Toronto and Niagara Falls, Hamilton Trip
 

We are going to spend 5 nights in Hamilton and plan on visiting Toronto and Niagara falls...Is Hamilton a good choice? It looks half way...also is there anything to do in Hamilton?

What are must do's in Niagara Falls? Toronto?

So far we are thinking Marine Land, Canada's Wonderland, CN tower, and go see a Jay's game...any other suggestions? What is Ontario Place like?

No, Hamilton is not a good choice since every day you'll be fighting traffic going in and out of both locations.

You would be much better off staying in Toronto and driving into Niagara Falls for one or two days depending on how much you want to see---it's only 1.5 hrs.

Are you bringing young children? Ontario Place and the Toronto Zoo would be fun as well. The Science Centre can be of interest to lots of kids, and great on a rainy day. The Royal Ontario Museum, Hockey Hall of Fame..........depends on your interests.

Tobie is right. Can you break it up, spend a night or two at Niagara
Falls area and then head to Toronto for a couple nights? If you are doing science center, zoo etc, you
may want to stay on the north side
of Toronto?

Hamilton is, really, a pretty sad story.

Not the place to stay.

That said, when passing through Hamilton, there's a fairly interesting waterfront tour that shows you steel plants and some nature; there's a WW II ship, the Haida, on display, and, best of all, there's the great Canadian Warplane Heritage museum at Hamilton airport.

If you have any interest in old warplane, this is a wonderful place, where you can walk underneath the planes, touch them, sit inside a couple of them, and, depending on the day, even watch some fly.

But stay in Toronto a couple of nights, and Niagara one or two nights, and skip driving somewhere every day.

Are there kids involved? WHat kind?

BAK

BAK

No kids...Just kids at heart :)
Well that is too bad about Hamilton...It seemed good that it was central, and I found a good deal at the Sheraton there.

Some suggestions for things to do in Toronto:

CN Tower
Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto Islands
Kensington Market
Casa Loma
Hockey Hall of Fame

Suggestions for Niagara Falls:

Maid of the Mist (trust me, just do it)
Cave of the Winds (on the US side)
Goat Island (US side)
Journey Behind the Falls
Whirlpool Aero Car
White Water Walk
Butterfly Conservatory
Whirlpool Jet Boat

I agree with the others that Hamilton isn't the best choice to stay. You'll be in traffic every day for a couple hours minimum.

Downtown Toronto is the most convenient, but if your budget won't fit, there are other options.

Niagara Falls is easy to find a place at almost any budget.

I'd recommend 3 nights in Toronto and 2 nights in Niagara Falls.

Toedtoes, does one have to get all wet on Maid of the Mist?

No you don't. If you stand further back in the boat, you'll get very little water.

But, even at the front, other than right on your face, you don't get soaked as they provide you with a rain poncho - usually I get a little damp on the lower leg where the poncho ends. Feeling the spray on your face is an awesome feeling.

Thanks all for your advise...we re-worked our plans and now we will spend 2 nights in Toronto at the Westin Harbour Castle (seems like a good location) and 2 nights in St. Catherine's which apears to be only 15 kms from the Casino, falls, whatnot...Sound good?

We have also decided to take that Niagara Pass which includes Maid of the Mist, Behind the Falls, Water Walk, and Butterfly thing, doing Marineland (went to the falls as a kid, but my parents didn't want to go to Marineland, so I am doing it now!!) we are going to Canada's Wonderland, CN Tower, and Ontario Place...going to be a busy few days!!!

Ontario Place is better for kids, I think - but there is the Chinese Lantern Festival at night. There are also concerts at the outdoor theatre there but maybe not to your taste. http://www.ontarioplace.com/en/

Why not stay right in Niagara Falls? There are LOTS of choices for hotels.

We enjoyed the Shoe Musuem in Toronto - I think its called Basia(?).

Bata http://www.batashoemuseum.ca/

I hope you can avoid staying in the Niagara region on Friday and Saturday nights. The hotel rates skyrocket for those nights, especially in July and August as I point out in this post:

http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/top...derations.html

Lissa
I agree with the things listed above to do in Niagara Falls, but please don't stay anywhere except the Falls! You're right there to walk most anywhere you want to go! And a window view of the Falls from your hotel is the best thing you can give yourselves! We have stayed at Embassy Suites twice and loved it. Along with a beautiful view, you have cooked to order breakfasts, 45.00 towards dinner, two alchohol drinks at night for right around $200.00 per night. A heck of a deal. Check out their package for two nights at: http://www.embassysuitesniagara.com/

I understand the Marriott, which is right next door to Embassy, offers package deals also but I have never checked into it.

The hotel you have in Toronto is right next to the Ferries that take you to the Islands, we enjoyed doing that a lot.

Thanks for that info, toedtoes. I suppose the water could be slightly frozen when we visit in May.

There will be no ice in Toronto harbour in May.

BAK