[Cincinnatis]

Okay folks ... I know this is a little early (beginning Sept), but I'm in charge of planning a trip for about 10 people and I need to have my sh!t together. Also, I'd like to give this discussion time so that everyone can chime in with their personal taste.

My blabbering on and on about how great Toronto is has birthed this interest in some friends of mine and we all decided to drive to Toronto this Sept. So, I have to make the trip live up to it's words or else I'll never hear the end of it!

A little about us: it'll be about 5 males, 5 females 25-30'ish.

What we're looking for:

Hotel: Something downtown, centrally located (close to what we'd want to see anyway). Something tall with great views. We won't be spending too much time in the hotel, but a pool and a nice bar is a plus. Something contemporary and something much cheaper than $300/night. Also, for instance when you go to a DT Chicago hotel, the rate is usually about $33/night for your vehicle to be parked there, is this the same with TO?

Restaurants: I'm really interested in courtyard dinging (something outside?). In Cincy we have plenty of German & Indian type restaurants, so I'm looking for authentic Italian, Korean, Japanese, Mexican, Mediterranean specific. Also, the closer to DT the better.

Bars: Hole in the wall places. Something with a personal feel. Live bands, more acoustic than heavy. Something with tons of beer options on tap! Something old with flavor and character.

Clubs: Something with good live DJ's originalty. Specifically House Music. Also a club that spins trip hop, or acid jazz. The bigger the better. If I'm going to a club like this, I like to be surrounded by people. Also modern and contemporary is a plus!

Art Museums: Modern and Classical. Also, if there's a specialty museum that'd be great!

Shopping: You guys have a fantastic DT mall, the best I've ever seen (and this will probably satisfy), but what about specialty shopping. Are there any stores that we "just have to check out" ... something unique to Toronto?

Markets: This is another area that Toronto kicks ass in, but I've only been to about 2 or 3. Something close to the CBD ... What are the best markets to go to and on what days and what times?

Streets: Besides Yonge, what are the best streets to walk (for a couple of miles)?

(blank)Town: I've been to Chinatown (fantastic!), but what are the best villages or towns that are impressive? i.e. Cabbagetown, Little Italy, etc ...

Streetcars: I guess with whatever hotel you guys suggest, how do these places that you guys suggest coincide with the streetcar lines? Are we going to be able to traverse to these areas(places) on streetcars or are we going to have to drive? If by streetcar, is there an unlimited "token" or pass that would be cheaper?

Hockey: I think the Maple Leafs pre-season starts mid-Sept. do you know if it has the possibility of starting sooner?

Crossing the Ambassador: We went last June and all you needed was a Passport or Birth Certificate. I've heard that you need a Passport now, is this correct?

Concerts: How is the concert scene in Toronto in Sept.? I know they usually aren't announced until about a month before, but for instance I could tell you that September is a good month for concerts in Cincinnati.

Weather: We're going a little late in the year than I'd really like to go. One of the guys in our group isn't getting back from Columbia until the end of August, that's why we're not coming up earlier this summer. I saw on Weather.com, that it usually hovers around 65-70º ... Is it usually warm around then and what about rain? It'd suck to get there and it rain the whole time.




Guys, I know this is a lot, but every suggestion and reply is greatly appreciated! Seriously. Also, I know this is early, but this could be a good thread for someone else to see that's visiting!

[DHLawrence]

For hotels, you may want to try the Westin Harbour Castle. It's close to Queens Quay LRT station (one stop to Union Station and the subway), and the rooms are around the price range you want, at least from an initial search. They have a pool and spa about halfway up one tower and a revolving restaurant at the top of the other with views of Lake Ontario.

For shopping, you'll want to try malls like Yorkdale Mall up in the north end, Fairview Mall in North York (I think), and, of course, Eaton Centre. If you want speciality shops, you can try the shops on Bloor Street and Yorkville near the financial district--lots of boutiques. A couple blocks north of Eaton Centre is the self-titled "World's Biggest Bookstore" for the book lovers in your group. There are also a few good stores along Front Street, which also holds the St Lawrence Market.

There are restaurants all over, so others who've spent more time in the downtown can give you good recommendations. I live about an hour away, so I can't really advise you well.

Getting around is easy with the subway lines, all of which connect to streetcar lines. If you look up Toronto subway and Toronto streetcar on Wikipedia, you'll get a system map for each. As far as I know, you need a transfer to go from subway to streetcar. Avoid the Queen streetcar if you can; there have been reliability issues in recent history.

For museums, we're pretty well stocked. We've got the Royal Ontario Museum near the Bloor Street shopping area, Art Gallery of Ontario, Hockey Hall of Fame, Bata Shoe Museum, Casa Loma (a restored historic home in the shape of a castle), Ontario Science Centre, and the Gardner Ceramic Museum (I think that's what it's called).

For neighbourhoods, it depends what you want to look at. If you want to see old rich people's homes, try Rosedale or the Bridle Path. If you want old industrial buildings restored, you'll want to see the Distillery District (which was used for exterior filming in the movie Chicago, for those among your group who are musical fans). We've also got Greektown and Little Italy, among other neighbourhoods.

I think passports are required now, but you may want to avoid the Windsor crossing and use Buffalo instead; you'll be able to cross a bit closer to Toronto, and you have the option of passing by Niagara Falls on your way there or back.

This is far from a complete list, but I hope it helps :)

[401_King]

ok u gotta check out queen street west, chinatown (dundas/spadina), and kensington market.

Bloor st and yorkville area. very upscale shopping.

Queens Quay/waterfront for some relaxation

Wonderland, if ur into that

if you guys have car access, go to markham for Pacific Mall - my 2nd home cause i love asian women

you will probably get more responses on Skyscrapercity tho, i saw ur thread there.

[Cincinnatis]

you will probably get more responses on Skyscrapercity tho, i saw ur thread there.

Yeah, I see that! lol ... Thanks for the responses so far guys!

[shappy]

Hotel: Something downtown, centrally located (close to what we'd want to see anyway). Something tall with great views. We won't be spending too much time in the hotel, but a pool and a nice bar is a plus. Something contemporary and something much cheaper than $300/night. Also, for instance when you go to a DT Chicago hotel, the rate is usually about $33/night for your vehicle to be parked there, is this the same with TO?
check out the Cosmopolitan Hotel on Colborne St (main intersection is Yonge & King) or 1 King West right at Yonge and King. Also you may want to check out some hotels in the Yorkville area. There are 3 in a bunch there... Intercontinental, Park-Hyatt, and Four Seasons. Yorkville is still downtown but not as concrete jungle as King & Yonge.


Restaurants: I'm really interested in courtyard dinging (something outside?). In Cincy we have plenty of German & Indian type restaurants, so I'm looking for authentic Italian, Korean, Japanese, Mexican, Mediterranean specific. Also, the closer to DT the better.
you'll find many authentic restaurants in Toronto and many have patios out front or on the roof. Torontonians love their patios.

Bars: Hole in the wall places. Something with a personal feel. Live bands, more acoustic than heavy. Something with tons of beer options on tap! Something old with flavor and character.
check out Kensington for some hole-in-the-wall bars... there are a couple that aren't even marked! The Annex neighbourhood on Bloor between Spadina and Bathurst also has a few good places. There are others that I could mention like the Communist's Daughter but they're spread out all over the west end.

Clubs: Something with good live DJ's originalty. Specifically House Music. Also a club that spins trip hop, or acid jazz. The bigger the better. If I'm going to a club like this, I like to be surrounded by people. Also modern and contemporary is a plus!
there are lots so check out this guide (http://www.martiniboys.com/Toronto). It's actually got hotels and other stuff as well.


Art Museums: Modern and Classical. Also, if there's a specialty museum that'd be great!
there's the ROM, AGO, Bata Shoe Museum, and Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art. Those are the main ones.

Shopping: You guys have a fantastic DT mall, the best I've ever seen (and this will probably satisfy), but what about specialty shopping. Are there any stores that we "just have to check out" ... something unique to Toronto?
Queen West (hip, funky), Kensington (second hand paradise, wacky), and Bloor/Yorkville (posh, fun) are good shopping areas.

Markets: This is another area that Toronto kicks ass in, but I've only been to about 2 or 3. Something close to the CBD ... What are the best markets to go to and on what days and what times?
St. Lawrence Market is good on weekend mornings (try the peameal bacon sandwich). Distillery District has a market set up on weekends and Kensington goes without saying (try to make it for pedestrian sundays).

Streets: Besides Yonge, what are the best streets to walk (for a couple of miles)?
Sections of Queen are great to walk (Beaches, downtown, Queen West, West Queen West), Bloor/Danforth (Yorkville, the Annex, Koreatown, Greektown), King East/Front/Esplanade (historic), Spadina (chinatown), Church (gaybourhood), and Yonge all the way up Lawrence is interesting.

(blank)Town: I've been to Chinatown (fantastic!), but what are the best villages or towns that are impressive? i.e. Cabbagetown, Little Italy, etc ...
yeah, Chinatown, Cabbagetown, Little Italy are great. Greektown, Koreatown, Baldwin Village (basically a restaurant row), Kensington, Yorkville, St. Lawrence. Other places I'd recommend would be the Toronto Islands (Centre Island has a fun park and Ward's Island has a serene car-free community... there's also the nude beach at Hanlan's Point), High Park and nearby Roncesvalles Ave, U of T (beautiful, old campus), Distillery District (historic distillery converted to a posh arts-type community).

Streetcars: I guess with whatever hotel you guys suggest, how do these places that you guys suggest coincide with the streetcar lines? Are we going to be able to traverse to these areas(places) on streetcars or are we going to have to drive? If by streetcar, is there an unlimited "token" or pass that would be cheaper?
public transportation will be the least of your worries.

Concerts: How is the concert scene in Toronto in Sept.? I know they usually aren't announced until about a month before, but for instance I could tell you that September is a good month for concerts in Cincinnati.
tons of concerts all the time. Pick up a NOW or EYE magazine for all the details.

Weather: We're going a little late in the year than I'd really like to go. One of the guys in our group isn't getting back from Columbia until the end of August, that's why we're not coming up earlier this summer. I saw on Weather.com, that it usually hovers around 65-70º ... Is it usually warm around then and what about rain? It'd suck to get there and it rain the whole time.
weather should still be very comfortable. Fall weather is very nice in this part of the world. Regarding rain... talk to God.


The whole central west end is teeming with stuff to see and do. The club district is located there as well as the Toronto triple threat: Queen West, Kensington, Chinatown. Little Italy is a bit further north and west on College (great nightlife but not big DJ/warehouse-type like in clubland... more subdued, funky, euro, stylish). And then the Annex further up on Bloor (frat-style party central - U of T is close by). A bit further east from the Annex is Yorkville (good shopping and nightlife). That whole area should keep you plenty busy.