Advice on destinations in Toronto, ON area

[ozliz]

I will be travelling for about 6 weeks in October/November (all going well with work agreeing my leave). I will not go through my entire itinerary but I would like some advice on part in the middle between finishing up in Boston in mid-October and flying down to Orlando to do the Disney thing end of October and early November. My must do’s are New York City and Toronto (lived there once and want to reminisce) and I’m probably spending enough time in USA that I’d like my currently undecided days will be in Canada. I’ll decide which order to do cities in based on ease of trains and prices of flights to Orlando.

Ok enough background, my question is what would you recommend if I would like to get out of the big cities in the Toronto or broader Ontario area but will not have a car. I’ve done Niagara Falls, Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa on previous trips but don’t mind a night in one of these places if there is something out of the big centres that requires a night there along the way. My first preference however would be somewhere I can take a train/bus to from Toronto and see without needing to hire a car (I have zero desire to hire a car so please don’t try to talk me into this).

 

[starvenger]

Toronto does have a city pass and that would get you access to the CN tower, aquarium, casa loma, the Royal Ontario Museum and either the science centre or zoo. The first four are easily accessible via subway while the last two would require subway + bus to get there.

I think Megabus still stops in Niagara Falls so that might be an option for you. Otherwise you’d need to take a GO transit train and/or bus. Or a casino bus.

 

[amie416]

If you want to see the great outdoors, ParkBus is a good option. https://parkbus.ca/

 

[bababear_50]

Hi
I would make a visit to Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto
check their web site out
they frequently have special seasonal events going on.
https://www.ripleyaquariums.com/canada/


Depending on your date there is always Halloween activities going on in Toronto
Haunted walk
https://hauntedwalk.com/toronto-tours/

I am definitely a Niagara Falls fan
I can always find something to do here
Winter Festival Of Lights
https://www.niagarafallstourism.com/events/winter-festival-of-lights/

Autumn in Niagara Falls
https://www.niagarafallstourism.com/seasons/autumn/
https://niagarafallscliftonhill.com/blog/8-free-things-to-do-in-niagara-in-october/


Have fun planning
Hugs Mel

 

[ozliz]

Hi
I would make a visit to Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto
check their web site out
they frequently have special seasonal events going on.
https://www.ripleyaquariums.com/canada/


Depending on your date there is always Halloween activities going on in Toronto
Haunted walk
https://hauntedwalk.com/toronto-tours/

I am definitely a Niagara Falls fan
I can always find something to do here
Winter Festival Of Lights
https://www.niagarafallstourism.com/events/winter-festival-of-lights/

Autumn in Niagara Falls
https://www.niagarafallstourism.com/seasons/autumn/
https://niagarafallscliftonhill.com/blog/8-free-things-to-do-in-niagara-in-october/


Have fun planning
Hugs Mel

Thanks, anything outside Toronto? I lived there once before , only 6 months and as a student so now looking to explore outside the city. Maybe Niagara would be worth another look the town was too touristy last time I was there but if there are specialty events it might improve.

 

[MommyBG]

I'm not a big fan of Niagara Falls, but Niagara on the Lake is a pretty town.

Seeing as you are travelling in October, Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo is an option. An hour west of Toronto, easily serviced by Go Train/Bus, Via Rail and Greyhound Bus.

Blue Mountain/Collingwood area is an option. Not sure about transportation, but I'm sure there's a bus service from Toronto. Many outdoor activities and the colours could be potentially beautiful depending on the fall weather. On the downside, accommodations and food can add up quite quickly.

 

[bababear_50]

Yep Niagara is touristy
Hmmmm.... well my weekend getaway in the Fall is
St Jacob's Country

https://stjacobs.com

I drive so I don't have any suggestions on how to get there via public transportation.
Try Googling "Discover Ontario" with VIA Rail.

Hugs Mel

 

[StitchDCL]

There is a bus to Stratford to see a play at the Stratford Festival. I think you can take the GO Train or bus to Niagara on the Lake to see a play at the Shaw Festival or visit some of the many wineries. There are micro brewery tours in Toronto. The Distillery District has opened since you likely last lived in Toronto as well as a new opera house. The National Ballet moved into the opera house, it's called The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

 

[quandrea]

Muskoka is beautiful in the fall. I love Lake Roseau, the town of Rosseau, Port Carling. You’ll have to check out transportation options. I always drive.

 

[kiford]

Seeing as you are travelling in October, Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo is an option. An hour west of Toronto, easily serviced by Go Train/Bus, Via Rail and Greyhound Bus.

I wouldn't say it's exactly easily serviced. There are buses and trains but the schedules and options aren't great. GO train takes a little over 2 hours, Via Rail 1 hr 40 minutes, and the GO Bus or Greyhound will take anywhere between 1 hr 20 minutes to a little over 2 hours depending on whether it's express or stops in every little place between the two cities. Via only goes from Kitchener to Toronto at 9:20 am and 9:40 pm and GO train goes at 5:20 am, 6:05 am and 7:10 am. Via goes from Toronto to Kitchener at 10:55 am and 5:40 pm and GO train in the afternoon. GO bus and Greyhound do have the better and more frequent times. Both are really geared to commuters who live in Kitchener and work in Toronto. Local transit is not that great so taxis may be the best way to get around locally.

Oktoberfest runs from the Friday before Thanksgiving (which this year is on Oct 8) to the following Saturday and you need to pretty much purchase tickets well in advance to any venue.

 

[ozliz]

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions in Toronto. I’m actually looking for options outside Toronto. Preferably day trips to 2 nights away and can be done without a car.

I did a student exchange in Toronto over 10 years ago so most of my time actually in the city will be nostalgic exploring to see which of my favourite hangouts are still there.

 

[ozliz]

There is a bus to Stratford to see a play at the Stratford Festival. I think you can take the GO Train or bus to Niagara on the Lake to see a play at the Shaw Festival or visit some of the many wineries. There are micro brewery tours in Toronto. The Distillery District has opened since you likely last lived in Toronto as well as a new opera house. The National Ballet moved into the opera house, it's called The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Thanks. I saw the ballet when I was there last time so may not go again. I’ve looked into Stratford and it’s on my list of options. It seems like a place I could go to for 2 nights and enjoy just to get out of the city.

I’ve also been looking at Algonquin Park which looks challenging without a car or the Kingston/1000 islands area and trying to work out what has the most to see and can be done on only bus/train travel.

 

[starvenger]

Kingston should be easy to get to using Via Rail. They usually have some online sales on Tuesdays and you can get some bargains.

You could also use Via to get to Ottawa and Montreal, although if you were in Boston I'm guessing you may have made the trip once or twice?

 

[lorenni]

We live in Toronto now and we do not have car so we almost never leave Toronto unless we rent a car. While public transportation in the city is great, and you can take VIA Rail or fly to other cities (Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City), there is very limited service to attractions outside the city.

GO trains are your typical commuter rail service - they are not going to destinations, but to suburbia. I would think you would already know that though if you lived here long enough.

Good luck trying to get to Niagara without a car. I tried once for a work conference and it would have taken a GO Train to a bus to a taxi to get from downtown Toronto to the Sheraton in Niagara. No thanks. VIA Rail has maybe one train a day from Toronto to Niagara/Buffalo.

I’m not sure what types of things you want to do anyways. Since you previously lived here you know that October/November can be cold. And there really isn’t much for grown up attractions outside of the city. Did you want to see the zoo? Outlet shopping? Canada’s Wonderland? If you want to get to Collingwood or other “cottage” towns, you may be able to get there with some combination of GO train/bus/taxi. You could fly to Mont Tremblant with Porter.

 

[star72232]

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions in Toronto. I’m actually looking for options outside Toronto. Preferably day trips to 2 nights away and can be done without a car.

I did a student exchange in Toronto over 10 years ago so most of my time actually in the city will be nostalgic exploring to see which of my favourite hangouts are still there.

I think the problem is that there is little in southern Ontario that is really easily accessible by public transportation. It's a car-centred area, unfortunately.

Stratford and Niagara-on-the-Lake are a couple of my first ideas, but getting to either place without a car is tough and expensive.

 

[Erino'North]

Prince Edward County has become very popular as a destination since you were last in southern Ontario. Vineyards, antiques, galleries, etc. You could take Via Rail to Belleville and then get there by taxi. It does not have an abundance of public transit options though, so you still may need a car.

https://www.visitpec.ca/do/