Need some friends in Toronto

[ShannonRT]

Hi! I'm travelling to Toronto for an educational conference at the end of March and need someone here to give me advice on what to see and do. I have never been to Canada before.

Thanks!

 

[Micheme]

You should post this on the Canadian board, you'll get a lot more responses and advice.

Things to see in Toronto
- the CN tower
- shopping at the Eaton's centre
- visit the royal ontario museum or art gallery
- check out toronto tourism sites to see what may be going on during your stay
- check out the theatre district

that's all i can think of now

 

[MamaLema]

Hi! I'm travelling to Toronto for an educational conference at the end of March and need someone here to give me advice on what to see and do. I have never been to Canada before.

Thanks!

I'd love to help you out but can you narrow it down a little?

What do you enjoy? Shopping, musuems, sports, sight-seeing? How long will you stay?

I don't know how to post a link but www.toronto.com and www.torontotourism.com are great websites to get you started.

Have a great trip!

 

[froglady]

Some other places to see are Bloor/Yonge shopping...really high end. Allen Gardens is a wonderful greenhouse. I remember going there during a snowfall; it was interesting to be in a tropical garden with snow falling on the ceiling.

Toronto also has a large Chinatown with authentic meals, and nearby Kensington Market has a flea market feel to it. The Art Gallery of Toronto is close to Chinatown. West Queen Street has cutting edge boutiques with young designers.

As others have suggested, you might want to discover which shows are available.

Downtown Toronto has an excellent public transportation system, and it's easy to get around. You have the lake as a southern border, and Bloor Street area as the northern. (Although you ca go further north) The main subway runs underground underneath Yonge St, which basically divides the downtown into East/West. Buses run N/S paralell to it, with trolleys and other buses running E/W. (Plus the E/W subway that runs under Bloor St) Most of the points of interest are within blocks of the subway, or a short bus ride.

 

[ShannonRT]

Thanks for the replies. I didn't realize there was a Canadian board. I will hop over there too.

I am arriving in Toronto at 8 pm on a Thursday and leaving at 4 pm on the following Tuesday. Most of my days will be spent in the conference, but I plan on skipping a couple of half-days to sight-see and all of the evenings will be free to do what I please.

I have already checked out a couple of websites and am very interested in the CN tower. Should I do this during the day or at night? I was hoping to maybe do both, with a tour during the day and dinner at 360 at night. Is it very difficult to get reservations there?

What about money? Should I exchange my American dollars for Canadian dollars when I arrive? Or do I even really need much cash? Can I just use my Visa everywhere?

I see that Blue Man Group is performing there in 2006, but I have seen them in NYC before. Any other theatre performances scheduled March 30-April 4?

I'm not much of a shopper, but I collect refrigerator magnets (silly I know) from everywhere I go and I want to pick up a souvenir for my DD and my Mom.

Thanks again!

 

[damo]

Here are a few sites for you:
www.mirvish.com for theatre tickets...Lord of the Rings is on
www.toronto.com

You can use your credit card almost everywhere but you should have a bit of cash for little things like tipping, taxis, etc.

What hotel are you staying at?

 

[offwegotoneverland]

the hotel you are staying at may be pretty important...many confrences are not in Toronto but are in Mississauga or another burb all of which make up the GTA (greater toronto area).

CN tower is cool either day or night and dinner is not normally too difficult to get into during the week at 360 but it is pricey.

King street in the theatre district also has some fantastic restaurants. As to fridge magnets I'm sure you'll find them at the CN tower.

 

[ShannonRT]

I'm staying at the Intercontinental and the conference is at the Metro Centre, which looks to be almost right next door.

Should I take a taxi from the airport to the hotel or use the shuttle system? Which would be cheaper? Should I tip the taxi drivers, etc with Canadian or American dollars?

Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

There is a bus shuttle from the Airport to the downtown hotels.


Here is their link

 

[damo]

Does the hotel have a shuttle to the airport? Probably not, and even if they do, it will take them half an hour to get to the airport from the hotel after you call them. I suggest you take a cab and do all your tipping in Canadian dollars.

Ooh, looks like some good info in the post above!!!

 

[offwegotoneverland]

well I would tip in Cdn. dollars if you can...much easier for the cabbies to deal with (you can't deposit usd into an ATM here).

You are very near the King St theatre area from your hotel.

If it was me on my own I'd cab it instead of shuttle just to save time but that's just me.

You will also see a bunch of signs re an area called the Path this takes you underground of the office towers in the area and has food courts shops etc to browse regardless of weather.

I'd also say you'd find lots of info at your hotel as well which might interest you.

You are also not to far from harbour front which has many interesting things to see and do from time to time.

In that area as well is the St. Lawerence Market (cool if your a foodie) which may or may not be your idea of fun.

Hope you enjoy your visit with us.

 

[Pugdog007]

I go to a conference in Toronto every year and always stay at Intercontinental (used to be Crowne Plaza). There is an airport shuttle that stops right in front of the hotel. Just go outside baggage claim and you'll see the shuttle transport kiosk close to the taxi line. It's much cheaper to use the shuttle and it's pretty convenient. Use your credit card and then you can wait to exchange your money at the hotel or an ATM (best place to exchange). Only problem with ATM's in Canada is that most do not take Visa. Only MC & some other stuff.

Definately see Eaton Centre. I could take or miss CN tower. The glass floor is cool though. Kensington is cool for shopping & I also like going down to the shops on Lake Ontario. Just take a right outside the front door of the hotel and go down to the street that Air Canada is on then walk towards the water. Of course, may be too cold to walk far. I go in April and it's snowed 3/5 visits. I've been told it is unusual to snow in April though. Guess it's just when I visit.

I've heard that the shoe museum is neat but I've never made it there. Even though the Blue Jays won't be playing, I'd still go into the Skydome and take a look. The Hard Rock Cafe overlooks the field so you can look in from there. The Dalai Lama was speaking there the last time we popped in!

I usually see a show but doesn't look like anything interesting's playing this year Last year saw Mama Mia and the year prior The Producers. I also saw The Lion King in Toronto. Wicked is or has been playing... check mirvish for shows.

I'm happy to answer any questions about touristy stuff, the Intercontinental or the Metro Conv Center. I know all very well

Hotel to conference center - up, up, up, up, across, across, down, down, down, down... you'll know what I mean when you get there