Cornfedapache

OK so we've got 2 weeks in Toronto and want to pack plenty in.
We'll be doing some of the usual touristy things (CN Tower, museums etc) but I would like to know of some stuff that's 'off the beaten track'.

What can you recommend? We're staying close to the University on Dundas so we're fairly well placed and not afraid to walk!

What are your hidden Toronto gems? We are considering moving there and this is a 'taster' trip...

Also, where is good to go not in the city itself? Is it worth treking out to Burlington for example?

dbd33

Take the College car from one end to the other, get off and walk around anywhere that looks interesting. Or stay on it and see the world for $2.75. The St. Lawrence and Kensington markets are interesting, different stuff on offer in them. Rent bikes and take the trail along the lake to the Balmy Beach Club in the east (the end) and as far as you like to the west. Take the ferry to the island, rent bikes, explore (being aware that the nude beach is a very gay nude beach).

Oh, and for the weirdly fetishistic, there's a corner in the Bata Shoe Museum that's out of sight of the cameras.

joncal

As you mentioned, don't miss out on the museums and also OCAD (Ontario College of Arts & Design), Dundas & University, you will either hate it or love it, make sure you view it at night time also!.

http://www.ists11.org/ocad_h436.jpg

For something different: St. Jacobs Village.
http://www.magiccarpetjournals.com/St_Jacobs.htm

I'm assuming you'll also drive to Niagara Falls.

Enjoy!

dbd33

See if they've resumed tours of the water treatment plant at Ashbridges Bay. Surprisingly, that place is one of the few attractive buildings in Toronto, an art deco masterpiece.

Cornfedapache

LOVE that pic!!! Def want to go and see it...

Yes, will be going to Niagara but not driving (not hiring a car this trip)...

How far does the GTA Weekly Pass extend? I'm trying to work out the range of the TTC system - I know it's the GTA area, but still getting my bearings from maps etc and don't know how far that it, exactly!!!
AM I right in thinking that we can get to the Wonderland theme park without having to pay extra?

dbd33

The TTC is just the subway, the streetcars and buses connecting to the subway, it's just in Toronto proper. The GTA is "served" by a mish-mash of local transit systems intended to ferry commuters to and from the TTC and/or the GO train. I see that the GTA pass covers the systems neighbouring the TTC, I assume that it's intended to allow payment of one fare in order to commute, I think you'd be very lucky to be able to use it to go out of town and back without staying the night.

ireland2canada

Not sure when you are coming, but if the weather is nice then take a walk along the harbourfront. It's a lovely spot for chilling out beside the water and watching the planes taking off from the airport. There is a craft market there and usually live music too.

Having spent yesterday at the Beach, I would recommend that if it's warm. Lots of places to eat with patios.

If you go to the AGO, then there is a great cafe across the street. Best crepes....ever.

The Distillery District is nice too.

Auld Yin

I'm trying to work out the range of the TTC system

You can download quite detailed maps of the system from http://www3.ttc.ca/Routes/General_In...aps/System.jsp

For an interesting trip on the system take the Queen Street streetcar #501. It's one of the longest streetcar trips in North America. Runs just above the lake from The Beach area in the east to Long Branch in the west. The Beach is an upscale area (called The Beaches in error) and has lots of good shops/cafes/restaurants. Take a walk south to the lake/beach or a walk north into one of the best leafy areas of the GTA. It runs east to west (west to east if you prefer) right through the centre of the city. Good value for money.

Novocastrian

No, but then again, why would you want too?

Cornfedapache

Because we love theme parks!!! And some of the rides look pretty cool

Oakvillian

apparently yes - the GTA pass includes Mississauga, Brampton and York Region Transit routes. It'd be a somewhat tedious journey to Canada's Wonderland from downtown, though. Several YRT buses and one TTC (route 165A) go to Wonderland, from York Mills station. I think there's also a GO bus to Wonderland that may be more convenient, although of course not covered by GTApass.

Flyingscottie

The Beaches - take the Queen Street streetcar East to Kew Gardens, it's beautiful and so relaxing and only 25 mins from downtown!

Also Toronto Zoo is well worth the trip, can be done by TTC, subway then bus.

So jealous, wish we were going soon!

sharkus

Take a ferry over to Toronto Islands. There are beaches there if you fancy a dip, there is also centerville on center island with a few rides and things for the kids.

If the timing is right, take in a baseball game at the Rogers Center. I'd say go and see hockey, but it's out of season, and it's stupidly expensive. If you're into football (as in proper football, and not this armoured up version of rugby) then BMO field is part of exhibition place, so there could be a match on.

TTC ride to High Park, which is a rather nice park.

There is/was a drive-in movie theater on cherry street, but you'd need a car for that, guess you could always rent one for the day, but a bit extravagant for just seeing a movie.

geo4

• Distillery District
• The Islands
• Kensington market
• Summerhill LCBO
• Queen West
• Queen West West
• Queen East
• Beaches
• AGO
• Harbord Street (between Spadina and Bathurst) for restaurants
• Chinatown
• ROM
• Drinks on the Hyatt rooftop

Cornfedapache

That sounds like a plan. I want to have a look around High Park anyway as I've heard that it's a good place to live.

And as we're using this as a fact finding mission, I want to check everything out.

IS it true that the area around High Park is a good residential zone?