Esperanza77

Hello all,
We are planning a trip to Toronto with our two children (7 and 5) in late March. We live in warm climate year round so we could definitely need tips re cloths. We are staying either in Cambridge suites or Marriott residence inn. Any advice re child-friendly restaurants in the area, food specialities, things to bring home (food or otherwise), must-see and do for children. I would also like to do a few cultural activities like theatre or museums (preferably things closer to where we are staying).

thanks

Esperanza77

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sludick

There is a whole world underground in Toronto. Nothing like that here in Florida, so I was just fascinated that I could drop down from my hotel or most major department stores and find another world. I spent an entire weekend walking around, occasionally popping up like a prairie dog in some other block, completely NOT where I thought I was!

It's called PATH, I believe, and is supposedly the largest underground shopping complex in the world. Here is a link:

http://www.toronto.com/article/375565

Another link that might help:

http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/to...89RCRD#sitemap

BAK

I spent about 20 years living and working within about four blocks of the Marriott Residence in on Wellington West.

There are several Residence Inns in Toronto; be clear which you pick.

ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTER; quite a way from downtown, but has lots of things for little kids, indoors and warm.

ST LAWRENCE MARKET; lots of food for kids to look at and there's stuff to buy and take back to the hotel. Takeout food already prepared. Back bacon sandwiches. Closed sunday and Monday. I've taken a National Geographic photogapher to the market foer breakfast, and even he was impressed.

Train the kids to look for sculptures. Cows at Toronto Dominion Center, Elephants and funny men at CIBC Buildings, both at King St. West and Bay. Whale on King St west of Bay.

Weird semi-dogs at north-east corner of Wellington and John.

Giant building built into the air, on sticks; Ontario College of Art and Design on McCaul Street. There's a playground on the ground near the south-west corner of the big box.

Funny faces all over the outside of Rogers Center ball park.

Subway ride; kids should be in the very front car to look out the front window.

Kids department at Chapters Book Store, John and Richmond (near Residence Inn)

FEEDING KIDS: lots of food courts as part of thePATH network, most closed on weekends.

Sunset Grill for breakfast and lunch, corner of Richmond and Yonge. Shopsy's Deli in the Sheraton Centre Hotel.

Any Swiss Chalet rotisserie chicken restaurant. Most downtown Swiss Chalets are now parts of food courtsa, but there's a freestanding location on Yonge Street, north of Dundas (about a block north of the giant Eaton Center shopping mall).

When my kids were little we ate hotdogs and fries from the trucks in front of Toronto City Hall, and from Mr. Horvath'struck usually in front of the Toronto Convention Centre (a block from the Marriott)

BAK

Esperanza77

Thanks a lot sludick and Buk for the info and links. I will check them out. The marriott is on Wellington Street West.
Any advice re clothing pls?

thnx

sludick

I would have to defer to BAK or another local, but for me - coming from Florida - I would prepare for pretty chilly weather. That would also be a transitional season, I expect, so you might get wide fluctuations.

By cold, I am thinking highs in the 30's-40's fahrenheit, and lows around zero. But I am just guessing.

Esperanza77

Thanks again

KarentheGPSmom

@ Esperanzaa77 I have kids the same age. You are going to have a great time! If you are planning to hit all of the major attractions in T.O. might I suggest that you get yourself a TORONTO CITY PASS.

You can end up saving quite a bit on admission fees to the CN Tower, Casa Loma, Zoo etc., I got one for a trip to Chicago last summer and was a great value.

Enjoy your trip!
http://gpsmom.com/features-images/di...es-in-toronto/