Hello everyone,

My husband and I and our 18 month old boy are going to Toronto for three days (7/4 to 7/8). We're staying at the Westin Harbour Castle.

We love to walk around interesting neighborhoods and we love to eat out in cafes (preferably where the noise level can mask an occasionally cranky toddler).

Can you please suggest interesting places to go to with a toddler? or outdoor events?
So far we have written down CN tower and St. Lawrence market and Toronto Island.

We love to eat ethnic food (greek, thai, Malaysian, middle eastern and Italian), big sushi fans and recommendations for good sushi would be very much appreciated. Can you also recommend a good place for dessert?

I should also mention that we don't have a car, so any tips on the best way to navigate the city would be very helpful.

Thank you.

Have a look at www.toronto.com

Greektown is on the Danforth, which is reasonably easy to get to from your hotel via streetcar to Union Station, then the Yonge subway line to Bloor/Yonge, transfer to the Bloor line, go east there to Chester Station.

Your hotel will likely have a copy of a brochure called Visitor Guide 2008 - I picked one up at the Jazz Festival and it has a Neighbourhood section which includes Greektown, Little Italy and several others. There's a map in it, too.

Your hotel is right in front of the ferry docks for the trip to the islands.

and on Centre Island there's an amusment park called Centreville. I'm pretty sure they have kiddie rides -- I'm just not sure about which ones would be suitable for an 18 month old but it would be a fun walk-around anyway.

If you have a car, you can go to the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo but it's in the far suburbs. I don't know if there's any shuttle bus from downtown or anything like that but it's worth looking at their website. www.torontozoo.com

Another (smaller and in the city) thing your little boy might like is Riverdale Farm. http://www.riverdaletoronto.com/rive...rm/index.shtml

There's great ethnic food all over the place. This is a city of ethnic neighbourhoods and very nice patios. Lots of restaurants that don't 'show' a patio on the street side may have one in the back.

Have you searched Toronto on this website? There's tons of very specific information.

The zoo is more trouble than it is worth.

Riverdale Farm is a great idea; semi awkward t get to, but not impossible.

The Toronto Transit Commission has day passes that let you take lots of rides each day for some reasonable amount of money.

Baby carrier strap on gadget, or stroller? It's easier on the TTC with a body carrier, but an umbrella stroller works OK.

Centreville does have little kids rides, plus the ride to the islands is fun for a little kid.

Pink Pearl in Queen's Quay Terminal Building at Harbourfront is good for dim sum and would tolerate a little kid.

There's a Thai restaurant upstairs, about two doors west of McDonald's, across from the Royal Ontario Museum, that's both noisy and friendly and serves really good food and does not charge very much where your entire family would be very welcome.

Dessert -- I used to buy ice cream cones inside Queen's Quay Terminal and eat them outside by the water.

BAK

You are right near the Harbourfront which is a great place to stroll, eat and relax!

Thank you all for your replies. www.toronto.com has very helpful information and we're trying to filter through to see what the best thing to do are.

We are looking forward to escape the heat and humidity of Florida for a few days while in Toronto.

I hope you do escape the humidity - it can be awful here, too.

We are coming next weekend....more weather details please. Will we need jackets or does that humidity make them unnecessary? Short sleeves?

Just in case, pack a light sweater -something that doesn't take up too much room in your suitcase - the islands and along the waterfront are often cooler than the city, fer instance...it just depends. Kind of crazy weather this year.

Thanks...I usually take a jacket on the plane that can be used later. What is everyone wearing during the day...shorts, pants? How hot?
Trying to pack light but need to make good choices...

It is in the high 80's here but with humidity it is really must more intense than it sounds.

You will see people wearing all of the above. Astonishly short dresses, shorts, etc.

No astonishly short dresses for me but they wear them here also...no shockers there.

Thanks for the info....trying to book rail tickets to NFalls...wondering if Sat or Sunday would be best...Looks like rail tickets are just a bit cheaper than bus tours...goign to go back and dig a bit more there...

Careful abut rail... if you book on a train coming back from the USA, it may be very late leaveing Niagara Falls after customs finishes its checks.

The best bet really is to rent a car, even for just a day. (check return times). The drive is not far, scenery can be very good, and the freedom of the car makes it esy to see both Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake.

BAK

We will be staying in Toronto...So do you still think renting the car is the best idea? Which company?

We should't have to go thru customs should we?

Looked into bus tour...it is a possibility.

Rail from Toronto to Niagara Falls suffers from a very limited schedule. Consider intercity buses. This is just transportation, no tour. www.greyhound.ca Driving is also a reasonable option for more flexibility. All the usual car rental suspects are in Toronto. Union Station is one resonable pick-up location for people staying downtown.

Summerlicious will be on July 4-20:
http://www.toronto.ca/special_events...ious/index.htm

Renting a car is the best way to go.

You start whenyou want, come home when you want, visit stores when you want, see the greenhouses when you want, go for a walk after lunch without worrying about time, when you want.

No, you don't need to go through customs but, coming bck from NF to Toronto,you need to wait while everyone of the train goes through customs, meaning the train can turn out to be late.

BAK

Thanks for posting that info. We have decided on a tour bus...since we are not familiar with the area.

We have made dinner reservations from the summerlicious list. I am so looking forward to trying some of those interesting menus!