We are going to Toronto for a long weekend in May. Any suggestions re places to see, eat, shop, visit-any especially good museums! Thanks alot!!

Hi sfink! Toronto is such a large city. If you are going to be staying in the downtown area the major museum is the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) which is on the subway line (Museum stop, or course) at Bloor and University. There are all sorts of different types of restaurants on the major streets - what's your preference? You may want to visit the CN Tower and Skydome (where the Blue Jays play) where there are many things to do and places to eat. There is a revolving restaurant atop the CN Tower. There are a number of theatres just west of Yonge on King. If you like roast beef, Ed's Warehouse which is on King is really excellent. The restaurant is a must-see for all the antiques and pictures of current and olden-day stars that Ed Mirvish has met or had at one of his theatres. Hope this helps!

I SAW THAT YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT TORONTO. I WILL BE GOING IN A FEW WEEKS FOR A LONG WEEK-END TO SEE THE YANKEES PLAY THE BLUE JAYS AND I WILL BE STAYING AT THE SKY DOME. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE HOTEL? DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ANY FUN STUFF NEAR THE DOME FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR MID-20'S? I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP.

Jill, Skydome is a great hotel for seeing the baseball games especially if you are in one of the rooms that overlooks the playing field (actually they overlook the outfield towards home plate). The rooms in the hotel certainly have the lived-in look but are nicely decorated. The CN Tower is adjacent to the Skydome and at the base are a number of eating (and night) spots that are frequented by people in their 20's and 30's. The Tower itself has an observation deck (glass floor!), all sorts of games (Laser, virtual reality, etc.)and at least one bar that I can recall. If you feel like walking, go up to Queen and Yonge where the Eaton Centre which is a huge shopping mall has lots of shops and again places to eat. The Skydome is just a short walk from the harbour where you can take a ferry over to the Islands and just walk around if you are in for a quieter time. Toronto is a clean city with lots of friendly, helpful people. Where are you coming from? Hope you have a good time! Linda.

If you are staying downtown (SkyDome Hotel) and want a great, cheap meal try Tiger Lily Noodle House on Queen Street West, in the first block east of the CITY-TV building (south side, you can't miss it). Great Food - Lots of vegetarian & non-veg. Most entrees are about $9 (canadian). As a local Toronto Girl I'm addicted and have passed the addiction on to my friends. If you have a free day Do Not Miss Niagara Falls. Only about an hour's drive. But only go if it's sunny. you can easily rent a car & get there from downtown Toronto, or take a bus.
Also there's lots of theatre. In mid-June "Jolson" is opening. It is the original London cast and right downtown at the Royal Alex. The Eaton Centre (apparently one of our biggest tourist attractions) is a big bore. Really, DON'T bother. We all go to Buffalo to shop anyway. However there are lots of very unique stores on Queen Street West (very close to the SkyDome) that are worthwhile ... it's a arty-Greenwich Village type area.

Help Linda or Jill !!!

I am a travel agent in Phoenix and will be visiting Toronto the 2nd week of June for the first time. I wonder if either of you are travel agents? I am looking for a low price or comp room downtown. I will start my trip in Montreal and take VIA to Toronto. I have only 24 hours in Toronto and want to concentrate on downtown before returning to Montreal for the Formula One Grand Prix. Any iformation you or anyone else can provide would be deeply appreciated.

Heather - Is the Eaton Centre in Toronto anything like the one in Montreal?

Hi Joe: The Eaton Centre in Toronto is much larger than the one in Montreal. I guess that if you're into malls, it's quite spectacular ... lots of chain stores and a glass atrium above three floors of shops. I understand that Montreal's Eaton Centre is quite modest in comparison.
Jill ... just remembered some other stuff. The SkyDome Hotel is supposed to have an amazing gym. My friends who work downtown have joined and go at lunch hour. Also, there are lots of great bars in the area -- The Devil's Martini is very popular now. Also, Gretzky's, after a baseball game. FYI, Macdonalds runs most of the food concessions at the SkyDome, so don't expect anything interesting. Have a great time!

Hi Joe - No i'm not a travel agent - just live north of the city. You will be arriving at Union Station right down on Front St. just across from the Royal York Hotel - very expensive. Most hotels in that area are. Maybe Heather can direct you to some less expensive places to stay. There should be some north of the Queen West area she was talking about where the University of Toronto campus is. The Holiday Inn On King has a web-site which has a map of the downtown area which might help you orient yourself. Yonge st. is the main street running north and south. The Bay St area from Front to Queen is the financial district so not much there.
University north of Queen is where the court houses, consulates and hospitals are. Dundas St. which runs east and west the next main road above Queen from Bay st. west past Spadina is where our Chinatown is. For a 24 hour visit you'd be best to do Ontario Place and even see where the Molson Indy 500 is run through the Exhibition Grounds just west of Ontario Place. Have fun! That web-site address is:
http://www.hiok.com/

Don't miss Phantom!!! We stay at the Delta Chelsea just down the street from Phantages Theater where Phantom plays. Across the street from the hotel is a great croissant shop for breakfast. The hotel has a theater package and can get you excellent seats.

I don't like any of the Ed restaurants. The original North America Hard Rock cafe is fun--also on Yonge Street like the hotel and theater.

The Ontario Science Center is wonderful--you can spend an entire day there.

Don't bother going to Eaton Center--it's just another mall.

I haven't been particularly impressed with any restaurant yet. Maybe you'll have better luck than I did.

Have fun. It's a terrific city.

If the weather is lovely, take the ferry (next to the Westin Harbour Castle) across to Centre Island, a beautiful green oasis 10 minutes across Lake Ontario. Go upstairs to the open air second level of the ferry for a fabulous view of the Toronto skyline!

Judi

re toronto long weekend and Art Galleries. the Art Gallery of Ontario is on Dundas Street with the Edvard Munch Exhibition.in May their is also a major Photography Festival in Toronto. A good guide is Slate which is free and you may be able to find it in your hotel, but it is in all galleries, they also have on site. http://www.slateartguide.com. A another usefull guide is NOW, this is also free , you can find this in restaurants and maybe in the hotel.NOW will give you information on where to eat, and whats happening from art to hip hop. Thefollowing are a couple of galleries that are worth a visit, you can find the address in SLATE.
Stephen Bulger Gallery also some neat restaurants near by, a cool and young sort of area,
Leo Kamen Gallery, in a building with other Galleries, a 10 min. walk from Quuen St. and China Town.
Lonsdale Gallery, in Forest Hill Village, pricey sort of place.

If you go the the Art Gallery of Ontaruo you can walk down to queen Street, or across to China Town.
If you walk north two streets from the AGO you will come to Baldwin Street with a mix of restaurants.
Enjoy your trip.
Anne