Colleen

My family is traveling by car to Toronto this summer. We would like to stay in a nice hotel downtown - ie $130 or less American dollars - that is in a good location. <BR><BR>Is the Science Center worthy of a visit? CN tower? Any other suggestions for kids this age, (places to eat, attractions, hotels, etc), would be WONDERFUL.<BR><BR>Thanks

chris

We were there 2 summers ago and it was a blast.<BR><BR>Hotels - there are so many options...as long as you are on the subway line - I personally wouldn't worry about location. We were up north by Bloor st and still got about anywhere in 10 minutes.<BR><BR>One highlight for us was the fireworks competition on the lake front. They do it 4-5 times over the summer at Ontario Place. Its a long fireworks show choreographed to music. Our 13 yr old found it to be very cool.<BR><BR>CN Tower is ok...but pretty predictable. You wait in a long line to go up high. Thats pretty much it. You can skip it and won't have missed much.<BR><BR>As far as amusement parks go, Wonderland is pretty darn good. Lots of good rides for 10/12 year olds and the water park thats inside of it is quite good.<BR><BR>The kids may really enjoy riding around centreville island - you can rent bikes. We really wanted to do this but the day we had planned rained us out. Our 13 yr old was anxious to peak over the fence on the nude beach <BR><BR>chris

Brian Kilgore

teh Science Center is the best thing in town for kids these ages. they are too old for the Children's Own Museum, but just right for the Royal Ontario Museum. <BR><BR>12 year olds are on the top edge of the Ceterville amusement park. Both kids will like Ontario Place, and there's a good waterpart there. Harborfront, and a boat tour, will be enjoyed.<BR><BR>Canada's Wonmderland is like a dozen other major amusement parks in North America. Long lines for scary rides, an hour north of the city. It's hard to call that one, but I spent every weekend there when my kids were about 7/10 to 11/15.<BR><BR>Lots of people love the zoo; set aside most of a day for this.<BR><BR>Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake, and the Maid of the Mist boatr to the bottom of the falls will use up, very happily, one day.<BR><BR>African Lion Safari is worth one day a year, forever. There's a water play area for the kids, too.<BR><BR>A family I ran into in the lobby last week raved about the Sheraton Center hotel pool. Hilton pool is indoor-outdoor. Kids will enjoy a walk on Queen Street West, from University to Spadina, then north on Spadina into Chinatown.<BR><BR>BAK<BR>

kelly

For proximity to most things stay south of Bloor Street. Try Holiday Inn on King, Cambridge Suites at Victoria & Richmond, Marriott Eaton's Centre, Sutton Place, Novotel on the Esplanade.<BR> <BR>Definitely go to the Science Centre and the Metro Zoo. Paramount Wonderland is great but there is nothing particularly Canadian or Toronto about it. I can't imagine bringing kids to Toronto without taking them up the CN Tower. Try to take in a baseball game at Skydome (you can almost always get tickets). Centre Island is a great place to visit/picnic and there is a small amusement park on the island (Centreville) the ferry ride alone is worth the visit. Depending where you stay you can visit the St. Lawrence market for a picnic lunch. Other attractions - Ontario Place, the Royal Ontario Museum, Hockey Hall of Fame and definitely the CNE (Canadian Natinal Exhibition) if you are here while it's on.<BR><BR>Great places to eat with kids are The Old Spaghetti Factory on the Esplanade, Marche in the BCE Place, the Hard Rock Cafe at Yonge & Dundas and Mr. Greenjeans in the Eaton's Centre. <BR><BR>Gee, reading my post you'd think I had kids!

bennie

Colleen - we did this trip last summer and have a terrific time. My kids were 5 and 8 at the time - we are Americans from Boston. Stopped at Niagara Falls on the way up - don't miss this. Wonderland was awesome - very clean, good selection of rides for all age groups. Also took in the CN Tower, BlueJays/REd Sox game, Royal Ontario Museum was terrific also. Took ferry over to Toronto Islands and rented bikes. Very poor quality of bikes for rent - most appeared to be in disrepair. I would suggest taking the ferry over at dusk for the view of the city, walk around a bit and then head back. Have a great time.

firas

Colleen,<BR>The Universit of Toronto is a very pretty site to visit.<BR>Riverdale farm (go to www.toronto.com and search for riverdale farm) is nice for kids with a mini zoo...<BR>

Bonnie

I'll add Playdium and The Docks to the list. Also The Beaches (Queen St. E.). Great boardwalk, good restaurants. You're in the city but feel like you're somewhere else. One place you might be interested in staying at for a family is Bay Bloor Executive Suites. Just a couple of blocks from Bloor St. and they're apartments. Also check Cambridge Suites.

Tracey

My family is traveling to Toronto for a vacation this summer. Trying to find a hotel for a family of 5(2adults,3children),(3adults,2 children)all children under the age of 18. We are planning to go to the zoo and wonderland. Any suggestions for a place to stay with reasonable rates and not have to travel forever to get to these places I have mentioned.

Brian KIlgore

There was a big, generally positive, story in the Toronto Star yesterday about the Medieval Times restaurant / show at Toronto's Exhibition Place.<BR><BR>Looks like a lot of fun for kids and parents. You may be able to find the article at www.thestar.com<BR><BR>BAK

Colleen

Thank you so much. Very helpful information.