Need help on what to see/do-stay in Niagara Falls/Toronto/Montreal please?
Apr 11th, 2010, 09:15 AM
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Need help on what to see/do-stay in Niagara Falls/Toronto/Montreal please?
My fiance and I, along with another friend and his wife, are planning a trip to Niagara Falls/Toronto/Montreal sometime towards the end of May/beginning of June. We will be driving to these places from Chicago, with 7-10 days available to us.
We need help figuring out what is/are must sees and where to stay in these cities. We were thinking of staying in either Niagara Falls or Toronto and driving to the other for a day trip (I've read it's only a 1-2hr trip?). The initial plan would be 2-3 nights in Toronto/Niagara Falls and 4-5 nights in Montreal.
Our budget for accommodations would be $150-200/night - obviously the cheaper the better, but don't want to sacrifice cleanliness, safety and overall commodities. We all pretty much like museums (historic buildings, places), scenic drives, walking around, shopping and of course bars/partying/nightlife among many other things. Oh, and we are all between 25-30 years of age - I know I'll be asked.
I hope this is enough info to get me started with some ideas/recommendations from the experts on here. I would really appreciate all the help I can get.
Thanks!!
We need help figuring out what is/are must sees and where to stay in these cities. We were thinking of staying in either Niagara Falls or Toronto and driving to the other for a day trip (I've read it's only a 1-2hr trip?). The initial plan would be 2-3 nights in Toronto/Niagara Falls and 4-5 nights in Montreal.
Our budget for accommodations would be $150-200/night - obviously the cheaper the better, but don't want to sacrifice cleanliness, safety and overall commodities. We all pretty much like museums (historic buildings, places), scenic drives, walking around, shopping and of course bars/partying/nightlife among many other things. Oh, and we are all between 25-30 years of age - I know I'll be asked.
I hope this is enough info to get me started with some ideas/recommendations from the experts on here. I would really appreciate all the help I can get.
Thanks!!
Apr 11th, 2010, 02:59 PM
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If you like museums you can't go wrong with the ROM ( Royal Ontario Museum) in Toronto. Niagara Falls is very touristy but fun. After your view of the falls them self a walk down the main drag is always a fun adventure, but some of the museums can be all flash and little content. There is always the casino too if that's your thing. Sometimes some good shows there but usually catering to an older crowd in my opinion.
Sorry can't help any with the Montreal part.
Sorry can't help any with the Montreal part.
Apr 11th, 2010, 03:34 PM
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I would start in Niagara Falls for two nights, making sure to do Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Goat Island, and Whirlpool Jetboats... also include Niagara on the Lake, visit some wineries and dine at the wineries... then drive up to Toronto for a two night stay... tons to do there...
then up to Montreal for two nights and finish up with a visit to Quebec City... you could then drive down through Albany and back across the NY Thruway toward home... stop for a night anywhere along the way... have fun!
then up to Montreal for two nights and finish up with a visit to Quebec City... you could then drive down through Albany and back across the NY Thruway toward home... stop for a night anywhere along the way... have fun!
Apr 12th, 2010, 12:42 AM
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We visited Ontario and Quebec in 2008 and would advise the following: In Toronto we stayed in the Strathcona hotel.Very well situated.We took the Hop on hop off tour with the Grayline(www.grayline.ca).You get a general view from a double decker bus.The next day you can explore the things you want to visit in depth.Go up the CN tower.Take the ferry to the islands.great panoramic view of the skyline.Price for two seniors was CAD 64 for the Grayline tour.Do visit the Royal Ontario museum.(CAD 38 for two).Price hotel for two nights ;CAD 328.
For Montreal we had a great hotel Le Dauphin.Great rooms ,computer in the room breakfast included; nights CAD 346.
We followed the map and explanations of a good town guide to see the major sights.
If any way possible I would try to include visiting Quebec. Since you come from a big modern city(Chicago) I think Quebec <would give you a real European feel of the old town.We stayed at the Manoir de l'esplanade just inside the old town walls.2nights CAD 231.
Niagara falls.The Canadian side is the best to visit.We stayed at the Comfort inn Fallsview a short walk from the falls.2 nights CAD194.You should take a general ticket including all the sights.A bus follows and stops at all the sights so you wont need your car.For two persons;CAD 85.
All the prices given are from 2008.For more details of the hotels and excursions it's easy to Google the name of the hotel.As you'll be travelling from Chicago the first part of your trip will be Niagara falls I suppose. On your way to Toronto dont forget to stop and have a quick visit of the lovely town Niagara on the lake.Hope this helps you plan your trip.Paul
For Montreal we had a great hotel Le Dauphin.Great rooms ,computer in the room breakfast included; nights CAD 346.
We followed the map and explanations of a good town guide to see the major sights.
If any way possible I would try to include visiting Quebec. Since you come from a big modern city(Chicago) I think Quebec <would give you a real European feel of the old town.We stayed at the Manoir de l'esplanade just inside the old town walls.2nights CAD 231.
Niagara falls.The Canadian side is the best to visit.We stayed at the Comfort inn Fallsview a short walk from the falls.2 nights CAD194.You should take a general ticket including all the sights.A bus follows and stops at all the sights so you wont need your car.For two persons;CAD 85.
All the prices given are from 2008.For more details of the hotels and excursions it's easy to Google the name of the hotel.As you'll be travelling from Chicago the first part of your trip will be Niagara falls I suppose. On your way to Toronto dont forget to stop and have a quick visit of the lovely town Niagara on the lake.Hope this helps you plan your trip.Paul
Apr 12th, 2010, 06:48 AM
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Here are some Montreal tips:
-Try and get a copy of the free Montreal guidebook from the bonjour Quebec website. This book is worth it's weight in gold.
- From your description, it sounds like staying in the plateau area would be best - lots of cafes, byob restaurants, shops and nightlife.
- Montreal is not really a 'museum' city, although the Museum of fine Arts is very nice, and the Redpath is fun.
- Do rent bicyles and explore the city via it's wonderful bike trails. This may be one of the highlights of your trip.
- Quebec City is truly beautiful and unique, but 1-2 nights there would be plenty. You could easily spend 4 nights in Montreal however.
-Try and get a copy of the free Montreal guidebook from the bonjour Quebec website. This book is worth it's weight in gold.
- From your description, it sounds like staying in the plateau area would be best - lots of cafes, byob restaurants, shops and nightlife.
- Montreal is not really a 'museum' city, although the Museum of fine Arts is very nice, and the Redpath is fun.
- Do rent bicyles and explore the city via it's wonderful bike trails. This may be one of the highlights of your trip.
- Quebec City is truly beautiful and unique, but 1-2 nights there would be plenty. You could easily spend 4 nights in Montreal however.
Apr 13th, 2010, 12:15 AM
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I second the Le Dauphin (the one on rue de Bluery) in Montreal. I stayed there 2 years ago and it was very reasonable and only a short walk to the Metro or train station. 2 years ago, I paid about $120 CAD a night? We took the ViaRail to Quebec City for a day. It's doable, but I would have loved to have spent 1 night there.
I recently did some research on hotels in Toronto for my upcoming trip in July and here is what I came up with that were around your budget. Also, check the reviews on tripadvisor:
Cambridge Suites: www.cambridgesuitestoronto.com
They have excellent reviews on tripadvisor. If you go directly to their website and plug in dates right now, there is a sale taking place and your length of stay may affect the daily rate. Not sure if the sale will still be there by the time you read this, but it would be worth checking out.
Hotel Victoria: http://www.hotelvictoria-toronto.com/
Looks like it has decent reviews and it was 3rd on my list.
Novotel in City Centre: http://www.novotel.com/gb/home/index.shtml
Only a few minute walk to Union Station and very close to St Lawrence Market.
I also looked into the Holiday Inn on Bloor, Gladstone Hotel, and Drake Hotel. The Gladstone and Drake are hip, trendy, boutique hotels that may be worth looking into.
http://www.thedrakehotel.ca/info/about
http://www.gladstonehotel.com/
Or you can also look into hotwire.com if you want to take the chance at paying a low price for a high rated hotel.
I recently did some research on hotels in Toronto for my upcoming trip in July and here is what I came up with that were around your budget. Also, check the reviews on tripadvisor:
Cambridge Suites: www.cambridgesuitestoronto.com
They have excellent reviews on tripadvisor. If you go directly to their website and plug in dates right now, there is a sale taking place and your length of stay may affect the daily rate. Not sure if the sale will still be there by the time you read this, but it would be worth checking out.
Hotel Victoria: http://www.hotelvictoria-toronto.com/
Looks like it has decent reviews and it was 3rd on my list.
Novotel in City Centre: http://www.novotel.com/gb/home/index.shtml
Only a few minute walk to Union Station and very close to St Lawrence Market.
I also looked into the Holiday Inn on Bloor, Gladstone Hotel, and Drake Hotel. The Gladstone and Drake are hip, trendy, boutique hotels that may be worth looking into.
http://www.thedrakehotel.ca/info/about
http://www.gladstonehotel.com/
Or you can also look into hotwire.com if you want to take the chance at paying a low price for a high rated hotel.
Apr 13th, 2010, 10:51 AM
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Lots of good info so far.
More thoughts.
Think about a circle.
Chicago to Detroit to Windsor to Niagara Falls or Niagara on the Lake.
Niagara to Toronto.
Toronto to Montreal via a combination of Highway 401 (like and intrstate) and highway 2, along the shoreline of Lake Ontario.
Visit Kingston on the way; consider Prince Edward County, which is an island near Belleville, in Lake Ontario. (not the privce of Prince Edward Island, 100 miles away) before you get to Kingston.
Montreal is good for a couple of days.
From MOntreal, head west again, this time to Ottawa, Canada's capital. Lots of intresting thngs for adults.
From there, west to Algonquin Park, and on to HUntsville and other towns in Ontario's cottage country. Keep going west to Sarnia, Ontario / Port Huron Michigan, and home to Chicago.
This will get you big cities, small towns, vacation paradises, great restaurants, history, etc.
BAK
More thoughts.
Think about a circle.
Chicago to Detroit to Windsor to Niagara Falls or Niagara on the Lake.
Niagara to Toronto.
Toronto to Montreal via a combination of Highway 401 (like and intrstate) and highway 2, along the shoreline of Lake Ontario.
Visit Kingston on the way; consider Prince Edward County, which is an island near Belleville, in Lake Ontario. (not the privce of Prince Edward Island, 100 miles away) before you get to Kingston.
Montreal is good for a couple of days.
From MOntreal, head west again, this time to Ottawa, Canada's capital. Lots of intresting thngs for adults.
From there, west to Algonquin Park, and on to HUntsville and other towns in Ontario's cottage country. Keep going west to Sarnia, Ontario / Port Huron Michigan, and home to Chicago.
This will get you big cities, small towns, vacation paradises, great restaurants, history, etc.
BAK
Apr 13th, 2010, 12:18 PM
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Wow!! Great info and great advice. Now I have to start looking into your suggestions and make some decisions. If anyone remembers anything else - hotels, places to see/do, please keep them coming.
BAK - I never thought of that, I was thinking of going up through Niagara Falls, through Toronto and up to Montreal and then returning through the New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, etc. I'll have to look into that also. Thanks again.
BAK - I never thought of that, I was thinking of going up through Niagara Falls, through Toronto and up to Montreal and then returning through the New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, etc. I'll have to look into that also. Thanks again.
Apr 13th, 2010, 01:00 PM
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Northern New York state is either charming or the dullest place on earth. My belief is the second.
I've been from Toronto to Cincinnati, Toronto to Columbus, Toronto to Erie and then south, and not is any rush to return. (south of there, in Kentucky, Tennessee, southern Ohio, does have some appeal.
The NY Thruway from Syracuse to Rochester and on to Bufalo is pretty dull, too. I've never gone north from here along the south shore of Lake Ontario, and it may be intereting.
The smaller highways along the Erie Canal take you through some intersting towns, and nice scenery, too.
But people travel from all over the world to visit the Huntsville / Muskoka area.
BAK
I've been from Toronto to Cincinnati, Toronto to Columbus, Toronto to Erie and then south, and not is any rush to return. (south of there, in Kentucky, Tennessee, southern Ohio, does have some appeal.
The NY Thruway from Syracuse to Rochester and on to Bufalo is pretty dull, too. I've never gone north from here along the south shore of Lake Ontario, and it may be intereting.
The smaller highways along the Erie Canal take you through some intersting towns, and nice scenery, too.
But people travel from all over the world to visit the Huntsville / Muskoka area.
BAK
Apr 13th, 2010, 03:54 PM
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If you like pretty and interesting drives:
when you leave Niagara Falls to head for Toronto instead of immediately connecting to the highway, drive along the Niagara parkway towards Niagara-on-the-Lake
There are lots of nice places to stop for photos and views of the river.
If you haven't done it already, stop at the Butterfly Conservatory
Stop at Queenston Heights - great views and history
As you approach Niagara-on-the-Lake, stop at Fort George - history.
Stop in NOTL and walk about the town - attractive in a charming touristy way.
Then connect up to the highway (Queensway) to head for Toronto
On the way to Toronto, if you have the time, I recommend leaving the Queensway at Oakville and driving towards the downtown and lake. Then take the Lakeshore road to Toronto. Takes longer but its much more scenic. You go through many pleasant towns and pass lakeside parks.
when you leave Niagara Falls to head for Toronto instead of immediately connecting to the highway, drive along the Niagara parkway towards Niagara-on-the-Lake
There are lots of nice places to stop for photos and views of the river.
If you haven't done it already, stop at the Butterfly Conservatory
Stop at Queenston Heights - great views and history
As you approach Niagara-on-the-Lake, stop at Fort George - history.
Stop in NOTL and walk about the town - attractive in a charming touristy way.
Then connect up to the highway (Queensway) to head for Toronto
On the way to Toronto, if you have the time, I recommend leaving the Queensway at Oakville and driving towards the downtown and lake. Then take the Lakeshore road to Toronto. Takes longer but its much more scenic. You go through many pleasant towns and pass lakeside parks.
Apr 13th, 2010, 07:11 PM
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As an alternative to the above from Niagara on the Lake, you might consider this routing along the Niagara Escarpment.
http://tinyurl.com/y37p6w5
It's slower but definitely much more scenic (especially in Fall). I wouldn't recommend Lakeshore much further east than Winston Churchill Drive (east end of Oakville) as it starts to get built up from there most of the way into Toronto (not to mention there's a pretty regular radar trap set up as you approach Port Credit).
HTH
K
http://tinyurl.com/y37p6w5
It's slower but definitely much more scenic (especially in Fall). I wouldn't recommend Lakeshore much further east than Winston Churchill Drive (east end of Oakville) as it starts to get built up from there most of the way into Toronto (not to mention there's a pretty regular radar trap set up as you approach Port Credit).
HTH
K
Apr 14th, 2010, 10:05 AM
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Hi Travelisgood,
you could always have a flick through trip reports... including mine! I travelled from Montreal - Ottawa - Toronto - Niagara Falls a couple of years ago.
http://www.fodors.com/community/cana...toronto-nf.cfm
Enjoy your trip!
you could always have a flick through trip reports... including mine! I travelled from Montreal - Ottawa - Toronto - Niagara Falls a couple of years ago.
http://www.fodors.com/community/cana...toronto-nf.cfm
Enjoy your trip!
Apr 17th, 2010, 03:55 PM
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The highway from Niagara to Toronto is the Queen Elizabeth Way, just FYI, not the Queensway (although we do shorten it it at times.)
Niagara Falls is pretty touristy, I wouldn't stay there. Do the falls, the attractions you like, but then stay in Niagara on the Lake or somewhere nearby. It is quite charming.
Then on to Toronto. Lots of stuff to do here. May 24th is a holiday, Victoria Day, so that long weekend will be crowded if that's when you're here--try not to be on the highway getting in or out of Toronto on that day, or on the Friday/Saturday before.
The drive to Montreal is a long one on the 401--breaking it at Prince Edward County (http://www.pec.on.ca/) would make a nice change from city sights. You could spend the night there, or go right onto Montreal or Kingston. If Kingston, then the Thousand Islands boat trips are a highlight.
Niagara Falls is pretty touristy, I wouldn't stay there. Do the falls, the attractions you like, but then stay in Niagara on the Lake or somewhere nearby. It is quite charming.
Then on to Toronto. Lots of stuff to do here. May 24th is a holiday, Victoria Day, so that long weekend will be crowded if that's when you're here--try not to be on the highway getting in or out of Toronto on that day, or on the Friday/Saturday before.
The drive to Montreal is a long one on the 401--breaking it at Prince Edward County (http://www.pec.on.ca/) would make a nice change from city sights. You could spend the night there, or go right onto Montreal or Kingston. If Kingston, then the Thousand Islands boat trips are a highlight.
Apr 18th, 2010, 05:50 AM
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I would go with your original plan for destinations and save Quebec City for another trip. I agree with the last post that Kingston would be a nice place to stop between Toronto and Montreal.
The Plateau area in Montreal is very lively and a good place to stay. We have stayed at the Auberge de la Fontaine, but there are many other B & B's in the area.
The tourism web site has a Sweet Deals promotion with good rates for two night stays through May 31 and three night stays in the summer season
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org
The same web site has a good events calendar and a description of different Montreal neighborhoods under the "Discover" option.
Our kids would laugh at zootsi's comment that Montreal is not really a museum city. They complain that we have dragged them to countless museums over the years--usually only one per trip. My husband and I were both history majors and Montreal has some interesting historical sites. I would especially recommend the Pointe-à-Callière archeology museum and the Château Ramezay in Old Montreal. Sunday May 30th is Museum Day with free admission to most of the major museums
http://www.museesmontreal.org/en/Montreal_Museums_Day
There are tam tam (drum) concerts in Mt Royal park on Sunday afternoons.
The food markets in montreal are wonderful. Check out either Jean Talon in the Little Italy neighborhood or Atwater
The Plateau area in Montreal is very lively and a good place to stay. We have stayed at the Auberge de la Fontaine, but there are many other B & B's in the area.
The tourism web site has a Sweet Deals promotion with good rates for two night stays through May 31 and three night stays in the summer season
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org
The same web site has a good events calendar and a description of different Montreal neighborhoods under the "Discover" option.
Our kids would laugh at zootsi's comment that Montreal is not really a museum city. They complain that we have dragged them to countless museums over the years--usually only one per trip. My husband and I were both history majors and Montreal has some interesting historical sites. I would especially recommend the Pointe-à-Callière archeology museum and the Château Ramezay in Old Montreal. Sunday May 30th is Museum Day with free admission to most of the major museums
http://www.museesmontreal.org/en/Montreal_Museums_Day
There are tam tam (drum) concerts in Mt Royal park on Sunday afternoons.
The food markets in montreal are wonderful. Check out either Jean Talon in the Little Italy neighborhood or Atwater
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