Toronto Vacation anyone done this?

[defendthehill]

I am into planning....it is 1/2 of the fun of a trip. In June we did a week at POR with another family.

In July we did St. Louis with another family as well. Both trips I did most of the planning.

My wife and I were talking about where we might head next summer and Toronto came up. I know nothing about Toronto except what I have read on tripadvisor already tonight. Anyone do a family vacation there with three young kids???

 

[lizabu]

I live close to Toronto and have been there lots of times. I would buy a city pass. ( http://www.citypass.com/toronto?mv_...d=6103824149&gclid=CJejxpbR9akCFYrJKgodNSLevA ) You can do 5 things for the price of 1 or 2. Canada's Wonderland is good too. Save a lot buy buying tickets from AAA/CAA. There are lots of free things to do too ( http://ca.travel.yahoo.com/guides/Toronto/446/torontofree-or-nearly-free and http://www.toronto.com/article/616601 ). I love Chinatown for shopping...so fun and so cheap. Have fun.

 

[defendthehill]

Thanks for the info!!

 

[brytorlyn]

We live near Toronto and it is a great place for a family vacation.

Of course, the CN tower is a must see. Always exciting with great views. Fabulous glass floor for the brave to walk on.

With young kids I recommend Toronto Island. A short ferry trip takes you to any of the three islands where you can walk for hours between islands. We usual go to Centre Island with the kids because there is an amusement park, petting farm, beach, bike rentals (regular bikes or cool quad bike that can fit five if one child is small).

The Toronto Zoo is huge with so many animals to see, some to ride and also a nice splash zone for the kiddies.

Ontario Place is always fun for the kids too. There are rides,games, Imax films and a waterpark.

A few other interesting places are The Ontario Science Centre and the Royal Ontario Museum. If you like theme parks, Canada's Wonderland is a short drive and offers lots of rides and nice waterpark.

Niagara Falls is short drive away too. About an hour to an hour and a half if traffic cooperates. Lots to see and do there. The falls, midway,wax museums and Marineland should easily fill a day. There are 2 casinos there but not so easy to enjoy with kids.

Toronto is a fun, clean, safe city for families.

 

[lizabu]

I just thought of something else. If you're going to be downtown or if your hotel is downtown park at Nathan Phillips square. Its $14/day and much cheaper than many of the downtown hotel lots. All of downtown is connected by the undergroung PATH so you don't have to walk in the weather if it's bad.

 

[defendthehill]

Thanks for the info. We have done Niagara and loved it. I think Toronto would be a great time.....

Can I do Toronto in three days? Four? What do you guys think would be best?

 

[Redwitch]

Not with small children, but we loved our Toronto vacation. We bought the city pass and did all the options. Mostly we used the public transportation to navigate the city. I think we only drove to the zoo and the amusement park. I think we stayed four nights, can't remember. We drove up and spent some time in Niagara Falls as well.

 

[Twende]

When our children were young we camped in the Niagara Falls area at 4 Mile Creek Campgrounds and took a day trip to the Ontario Science Centre.

It was wonderful and well worth the drive. At the time one of the exhibits was on the circus and I was able to walk on an elevated tightrope. It was one of those things on my Bucket list and a real blast to do!

Our children enjoyed all the hands on aspects of this place and the Cinemax which at the time was a Cirque Du Solei.

 

[gcferg]

We are heading out for Toronto in 3 weeks for 4 days plus 3 in the Niagara Falls area, we have DS10 and DS4. Looking forward trying something new. I will check back in after our trip to update our experience.

 

[defendthehill]

We are heading out for Toronto in 3 weeks for 4 days plus 3 in the Niagara Falls area, we have DS10 and DS4. Looking forward trying something new. I will check back in after our trip to update our experience.

Great gcferg.....I look forward to hearing your "trip report"

 

[Beth D]

Check for theater tickets too if it's your thing! We took DS (6) up there in April to see the Lion King. It was fabulous!

The CN Tower is a must do - especially the glass floors.

If you have a Platinum amusement park pass to a Cedar Fair park like Kings Island or Cedar Point, they are also good at the sister park Canada's Wonderland, and kids 2 and under are free.

We stayed at the Delta Chelsea hotel. It has a water slide INSIDE the hotel, and DS loved it!

Definitely take a day trip to Niagara Falls it is phenomenal. DH didn't expect to find so much to do.

Take LOTS of $$ because the VAT and all the taxes add up!

BUy the passes to the public transportation. The indivdual tokens add up quick!

 

[sbaldasare]

Went a few years back when my boys were younger. We did the Toronto Zoo 1 day and it was awesome. Also, we toured Casa Loma. It was a pretty neat castle with beautiful views.

 

[sk8jdgca]

When are you planning to go?? The CNE at the end of the summer is great fun- there is so much to do for kids that you do not need to buy ride tickets, just general admission and it gets you into Ontario place which has lots to do.

Stuff my kids liked doing
- harbour front always seems to have fun stuff-lots of free stuff. Check their website
-casa Loma-when we went there was a pirate thing going on which was alot of fun
-Chinatown-really neat area to explore
-the zoo is great-it is HUGE!!
-Center Island is relly neat-especially if you have roller blades or a bike
-ride a trolley car to beaches
_Honest Ed's is a cool place to explore- give the kids 10 and see how much they can find
-the world biggest book store is on Yonge St near the Eaton centre
-great plays-amazing theatres

 

[Teresa Pitman]

If your kids like hockey, there is a great Hockey Museum downtown with lots of interactive activities.

I second all the other recommendations for things to do. Toronto is a great place! It's also pretty easy to get around by public transportation.

Teresa

 

[defendthehill]

My wife normally gets her vacation time in June....so that would be are target month. Probably the 2 or 3rd week of June. Reading all the nice reviews has me excited already. Going to see The Lion King would be great. We have talked about taking our children to see it in NYC some time but Toronto would be just as nice.