Hi all,

Just moved to Toronto, and looking for ideas for quick day trips around the area to get an idea of our new neighbourhood. We're from out West, and not much time spent here besides Niagara area. Any ideas?

Thanks!
Daryn

You could "Party" with the Mayor!

Hello, Daryn:

Welcome to Toronto!

In which neighborhood do you live?

There really is no such thing as a "quick" day trip around Torono.(unless you consider going to The Islands a day trip...more a Summer/early Fall/late Sring thing to do. Not Winter). Keep in mind that it can take an hour just to get out of Toronto depending on where you live and the time of day you travel from/to Toronto.

I think of Niagara Falls/ Niagara on the Lake as a "day trip" from Toronot but you have already seen that.

You could head North to Algonquin Park but that is not "quick" and more than a day trip for most people. Ditto for the Muskoka area in general.

The Stratford area is interesting. So you cld head out that way one. Maybe see an afternoon play. Have a nice lunch.

OB1

We spent some time in Cobourg and Port Hope this summer and liked both towns though Cobourg seemed livelier. They're only about an hour to an hour and a half drive from Toronto.

Hi Daryn, welcome to the area. There are many things you can do as a day trip from Toronto.

You could go north of Guelph to Fergus and the Elora ? The Elora Gorge is beautiful.

You could go,the the website for The Bruce Trail, and hike any of the areas.
North of Milton is beautiful.

The Halton Region Conservation areas are all beautiful .

In Burlington there is The Royal Botanical Gardens. There are all different gardens to visit.

The town of Dundas and the Dundas conservation area are good for a day visit.

Taking walks in the Humber Valley and also Serena Grundy park at Leslie and Eglinton are wonderful any time of the year. The park at Serena Gundy lead to other parks , north and south . Great for bike riding .

I hope you enjoy your new home .

thanks for the advice all! Decided to head out to St Jacobs area then through Cambridge and down to Port Dover - course we chose a Sunday which isn't the best for St Jacobs...
Stratford is on the list around Christmas - heard there's some festive fun to be had.
Thanks lodi for all the suggestions - coming from BC, I love my hiking and wasn't sure how it would be out here, but the Bruce Trail looks great.

I'll ask another question then - best weekend trips? Thinking Muskoka or Algonquin - I'm sure it's not hard to rent a cottage (was about to say cabin, but that's just the west coast side of me!) and also thought a drive out to 1000 islands would be interesting - any other suggestions? or if you know of a good cottage to rent?

Thanks!

oh - and OceanBreeze - live right downtown beside the Skydome

There are so many wonderful resorts where you could go for a weekend. Check out www.resortsofontario.com .
The 1,000 islands is a good place for a weekend away.
Do you ski? Go up to Blue Mountain . Granted, it isn't the Rockies... LOL .

Muskoka and Algonquin are great choices.

Ottawa would be great if you haven't been. Also Montreal . Go to Ottawa next May when all the tulips are blooming .

Be sure to go to Bon Echo provincial park next summer. You will love the area.

I've mentioned Halton Region Conservation ... Hilton Falls has some good hikes... Actually, the Bruce Trail goes through this area.
Rattlesnake Conservation , Mount Nemo, also good hiking .

Have a good time exploring Ontario .

Lake Crawford Conservation Area - a beautiful spot, not too far out, lake takes about an hour to walk around. Reconstructed Iriquois Village is also interesting. There are other walks around there I believe.

Burlington is worth spending a day or two exploring. When you went to Niagara Falls did you have a look around Niagara-on-the-Lake?

Hi....Daryn
Welcome to this fabulous city..
You can a have trip to Niagara Falls, one of the gorgeous wonders of nature. On the way to Niagara Falls you can stop in Hamilton, which provides eye-catching streams and waterfalls. You should not miss Algonquin park, one of the marvelous parks in Toronto. Even thought it is not a day trip, I hope you will find time to visit there. You too can have a wonderful stay in http://www.killarneylodge.com/algonq...rk-activities/ Algonquin park resort.

Didn't realize that Hamilton was known for its "eyecatching streams and waterfalls", or that Algonquin was "one of the marvellous parks in Toronto"! Marylewis, either you are one confused traveller, or you are trying to advertise a certain lodge.

As someone who grew up in Toronto, I would have to say that you are asking a question for which books can and have been written in answer.

I could name dozens of places for you to do day trips and weekend getaways DReece. But books and online resources already exist in abundance so what is the point of re-inventing the wheel?

Here's 2,381 choices: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction...s-Ontario.html

Or here's just 10 if you get confused by too much choice.
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com...do-in-ontario/

Muskoka by the way, has been named by National Geographic Traveller magazine three times as one of the top 10 destinations in the world. YES, the world.

#1 of the 'Best Summer Trips' in 2011.
One of the 'Top Twenty Must See World Destinations.'
And one of the '100 Places That Can Change Your Child's Life.'

That is now on your doorstep. I suggest you spend some time this winter in your local library doing some reading.

By the way, if you like hiking I suggest joining the Bruce Trail Club. They put out a newsletter every month with a list of hikes you can join as well as trips to hiking destinations around the world organized by members (non-profit cost). In the winter there are also cross-country skiing 'hikes' and snowshoeing weekends. It's a great way for a new resident to meet some like minded people. I have friends of 30 years who I met through the club.