Can anyone give me some advise about Toronto?

[Disneycrazymom]

DH's hockey team may get to go to the finals in his hockey division. The game will be in Toronto. That's the good news! The bad news is that it is the same weekend that we are supposed to leave for Disneyworld.(June 4) So ..... I need GOOD STUFF to help our kids think this is a great fun adventure. Tell me all the wonderful things we can do and see in and around the city. A really cool place to stay would help too! Don't worry they will get to Disney but it will be later after the Toronto trip. I think they are secretly hoping Daddy's team will lose but they are nice enough to not say so.

 

[digskat]

You could take them to the toronto zoo or to Paramount Canada's Wonderland, we met some one who is a theme park fanatic and he said it is a great park. It is we have been there several times. They have Scooby doo Dora, rugrats etc. There is a great water park area at no extra cost. They usually come out with ticket prices in May. They are not too pricy. We have stayed at the Sheraton Centre and the Delta Chelsea both have indoor pools,. DC has a water slide.www.canadas-wonderland.com. Also you maybe able to take them to a jays game at the Skydome if the Blue Jays are in town that w/e. If you go you'll have to eat at Marche Movenpick's it's awesome. There are usually some theatre show playing also in TO, you may want to check out ticketmaster. Hope this helps. ~Kat

 

[Tabetha]

There's lots to do around the city. You can go up the CN Tower - the world's largest free standing structure. Be sure to visit the glass floor!
If your kids like museums, you can go to the Royal Ontario Museum. If not, there's the Ontario Science Center - sort of a smaller version of Epcot - lots of interactive fun.
If you have a car and want to hit a theme park, there's Canada's Wonderland, about half an hour to 45 minutes out of the city. It's no Disneyworld, but there's lots of great roller coasters, and a waterpark.
Also, with a car you can easily run out to the Metro Toronto Zoo - it's amazing. You can also get there via transit, but it takes a little longer.
You can take a ferry out to Toronto Island, and wander around, have a picnic. And there's always something going on at Harbourfront, and in the Beaches.

As far as places to stay are concerned, I think your main drive would be someplace that is downtown, close to transit if you're not bringing a car.

Hope this helps - there's tons to do here!

 

[cabmom]

DH's hockey team may get to go to the finals in his hockey division. The game will be in Toronto. That's the good news! The bad news is that it is the same weekend that we are supposed to leave for Disneyworld.(June 4) So ..... I need GOOD STUFF to help our kids think this is a great fun adventure. Tell me all the wonderful things we can do and see in and around the city. A really cool place to stay would help too! Don't worry they will get to Disney but it will be later after the Toronto trip. I think they are secretly hoping Daddy's team will lose but they are nice enough to not say so.

Sorry to be short with you:

www.toronto.com, just going to bed, but will give more info in the morning if you haven't received any by then!

www.canadaswonderland.com

Marilynn

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Thanks very much. Wonderland might just do the trick! It looks really fun, big rides and characters , I can't go wrong with that right! Will it be too cold to swim in June? Let me add too cold for us that are coming from 90 weather! Thanks again.

 

[Tabetha]

You may get some swimming weather in early June, yes. It varies from year to year...

 

[my3princesses]

We spent two days in Toronto last summer with our kids (we work in Toronto but live 1 1/2 hours away so we are always there but not for a holiday).

Toronto has all kinds of package deals still from the SARS situation a few summers ago. They are great deals for attractions, food, hotels, etc.

We stayed at the Skydome and were able to watch a baseball game from the bar, went up the CN tower, spent an afternoon at Ontario Place (it's right on the lake) (waterslides, IMAX theatre, etc - more like a park than an amusement park). We also did the Toronto Zoo which is an amazing place. It's huge (alot of walking) but really neat.

They have just built a new massive mall (Vaughan Mills) beside canada's wonderland with a Bass Pro shop, Indy race track, bowling alley, (and my store is there).

You will love TO! It's not Disney but it's still a great place!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

It looks to me that Niagra Falls is not too far away. Maybe an hour? We could drive there for a day. We will definately get a rental car. The zoo sounds fun and we might see a game (especially if our Cards would happen to be in town). It sounds as if there would be plenty to keep us busy for 5 or 6 days. This might sound funny but is there some thing "Canadian" that we should add to the list. Or maybe hockey would be it! Like a certain type of food maybe. Like if someone was coming to StL I would take them to the "hill" for great Italian food. (the Arch, the Zoo, Busch Stadiam too obviously.) Thanks again everyone for helping me get excited over the change in plans! We'll know in April if they finish the season in 1st place.

 

[Tabetha]

A drive to Niagara Falls is a great idea. They're an amazing sight, and the area is full of cheesy wax museums and Ripley's. Silly fun.
There won't be any hockey in the summer - heck, at the rate the strike has gone, there may never be hockey again! But you could try going to the Hockey Hall of Fame - I'm told it's pretty good.
We have a great Chinatown and Little Italy where you can get some excellent food.
If you want a Canadian food, you should stop by one of the chip trucks out front of Old City Hall (by the Toronto Eaton Centre - big shopping mall downtown) and get an order of Poutine. Fries topped with gravy and cheese curds. Yummy!

 

[MECH8T7]

I justed check the schedule and it looks like the Cards will actually be in town this year but not until June 13. The Jays are on the road for the two weeks before that. However, the Canadian Football League should be up and running by then. You and your family might get a hoot out of "our" version of football if the Argos are playing while you're here. Three downs, wider and longer field, deeper end zones...much more offence.

Definitely check out the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is right downtown. Harbourfront, which is right below downtown on the lake, has always got stuff going on for families. Centre Island is great if your kids are really young...they would enjoy the ferry ride over the to the Island from Harbourfront and there is a small amusement park (Centreville) on the Island. The Royal Ontario Museum is good for a day, they have a relatively good section on animals and dinosaurs. If you haven't seen a 3D-Imax movie before, there may be one playing at the Paramount theatre at the Imax theatre there. The zoo would be at the top of my list for places that I would take a visitor; however, be forewarned that most people complain that there is a lot of walking. The philosophy of the design was to display the animals in something that was closer to a natural habitat and, unfortuantely for visitors, it means that the outdoor displays are kind of spread out.

Food? As previous posters have mentioned, we have Chinatown (which is now kind of a sprawling, unspecific area around downtown) and Little Italy. We also have Greektown, which is northeast of downtown. If you end up staying downtown, you can head over to St. Lawrence Market early most mornings to get a coffee and some fresh produce and baked goods; signature items are Peameal Bacon on a Bun at the Carousel Bakery and Churrasco (portuguese)-style chicken with fries at a little stand near the entrance. If there's desire (and opportunity) for an adult's only meal, I would suggest dinner or lunch at Canoe...one of Toronto's top restaurants located on the 54th floor at the TD Bank tower. In June, you'd get a fabulous view of the lake from their and they have tried to have Canadiana-inspired items on their menu.

Good luck to your DH's team and your Toronto planning.

 

[Grumbo]

Don't believe all of these doomsayers!!!
I can get you NHL tickets for June. Right on the red line and for a very tidy price I might add.
PM me and let me know how many tickets you'd like me to print up,,, uh I mean buy for you, and uh well would you prefer the Air Canada Centre or Maple Leaf Gardens? I can print, uh GET you tickets for either

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Disneycrazymom]

So many fun ideas, thanks much!

Gumbo if only you could! I have a house full of happy hockey players that would love it if you could get the NHL together! They mope around every sat saying "If the Blues were playing....." They are season ticket holders and hardly no what to do with themselves!

 

[auber12]

Where is the hockey tournament, toronto is a big city... that would help to let you know where you can go....... some info for you .

first off water park is not open at wonderland until late June and you should check and see when the park opens fully. It may only be open on weekends in early June. It has some great rides for kids of all ages, I can get you some discount price tickets if your interested (from work)

Depending where you are Niagra Falls would be hour and a half away if traffic is good but it a whole day out as a lot to see if you havent seen the falls. very impressive.. take the maid of the mist fairy ride the kids would love it..

There is a place called dave and busters at 400 and hwy 7 which is south of wonderland...good eats huge arcade style place.(try the jack daniels burger)
there are playdiums in and outside of toronto, depends on where the hockey is.

Again depending on where you are playing hockey some great hotels outside of the downtown core. Hilton suites in Markham is outstanding....

let us know where the hockey tourament is being held and that will help and the only leafs playing will be on the trees...
cheers

 

[mcms]

You could take them to the toronto zoo or to Paramount Canada's Wonderland, we met some one who is a theme park fanatic and he said it is a great park. It is we have been there several times. They have Scooby doo Dora, rugrats etc. There is a great water park area at no extra cost. They usually come out with ticket prices in May. They are not too pricy. We have stayed at the Sheraton Centre and the Delta Chelsea both have indoor pools,. DC has a water slide.www.canadas-wonderland.com. Also you maybe able to take them to a jays game at the Skydome if the Blue Jays are in town that w/e. If you go you'll have to eat at Marche Movenpick's it's awesome. There are usually some theatre show playing also in TO, you may want to check out ticketmaster. Hope this helps. ~Kat

If the Marche Movenpick you are refering to is the one across from Rogers Centre it is now closed and has been since around Christmas.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I don't know what rink as of yet, most likely DH will find out later. It is a small world sometimes, we just had brunch at Dave and Busters today! The kids love it there, and they have sinfully good French toast. As close as I have found to breakfast at the Castle.

 

[Skywalker]

If you go to Niagara Falls another amusement park is Marineland (kind of like Seaworld). Between that, Canada's Wonderland and Ontario Place there is a lot of fun for kids who like rides!

 

[Grumbo]

If the Marche Movenpick you are refering to is the one across from Rogers Centre it is now closed and has been since around Christmas.

The Marche at the corner of Yonge and Front by the Hockey Hall of Fame is closed??!!??!!
Please tell me its another one.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[digskat]

Marche Movenpick'sit (the one that is in the same building as the hockey hall of fame), is still open was just there in January.

 

[digskat]

The pool at the Sheraton Centre downtown is an indoor/outdoor pool even in the middle of January. We swam outside when the temp was 20 below 0 and it was fine remarkably. If you are planning to go to Niagara Falls skip Marineland it's a waste of money if you ask me. I've heard Seaworld in Orlando is way better. To be honest you'll get more bang for your buck at Wonderland

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

You must definately visit the Hockey Hall of Fame. Hockey fans will love it. The gift shop is really good too.
While down there also visit the CN Tower. My kids love going up, and walking on the glass floor. Just try to do it on a clear day.
Have fun!