Hello -
We will be visiting Toronto and the area this summer and I am wondering whether it makes more sense to stay downtown or at the falls. I understand that they are about 1.5 hours apart from each other. We have 3 children between the ages of 4 and 9 and I am wondering if there is more to do as far as walking around, restaurants, etc, in the downtown area or right near the falls? Also, any view on safety in the 2 areas?

thanks!

Hello
If you can manage to spend time in both Toronto and the falls, I would suggest that. They both have lots to offer. Safety in both areas is good. Of course, in Toronto, as in any large city, you always have to be on alert. but compared to other cities, I would say Toronto is very safe. If you could provide more information with your available time, I can give more detailed ideas for you.

There is little appeal for the kids to be in a Falls view room and the Clifton Hill area is aimed at teens, however a perfect property for your kids would be the Great Wolf Lodge just down from the Falls...

You could easily tour the falls area and add the water fun to your trip...Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds are perfect, and Whirlpool JetBoats if your kids are adventurous

Toronto is a great walking city, but it could wear on the kids ... we chose the Intercontinental on Front Street for the best location because it places you equally between the waterfront and the Queen St West strip... it is also near the Entertainment District, Stadium, CN Tower, Convention Center, and just down from St Lawrence Market... its a lot of walking for a young family, so you may want to use streetcars, subway and bus passes for your stay... have fun

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction...s_Ontario.html
Was just at the falls yesterday and my sister is planning to take her grandkids( 8 and 12) next month to see several of the attractions on the link. Hilton et all also have indoor pools which the kids love. If you decide to do both places remember the drive between can be a lot longer if you get stuck in commuter traffic.Pack a picnic if you do the gorge because the parks are kept very nicely landscaped in summer and there are picnic tables and even BBQs to use all along the route from Niagara to Niagara on the lake.

Here's some other links for things to do in Niagara Falls:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...ngs.To.Do.html
http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/
http://www.niagaraparks.com/

Well Toronto is a heart of Canada, and safety in both areas is good. But it could wear on the children.We select the Global on Front side Road for the best place because it places you similarly between the waterfront and the King St Western.

luv2travel6,
As I read your question again, it sounds like you think that Niagara Falls is a area of Toronto. The two are totally separate cities, 75 miles apart, and each a completely different destination with many things to do in each.

dude... she says in the post "I understand they are 1.5 hours apart". I think it's more about where to park the Family...

i'd spend one night at the falls. the maid of mist trip was great but in general, i found some of it pretty tacky. i found restaurants to be very expensive. i'd bring a cooler and plan on some meals/snacks in the room.

I would definitely spend an evening or two in Niagara Falls with kids. It is alot of fun - tacky yes - but the kids will like it. Great Wolf Lodge is a good choice but there is also a waterpark right at the Falls which is attached to a few hotels: http://www.fallsviewwaterpark.com/. Travelzoo.ca usually has some great deals running for Niagara.

After you have had your fill of Niagara Falls, you can make your way to Niagara on the Lake and have lunch and some ice cream on the main drag there (Queen Street) and then head to Toronto on the QEW.

What kind of hotel were you thinking about for Toronto? I really like the area around Yorkville/Bloor Street + Avenue Road. Having said that, The Eaton Chelsea located more downtown caters to families: http://chelsea.eatonhotels.com/rooms...-fun-suite.htm and has a great indoor pool "park" with slides, etc.

The Sheraton in Niagara is connected to the water park and a big arcade. My then 8 year old had a blast there. The buffet at the Sheraton was good and easy too. I liked the location down from the Falls. The closer hotels were up above the falls and a long uphill walk. I would say split your time if you have Toronto plans.

How many days do you have? We went to Niagara for 5 days last August. Thought about the Great Wolf Lodge too but we have that down here in the US and we wanted to see Niagara not spend the day inside a waterpark. We have 3 kids- 14, 8, 9. Drove up straight from NJ to Niagara and did the butterfly conservatory upon arrival (my younger ones loved that, 14yo not so impressed). Took some pictures in the botanical gardens and Niagara Clock. Checked in at the Courtyard Marriot with a great deal incl buffet breakfast promo. The next day went back to the US to do the Cave of the Winds, Maid of Mist, museum, etc. (bought the package) and we all enjoyed it. Basically followed the itinerary recommended on another Niagara thread on Fodors. We wouldnt have had time to do the waterpark as the next day we were off towards Toronto. We spent one day at Canada's Wonderland (much larger than we expected). We visited family for 2 nights before heading home. I would say Niagara is pretty safe compared to other cities. When we went we saw the fireworks over Niagara for labor day weekend and walked back to the hotel from Queen Victoria park late at night. Where we stayed had lots of restaurants and activities were about 2-3 blocks walk.

Oops. should be Canada for 5 days with Niagara stay 2 nights.

EI was interested to see that nobody mentioned the two great child friendly places in Toronto - the Science Centre and the new Aquarium. Both well worth a visit.

The Toronto-to-Niagara drive can easily stretch to two hours because of extremely heavy traffic on the expressways. Even so, Niagara is a satisfactory day trip from the big city. Aside from the falls themselves and the honkey-tonk tourist traps, a longer stay gives time for a drive along the river to the old colonial town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, seeing en-route a major botanical garden, a cable-car ride above the Whirlpool, the Queenston Heights park and memorial to the War of 1812, the wooden Fort George, the Shaw summer theatre festival and a number of wineries. And both Canadian and US sides of the Falls have casinos.

The original poster was a year ago...