Niagara Falls/Toronto trip next week: any Dos and Don'ts

[amsafko]

We (dh, myself, dd7, dd5, and ds2) will be spending a few days on the Canadian side of the Falls and doing a day in Toronto. What do you recommend/not recommend for us? Any things that are off the beaten track would be fabulous (not into touristy things like the Ripley's museum or wax museum). Of course we'll see the falls and we want to do the Butterfly Conservatory but we also prefer really getting to see a place beyond the busier areas. Any inexpensive eats you'd recommend (I realize around the falls things are pretty pricey but anything on the outskirts that would suffice).

 

[CDNmouse]

Walk across he Bridge to the US side, visit the park there and get up close to the Falls (both US and Horseshoe). They also have an observation deck (cost a few bucks). It is also interesing.

Seeing the Falls from a different view is interesting.

Gary

 

[fundy_dreamer]

If it's a clear day in Toronto, you should do the CN Tower...the view is really amazing. Beyond that, I can't help much...I spend most of my time in TO on business, but there are a lot of great museums and I hear the Ontario Science Centre is awesome. Have fun.

 

[iluveeyore]

Near the Butterfly Conservatory on the opposite side of the road is a nice stop with a scenic overlook of the Niagara Gorge - there is a souvenir shop/restrooms there, not sure if it's always open. On the way to Toronto in St. Catharines are the locks of the Welland Canal and museum. Visit www.stcatharineslock3museum.ca for hours. Cheap little side trip (right off the QEW on your way to Toronto.) If you're lucky, you'll be able to see a ship come through the lock.
For places to eat, just don't go to any sit-down restaurants in and around the Falls/Casino as they're very expensive (even Denny's is twice the price). Lundy's Lane going away from the Falls towards Dorchester, Drummond Rds. has the usual fare - Wendy's, McDonald's (with a play place), Red Lobster, Pizza Hut, etc. The Swiss Chalet is nice and not too pricey as well. Or there are places to exit off the QEW Toronto on your way in St. Catharines and Grimsby or Stoney Creek.
For Toronto, having only visited as a tourist myself, there is lots to do, some of it seasonal. With young children, the Ontario Science Center is very cool and fun for them, the Royal Ontario Museum sometimes has neat displays (like dinosaurs or ancient Egyptian mummies). Casa Loma is beautiful to tour, but not sure if young ones would care. And the Metro Toronto Zoo is a wonderful place to visit - not sure of their spring hours but check online. The CN Tower is neat too, but it's right downtown and not sure of the cost.

Hope the weather is beautiful for your trip. Enjoy touring our area!

 

[trivial]

In the Falls, while I've not yet eaten there myself, Betty's Restaurant looks to be a great choice for an "unfussy" meal, if you're not looking for gourmet fare. Their menu looks tasty, and their prices are very reasonable:

http://www.bettysrestaurant.com/

In Toronto, my picks would be the Ontario Science Center (which I remember as being much funner for kids than it sounds), or even the Toronto Zoo, although that would likely take up your whole day.

 

[angela1044]

Is there anything in particular you want to see in Toronto? If you are only going for one day you will probably only be able to fit in one place. However, if you want to do the CN tower you can walk around downtown and do some shopping. Be prepared because the CN tower is expensive.

The Science Centre is fun as well as the zoo. The Science Centre is north of downtown and the zoo is north east of downtown. There is so much to do in Toronto that regardless of what you pick, you should have a great time.

Niagara is also great. The Butterfly Conservatory and Walk behind the Falls are a lot of fun. Also, driving through Niagara on the Lake is beautiful and if you have time, stopping at the wineries is great.

Have a super trip.

 

[twinz]

There are a lot of things to do in Toronto "off the beaten path" You could visit St.Lawrence Market (I think they are closed on Sundays though). Also walk along Harbour Front. Go over to the Toronto Island, in the summer they have a little amusement park. Kensington Market is another good place. Walk around downtown, there is plenty to do. Stop at the Eaton Centre...hugh shopping mall right downtown. You could see a "broadway" show. Check out Toronto.com. WE have a great transit system that will take you pretty much everywhere you need to go in the city. Have fun.

 

[SandraC]

In NF, I still love walking up and down Clifton Hill. Rainforest Cafe is my fav restaurant on the strip.

We love hiking to the Niagara River to the start of the Bruce Trail. It's free and a lovely way to see nature. We start in Niagara Glen Park.

Take the same road thru to Niagara-on-the-Lake for a walk then head back up to the highway via Mississauga Street. There is an Ontario Travel Centre at the highway for lots of info.

Around Casablaca Road on the QEW there is a rest stop [on the other side of the road if you are heading to Toronto] with Tim Hortons, more Ontario info, Wendy's etc.,.

Walking around Kensington, Chinatown and Queen Street are my top choices of THINGS TO DO.

All these things aren't expensive and you'll see lots!



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NF Glen N-O-T-L Casablanca Rd. Toronto

 

[ptdealer]

Queenston Heights Restaurant is very nice, best view of the Niagara river...just follow River road around from the Conservatory and you will see the park by the Queenston/Lewiston bridge its run by the Niagara Parks Commision and is very good value. lots of history and beautiful parks...have a glass of wine and enjoy the view

 

[TLPL]

I live in Niagara Falls. I would suggest you to drive alone the Niagara Parkway away from the Falls, toward Niagara-on-the-lake(follow the Niagara River downsteam). First, check out Great wolf lodge, it's like the Country Bears meet Wilderness lodge.
Then, take a wine tour at one of many wineyard (there are so many of them in the area) they are so pretty and you can learn about wine making.
Checkout the village of old town Niagara-on-the-lake, and maybe pick up some food and wine and have a picnic in the park by the lake.
End the day by taking a Ghost tour @ Fort George, it is a lot of fun.

For breakfast I like to go to Falls Manor on Lundy Lane.

 

[LSmith]

Personally I think that if you only have one day in Toronto my advice would be to not spend your family time at St. Lawrence Market or Kensington Market unless you plan on buying some meat or seafood. I mean, it's a great place to pick up a roast or some scallops but otherwise I woudn't go out of my way to tour it with young kids unless they have an appreciation for raw meat or locally grown vegetables.

The Toronto Zoo, The Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma would be good choices for a family. The Eaton Centre for shopping. The CN Tower, although, I must say, everytime I take a relative there I am totally underwhelmed by the whole experience considering the steep price. Don`t bother with the Toronto Islands if it is next week. Too cold and nothing to do.

If you let us know where in Toronto you will be staying or what interests your family have it would help a lot.

Also, toronto.com has a lot of information.

 

[jmtf2004]

Betty's Restaurant is definitely off the beaten path - it's south of the Falls a bit and away from the river in the village of Chippawa. They have great fish and chips, very good standard fare, pretty good service. It is a large restaurant, so even if there are a lot of cars and it looks busy, and there is a wait to get seated you still won't take too long to have your meal. I don't recommend Betty's for breakfast though.
OTOH, a place that is wonderful for breakfast Falls Manor on Lundy's Lane - get there early to get a quick seat, or else you'll be waiting in line at the door - often the line extends outside on weekends. Great value and really good service there. Love the Belgian waffles - but their breakfast special is a very good deal. Falls Manor is very close to the outlet stores - they are just a little further west along Lundy's Lane.
The drive along the Niagara parkway is very lovely - you can stop at the Butterfly Conservatory - it's located at the Botanical Gardens which are also lovely once spring and summer are here - not too much going on there yet. The Niagara Parkway will take you past Queenston Heights, through Queenston and on to Niagara on the Lake. NOTL is a very pretty historic town - there is very good theatre there, the Shaw Festival, nice places to eat, gorgeous homes, nice B&B's, hotels, shopping along Queen Street.
I agree that the St Catharines Museum at Lock 3 is worth seeing.
In Toronto you could try to get Blue Jays tickets. There is a ton of stuff to see and do all within walking distance of Rogers Centre. Art Gallery of Ontario, Chinatown, shopping on Queen St., Harbourfront....