Autumn Foliage in Toronto
 

Tentatively have a home exchange in Toronto for Autumn 2011. Planning on 4 weeks. What would be the best time to visit and see some Autumn foliage? Currently, we're talking mid Sept to mid Oct. Does that sound reasonable? Thanks very much.

That does sound reasonable. I lived in Toronto for most of my life (moved across the country to Victoria 5 years ago) and your dates sound exactly right. Do try to get to Algonquin Park, northwest of Toronto, for the absolutely best foliage, ideally just before Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. But the city has lots of trees; even the Don Valley Parkway (north-south city bypass route) is gorgeous in the fall.

Hello Meesthare. I remember you from my Victoria thread! Thanks very much for the quick answer. Okay, we'll continue to plan on mid Sept to mid Oct. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and it won't be too cold.

Hi, Annetti! I think the dates for your Toronto stay are ideal. Spring and fall are the nicest times to be in that part of the world. Summers can be brutally hot, and winters horribly cold, so you've made a great choice. We always go back for visits around Thanksgiving, which in Canada is in early October.

Thanks, Meesthare. Looking forward to seeing more of Canada. We'll try to keep those dates.

Well, we're almost mid-September now, and I don't see the leaves anywhere near changing. Our garden still looks great. Maybe it'll change a lot in the next 4 weeks, but I think that you might be a little early for Toronto.

I would suggest you do the last week of Sept and then four weeks from there. I live in a nearby area and we usually have the best foliage the third week of October.

What's the likelihood of getting good foliage and pleasant weather? Would love to be above 60 degrees F. My husband is saying, he'd prefer it to be in the 70 range, but I'm more realistic.

Thank you Susan and amelie for your remarks.

What area is the house you've booked? If we have a Toronto GTG next year (and why wouldn't we), you'll be able to attend.

It's true that colour change might happen a little later in Toronto than mid-September, but if you go north and west of the city, it's a different story. That's why I suggested Algonquin Park. We were there in mid-Sept. a few years ago and it was stunning. You don't even have to go that far, really. Anywhere in Muskoka would be about the same. I think there are even websites that will give you that information.

hi morningglory47: Our exchangers told us their neighborhood, but I can't recall it. I can tell you the postal code, if it will not divulge their home. Someone on this thread once said that Canadian postal codes can almost pinpoint the house. I don't want to do that. Anyway, it would be fun to attend a Fodor's GTG; I've never done it. When our dates are finalized, I'll post or sign up for the 2011 GTG.

We just got back yesterday from Ontario and there wasn't much leaf change at all. It was in the 60s. I always find September to be so nice, and October is a hit or miss month for this climate.

I think we'll go with Meesthare's recommendation for mid Sept to mid Oct, that is, if our home exchangers agree.

Amelie, I am concerned about bad weather. I grew up on the US East Coast and Sept is usually pretty nice. As I write, I am thinking maybe even three weeks in Sept and one in Oct. We'll see what our home exchangers think.

Thanks, everyone for your thoughts.