things to do in Toronto?

[nageov3t]

definitely a report, but the last thread I could find was a year old, so I figured it was worth a new one :thumbsup:

getting ready for a 4 day trip to Toronto next month, and just thought I'd ask the ATOT locals and travelers for attractions and restaurant suggestions. current plan is to leave NYC on a Monday afternoon, drive up to Niagra Falls, spend the night there, and then head into Toronto on Tuesday morning (leaving on Friday late morning, after rush hour)

haven't made up an itenerary or anything yet, but currently on my list is:

(Honest Ed's -- if it's even still open -- only on the list because I'm a huge Scott Pilgrim fan)

I'd like to have at least one fancy dinner, but at the same time, I refuse to bring a suit with me on vacation just for a single meal

 

[Oyeve]

Buy cuban cigars and smoke.

 

[surfsatwerk]

... when you're dead.


It would make a hell of a movie title.

 

[SpunkyJones]

http://www.edgewalkcntower.ca/

 

[KeithTalent]

If you like movies go see something at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. I love that place.

KT

 

[sdifox]

Why would you travel to Tonto? On a weekday at that. Traffic will be impossible. Your hitlist is too long for 4 days.

 

[nageov3t]

Why would you travel to Tonto?

seemed like a decent vacation option? I've been to Montreal enough times that I don't want to go back, and it doesn't seem like there's enough in Quebec alone to justify the drive up there.

On a weekday at that. Traffic will be impossible.

I've done NYC and LA driving, I can't imagine Toronto driving being much worse. my preference was to leave NY on Saturday or Sunday, but that's just how the scheduling fell (not that I'm annoyed that my boyfriend rescheduled his Halloween party to November 2nd because a single person was going to be out of town, and it's not ridiculous at all to have a costume party after Halloween is already over).

I'm figuring we'll get into the city after morning rush hour, park the car in the hotel garage, and rely on mass transit for the duration of our stay. only listing the zoo as a possible detour on our way out of the city.

 

[surfsatwerk]

(not that I'm annoyed that my boyfriend rescheduled his Halloween party to November 2nd because a single person was going to be out of town, and it's not ridiculous at all to have a costume party after Halloween is already over).

:hmm:

 

[KeithTalent]

November 2nd Halloween party; good times!

KT

 

[sdifox]

seemed like a decent vacation option? I've been to Montreal enough times that I don't want to go back, and it doesn't seem like there's enough in Quebec alone to justify the drive up there.



I've done NYC and LA driving, I can't imagine Toronto driving being much worse. my preference was to leave NY on Saturday or Sunday, but that's just how the scheduling fell (not that I'm annoyed that my boyfriend rescheduled his Halloween party to November 2nd because a single person was going to be out of town, and it's not ridiculous at all to have a costume party after Halloween is already over).

I'm figuring we'll get into the city after morning rush hour, park the car in the hotel garage, and rely on mass transit for the duration of our stay. only listing the zoo as a possible detour on our way out of the city.

Tonto driving is pretty close to NYC driving.

Toronto Zoo is big. So you need lots of time if you intend to walk through the whole thing.

There is something called citypass that gets you into 4 attractions with 1 lowered price.

If you plan on going to ROM, Casa Loma, CN Tower and the Zoo, get the pass, it is a hell lot cheaper.


PS the Party is on Nov 2nd because they don't have to buy Halloween candies, they just raid their kids' stashes.


Don't bother with Chinatown.

 

[rommelrommel]

Hockey Hall of Fame if you care about hockey.

 

[mmntech]

There's not a lot going on in November except the Santa Claus Parade, which I believe is on the 17th. Leafs tickets are very expensive but you can go see a Raptors game for pretty cheap.

Toronto traffic is a lot like New York or LA. Long rush hours and busy in town. It's not that bad though if you're used to driving in those conditions. Let me know when you go Loki. I can send you traffic reports, seeing as that's what I do.

 

[Imp]

Honest. Ed's. Dafuq?

It's still open for now, but will be closing within the next few years. Sold off to a condo developer or something.

 

[nageov3t]

Honest. Ed's. Dafuq?

It's still open for now, but will be closing within the next few years. Sold off to a condo developer or something.

it was featured in Scott Pilgrim it wouldn't necessarily be something I'd go out of my way for, but if I was in the area for something else or passing through the neighborhood, it'd be cool to stop and take a picture.

taking a scattershot approach to the map right now. later on, I'll sit down with my BF and we'll prioritize/color code everything (attractions/restaurants we really want to go to, versus restaurants we'd eat at or things we'd go see only if we just happened to be in the area)

 

[Imp]

Just looked at your map again. You are missing:

1. Eaton Centre (big mall, but si big, yo)
2. Art Gallery of Ontario
3. University of Toronto campus (just south of Museum)
4. PATH network all downtown
5. Queen's Park (home of "state" guberment)
6. Toronto Islands (shitty time of year to go)

 

[OlafSicky]

Burger Priest for hamburgers other than that turn around and go back home. Toronto is the crime capital of Canada.

 

[mmntech]

Burger Priest for hamburgers other than that turn around and go back home. Toronto is the crime capital of Canada.

Ha, not even close. :awe:
http://www2.macleans.ca/crime-chart/

 

[KeithTalent]

Ha, not even close. :awe:
http://www2.macleans.ca/crime-chart/

Prince George. What a piece of shit town.

KT

 

[Iron Woode]

I remember when they were almost finished building the Monorail system at the Metro Toronto Zoo.

:hmm:

 

[sdifox]

I remember when they were almost finished building the Monorail system at the Metro Toronto Zoo.

:hmm:

lulz, that was abandoned so long ago. They run a propane bus now.

Maybe Loki is visiting the Giant Pandas at the Toronto Zoo :biggrin:

 

[ZaneNBK]

Casa Loma was pretty awesome, as is the story behind it. Man makes a fortune off of selling power to Toronto (and the province?), he spends tons of money building an extravagant castle-like home, government takes over power generation and he goes broke. Apparently they're talking about privatizing power again now. *shrug*

 

[Red Squirrel]

CN tower, that thing where you can go on the outside of it and hang off a cable. I sooo want to try that next time I go in that area.

 

[ZaneNBK]

CN tower, that thing where you can go on the outside of it and hang off a cable. I sooo want to try that next time I go in that area.

I found the CN tower to be a let down, but I've been up the Sears Tower and the WTC years ago. It would be fine if the lines weren't long but even going with a big group (which has a shorter line) we stood in line for about an hour to go up, then spent maybe 15 minutes up top. There's also another wait to go down, think it was only 20 minutes for us but of course it depends on how many people are waiting. There are only six elevators that take a minute go each way and don't hold that many people. Those are split between the restaurant (and it's service people), people going to the observation deck and people going to hang over the side.

Doing the cable thing outside would be fun and probably has less of a wait though. however, you're basically walking around on a ledge then lean over the edge at an angle dangling from a guide rail tethered to your harness. From the outside and videos it looks like it's more of a rappelling type angle but it's not. Still, that would scare me shitless as I'm afraid of heights.

Go to the indoor market, forget what it's called. It's pretty cool and the food you can get there is good. Ah, it's the St. Lawrence Market: http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/

 

[Red Squirrel]

Oh yeah I forgot about the wait, it's an hour... if you're lucky.

 

[Eug]

http://www.seetorontonow.com/

Don't waste your time with Honest Ed's. Or maybe you can do a drive by or something to see the big sign outside, but honestly it is a dump inside. You can check out Kensington Market and/or Chinatown too which aren't far from there. And if you are going to Chinatown, you may as well check out the Queen Street shopping strip nearby.

Speaking of markets, St. Lawrence Market is also decent.

The aquarium was supposed to be open by now but unfortunately it isn't. Soon though.

http://www.ripleyaquariums.com/canada

Strangely enough, I liked the Bata Shoe Museum.

http://www.batashoemuseum.ca