We are heading to Toronto for a short trip on Saturday (with a longterm view to moving there full time from Kelownafornia, but that's another story ). We will be staying downtown. Anyone who lives there / visits / knows the place inside out, please would you give me an idea of 'must see' places to visit. I believe there is a big fair on (CNE or something - will google later). Would also love any inside info on great places to eat, good pubs and anywhere else that would be worth a visit (with kids)
Thank you so much in advance; am a little nervous which is totally bizarre but maybe due to settling in the laid back interior of BC and contemplating heading into the slightly more 'happening' city of Toronto... comfort zones and all that. Anyway, grateful for advice, information or Tour Guides

Kids? age will help

But for most ages above 5?

Canada's wonderland
Toronto Island
Marine land if you don't mind a 1.5hr drive
Science center (wet days)
The CNE

Eats.. what's your preferance, we have;

China town
Little India/Malton
Greek town
Roncesvale (Polish Ukranian)
Little Italy

and most ethic food types you could ask for even some reasonabel(ish) English pubs

Yes, the CNE is on at present. Lots to see and do there for adults and kids. A visit to Toronto Islands. Kids might enjoy the ferry ride. Good stuff to do there. The Eaton Centre for shopping. The Science Centre, The Rogers Centre
to watch the Blue Jays play. Go to the high brow shopping area on Bloor Street. Take a streetcar westbound on Queen St. to end of line and walk back along to Woodbine before catching the streetcar back. Its an interesting shopping area. Going east on the Queen car takes you into a different but very interesting shopping area. You can take a short walk south of Queen to get to the beach/Lake Ontario. There's Wonderland, a large amusement park outside the city. Lots of exciting rides there. You can get a bus from the city. Ontario Place is on the lakefront with all types of water activities for the kids and a Cinemax theatre. There are restaurants galore suiting all tastes and budgets. Checkout via Google special visitor passes for the TTC. Some more posters will
no doubt be along with other suggestions.

Thank you for the great ideas MikeUK and Auld Yin. Kids are 5 & 10. Using the streetcars and maybe even the GoTrain (?!) to head to different areas sounds like good fun in itself (we are easily pleased and the kids have never travelled on a train, bus or street car (tsk tsk, youth of today hey) - so a novelty in itself
Is a trip to Niagra Falls (via public transit or hiring a car!!) feasible in a day?
Any and all suggestions gratefully received, thanks again

By hire car easily. I suggest, based on umpteen tries:

- Maid of the Mist

- cross the bridge to the USA on foot so as to enjoy the view

- Cave of the Winds

skip all else, drive away.

It's also possible in one day by transit. Not fun but possible.

Eastbound, surely. The 501 car from Queen Station to the end.

Also consider taking the College car from one end to the other, that goes through a wide variety of ethnic neighbourhoods, all safe, all interesting. Riverdale Farm is nice for children and easily accessible. The St. Lawrence Market will show you that there is good cheese for not very much in Canada. If it's still warm, the waterpark at 427 and Finch is a good one.

The Spag. The Spaghetti Factory in full, is a place where children like to eat that's bearable for adults.

Eastbound, surely. The 501 car from Queen Station to the end.

Yes, of course dbd33 is correct. He's not as old as me and his mind hasn't turned to mush, yet.

There is a GO Train service to Niagara Falls and if you're interested here's the details. There is an on/off shuttle type bus service run by the Niagara Parks Commission which, I believe, connects with the train, which again, the kids might enjoy.
http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/t.../seasonal.aspx

http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/t.../seasonal.aspx

And if you make a wrong turn heading to the washroom you can accidentally end up in The Yard.

Perfect, thank you.
Perhaps a silly question, but is the St Lawrence Market an every day market or just certain days in the week?
I wonder if the cheese is cheaper in Toronto than it is here in Kelowna - bet the beer and wine is (or at least I hope so - would be a huuuge plus toward making the move!)
Any liquor stores walking distance from the Royal York or Ritz Carlton area? (a little 'good mother juice' always makes for a realxing trip for the whole family!)

Thank you for all the info and advice; this site is really helpful and there are some kind, interesting, truly funny, quick witted members that make it a great resource and a fun read - Love It

Closed Sunday and Monday. More parts open on Saturday than other days.

7 year white cheddar from the Olympic in the market is $11/lb. They, and their competitors, have signboards with current prices.

Small one on Front, just west of the market. Big one on Queen's Quay west of Jarvis.

I would also take the car down to Niagara-on-the-lake. Mainly to see some very interesting properties enroute.

It is then a very easy and quick high street to have a look down with lots of tourist tat, cake shops and restaurants.

Isn't there also an LCBO store right across Front St. in Union Station, down on the concourse level. At least there used to be.

Oh yes, forgot that one, it'd be closest to the Royal York.

Wine in the offie is definitely cheaper than BC. You can get pretty nice wine for 7-11 bucks. I seem to remember it being nothing less than 12 for a decent wine in Vancouver and that was 7 years ago. Wine in pubs is expensive though. Hardly anywhere less than 28 bucks for a bottle which is mental IMO. Java Cafe on Queens does a litre of wine for 18. Not a bad Chilean as well.

I think that one's closed/moved... a whole load of redevelopment going on in Union Station at the moment. There's one just opened in the Path almost directly underneath the Royal York, probably quite literally within crawling distance - under the RBC building. And another on the underground level in First Canadian Place (King St, between Bay & York sts).