Five Days in Toronto, Ontario
Itineraries are crucial to have prior to leaving for a trip. It is the map that helps one plan the most logical route to move from place to place, and is great when you still need to figure out what additional accommodations you may need; hotel room, rental car, transportation, etc. It is also useful to have an itinerary to aid in mapping out activities or landmarks in a certain area you want to visit.
Toronto, Ontario - Often called ‘ T.O.’ for short - has a lot to offer: delicious local food and drinks, historical spots, and of course lots of hockey! Check out the must see and do’s in the area on a long weekend or five day trip! (Well really four days there since half of Day 1 and Day 5 were travels)
Day 1: Morning Travel/ Afternoon Explore: Taking the first flight of the day may be rough, but it is rewarding when you get to your destination with time to explore. We took the UP Express train from the airport to our hotel located downtown. We had the opportunity to explore the neighborhood and went to Burger Priest for dinner and Cafe Crepe for some dessert! Usually the first day we arrive is to get settled, locate necessities in the area and head to bed early so we have a jump on the next day!
Day 2: CN Tower & Distillery District: After getting an early morning jump to the day we explored more of downtown Toronto and visited some well know spots. We started the day with a delicious breakfast at The Senator. The Senator is an old 1940’s style diner located in Downtown Toronto. As we would say, “Their Brunch Game Is On Point!” with a variety of options and large portions. Everything, including the juices, are made entirely from scratch! See the full menu here. The interior has barely changed since its opening in 1948, which makes for a great vibe!
Since we knew today was going to be the clearest day we headed for the CN Tower! The tower is a 553.3 m-high (1,815.3 ft) concrete observation tower located in Downtown Toronto, near the Rogers Center and The ScotiaBank Center. The tower name "CN" originally referred to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower. At one point it was the tallest tower in the world but currently stands in 9th place! However, it is the tallest free standing structure in the Western Hemisphere! There are three observation decks and a 360 restaurant to view the city from. If you are adventurous you can even participate in an Edge Walk around the outside of the tower. Tickets start at $38 for Adults.
After seeing the city from its highest point, we hopped on one of the street cars with our ‘presto’ pass, to the Distillery District. This pedestrian-only area is set in quaint 19th century buildings that once housed a large whiskey distillery. The area is lined with restaurants, bars, and boutiques along its cobblestone streets. Lover of local art? Check out the many galleries, outdoor sculptures and dance, music and stage performances at the area's several theaters. You can also return during the evening to see all the outdoor exhibits lit up and have the ability to interact with a few of them!
Day 3: Day Trip to Niagara Falls: A quick 1.5 hours away from downtown Toronto, Ontario you will find the stunning Niagara Falls. While it is easiest to drive ones-self to the falls, it is possible to get to this wonder via public transit. Both the Go Train/Bus system, the VIA Rail, and major bus companies like Greyhound and MegaBus have daily routes to the falls. The Falls at Niagara are about 12,000 years old and were formed by melting glaciers! The word Niagara comes from the word "onguiaahra" which means "a thundering noise". There are actually two falls: the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. If you are looking for something else to do while in the area you can pop over to some of the local restaurants for a bite to eat, go up the Skylon Tower, ride on the Niagara Skywheel in Clifton Hill, check out the Casino, and seasonally ride a zip line over the falls or a boat cruise. There are a handful of other attractions in Niagara that are great for kids or if you are staying longer than a day! If you want to stay overnight versus making it a day trip, there are a ton of hotels and lodges you can stay at. Read up how we got from Toronto to Niagara Falls.
Travelers Tip in Niagara: Many of the cab drivers DO NOT run their meters and charge a ton to go only a few blocks. One should not pay more than 10-12 dollars to go from the train/bus stations to the falls. Anything above that is the drivers trying to take advantage of tourists.
Day 4: Hockey Hall of Fame: Any hockey fan has to have this on their itinerary when visiting Toronto, Ontario. The Hockey Hall Of Fame is a museum dedicated to the history of ice hockey and a hall of fame which holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League (NHL) records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup. The hall of fame is located within the historic Bank of Montreal building. Not only can you explore the exhibits the hall of fame has to offer, but you can try your luck as a goalie trying to save goals or take a stab at shooting a penalty shot against some of the best goalies in the league with their simulated games. Admission starts at just $20 per adult, $14 for kids ages 4 years old to 13 years old, $16 for seniors (65+), and children under 3 are free!
Day 5: Early morning travel: Unfortunately we had to head out on day five bright and early to catch a direct flight back to Boston. However, if we had opted for a later nondirect flight we would have had the chance to stop by some spots like St. Lawerence Market, The Toronto Zoo or Casa Loma; all spots worth the visit!