Toronto Master Thread

[eis517]

It's the capital, so some history stuff to do there. I don't believe there is any kosher food.

there is a kosher bakery and kosher food in the JCC.

http://www.youngisrael.ottawa.on.ca/travelers-info

[moko]

I'm planning a Niagara/ Toronto trip for late July/August with 2 children (1 and 5). I have a rough itinerary planned and would appreciate some input from my fellow DDFr's. (I'll outline Niagara roughly but I'll save the details for the Niagara thread)
Wednesday 7/29: Depart Brooklyn  5 pm (not sure I'll drive all the way through or stop in the Finger lakes area for the night)
Thursday- Shabbos: Niagara Falls
Sunday: Depart in the AM for Toronto (here is where I could use some input)
               Do Downey's Farm sort of on the way to Toronto
Monday: Toronto Island's - Centreville , bike rental (maybe CN tower on the way back to the Hotel)
Tuesday: Toronto Zoo.
Wednesday: Ideas for the morning? Depart for Brooklyn in the early PM.
I'm planning on staying at the Hilton Suites Markham for under $100.
Based on my activities is this a reasonable location? It seems to be a 15 min. drive to Thornhill area shuls and restaurants.
Activities: Downey's Farm, Centerville/bike rental, Toronto Zoo, CN Tower, & ?.
I figure with the kids, Downeys Farm and Toronto Island will take the better part of a day each.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[eis517]

I'm planning a Niagara/ Toronto trip for late July/August with 2 children (1 and 5). I have a rough itinerary planned and would appreciate some input from my fellow DDFr's. (I'll outline Niagara roughly but I'll save the details for the Niagara thread)
Wednesday 7/29: Depart Brooklyn  5 pm (not sure I'll drive all the way through or stop in the Finger lakes area for the night)
Thursday- Shabbos: Niagara Falls
Sunday: Depart in the AM for Toronto (here is where I could use some input)
               Do Downey's Farm sort of on the way to Toronto
Tuesday: Toronto Island's - Centreville , bike rental (maybe CN tower on the way back to the Hotel)
Wednesday: Toronto Zoo. Depart for Brooklyn in the PM.
I'm planning on staying at the Hilton Suites Markham for under $100.
Based on my activities is this a reasonable location? It seems to be a 15 min. drive to Thornhill area shuls and restaurants.
Activities: Downey's Farm, Centerville/bike rental, Toronto Zoo, CN Tower, & ?.
I figure with the kids, Downeys Farm and Toronto Island will take the better part of a day each.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to TO!

Here are my thoughts:

I think you skipped Monday.

Centerville can be an all day thing. Just waiting for the ferry could be 30 min.

Markham is close enough to the shuls and restaurants, so that shouldn't be a problem. However, traffic to downtown spots, like Centreville and CN tower could be an issue. Although there will not be any Pan Am or Para Pan Am games then, traffic is so screwed up from those events, that it is worse than normal.

I have never been to Downeys farm, but the zoo is also an all day thing. There is an awesome splash pad, so bring bathing suits for you/kids.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[moko]

Welcome to TO!

Here are my thoughts:

I think you skipped Monday.

Centerville can be an all day thing. Just waiting for the ferry could be 30 min.

Markham is close enough to the shuls and restaurants, so that shouldn't be a problem. However, traffic to downtown spots, like Centreville and CN tower could be an issue. Although there will not be any Pan Am or Para Pan Am games then, traffic is so screwed up from those events, that it is worse than normal.

I have never been to Downeys farm, but the zoo is also an all day thing. There is an awesome splash pad, so bring bathing suits for you/kids.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Fixed.
What's the parking situation at the ferry?

[Chuck2]

I'm planning a Niagara/ Toronto trip for late July/August with 2 children (1 and 5). I have a rough itinerary planned and would appreciate some input from my fellow DDFr's. (I'll outline Niagara roughly but I'll save the details for the Niagara thread)
Wednesday 7/29: Depart Brooklyn  5 pm (not sure I'll drive all the way through or stop in the Finger lakes area for the night)
Thursday- Shabbos: Niagara Falls
Sunday: Depart in the AM for Toronto (here is where I could use some input)
               Do Downey's Farm sort of on the way to Toronto
Monday: Toronto Island's - Centreville , bike rental (maybe CN tower on the way back to the Hotel)
Tuesday: Toronto Zoo.
Wednesday: Ideas for the morning? Depart for Brooklyn in the early PM.
I'm planning on staying at the Hilton Suites Markham for under $100.
Based on my activities is this a reasonable location? It seems to be a 15 min. drive to Thornhill area shuls and restaurants.
Activities: Downey's Farm, Centerville/bike rental, Toronto Zoo, CN Tower, & ?.
I figure with the kids, Downeys Farm and Toronto Island will take the better part of a day each.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

go to the steamwhistle factory after the CN Tower for an Ice cold beer

[tageed-lee]

go to the steamwhistle factory after the CN Tower for an Ice cold beer

And then go to the Aquarium after that... I loved it... Its an incredible aquarium even for the price....

[Chuck2]

And then go to the Aquarium after that... I loved it... Its an incredible aquarium even for the price....

+1 the Aquarium is a must even if you see the lines down the block it moves and worth the wait

[eis517]

Fixed.
What's the parking situation at the ferry?

I didn't see any street parking. There are a few lots- I think parking was like 20-25 for the day.

For Wednesday, you can do the Science Centre or Aquirium. Since those are both indoors, you might want to have one of those as an alternate if there is rain one of the other days

[am7734]

Although there will not be any Pan Am or Para Pan Am games then, traffic is so screwed up from those events, that it is worse than normal.

The temporary HOV lanes on the QEW and 427 are a lifesaver though (assuming you have 3+)...

n/a so much for op though

[moko]

Thanx for the info

The temporary HOV lanes on the QEW and 427 are a lifesaver though (assuming you have 3+)...

n/a so much for op though

will have 3 plus. Are the roads well marked in terms of HOV and so forth?

[am7734]

Thanx for the infowill have 3 plus. Are the roads well marked in terms of HOV and so forth?

Yes, in english and french

Idk if the gardiner or dvp have it though

But for me going from bathurst/lawrence to Burlington area a few times last week, the HOVs were great, actually wished the 401 had as well (besides the collectors and express, which were both pretty heavy, and seem to be more and more consistently so)

Also don't remember until when they are in effect...

[moko]

Does EZ pass work in Canada? if not do I need canadian change to pay tolls?
Where is the best place to change money?

[am7734]

Does EZ pass work in Canada? if not do I need canadian change to pay tolls?
Where is the best place to change money?

The Lewiston-Queenston Bridge  is $3.25  and they accept ezpass... (dont have info on the other crossings, sorry) beyond that the only tolls im aware of is the 407ETR which utilizes a special transponder or pics of ur plates, I have no idea about the rates

[yudamaan]

Does EZ pass work in Canada? if not do I need canadian change to pay tolls?
Where is the best place to change money?

no does not work in Canada, with one exception when crossing into Canada over the rainbow bridge you can pay with EZ pass, but you can use either currency when crossing over by the other bridges

[efflpetzel]

I'm planning a Niagara/ Toronto trip for late July/August with 2 children (1 and 5). I have a rough itinerary planned and would appreciate some input from my fellow DDFr's. (I'll outline Niagara roughly but I'll save the details for the Niagara thread)
Wednesday 7/29: Depart Brooklyn  5 pm (not sure I'll drive all the way through or stop in the Finger lakes area for the night)
Thursday- Shabbos: Niagara Falls
Sunday: Depart in the AM for Toronto (here is where I could use some input)
               Do Downey's Farm sort of on the way to Toronto
Monday: Toronto Island's - Centreville , bike rental (maybe CN tower on the way back to the Hotel)
Tuesday: Toronto Zoo.
Wednesday: Ideas for the morning? Depart for Brooklyn in the early PM.
I'm planning on staying at the Hilton Suites Markham for under $100.
Based on my activities is this a reasonable location? It seems to be a 15 min. drive to Thornhill area shuls and restaurants.
Activities: Downey's Farm, Centerville/bike rental, Toronto Zoo, CN Tower, & ?.
I figure with the kids, Downeys Farm and Toronto Island will take the better part of a day each.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

i'd squeeze in the African Lion Safari,
it's a fantastic place, great for the kids

[Ergel]

If you take the 407, be prepared from some sticker shock when you get your bill. It is insanely expensive, especially if you don't have a transponder (which you won't). They charge you ~$3.25 just for getting on without a transponder. After that, depending on time of day, it's about $.30/KM
Although the 25% discount because of the weak CAD may make it more palatable.

[Ergel]

i'd squeeze in the African Lion Safari,
it's a fantastic place, great for the kids

Heard great things about the Safari, have not been as of yet.
For Wednesday morning, you could also try Kidstown. I've never been but it's a free water park run by the city.

[Ergel]

Daily rates for valet parking at the airport went up to $40 effective July 6.
The new price makes it prohibitively expensive. Not even worth it for a 2 day trip anymore. So long valet parking, it was nice while it lasted.

[Dan]

If you take the 407, be prepared from some sticker shock when you get your bill. It is insanely expensive, especially if you don't have a transponder (which you won't). They charge you ~$3.25 just for getting on without a transponder. After that, depending on time of day, it's about $.30/KM
Although the 25% discount because of the weak CAD may make it more palatable.

We used it once last year when driving back from the Lion Safari, saved 30-45 minutes of traffic due to an accident on the 401, wound up costing $15USD.
I had estimated it would cost $8USD from their site, I guess the markup was due to the lack of a transponder?

Expensive, but worth it with kids when the alternate route is significantly longer.

[Ergel]

We used it once last year when driving back from the Lion Safari, saved 30-45 minutes of traffic due to an accident on the 401, wound up costing $15USD.
I had estimated it would cost $8USD from their site, I guess the markup was due to the lack of a transponder?

Expensive, but worth it with kids when the alternate route is significantly longer.

Video toll (no transponder) is $4CAD. The rest of the markup would probably be because of the time of day (the rate vary from $.19/KM to $.33/KM depending on day/night weekend/weekday rush-hour/non-rush-hour). And you probably left out the $.90CAD that they charge everyone for getting on the road