Anyone know any info about Toronto, Canada and Niagara Falls??

[LisaRay]

My DH just told me last night that he has a business trip to Toronto and he has to drive instead of fly this time. It is about 10-11 hours away! However with summer coming we can take the kids and make a "vacation" out of it.

I know NOTHING about this area and don't know where to start! We will be staying in Toronto and need any info at all. Hotels that are good for families, meals?, entertainment? anything!
Also gonna visit Niagara Falls so looking for that info too.

Now I know i can do a search on the web however 1st had experience is always better so I thought I'd give it a shot! Thanks!!

 

[Mishetta]

It's been about 10 years since I've been to Toronto now but we stayed at the Sheraton Centre. It was gorgeous. Toronto (even with the $$ exchange) can be quite expensive ~ so be prepared! I remember we went to the underground mall & we went to see Phantom of the Opera & Casa Loma (a castle). Can't tell you much else since we stayed in the hotel a lot (it was our Honeymoon ).

We have been to Niagara Falls many times & we stay at either the Sheraton Fallsview Inn or the Marriott Fallsview. Both are lovely & both have awesome views of the falls. There are tours around the falls you can take & you can go on the boat that takes you right by the falls (Maid of the Mist). There are casino's for adults & all kinds of fun places to see on (shoot, can't remember the name of the main street now) for the kids. If you have time, try to make it to Niagara-on-the-Lake ~ that is such a beautiful quaint little town. We usually stop at a grocery store in Niagara Falls & get bread, lunchmeat, cheeses, fruit & some sweets & head over to Niagara-on-the-lake & sit by the water at this pretty little park & have a picnic. It's a nice place to bring the family!

Have a great time!

 

[Scratch42]

First a few questions?

Which part of Toronto? North, East, West, South or Downtown? How long are you staying for?

You could start with www.toronto.com and www.niagaratourism.com

Also, ask on the Canadian Board. We are a very helpful bunch!LOL

Scratch

 

[DSNY FN]

Get ready to pay a Deluxe WDW resort price fir a good downtown accomodation in Toronto. That being said I loved the International hotel I do beleive it was on University Ave just down from the Eatons Centre and kitty corner to Nathan Phillips Square. It is about 200 plus a night for a room now if not more.

 

[wdwfam]

We went to Toronto a couple of years ago for a few days. Our teenagers really liked it. Casa Loma was really beautiful. The gardens are really nice in the summer. There are lots of malls, I think we hit them all. They loved the underground ones. A little way out of Toronto is Stratford - a summer filled of Shakespeare plays that is supposed to be great. We missed out on "The Lion King" in Toronto. Oh, and there is a neat park in south Toronto. Don't forget the CN Tower. I thought that Toronto would be kind of boring, but we found a lot to do. Of course, Niagara Falls is close too. There's also a good museum that's interactive. Have fun.

 

[grinningghost]

Living where we do, we get to both pretty often. Great places. Toronto is like WDW - so much to do, so little time. You will love it.

Niagara Falls, is of course, an amazing natural wonder that everyone should see once in their life. A MUST do is the Maid of the Mist boat ride. You go right up to the horseshoe falls and it's absolutely awesome. We do it every summer - never get sick of it.

Also, in Toronto, you should visit the CN Tower. At the top they have a room with a glass floor. You stand on it and it's like standing on air. You can see everything on the ground - and it's WAY down there!

 

[buddy&wooz]

We went to Niagara Falls about 5 years ago. My kids (boys ages 9, 6, & 1 at the time) all really loved the Maid of the Mist, and getting to walk behind the falls. Also the Botanical gardens were a fun place to let the kids really run around, and they loved the Butterfly place (forgot the name!) as well. If you have time to visit Goat Island on the American side that was fun for the kids, too. Lots of space to run around- but you can get very close to the edge of the falls there, too! Definitely a place I'd return to.

 

[Disneymaddness]

Toronto also has a really great zoo.

 

[mickey65]

Toronto has so much to do and see! If you are into the theme parks with coasters and stuff Wonderland is a fun place to go. Centre Island is nice too. If you send me a PM when you are going I can send you a travel Ontario book that has coupons in it for attractions in both Toronto and Niagara.

 

[LisaRay]

Thanks for all this great info!
I don't have much time to do research so this helps.

mickey65... we are going either the last week or may or the 1st week of june. it is a business trip for the most part so we have to go when they say!

The good news about it being a business trip is they pay for the hotel in Toronto!

 

[Cruisin]

There is also a great Science Center in Toronto since you have kids you are planning on taking with you.

 

[kilee]

I live about 25 minutes from Niagara Falls. Here are my suggestions. Stay in Canada, they have so much more to do than NY. However, it really isn't much more than 1-2 days worth of stuff and it's expensive. It's all sorts of tourist traps like Ripleys Museums, Guiness Book or World Records musuems, things like that. As well as 100 little gift shops. There is a place called Marine Land-- it's a semi version of Sea World.

There are several things you can do to view the falls. Like Cave of the winds and Maid of the Mist. Do a search on them.

If you like amusement parks. Toronto has a great one called Paramounts Canada's Wonderland. NY does have Darien Lake Six Flags about 40-50 minutes from the falls.

Someone mentioned the Toronto Zoo. This is one of those places you'll either love or hate. It is HUGE!! Bigger than any other zoo in this country I've been to. However, it seems like you can walk 1/2 mile between each animal attraction. DS couldn't stand it--- he found all the endless walking boring. There is the Toronto Science Center, which is a great way to spend an afternoon. Lots of hands on activities.

If you are interested in the arts. Toronto has many Broadway shows. It is a mini NYC when it comes to shows. I know the Lion King was there recently, but don't know if it' still running.

If you have any specific questions please let me know.

 

[kilee]

One other thing, exchange your money at a bank in the states or in Canada. The shops and restuarants are only going to give you about a 20% exchange rate. That's less than 1/2 of what it should be.