Toronto Bound
 

Hi, planning a trip to Toronto for winter recess in February, 2003. What's it like? I'm from NYC and the kids are not to thrilled about flying, so taking train. Any tips you give would surely be appreciated.<BR><BR>Thanks

Evie,<BR>How old are the kids. Maybe if they know the train ride from NYC to Toronto is about 10 hours minimum, they may be a lttle more thrilled to fly. Toronto's like cold in February.

If you're concerned about the cold during your visit to Toronto take heart. If you can get a hotel downtown (Royal York, Sheraton, Mariott Eaton Centre, Hilton) you should be okay. These hotels sit on the PATH system. Unlike the one in NYC, this one is an underground network of corridors with shops and restaurants which connect most of the buildings downtown.<BR><BR>The network runs all the way from the CN Tower/SkyDome and Air Canada Centre north to the Eaton Centre and bus terminal. Union Station, where your train would pull in is also in the PATH system. In fact, if you really tried, you could spend your whole trip indoors!<BR><BR>Other attractions accessible by the PATH system include the Hockey Hall of Fame, City Hall, the Design Exchange, Toronto Stock Exchange, the CBC Studios, and several office towers. Plenty of shopping for you as well, check out the Eaton Centre and the Hudson Bay store just south of it.<BR><BR>The subways also tie in at 5 stations linking to other networks at College and at Bloor/Yonge in Yorkville.<BR><BR>Of course there are plenty of other things to do, but then you'd have to go outside . . .<BR><BR>Hope this helps, enjoy your trip!

Take your skates and try out the rink at Nathan Phillips square. I'm not sure if they rent skates there or not but we had a blast last winter skating there. Also my kids liked one of Dave's suggestions, the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Sheraton has an indoor outdoor pool, you can swim under a plastic wall and be in a pool outside while it's snowing - kids loved it. The kids (from a small town) also liked riding the Toronto subway (which is safe and clean). We rode up to Yorkdale Mall and ate at the Rainforest Cafe.

I know you said you're taking the train but I thought I'd point out that we fly Jet Blue out of Buffalo when we go to NYC. The rates are amazing if your kids, and you, change your minds.