Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

Hi guys :)

I am visiting Toronto in a few weeks for 6 days. As I plan to check things out before considering a move there.

My friend there has a Niagara Falls visit planned for me. She is living in Vaughan. I am staying in NorthYork Novotel.

Friend has said to me that if there is anything I would like to check out during my stay, to let her know no probs.

Any interesting places/things to do that you can suggest? I am quite open to most experiences. Enjoy good food and general enjoy cars/motorsport, shopping, adventure days out etc. Overall, just taking in the city and surrouding of what life is like there.

Any advice on what to do in general? :thumbup:

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

Take the tram along College/Gerrard St from one end to the other. (Back as well probably). Get off at any place of interest. That'll show you numerous ethnic neighbourhoods and give you a feel for the city. I would also see if it's possible to trade your reservation at the suburban Novotel for the one on the Esplanade so you can walk to places of interest such as the market, the entertainment district and the waterfront.

Take the Queen car east to the Beach. Walk on the Boardwalk. Consider the wisdom of living in a place where dogs are frozen to the sand.

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

This is a really good point. It's important to remember that life in Vaughan and life in Toronto are quite different - as would be getting a feel for it. Unless are you keen to experience traffic and suburban sprawl I would spend as much time as possible downtown.

I do have a good Niagara Falls parking tip though. Park at the Casino (the big one). Join the Players Club. Play a 25c slot with your card. You then get free parking :)

If you are in Niagara Falls, try not to eat there. Its shocking, in both price and quality. Two great places nearby are:

http://www.stoneroadgrille.com/

Ignore the fact it is in a stripmall, it is an excellent and reasonable restaurant.

http://www.treadwellcuisine.com/

This is more upmarket and more expensive but very nice.

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

Explore the undergound city in downtown Toronto - over 11km of streets down there. Biggest in the world.

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

It's just shops and fast food. England has shops and fast food.

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

Yeah, but its snow and ice free, unlike England:sneaky:

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

if you want a really freaky effect , wander around the PATH system under the financial district on a saturday or sunday , its completely empty and a bit twilight zoney :)

some of the banks have their foyers just roped off. I know there is more security than meets the eye but it does feel like you could just vault the rope and wander behind the teller stations

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

It is handy in the winter to be able to get out of the cold, your coffee stays warm if your route to work takes you along the PATH. But it's only any good if you know where you are going, if you don't, you could be down there for days and will not see anything very Toronto-esque.

I'd suggest the usual downtown stuff, I've no idea what there is to see in North York:

Go to Chinatown
Walk around the University grounds
Go to Kensington Market
Go to St Lawrence Market.....early
Walk along Queen St W
Go east to Leslieville and the Beach

Apparently you can sneak into the Hilton on University and head for the rooftop. The views are just as good as the CN tower without the need to buy a ticket or queue up. So I'm told, it's on your own head if you get nicked for trespassing.

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

There's a skating rink in Mel Lastman Square. And there's Prince's house. And my friend Suzanne lives there and keeps a chicken. Maybe two chickens.

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

In two years I have not experienced any of these North York delights. Prince's house? Why the hell did no-one tell me before? To the 'burbs!

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

I can't remember which one it was alleged to be. There's a whole street of gaudy McMansions, very much like Mississauga, one of which is supposed to be his. I assume the rest belong to the former Mayor. That's not a bad area for Christmas lights but it's crawling with cops and city employees cleaning the streets with toothbrushes, a legacy of that Mayor's focus on improving city services, to his street.

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

I doubt the purple one still lives there. He married a woman from Toronto in 2001, they divorced in 2006.

Google tells me its this one...
http://elisekalles.com/listings/7813

Yours for $9M, or you can rent for $30k a month!
61 The Bridal Path if you fancy a nosey around.

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

They say, two thousand zero seven party over, oops, outta time?

Still, there's a skating rink. And a chicken.

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

I don't think it's such a bad idea to stay in North York. You're right on the Yonge subway line and at least you can experience a typical commute to/from downtown (try this at least once during morning and evening rush hours).

Some things I would suggest (remember this is a recce trip and not just your typical tourist trip):

- Ride buses, streetcars and subway (including at rush hour!)
- Wander around downtown and get your bearings
- Harbourfront
- Toronto Islands
- The Beaches
- Eaton Centre (shopping)
- Yorkdale mall (shopping)
- CN Tower (pick a clear day for the view)
- Queen St West (bars and clubs - visit the Horseshoe Tavern)
- Ice skating at Nathan Philips Square

You're not far from Yonge/Eginton (go south on the subway from North York Centre 4 stops to Eglinton and walk north on Yonge). There are some good bars, restaurants and shops there. I lived in this area for 4 years before moving to the suburbs after the 2nd kid arrived. It would be hard to find a better area of the city to live in. Also some good bars and restaurants on Yonge north of the Lawrence subway station (3 stops south from North York Centre).

Re: Toronto Visit end of Dec advice
 

In December? Is the idea to test out for living in Thunder Bay?