Suggest Niagara/Toronto itinerary?
Jun 1st, 2008 | 07:07 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5
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Suggest Niagara/Toronto itinerary?
My wife and I are planning a trip to Niagara Falls and Toronto in late August. We've got 5-6 days, driving about 9.5 hours from Kentucky.
Questions:
1) How much time to spend at the Falls? I'm planning on getting the Great Gorge Adventure Pass - 2 nights enough?
2) Is Niagara on the Lake a day trip or overnight?
3) How much time in Toronto? We're not big shoppers, but enjoy architecture, sightseeing, etc.
4) Better Toronto first, then the Falls or vice versa?
5) Recommendations on lodging? We're pretty cheap, under us$200 as long as it's clean, comfortable, and convenient. Breakfast and parking included would be a plus!
Thanks!
Lee
Questions:
1) How much time to spend at the Falls? I'm planning on getting the Great Gorge Adventure Pass - 2 nights enough?
2) Is Niagara on the Lake a day trip or overnight?
3) How much time in Toronto? We're not big shoppers, but enjoy architecture, sightseeing, etc.
4) Better Toronto first, then the Falls or vice versa?
5) Recommendations on lodging? We're pretty cheap, under us$200 as long as it's clean, comfortable, and convenient. Breakfast and parking included would be a plus!
Thanks!
Lee
Jun 1st, 2008 | 07:33 AM
#2
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,544
Likes: 0
Two nights in Niagara is enough to use your Adventure Pass... to save some money on lodging consider staying on the US side...there are several chains and you could walk across to the pricier Canadian side... Niagara on the Lake is Scenic and cute but if you love Wineries and wine, you might want to visit more wineries.... at the most, you could spend another night, but stay in the US hotel and drive the wine region...
Toronto should come first because theres more to do and you can change your stay based on what you do... there are festivals all Summer long as well as the CNE in August and you might consider some of the Museums and Casa Loma as part of the itinerary... the farther you stay from Toronto core, the cheaper the hotels... check the chains for pricing...
Toronto should come first because theres more to do and you can change your stay based on what you do... there are festivals all Summer long as well as the CNE in August and you might consider some of the Museums and Casa Loma as part of the itinerary... the farther you stay from Toronto core, the cheaper the hotels... check the chains for pricing...
Jun 1st, 2008 | 08:18 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,981
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Hi Icowherd
I get good information about Canada from Gary (above) but I have to respectfully disagree with his suggestion that you stay on the American side. Take a nice little hike around Goat Island on the American side, you can get really up close and personal with the Falls and be sure to visit Cave of the Winds there, but stay on the Canadian side! So, so much better! Let me recommend Embassy Suites. We will be staying there for our third time next week. You can have a Fallsview suite that includes a huge breakfast, and a $45.00 gift certificate for dinner for your $200.00 per night. I believe it to be a great deal!
http://www.embassysuitesniagara.com/...ghtdetail.html
Niagara on the Lake is about a 20 min drive from the Falls
I get good information about Canada from Gary (above) but I have to respectfully disagree with his suggestion that you stay on the American side. Take a nice little hike around Goat Island on the American side, you can get really up close and personal with the Falls and be sure to visit Cave of the Winds there, but stay on the Canadian side! So, so much better! Let me recommend Embassy Suites. We will be staying there for our third time next week. You can have a Fallsview suite that includes a huge breakfast, and a $45.00 gift certificate for dinner for your $200.00 per night. I believe it to be a great deal!
http://www.embassysuitesniagara.com/...ghtdetail.html
Niagara on the Lake is about a 20 min drive from the Falls
Jun 1st, 2008 | 10:01 AM
#4
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,190
Likes: 0
Day 1 -
In morning get timed ticket for JBTF for around noon, then head straight to Maid of the Mist for an early trip. After MOTM, take a leisurely stroll towards Table Rock enjoying the view. Then do JBTF. Then head over Rainbow Bridge to see Goat Island and do Cave of the Winds. Head back over the bridge in the evening.
Day 2 -
In morning get the People Mover pass and stop along the way doing:
White Water Walk
Whirlpool Aero Car
Butterfly Conservatory
Sir Adam Beck 2 Generating Station
Floral Clock
head back the other way past the falls and see the Floral Showhouse
Day 3 - take a leisurely drive along the parkway to Niagara on the Lake visiting some of the historical sites along the way. Do the Whirlpool Jets (got that added in Gary
). Have dinner in NOTL. Drive to Toronto for the night.
Day 4 - ROM, CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, Bata Shoe Museum
Day 5 - Kensington Market (it's worth walking around even if you not a big shopper), Casa Loma
Day 6 - Toronto Zoo in a.m. then head home (the zoo is further out and isn't reachable by the Metro, so it's a good one for the first day in or last day out when you have the car.
There's also the Toronto Islands is you want to enjoy a leisurely day.
You could easily switch that around and do Toronto first.
If you don't want to see all the activities offered in the Adventure Pass, you could cut the second day out of Niagara Falls and combine those that you do want to do with your drive to NOTL. That would give you an extra day in Toronto.
Check out the Toronto CityPass (http://www.citypass.com/city/toronto.html)
You should be able to find a hotel downtown for $200 including parking. Novotel is $140 per night with about $20 parking per night.
In morning get timed ticket for JBTF for around noon, then head straight to Maid of the Mist for an early trip. After MOTM, take a leisurely stroll towards Table Rock enjoying the view. Then do JBTF. Then head over Rainbow Bridge to see Goat Island and do Cave of the Winds. Head back over the bridge in the evening.
Day 2 -
In morning get the People Mover pass and stop along the way doing:
White Water Walk
Whirlpool Aero Car
Butterfly Conservatory
Sir Adam Beck 2 Generating Station
Floral Clock
head back the other way past the falls and see the Floral Showhouse
Day 3 - take a leisurely drive along the parkway to Niagara on the Lake visiting some of the historical sites along the way. Do the Whirlpool Jets (got that added in Gary
). Have dinner in NOTL. Drive to Toronto for the night.Day 4 - ROM, CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, Bata Shoe Museum
Day 5 - Kensington Market (it's worth walking around even if you not a big shopper), Casa Loma
Day 6 - Toronto Zoo in a.m. then head home (the zoo is further out and isn't reachable by the Metro, so it's a good one for the first day in or last day out when you have the car.
There's also the Toronto Islands is you want to enjoy a leisurely day.
You could easily switch that around and do Toronto first.
If you don't want to see all the activities offered in the Adventure Pass, you could cut the second day out of Niagara Falls and combine those that you do want to do with your drive to NOTL. That would give you an extra day in Toronto.
Check out the Toronto CityPass (http://www.citypass.com/city/toronto.html)
You should be able to find a hotel downtown for $200 including parking. Novotel is $140 per night with about $20 parking per night.
Jun 1st, 2008 | 05:52 PM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Thanks for the tips! I've never done Priceline - I'll give it a shot for this trip.
I especially appreciate the specifics toedtoes! We'll probably skip the zoo, but I'll check into the citypass.
Ain't fodors great!
lee
I especially appreciate the specifics toedtoes! We'll probably skip the zoo, but I'll check into the citypass.
Ain't fodors great!
lee
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Jun 4th, 2008 | 12:55 PM
#9
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Lcowherd, here are a few notes:
1. Niagara Falls – No matter how you book your hotel, expect to pay about 50% more for a Friday night booking and up to 100% more for a Saturday night booking during August than you would for Sunday through Thursday stays. Exception: Since Sunday, Aug 31 is the day before Labor Day, Niagara Falls hotels rates for that night will be about the same as Saturday, August 30 because of casino patrons taking advantage of the long holiday weekend. See my observations on Niagara Falls hotel rates and room occupancy levels in this thread: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/top...s-Ontario.html . If you are interested in bidding on Priceline for your Niagara Falls accommodations, here’s a list of some known Priceline participating hotels and their star quality ratings: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/top...TELS-LIST.html . Here are the most recent Niagara Falls Priceline hotel winning bids reported by BiddingForTravel members: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/for...ara-Falls.html .
2. Toronto -- If you are bidding for a 4* Toronto Downtown hotel on Priceline, you have an dozens of bids available in a 24-hour period IF you follow a permutations bidding matrix described in this thread: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/top...e-re-bids.html . (Instructions for use of the matrices are included as a first reply to the thread.) At the 4* bidding level, there are eight free re-bid zones – Brampton, Don Valley, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville-Burlington, Scarborough –Pickering, Toronto East and Toronto West – because these zone have only hotels rated 3* or lower. At the 3* bidding level, there are two free re-bid zones – Scarborough-Pickering and Toronto East – because these zones have only hotels rated 2.5* or lower. If you are interested in bidding on Priceline for your Toronto accommodations, here’s a list of some known Priceline participating hotels and their star quality ratings: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/top...TELS-LIST.html . Here are the most recent Niagara Falls Priceline winning bids reported by BiddingForTravel members: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/for...to-Ottawa.html .
3. If you have found the above Priceline bidding information helpful, please consider submitting your bid through the following link http://www.amazing-bargains.com/priceline.html to help keep the BiddingForTravel website operating.
4. Here’s a list of 100+ Toronto websites that you might find useful in planning your activities http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...Web.Sites.html
1. Niagara Falls – No matter how you book your hotel, expect to pay about 50% more for a Friday night booking and up to 100% more for a Saturday night booking during August than you would for Sunday through Thursday stays. Exception: Since Sunday, Aug 31 is the day before Labor Day, Niagara Falls hotels rates for that night will be about the same as Saturday, August 30 because of casino patrons taking advantage of the long holiday weekend. See my observations on Niagara Falls hotel rates and room occupancy levels in this thread: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/top...s-Ontario.html . If you are interested in bidding on Priceline for your Niagara Falls accommodations, here’s a list of some known Priceline participating hotels and their star quality ratings: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/top...TELS-LIST.html . Here are the most recent Niagara Falls Priceline hotel winning bids reported by BiddingForTravel members: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/for...ara-Falls.html .
2. Toronto -- If you are bidding for a 4* Toronto Downtown hotel on Priceline, you have an dozens of bids available in a 24-hour period IF you follow a permutations bidding matrix described in this thread: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/top...e-re-bids.html . (Instructions for use of the matrices are included as a first reply to the thread.) At the 4* bidding level, there are eight free re-bid zones – Brampton, Don Valley, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville-Burlington, Scarborough –Pickering, Toronto East and Toronto West – because these zone have only hotels rated 3* or lower. At the 3* bidding level, there are two free re-bid zones – Scarborough-Pickering and Toronto East – because these zones have only hotels rated 2.5* or lower. If you are interested in bidding on Priceline for your Toronto accommodations, here’s a list of some known Priceline participating hotels and their star quality ratings: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/top...TELS-LIST.html . Here are the most recent Niagara Falls Priceline winning bids reported by BiddingForTravel members: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/for...to-Ottawa.html .
3. If you have found the above Priceline bidding information helpful, please consider submitting your bid through the following link http://www.amazing-bargains.com/priceline.html to help keep the BiddingForTravel website operating.
4. Here’s a list of 100+ Toronto websites that you might find useful in planning your activities http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...Web.Sites.html
Jun 8th, 2008 | 01:55 PM
#11
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,190
Likes: 0
Assuming that the 3 days doesn't include travel:
Travel time - arrive Niagara Falls, NY late afternoon, do Cave of the Winds, cross border and spend night on Canadian side
Day 1 morning - Niagara Falls:
Maid of the Mist, Journey Behind the Falls, "tacky" Clifton Hill
afternoon - drive leisurely along the Niagara Parkway, visiting sights as desired along the way, on to Toronto, spend night in Toronto
Day 2 - Toront:
ROM, CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, Bata Shoe Museum
Day 3 - Toronto:
Kensington Market, Casa Loma, then other sights as desired
Day 4 - drive home
Travel time - arrive Niagara Falls, NY late afternoon, do Cave of the Winds, cross border and spend night on Canadian side
Day 1 morning - Niagara Falls:
Maid of the Mist, Journey Behind the Falls, "tacky" Clifton Hill
afternoon - drive leisurely along the Niagara Parkway, visiting sights as desired along the way, on to Toronto, spend night in Toronto
Day 2 - Toront:
ROM, CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, Bata Shoe Museum
Day 3 - Toronto:
Kensington Market, Casa Loma, then other sights as desired
Day 4 - drive home
Jun 10th, 2008 | 02:25 PM
#13
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,981
Likes: 0
Just adding to toed:
While in Goat Island on the American side, after Cave of the
Winds, walk south to the end of the island and view Horseshoe Falls from there, it is absolutely amazing! You feel and see the power of Horseshoe Falls.
Regarding St Lawrence Market. We loved walking the market but it made us want to have a condo so we could buy some of their goods and cook it! Also, very crowded and very warm.
What was cooling was taking the ferry from the harbor over to the Toronto Islands. The Toronto skyline is beautiful from the water! DH and I love marina's so we walked to one (there are at least three) sat down and have a few ice cold beers while watching the boats. Lovely.
While in Goat Island on the American side, after Cave of the
Winds, walk south to the end of the island and view Horseshoe Falls from there, it is absolutely amazing! You feel and see the power of Horseshoe Falls.
Regarding St Lawrence Market. We loved walking the market but it made us want to have a condo so we could buy some of their goods and cook it! Also, very crowded and very warm.
What was cooling was taking the ferry from the harbor over to the Toronto Islands. The Toronto skyline is beautiful from the water! DH and I love marina's so we walked to one (there are at least three) sat down and have a few ice cold beers while watching the boats. Lovely.
