Quick visit to Toronto and Niagara Falls
 

I thought of posting this but I don't think I ever actually did. My husband and I are taking a road trip to Toronto and Niagara Falls this summer. We're planning this trip around a show we're attending. We'll only have 2 days to explore Toronto, including the day of the show. Other than taking a hop on/hop off bus tour of the city and visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame, we're not sure what else to check out in Toronto with our limited time. What would you recommend? The CN Tower? St. Lawrence Market? Toronto Zoo? Something else?

We'll take a day to see Niagara Falls, but I don't think it will actually take the whole day (or will it?). We won't be doing a boat tour or anything super touristy. How should we spend our time in NF, aside from seeing the falls? The Botanical Gardens look beautiful, so we may do that, as well. Do you think those two things will fill up the day?

Hi
I find that the hop on hop off bus is always the best option, you don't have to worry about locating the attractions, driving and parking.

If I'm driving I Google bus tours to a city/state, look at their itinerary and choose the points of interest to make my own itinerary. You may want to do that for Niagara Falls.

If you're driving to the Falls play close attention to the road after St. Catherines (after the bridge), the highway split into 3, Lewiston, Niagara Falls and Fort Erie.
If you don't take the proper exit off the highway you'll be driving into the US border.

Also be very careful with parking - recently I was there, I parked the car went to the machine to pay/get the parking stub, when I got back to the car to put the stub on dash they were writing a ticket.

Happy travels

Hi Maggiemae211-

I have visited Toronto on numerous occasions and always have had a good time when visiting. With 2 days, you’ll have time to just scratch the surface. If you like markets generally, certainly the Saint Lawrence Market is an exceptional one; going up the CN Tower I have done once and that’s certainly worthwhile for the views one gets from up high. The one thing you don’t mention where I have brought first time visitors is the boat to the Toronto Islands, a great way to get out on the water and spend an afternoon. I also love Toronto for exceptional Chinese (several Chinatowns) and Indian food (Gerrard Street Bazaar).

I wouldn’t worry about running out of things to do in the Niagara Falls area. If you find Niagara Falls proper is not your cup of tea, for a change of pace from Niagara Falls itself, nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake I found lovely with Victorian charm, stellar bike riding and winery tours at the confluence of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario.

Have a great trip!

Daniel

Daniel has already stolen my thunder, but I can add that we did an exceptional half day food tour on our first day in Toronto which was a great introduction to some tastes that I had never experienced before. If you are interested in food that might be a good option.

Thank you, Aulop. Good idea to Google bus tours. I'll try that. Thanks for the suggestion to watch the road carefully after St. Catherine's.

I've heard that there's a certain casino whose parking garage is the best to use. It might be connected to or right near a hotel, I can't remember. I'm not sure if that's where we should park for the falls but I'll look into it, unless we decide to take public transportation.

Thank you, Daniel! I know with such limited time we'll barely scratch the surface of things to do in Toronto. We'll just have to return sometime and see more. Some markets I've been to are great and others so-so. I'll keep the St. Lawrence Market on my list but we may opt to do other things. I'm not familiar with a boat ride to the Toronto Islands but I'll look into it. That sounds like a great way to spend some time, especially if the weather is good.

We don't really drink much but a winery tour sounds very nice. It could be a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Thanks again!

A food tour sounds like something my husband would love. Thank you for suggesting it Ann! I'll mention it to my husband.

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