHOF Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 I ilve half way between Niagra Falls and Toronto and if your planning to staying in Canada here are a few tips. Toronto is ridiculously expensive compared to the rest of Canada. ITs the fourth largest city in North America so be expecting to pay New York/LA type rates in the downtown core. Parking and traffic are a nightmare in Toronto so you may wnat ot avoid staying there and then having to take trips back into the city when your sightseeing is done. If your lookign to split your time between Toronto and Niagra Falls, I suggest looking for a hotel in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville or Missisauga. Hamilton will be the cheapest, and your aobut 35 minutes to both niagra Falls and Toronto, no traffic to the Falls, but some on the way to TO. Someone made a comment about the Museum not being good, well its under major reconstruction so most of the good stuff is gone for now. For the kids, you can take them to the Toronto Zoo (far from downtown, 20 min. drive normally, 45 in bad traffic) or to Canada's Wonderland (north of the city past the airport) its a huge theme park, I think recently bought out by Cedar point. Yonge Steet is the main street running north south and for some unknown reason they have decided to make it look like times square at Yonge & Dundas where the major shopping mall is (The Eaton's centre). If your going downtown, I also suggest taking a run down Queen(shopping) street and College (Italian food, Univ. of Toronto) street. In between those streets is also the clubbing district. Bloor street is Madison avenue, if your not buying Gucci and Prada, stay away, with a Four Seasons hotel close by. There are also a few Chinatowns and even a greek part of town if you like your gyro's. YOu should check out Casa Loma, a huge castle built just north of what is now the downtown hub and has an amazing veiw of the city. You can also take the kids to the Toronto Islands, where they have games and the like, Im not to sure if Ontario Place will be open, but either way, its always good to have a cheap time on the beach when your on vacation. Just a hint dont go in the water, even in July, its cold. Even if you dont like hockey, Canadians love it so check out the Hockey Hall of fame as it is pimped. IF you want to stay in Niagra falls, the best bang for your buck type of palce will be on Lundy's lane, jsut outside the commercial wonder they have going on near the Falls. Your room wont have a veiw of the falls, but it'll be about 1/3 the price on the weekend. Then, you can drive the 1 mile right to one of the Casino parking lots, go in and sign up for their "players advantage" card (its free, just give name contact info, and check the "don't send me s&^$ in the mail " box, no harm no foul) get teh card and swipe it on your way out of the parking lot without having to pay a dime. I highy recommend this as parking is scarce and expensive in Niagra Falls. Plus once your in the one of the Casino's parking lots (Casino Niagra, not Fallsview I think) , your only a five minute walk to everything for the family, haunted houses, wax museuems, mini putt etc. I wouldnt even bother exchanging your money unitl you get to Toronto, everything in Niagra Falls has both Canadian and US prices and you will probably get a better exchange rate at the register than at a bank. If your staying in between teh two, take some time to chekc out either the Bruce trail or what is called the Niagra escarpment, especailly in Hamilton. Its a 300-400ft cliff face that runs around Lake Ontario, but is most notable in Hamilton. If your into hiking its the place to go, plus the good thing about Hamilton is there is not much of a downtown and when you start to see factories and power lines, you know you have gone too far. It makes it a heck of a lot chepaer for hotels as well. If your looking for a motel 8 type of deal, there are a ton on the highway between NF and Toronto for $50-$75 a night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeTheFG Posted May 1, 2007 Author Share Posted May 1, 2007 oh wow i found alot of hotels for 60-80 a night in the downtown areas.. If i do stay in Toronot, where should i stay near.. I am trying to keep the car at the hotel and maybe use train or local transportation to get around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorresA Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 I stayed in SkyDome about 15 years ago or so. Was pretty cool. Saw a game from our room, then over night they transformed the field for WWF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmonkforHOF Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 oh wow i found alot of hotels for 60-80 a night in the downtown areas.. If i do stay in Toronot, where should i stay near.. I am trying to keep the car at the hotel and maybe use train or local transportation to get around 1-define downtwon. if its note between the lake and bloor(north) and Jarivs (east) and Spadina (west) your not in the downtown and oyu DONT wantto stay there, trust me, Toronto has hookers and junkies too and thats where they go. 2- are you getting US quotes or Canadian? I am going by the motels off the highway I drive everyday that have a posted weekday rate of $55/night Canadian. I am sure if you book with a travel agency or online, their rates will be cheaper. Also with those cheaper hotels watch out with how they advertise parking. A few hotels downtown say they have parking, which they reserve spots from a regualr pay parking lot sometimes a few blocks away. Public Transit downtown Toront is great, once you get outside of Toronto, its not so good. I wouldnt reccomend staying in Toronto and taking public transit to Niagra, jsut too much of a headache. If you want to stay in both, I suggest driving past Niagra falls, stay in Toronto, spend lots of your money and on the drive back stay a day or so in Niagra Falls. Here are someother helpful tips. speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour, not miles 1mile=1.6km) so when you see SLOW CHILDREN 40, that doesnt mean we have really fast kids in Canada, it means slow to 25mph. hihgway spped is 100km/h (+/- 60mph) but you can cruise up to 75mph (120km/h) and no cop will even look twice, heck they might even try to pass you. As for gas, you may think your getting a deal but your not. the price is per litre, which you need almost 4 (3.8L) to make a gallon. Gas currently is sitting at about $1.05/litre now. NAd if you want to buy any alcohol in the province of Ontario, you have to buy it from either the Beer Store or LCBO stores. A case of beer will cost you $45 for Bud, Canadian etc or $25 for cheaper local stuff. If you need to drink a lot, pick a case up in Buffalo before you come. Good morning coffee can be had a Tim Hortons, and if you cant find one, you drove the wrong way and are in Mexico not Canada. They are everywhere and packed during the moring rush. My little town of 20,000 has, including drive thrus at gas stations, 7 Tim Horton's locations and they are always busy between 6am and 10am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmonkforHOF Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 oh wow i found alot of hotels for 60-80 a night in the downtown areas.. If i do stay in Toronot, where should i stay near.. I am trying to keep the car at the hotel and maybe use train or local transportation to get around IF your commuting between Toronto and Niagra Falls, Id say the west end of town, close to the QEW highway (the one that runs along the lake).That way you can still take a street car/subway into downtown, and be far enough away from most of the traffic if you head to the falls. Hotels by the airport and highways 427 and 401 are too far out of your way for a downtown Toronto trip. They may be close on the map but there are really no good inroads into downtown other than the highways, unless you know the roads like a local. If oyur staying in Toronto for a longer time, try to stay in between (or as close to as possible) Yonge Street to the East and University/Spadina on the west. The Subway system is a big "U" shape that runs up Yonge Street on one side, Universty below Bloor and Spadina above bloor on the other side. There is also a line that crosses the U at Bloor street. get the family day pass for the subway, and its good on streetcars and buses all through the city. East of Jarvis and well East of Yonge in some spots your now getting out of "tourist" downtown and REAL downtown. IF your looking for crack, try behind my old apartment at Sherbourne & Shuter. Same goes with West of Spadina/ bathurst.. YOu probably wont find much jsut north of Bloor street unless your a high roller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeTheFG Posted May 1, 2007 Author Share Posted May 1, 2007 thanks alot artmonk... my family really appreciates the advice i would not have gotten from the internet and etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmonkforHOF Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 thanks alot artmonk... my family really appreciates the advice i would not have gotten from the internet and etc Not a problem, if you need any more info, feel free to PM me. Let me know how the drive is, Im planning on taking a trip to Cooperstown (for Gwynn) this summer and making a trip down to Virginia in the fall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryman of the North Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 the skydome is a stadium:laugh: Screw Toronto, its expensive and not much different than any other major city, If you really wnat to see something spectacular come out west and come to calgary, you can take a day trip into the mountains and see something completely different form what your used to. lol actually TO not so bad, Niagra Falls are sweet. But everything is better out west (except the peeler bars, pleaseblitz is right MOntreal is the best in the world!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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