Toronto recommendations?

[roguerower]

I'm heading up there for a weekend at the end of August. Strangely enough I get within 10km every week when I hit the indoor tunnel but I've never actually been into Toronto. Anyone have recommendations on where to stay, what to see, what to do, etc.?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Do the CN tower hanging cord thing where you hang over the edge. I totally want to try that next time I go to Toronto. Assuming it's not too expensive...

At least that's one activity.

It's also on my bucket list to use the stairs of the CN tower. I'll regret that decision half way up there.

 

[roguerower]

Do the CN tower hanging cord thing where you hang over the edge. I totally want to try that next time I go to Toronto. Assuming it's not too expensive...

At least that's one activity.

It's also on my bucket list to use the stairs of the CN tower. I'll regret that decision half way up there.

That sounds like a lot of fun, but I am scared shitless of heights...although I can rationalize the skydiving so I might be able to do it...

The stairs sounds like fun. The ex-GF/GF and I are competitive and it would turn into who's the bigger pussy.

 

[KeithTalent]

I was at a Jay's game last week and we saw some people come out onto the CN Tower to do that walk; even watching from hundreds of feet below it scared the shit out of me.

KT

 

[sdifox]

You can watch the road closures.

 

[roguerower]

I was at a Jay's game last week and we saw some people come out onto the CN Tower to do that walk; even watching from hundreds of feet below it scared the shit out of me.

KT

I can imagine. Holy hell is it expensive though. $130 CAD per person.

 

[Eug]

Stay in central downtown. You can walk to a lot of the stuff, including shopping and restaurant areas.

Go check out the restaurants. Tell us what type of food you like or what you want to try and maybe we can give you some suggestions.

Ripley's Aquarium opened recently, and it's pretty good.

I've been meaning to see the Forbidden City exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum but I haven't had a chance yet.

If you got an hour or so to kill near the upscale shopping district, check out the Bata Shoe Museum. To my surprise, I actually thought it was pretty good.

Take in a Toronto FC game. Or perhaps a Jays game.

Cirque du Soleil

Go to a theatre show. There are a lot of them, but strangely enough there will be a Dr. Seuss musical playing at that time.

Geek out and go to Fan Expo, and stalk Captain Kirk or Captain Picard, or maybe Doctor Who or something.

The Canadian National Exhibition will also be on at that time, but I wouldn't suggest spending your time there.

I can imagine. Holy hell is it expensive though. $130 CAD per person.

Prepare to open your wallet in Toronto. IIRC, prices Buffalo for a lot of things seem like a total bargain in comparison.

Even just parking will be expensive. Something like $35 per day at hotels downtown.

 

[KeithTalent]

I've only lived here for about 10 days, but of the restaurants I've had a chance to try, I thought Gusto just off King St. was really good. The best beef tartare I've had in a while.

I would skip the Distillery district. Felt like a weird touristy place with not much to do plus all of the weddings going on made it annoying.

KT

 

[Iron Woode]

catch a game at the Rogers Center or check out the Hockey Hall of Fame.

there is loads of shopping if that's your thing.

and lots of places to get awesome food.

There's the ROM, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Canadian National Exhibition.

 

[sdifox]

I'm heading up there for a weekend at the end of August. Strangely enough I get within 10km every week when I hit the indoor tunnel but I've never actually been into Toronto. Anyone have recommendations on where to stay, what to see, what to do, etc.?

Err, what do you mean indoor tunnel?

 

[Eug]

I've only lived here for about 10 days, but of the restaurants I've had a chance to try, I thought Gusto just off King St. was really good. The best beef tartare I've had in a while.

I haven't had a chance to try that place yet. Sounds good.

Good Greek food: Trinity Taverna at The Beach (not downtown).
Good authentic pizza: Terroni or else King West has Pizzeria Libretto.
Corn pie and humitas are good at Jumbo Empanadas in Kensington Market.
St. Lawrence Market is nice for gourmet food shopping.

I would skip the Distillery district. Felt like a weird touristy place with not much to do plus all of the weddings going on made it annoying.

Yeah, it's too small for a first trip to Toronto. I just go there occasionally because it's relatively close to where I live and a couple of the restaurants are not bad, and I like the bakery there.

 

[KeithTalent]

St. Lawrence Market is nice for gourmet food shopping.


I haven't had a chance to try that yet.

Good Greek food: Trinity Taverna at The Beach (not downtown).
Good authentic pizza: Terroni


Yeah, it's too small for a first trip to Toronto. I just go there occasionally because it's relatively close to where I live and a couple of the restaurants are not bad, and I like the bakery there.

That makes sense. It's kind of like Yaletown in Vancouver, probably some good restaurants/shops for locals who know better, but as a destination for a tourist? Pretty uninteresting.

I like the St. Lawrence Market too. Been there twice now.

KT

 

[Eug]

Yaletown is also popular for the nightlife. Bars which are not as obnoxious as the downtown Vancouver dance clubs.

 

[KeithTalent]

Yaletown is also popular for the nightlife. Bars which are not as obnoxious as the downtown Vancouver dance clubs.

I suppose, though Yaletown on the weekend now is just all suburbanites who flock down to drink/party. I rarely go there anymore, unless it is for something very specific. I prefer to stay in Gastown/Chinatown/Strathcona these days.

KT

 

[roguerower]

Stay in central downtown. You can walk to a lot of the stuff, including shopping and restaurant areas.

Go check out the restaurants. Tell us what type of food you like or what you want to try and maybe we can give you some suggestions.

Ripley's Aquarium opened recently, and it's pretty good.

I've been meaning to see the Forbidden City exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum but I haven't had a chance yet.

If you got an hour or so to kill near the upscale shopping district, check out the Bata Shoe Museum. To my surprise, I actually thought it was pretty good.

Take in a Toronto FC game. Or perhaps a Jays game.

Cirque du Soleil

Go to a theatre show. There are a lot of them, but strangely enough there will be a Dr. Seuss musical playing at that time.

Geek out and go to Fan Expo, and stalk Captain Kirk or Captain Picard, or maybe Doctor Who or something.

The Canadian National Exhibition will also be on at that time, but I wouldn't suggest spending your time there.


Prepare to open your wallet in Toronto. IIRC, prices Buffalo for a lot of things seem like a total bargain in comparison.

Even just parking will be expensive. Something like $35 per day at hotels downtown.

Yea, the pricing seems ridiculous. I haven't found a decent hotel in downtown that isn't at least 2 bills. The Hyatt in Buffalo was something like $100/night and they want $300 there.

We're both fans of doing things vs. shopping. Don't get me wrong, she likes shopping, but not at the most likely ridiculous prices we'll encounter up there.

We like most all kinds of food.

I had thought about getting the pass you can buy on the CN tower site which includes the tower, the zoo, some museums, etc. Thought about a ferry ride out to the islands for a nice walk. Didn't know about the aquarium...sounds cool since I love aquariums. Didn't know there was Cirque du Soleil in town. Thought about a game but I think we were probably gonna hit up a Bisons game here in Buffalo.

catch a game at the Rogers Center or check out the Hockey Hall of Fame.

there is loads of shopping if that's your thing.

and lots of places to get awesome food.

There's the ROM, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Canadian National Exhibition.

Thanks.

Err, what do you mean indoor tunnel?

http://www.iflytoronto.com/

Indoor Skydiving. I usually drive there from Buffalo once or twice a week to fly, usually on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

 

[Eug]

You can get deals on hotels with corporate rates or affiliate rates, or sometimes you can negotiate over the phone.

Otherwise places like the Hilton downtown will likely be $200+, but I think the Eaton Chelsea is cheaper. Hilton is 4-star but Eaton Chelsea is 3-star.

 

[Iron Woode]

I forgot about the Zoo. I loved it when I was a kid. At the time they were finishing up the monorail (now defunct). That place was huge.

I have been there 3 times.

 

[Eug]

The Zoo is good, and this year it's being expanded too, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it on a short weekend 1st visit unless it's with kids. It would take an entire day to get through it, and it's nowhere near downtown either.

 

[roguerower]

You can get deals on hotels with corporate rates or affiliate rates, or sometimes you can negotiate over the phone.

Otherwise places like the Hilton downtown will likely be $200+, but I think the Eaton Chelsea is cheaper. Hilton is 4-star but Eaton Chelsea is 3-star.

Yea, that place is much cheaper but still looks pretty nice. About $170 CAD a night. Thanks.

The Zoo is good, and this year it's being expanded too, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it on a short weekend 1st visit unless it's with kids. It would take an entire day to get through it, and it's nowhere near downtown either.

No kids, just her and I. That makes sense though. Saturday is going to be more of a partial day since we're gonna be down near Port Colborne at the dropzone in the morning, then up to Toronto in the afternoon. Sunday & Monday will be full days to explore...but if we throw a Cirque show in there and CN and Ripleys it'll make things too compacted.

 

[sdifox]

Yea, the pricing seems ridiculous. I haven't found a decent hotel in downtown that isn't at least 2 bills. The Hyatt in Buffalo was something like $100/night and they want $300 there.

We're both fans of doing things vs. shopping. Don't get me wrong, she likes shopping, but not at the most likely ridiculous prices we'll encounter up there.

We like most all kinds of food.

I had thought about getting the pass you can buy on the CN tower site which includes the tower, the zoo, some museums, etc. Thought about a ferry ride out to the islands for a nice walk. Didn't know about the aquarium...sounds cool since I love aquariums. Didn't know there was Cirque du Soleil in town. Thought about a game but I think we were probably gonna hit up a Bisons game here in Buffalo.



Thanks.



http://www.iflytoronto.com/

Indoor Skydiving. I usually drive there from Buffalo once or twice a week to fly, usually on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

I swear I saw one in Niagara Falls, right on Clifton Hill in fact. The funpass is a great deal if you plan to hit those places. Zoo is nice, wear walking shoes and hat, there is a lot of walking involved.

 

[Eug]

Yea, that place is much cheaper but still looks pretty nice. About $170 CAD a night. Thanks.

Be sure to inquire about WiFi and parking (if you're driving) for the downtown hotels.

WiFi is hit and miss (and if it's not included it's $15-20 more per night), and most of the downtown hotels don't include parking IIRC, unless you get a package deal (higher than base rate).

That may change your hotel choices.

 

[jaedaliu]

I had good luck with airbnb, rented a 1 bedroom apartment for a night across from Fort York with parking for.... nevermind. I just looked it up. for 1 night, they're charging $134 for the night, $48 for cleaning, and $22 for airBNB service fee.

It was $45 for 1 night with $60 cleaning and $12 service fee when I rented about a year ago.

 

[DigDog]

memorize the lyrics to Ontario Sucks and sing them out loud frequently; the locals love it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRjurRdep_Q

 

[Iron Woode]

memorize the lyrics to Ontario Sucks and sing them out loud frequently; the locals love it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRjurRdep_Q

I would recommend this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWDXE9Pbjic

 

[Eug]

I would recommend this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWDXE9Pbjic

Better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOnQROgk1IM