First Road Trip to Canada/Please help!!
 

I am planning my first road trip this spring to Canada. My fiance and I both have never driven to Canada. We are from Pennsylvania and we want to visit Toronto and Niagara Falls on our week long journey. How many days should we stay in Niagara Falls/Toronto? Is there a website that could help with my road plans? Thanks.

The drive s/b straightforward. toronto.com is good website. Do search for website on niagara parks commission. Also check other postings as there are many on NF and Toronto. <BR> <BR>Number of days depends on what you want to do and exact timing of your trip (weather, seasonal openings). Nevertheless, 2-3 days in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake (Falls, Maid of the Mist, Shaw Festival if open, Casino, winery tours) and 4-5 days in Toronto. One word of advice is to get tickets early if you want see one of the major shows (Mama Mia, Lion King), Maple Leafs or Raptors. Need more info as to what you like to do (restaurants? culture? shopping? sights?) <BR> <BR>

This might be a useful website in planning your trip to TO. <BR>http://toronto.about.com/aboutcanada/toronto/mbody.htm There are tons of other sites available for visitors to Ontario .. <BR>My suggestion would be to try to stay in Niagara-On-The-Lake rather than Niagara Falls ... only about a 20 min drive from the falls and the scenery is worth it. Accommodations are harder to come by after the Shaw Festival opens, but you should be able to find lots of B&Bs still available. If you do opt for the Falls, investigate a daypass on the People Mover. This is a great way to get to places of interest without worrying about parking. Does not go quite as far as NOL though .. you'd have to drive to the nearest pickup point. <BR>Although it is not a great distance to TO from the Niagara area, suggest you not consider a "commute" as traffic congestion on major arteries in and out of TO can be frustrating. Penna is one of our favourite destinations ... great state! So, I hope you find Ontario hospitality reciprocal.

Here's a second for the idea of staying in Niagara-On-The-Lake. NOTL is a great spot -- small and charming, good restaurants and B&B type places, not a tourist trap like Niagara Falls. If you and your fiance are looking for something a bit more romantic, I'd go NOTL and make the short drive to the falls when you want to see it. <BR> <BR>I live in Toronto and can only say that the amount of time you spend here should really depend on what you want to do. You could easily occupy yourselves for a while with the restaurants and the shopping here, let alone going to visit the tourist sites. Can you be more specific about what you're looking for? <BR> <BR>Hope you have a great trip. <BR> <BR>Rob

Hi Lilliam, <BR> I agree with the others - NOTL is the way to go. I grew up in the area and always pitied those who spent their time in Niagara Falls for a vacation. There are some nice things to do in Niagara - wine tours, etc. The Shaw Festival offers top rate theatre as well. If you only have a week, I'd probably spend two nights in the Niagara area and the rest in Toronto.