going to Toronto

[Kingmoo]

Never been there so any suggestions?

I'm going for training during the week but I'll have the weekend before and after to explore the city with the wife.

I plan to buy a couple cityPasses. Are these a good idea?

Is it a good idea to go to Niagra for one of the weekends or is there plenty to fill our time with in Toronto?

Also, I know nothing about the city. I'll be staying in Mississauga during the week but where should I stay during the weekends? downtown?

[Jyeatbvg69]

Never been there so any suggestions?

I'm going for training during the week but I'll have the weekend before and after to explore the city with the wife.

I plan to buy a couple cityPasses. Are these a good idea?

Is it a good idea to go to Niagra for one of the weekends or is there plenty to fill our time with in Toronto?

Also, I know nothing about the city. I'll be staying in Mississauga during the week but where should I stay during the weekends? downtown?


stay in the outskirts, not downtown, its much cheaper.

go to cn tower, queens street, bay street, skydome, hockey hall of fame, eatons centre, toronto island, beaches by lakeshore/harbourfront, science centre, casa loma, toronto zoo.

the first 7-8 are fairly close together downtown. u wont have a problem finding them if u ask someone on the streets. science centre is on donmills and eglington. casa loma im not too sure where it is, and toronto zoo may be too far away. all of the places i named are places that i think should be interesting and enjoyable for a tourist.

if u only have weekend, dont go to niagra falls. that will take up a full day alrdy. and yes, get city passes, or the ones that let u take the transit systems all day.

edit: i forgot about the ROM (Royal ontario museum). Its a must see!

[Shaner]

Never been there so any suggestions?

I'm going for training during the week but I'll have the weekend before and after to explore the city with the wife.

I plan to buy a couple cityPasses. Are these a good idea?

Is it a good idea to go to Niagra for one of the weekends or is there plenty to fill our time with in Toronto?

Also, I know nothing about the city. I'll be staying in Mississauga during the week but where should I stay during the weekends? downtown?

Use Priceline and get yourself a 4 star hotel downtown. If you're going to visit somewhere, you may as well stay where all the action is.

There's lots to do in Toronto, but there's also a lot to do in Niagara. Visiting both places may not be a bad idea. I guess it just depends on how much fun you're having in Toronto.

[CoffeeAddict]

need a bit more info before we can help i think!

1. Are you foodies? Toronto has awesome food for all prices ranges and all different cultures. Give us an idea of how much you'd like to spend for dinner and what kinds of cuisine you DISLIKE. It's probably easier that way hehe
2. Do you have a car?
3. Are you still into nightlife? If so what kinda nightlife? What kinda music?
4. What kind of cultural things do you want to see if any?
5. Are you into wine? Important for the Niagara part of the trip
6. Are you outdoorsy? Or do you prefer to be comfortable?
7. Are you into shopping? If so what kidna shopping? Urban clothes? Dressier clothes? Cheap clothes? Do you need to pick up trinkets of any kind?

I would say the two free weeklies provide the best torontonian guide to what's happening in the city that's not touristy. Also, Toronto Life is a good reference website for restos etc.

www.torontolife.com
www.eye.net
www.nowtoronto.com

[Kingmoo]

need a bit more info before we can help i think!

1. Are you foodies? Toronto has awesome food for all prices ranges and all different cultures. Give us an idea of how much you'd like to spend for dinner and what kinds of cuisine you DISLIKE. It's probably easier that way hehe
2. Do you have a car?
3. Are you still into nightlife? If so what kinda nightlife? What kinda music?
4. What kind of cultural things do you want to see if any?
5. Are you into wine? Important for the Niagara part of the trip
6. Are you outdoorsy? Or do you prefer to be comfortable?
7. Are you into shopping? If so what kidna shopping? Urban clothes? Dressier clothes? Cheap clothes? Do you need to pick up trinkets of any kind?


1. I live for food. I like all kind of foods, especially Chinese/Indian/Cajun. I'm willing to spend lots on food.
2. I might rent a car with BA miles or via priceline if you all recommend it. Otherwise, I was kind of looking forward to toronto's transit since I don't use Calgary's transit system what-so-ever.
3. We are not so into night-life. We're late 20s but we don't go to bars anymore. Would be interested in low-key out-of-the-norm type nightlife places however.
4. I can't really say what kind of cultural stuff I'd like to see. My wife likes those kinds of things but I really just like monstrous constuctions, war or technology museums, sports.
5. I don't like wine. Just beer. Wife doesn't drink.
6. I'm outdoorsy. Wife's not
7. I hate shopping. Wife loves it. I'm hoping she can do this during the week while I'm in training.

Thanks for all the advice!!

[CoffeeAddict]

1. I live for food. I like all kind of foods, especially Chinese/Indian/Cajun. I'm willing to spend lots on food.

Check the food forum for chinese food recommendations. Richmond Hill/Markham North of the city is where you wanna be going for top notch Chinese food. Indain food is also covered in the food forums but Toronto Life did a story on all the top tier Indian places in the city. A qucik search on the Toronto Life website should unearth that article.

Cajun isn't really all the well done here. Big Daddy's in the entertainment district is just OKAY. It's tasty but overpriced for what you're getting which is essentially New Orleans street food heh.

If you're a serious foodie you MUST make a reservation for Susur since you're also into asian food. It's the best asian fusion resto in the city hands down. Roughly $150 per person after tax and tip for the 7 course tasting menu with no alcohol. Is it the BEST resto in Toronto? It's debateable. Is it the best straightforward asian cuisine resto? Definetely not. Is it the best asian inspired one? Absolutely.

If you want recommendations for other cuisine lemme know.



2. I might rent a car with BA miles or via priceline if you all recommend it. Otherwise, I was kind of looking forward to toronto's transit since I don't use Calgary's transit system what-so-ever.

I would try and get a rental car if you're going to be in 'sauga for the week. 'Sauga is the burb of driving.... not public transit. You don't wanna visit a city and languish in the transit system! Within the downtown core though transit is definetely the way to go. You'll also need a rental car to get to niagara so might as well pay a wee bit more and get a car for the week.



3. We are not so into night-life. We're late 20s but we don't go to bars anymore. Would be interested in low-key out-of-the-norm type nightlife places however.

There's tons and tons of places in the city but you want to avoid the poseur 905 crowd for sure. That's NOT a knock against the 905 district at all. It's a knock against the too-cool-for-school people wearing their discount store purchased Gucci and Prada trying to outdo each other with icy stares and cold shoulders. Go to a bar to have fun goddamit!

For something low-key and out-of-the-norm I'd suggest Lot 16.
http://www.martiniboys.com/Toronto/Lot-16-nightlife.html
It's no nonsense, cheap drinks, friendly people, good DJ kinda place. Good for us late=-20s people :D



4. I can't really say what kind of cultural stuff I'd like to see. My wife likes those kinds of things but I really just like monstrous constuctions, war or technology museums, sports.

I'd say go to the ROM and not the AGO. The ROM has tons of old war gear (like samurai stuff and medieval stuff) and has a variety of things the Mrs might like too. The AGO is so-so unless there's a very special exhibit. The science centre is too far out of the way for it to be worthwhile for you I think.



5. I don't like wine. Just beer. Wife doesn't drink.

The place everyone goes to from out of town is the Bier Market or the Bier Bistro but Smokeless Joe's in the entertainment district is highly recommended by beer snobs :D. They have a photochopied menu of around 250 beers.

Niagara Falls might be a BIT of a waste if you're both not into wine. The Falls are nice and all but I'm sure you have big waterfalls somewhere in Alberta too right? :) Maybe I'm just a bit jaded hehe

Niagara on the Lake may be worth the drive though. It's very cute and very romantic.



6. I'm outdoorsy. Wife's not

I'd say baking in the sun at the Zoo all day is probably not a good idea then. Neither is doing a bike tour along the waterfront.



7. I hate shopping. Wife loves it. I'm hoping she can do this during the week while I'm in training.

Tell her to go down to bloor street during the week. She just needs to hop out at Yonge/Bloor station and walk West. She'll figure the rest out :D

[MoonDoggy]

I think Lee might be a bit nicer on the wallet compare to Susur, plus Susur is really asian fusion. If you're REALLY into food, you might want to check out chowhound message board for recommendations.

If you're staying in Mississauga during the week, definitely rent a car as it would probably take you 1 to 1 1/2 hr to get downtown by transit (depending where you are).

Also, you might want to add on your list:

Lawrence Market
Hockey Museum
Jay's game

toronto.com would also help :cheesygri

[_Jason_]

Jays game.

[telman]

Check out these sites http://www.caribanatoronto.com/ & http://www.livewithculture.ca/content/view/full/57/ fro some cultural goodies. If you think you might not ever get back this way, then do Niagara Falls, and you can lose some money at the casino at the same time since your in Mississauga, go one nite after your course,its like a hour or so away. All the rest mentioned are god things to see, but be prepared to throw some change at the "street people" or develop a thick skin. I get asked once or twice a block in downtown for change and the politicians haven't the guts to deal with the problem, one way or the other. Toronto tends to attract alot of homeless from around the province, and it can seem kinda sad at times.

[Kingmoo]

should I really rent a car? I don't know toronto at all and my uncle says the driving is attrocious. Is is hard to find cheap parking downtown during the weekend or after 6pm during the week?

Also, I heard the transit system was rather quick and easy to use

[CoffeeAddict]

If you're staying downtown then just use transit
It's not that expensive if you get a weekly pass and navigation is pretty straightforward. If you don't think you'll be going anywhere where you'll need a car then don't bother with it. If you need one last minute you can grab one if you want to downtown somewhere. It'll run you about $30-35 a day for a last minute rental per 24 hours at the major rental agencies.

One neighborhood I don't htink was mentioned before was the area between Eglinton and Lawrence subway stations along the Yonge line. It's a very walkable area with good eats.

Also, I see so many goddamn tourists staring into their maps trying to figure out where to go or where they are. Just ASK!!! I think Toronto has a rep very being very snobby but I'm sure if you ask someone where to go or what to do they'd be more than happy to help you out. As you can probably tell from anytime there's a toronto thread I always wanna try and maximize someone's experience of the city. I love living here and I'd like visitors to come away from their vacation feeling like they've had a good time and seen more than just the CN Tower and Rogers Centre.

[canabiz]

Does anyone know how much time we should put aside to visit and enjoy the Hockey Hall of Fame ? By this i mean not reading every single thing from cover to cover but enough time to take pictures and soak it all in.

I am thinking of spending 2-3 hours there tomorrow. I have to pick up a few items at the Galleria Korean grocery market in Thornhill and possibly meet up with a friend to eat lunch before heading back to Ottawa (~ 4 hours of driving) so anything more than 2 hours at the HHOF won't be feasible for me.

Thanks

[ben_liu]

omg. i've never been to the Hockey Hall of Fame.. ! and i used to live 30 minutes subway away!

[WhatADeal!]

Nice avatar. I was so tempted to go kill the bug on my screen.




omg. i've never been to the Hockey Hall of Fame.. ! and i used to live 30 minutes subway away!

[slowpoke]

Does anyone know how much time we should put aside to visit and enjoy the Hockey Hall of Fame ? By this i mean not reading every single thing from cover to cover but enough time to take pictures and soak it all in.

I am thinking of spending 2-3 hours there tomorrow. I have to pick up a few items at the Galleria Korean grocery market in Thornhill and possibly meet up with a friend to eat lunch before heading back to Ottawa (~ 4 hours of driving) so anything more than 2 hours at the HHOF won't be feasible for me.

Thanks

Two hours is a reasonable amount of time to spend at the HHOF.