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fusion2, thank you for all the suggestions, and for taking the time to write them! Will come back with a report of what we will have managed to visit...
No problem Bruegel. Honestly there are really countless things to do and see in the city. I'm just listing off stuff that I would imagine someone would like to see with limited time. By all means though report back. It is nice to hear from people what how their trip went after actually seeing the city.
Yeah definitely check out Distillery, Kensington, Chinatown, Cabbage Town (awesome Bay and Gable architecture), the Danforth and the Annex (Very close to the ROM and Annex is a style of architecture). I also suggest going to St Lawrence Market and walking in and around there. Actually that area and the Annex are my favourite in Toronto for Pre WW2 architecture. When at St Lawrence you have to get the Peameal Bacon Sandwich at Carousel Bakery- its T.O's official/unnofficial sandwich.
You left out Danforth Street for Greek food. And Jane-Finch for Somali influence.
You left out Danforth Street for Greek food. And Jane-Finch for Somali influence.
I said the Danforth - I didn't say Greek food mind you but I did mention it as a hood he should visit. Jane/finch is a bit out of the ways and for a shortish trip - not really gonna recommend it Somali influence aside
I will say it again. Toronto, like New York, has so many things to see that it is impossible to see everything in one trip. Then as the years go by and times change, so do museums, landmarks, and neighborhoods. You can only manage so much with the knowing that you'll be back again another day.
Returned! The promised report (an adult + two older teenagers):
Statistics:
Day 1: arrival at 5pm, settling in the hotel
Day 2: CN tower, Ripley’s aquarium, Younge street, Dundas square, first streetcar ride
Day 3: Royal Ontario Museum, the “recommendation” streetcar, train to Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls promenade in the evening, Indian food.
Day 4: train to Toronto, Casa Loma, St. Lawrence Market, the famous sandwich, buying Ukrainian food
Day 5: Ontario Science Center, a piece of Danforth street, ferry to one of the beaches (Ward Island), leisure time
Day 6: departure at 10 am
Details:
Being there Mon-Fri, managed to see the workweek city pulse (summer-corrected). The Bay Street types, the beat of the city a bit farther (probably still “downtown”). Overall, it’s a beautiful, busy, dense city.
Shoes! The Chaco sandals turned into torture machines the very first day. The very first day, ended up at Winners at Dundas square and got Crocs and Saucony’s. If planning to walk a lot, take you most broken-in and favourite runners preferably one size bigger because feet get wider from heat and walking (get flip-flops for hotels and beaches, too).
The weather was tourist-y beautiful all week: sunny, 28-30 degrees, but not humid.
The Front Street became very familiar since we walked it between the hotel, the CN Tower, the Union station, and the harbour front.
CN tower was done fast: the 10:30am reservation (online through the CityPass), were out by 11:30 (?). Nice views of the city, took lots of pictures.
Ripley’s aquarium was too crowded; the din was too much. Got the best souvenirs though (for us): t-shirts with axolotl.
On the way to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) got a glimpse of a part of Cabbagetown from the streetcar. Did ROM in 2 hours 10am-12pm, probably the most informative museum. Life of people on different continents, ancient Egypt, Romanian times, Indian carvings, middle-eastern pottery, rooms with period furniture.
From ROM took a short metro ride to the Broadview Station, took the “recommendation” streetcar but got off at Chinatown, since someone wanted Chick-fil-A.
Went to the Union station after and took the GO train to Niagara Falls. Will write about the tariffs (Presto cards) separately, since it was bewildering.
Took GO train at around 3pm, arrived at around 6pm. Went to see the Niagara Falls at 7pm. Two hours was enough to see the falls, the boats, to marvel at the electricity in the air (people’s head hair were standing up), to breathe in the perfume of the promenade flowers, and to walk back along the river to the Rainbow bridge. Was surprised by the over-the-top shiny-pulsating Bender street off the Rainbow bridge, a Vegas-style entertainment strip.
Our hotel there was sketchy but clean. Unexpectedly, it also offered the best paneer paratha and samosas.
In the morning took the GO bus/train, arrived to Toronto at 12pm. Went straight to Casa Loma. I didn’t know what to expect and vaguely suspected some imitation of something? - But it is a real “house” built as a castle of Edwardian era, in 1911-1914 (the Titanic era, the opulence in the eponymous movie reflects the same). Were tired though + no a/c + crowds + backpacks = I personally would love to visit this later. There were preparations for a wedding in the beautiful gardens (the castle is hire-able).
After, went to the St. Lawrence Market, tasted the famous "Toronto spirit" peameal sandwiches from the Carousel Bakery.
On our last full day went to the Ontario Science Center, by TTC (streetcar+bus). The aquarium and the science center were probably the last time for us, we clearly felt we are past that (unless it would be in some quaint city where you could marvel at fish and jellyfish and different walruses in peace).
I hadn’t planned for Danforth, but an express bus from the Science center took us there so we ended up in the Greek area. Continued on to the harbour front and took one of the Toronto Islands ferries. They operate by the city of Toronto so the fare is pretty mild: $8 for adults and $5 for youths round-trip. Nice Toronto skyline view off the water. The beaches are free. The water was turquoise with fine sand. We relaxed there for quite a bit on our last afternoon. Torontonians are lucky to have parks with beaches just a short ferry ride away.
Never encountered any festivals! Maybe they happen on weekends? The Dundas square performing stage was empty. On Friday evening, saw a band performing on a stage of a restaurant by the Union station.
Also didn’t walk neighbourhoods for the sake of their architecture. The legs were buzzing at nights from walking our pre-planned attractions.
The transport coverage, frequency, and accuracy is impressive.
A Presto card is a pre-paid plastic card, mostly aimed at Torontonians, since the fare becomes progressively cheaper the more trips you take, becoming $0 and after the 40th trip. If as a tourist you make 10-15 trips, you pay full fare anyways, plus the $6 for the plastic card itself. We bought Presto cards because it would give us a significant discount on trip to Niagara Falls, even factoring in the extra $18 I paid for 3 cards.
You can buy the card in person at Shoppers Drug Mart, or at Presto stands (green machines/kiosks standing at metro stations and in other places). We needed 2 youth cards with age proofs, so we bought the cards in person.
Buses and streetcars have green spots by the doors where you can “tap” (swipe) the card and the appropriate fare will be taken off the card. The subway is the same.
At the Union Station, the electronic displays will show no train with the “Niagara Falls” destination. Look for the Lakewood West train.
This Lakewood West train will have no “Niagara Falls” stop listed. Look for “Burlington”.
At Burlington, get off and catch the 12 or 12B (express, better) two-storey bus to Niagara Falls. Both the train and the bus are green with the GO theme.
You have to swipe your Presto card boarding on a train and getting off the train, and boarding on a bus and getting off the bus (this is how the system calculates the fare for the segment, - but it is less than a full ticket).
The most confusing thing is that the GO trains don’t have green spots to swipe the Presto card. It has to be done in station buildings at slim stands the height of a fire hydrant that is easy to overlook unless you know what they are for. Swipe, the first $3.70 will be taken off, go up to the platform, board the GO train, get off, go into the building, swipe the card at their slim stand to let the system know where you got off, get on the bus, swipe on the green spot inside the bus, swipe while getting off the bus. Phew.
The GO bus terminal in Niagara Falls is in some wasteland. Most likely you will need to get off before that, keep checking Google maps for your hotel.
The return trip is the same backwards. Get to the GO bus terminal in the wasteland, board the GO bus to reach Burlington, and so on. The wasteland has a tiny train station with a green Presto kiosk outside where you can add funds to your Presto card if needed.
The direct train Toronto - Niagara Falls does exist, but it seems to be for commuters, as it leaves at 5am-ish and 5pm-ish.
Register your Presto card(s) online to keep track of your trips and balance. The other, the Presto app, I don't recommend since it seems to be still a pilot, telling you that your added funds will show up in 4 to 6 hours, and up to 24 hours. Too long for a tourist. Better, add funds at physical kiosks.
If you have balances left on Presto cards after leaving Toronto, their website explains the refund procedure. Have to try to do it now XD
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