Is it realistic to plan a day trip from Toronto to Niagra Falls? If so, what are the must see points of interest? We are thinking of staying at the Metropolitan Hotel (Chestnut Street) in downtown Toronto in Mid July. Any feedback on the hotel would be appreciated!
thanks!

Perfectly realistic to go from TO to NF for a day - there are bus trips or drive yourself.

Well, after the Falls, there's the Maid of the Mist, trip behind the falls, pretty gardens....but mainly it's about the Falls.

Sally is right. I quite often take visitors to Niagara FAlls for the day. There are bus trips, but by renting a car, you will probably see more of the area. After seeing the Falls, and going on the Maid of the Mist, you could drive downriver along the Niagara Parkway, to Niagara on the Lake. You could wander around there and have something to eat.

On your way down the Parkway, you could stop at the Butterly Conservatory and also many gardens and parks overlooking the Niagara River.

If you are interested, you could stop in St.Catharines at the Welland Canal Visitor Centre and be lucky enough to see a freighter going through to locks. And you can get a great ice cream there too!

And if you do not want to rent a car (It really is the best way) your hotel is really close to the bus terminal to and from Niagara Falls. And once there, there's tourist shuttles to get you to the various sights.

The hotel has a wonderful Chinese restaurant in it, plus a supposedly wonderful non-Choinese restaurant (I've been disappointed but my companions loved it, several times(

If you see pix of Toronto's City Hall, this is just behind it in most ofthe pictures, on the left side.

Fine hotel, close to mid-priced shipping, close to Art Gallery of Ontario... all in all, good choice.

BAK

Niagara Falls is approx. 2 hour drive from Toronto using QEW. Great day trip! Worth stopping in Niagara on the Lake as well which is approx. 15 minutes from falls.

Enjoy.

Thank you all so much. This information is so helpful. I do have one more question though. Is Niagra Falls "open" from sunrise to sunset? I'm wondering what time should we arrive and how many hours can we expect to stay. There seems to be a lot of things to see and I'd like to spend early morning to sunset there. I'm sure we will rent a car and drive from Toronto.

Absolutely! Even later than sunset! There are lights on the falls at night.
But I'd get there early before it gets too crowded. Even leaving Toronto at 7 or 8 will get you there before the crowds. You'll notice as the day goes on, how much the crowd thickens.
YOu'll have a better shot at parking too.
I'd suggest seeing the Falls, and then walk down and go on the Maid of the MIst before the crowds too.
After that you can do everything in your own time.

If you do decide to go to the Butterfly Conservatory, it gets very busy too.

YOU'll certainly see a lot if you plan to spend the whole day there.
When I take guests, we're usually pooped way before sunset.