Visiting Toronto for the first time

[Auryn]

Good Day all.
Since we are such a traveling bunch I wanted to see if anyone had any input.
I will be visiting Toronto at the end of the month for the first time.
I have never been but I have heard wonderful things about it.
I am technically going for work but I will have all of a friday afternoon and almost all day monday (flight leaves at 5) to enjoy the town.

We are staying at the holiday inn near the airport.
I was hoping someone could help me out with any information about public transportation, great food, awesome shopping ( I was hoping to be able to do my holiday shopping there since hopefully they would have different stores).

Oh and also the money issue.
Do I need to exchange my dollars for canadian dollars??

[Lady Kett]

Auryn,

I've travelled to Toronto on business and found that you don't really need to exchange money. A lot of merchants will take US dollars. Of course, what rate of exchange you get will be in their favor, not yours. However if you pay with debit or credit card, you'll get the exact exchange rate. I will only ever try to change US dollars to Canadian for incidental expenses - cabs, tipping money, stop for a coke or bottle of water type of thing where using a card is more of a hassle. In those cases though, you still might use a card or just pay in US dollars. Know the going rate of exchange before you go so you don't get completely taken advantage of, but if all you are buying is a coke, it may really matter too much.

My favorite touristy things to do are take a trip to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, go to CN Tower (I cannot look down in the elevator though), and haven't-done-it-yet-but-want-to-visit the Hockey Hall of Fame. Downtown Toronto is a neat place to walk around, too. There's a really neat mall in Toronto too but danged if I can think of the name of it other than it was north of our hotel. I know, helpful isn't it? LOL Stop in a Tim Horton's just so you can say you've been to one.

Enjoy your trip!

[irish]

Eaton Centre on Young Street is a fantastic place to shop! 300 shops!
I know it well as I went there everytime I went to see Phantom of the Opera.....12 times!   LOL!
There is a place called Honest Ed's on Bloor Street. Really cool.
Bloor Street also has a great shopping area. It is off Younge Street.
The subway system is good from what I am told. I always drove from New York.
OHHHHHHH.......there is a Medieval Times there, too! I think it is at the Exhibition Centre/Place.
Have a fantastic time!

Oh...I am jealous! I haven't been to TO for such a long time.

[Hausfrau Monica]

Hi Auryn...I meant to reply yesterday but I got very busy.  There are a few Canadians on the board and, I believe, we all live in the Toronto area.  Although I live 2 hours north of the city, I did live downtown for a few years.

The Eaton Centre is a must!  I agree that you don't need to exchange a great deal of US to Canadian dollars....especially if you are shopping in high tourist areas like the Eaton Centre but you will want a bit of walking around money.  I think that you will enjoy walking Queen Street West from Yonge Street.  If you walk north on Spadina from Queen Street (and Spadina east on Dundas will bring you back to Yonge Street) you will soon be in Chinatown which is like a whole different world.  Kensington Market district is great if you like vintage shops.  The Hardrock Cafe is at the corner of Yonge and Dundas.  There is also a great deal of shopping under the city on the P.A.T.H system and a whole other world of shopping is at Yonge and Bloor (more upscale) and even higher end a bit further north in Yorkville.

All of the above is downtown Toronto which is a good 30 minute drive from where you are staying at the airport.  Ask at the hotel what the best way is for you to get downtown.

Please feel free to PM me if you want any further directions.  Let me know what you think you would like to spend your time doing and I can give you further details.

I know you are going to have fun here.  Oh, and if I remember correctly, you are from Florida so remember that we are into winter now...snow is not an impossibility at all.

[Lady Kett]

Yes! Eaton Center! That's the shopping mall to die for. It's fabulous!

[Pascal]

Toronto is a jewel -- you'll really enjoy it!  They have a great downtown subway system; as others have mentioned, Eaton Centre is a great mall in the middle of downtown.  Neat maze right next to it as well.  Yonge Street is fun to browse -- kind of a funky place.  Bloor is also nice, but is more mainstream.  University of Toronto downtown on Bloor.  If you're into fabric, then a trip down Queen Street (I think it's Queen?) is a must.

Good eating most anywhere, but you may want to try some of the spots near the lake and the tower.

Very cosmopolitan town, very very very clean, too.  You won't have time to do a trip to Niagra Falls, but it's well worth it.  Lots of touristy day trips -- you can catch many of them at Eaton Centre.

Catch a play if you're free in the evening.

Only downside is I'm not sure of good public transportation from the airport area -- I've always done taxi's to downtown, then subway around downtown.

ATM's all over -- good way to get Canadian walking-around money with your US ATM card and the exchange rate is pretty good.

[irish]

Fabric  shop on Queens Street???  
OMG! I need to go to Toronto...soon!  

*edit*

ask the hotel if they have shuttle service. most do.
that's what i wanted to say until the fabric shop got my attention....

[Auryn]

Man I love you guys.
I knew that if I asked you would be a wealth of information.

I am really excited now.
Yes I am in south Florida.
We are all excited today because we got a cold front last night and our high this weekend will be 64o- I'm wearing jeans for the first time since March.
I did a weather forecast for Toronto and about the time I will be there the average is about 34o for a high.
Needless to say I will be wearing my fur lined hiking boots. I might have to go to the mall and buy some thick tights this weekend.

Oh I am definitely going to Eaton Center, sounds like heaven. Also sounds like I will have to make sure to have plenty of balance available on my credit card.

In my research I did realize that Niagara Falls is about 80mi away so that is a definite no go. From reading the TTC website there is supposed to be a shuttle that runs from the airport to one of the main subway stations- I have a feeling that will be our best bet.
I love public transportation when its good (Love the metro in DC).

I will not be bringing ATM cards- destroyed all of mine 2 weeks ago after we learned that someone had gotten a hold of our company debit cards and the bank (which has all our accounts and we have banked with them for 10+ years as a business) gave us a hard time and took 2 weeks to refund the $300.

If you're into fabric, then a trip down Queen Street (I think it's Queen?) is a must.

ohhh man I am in trouble. When I went to the LA fabric district I was able to restrain myself and have actually had nightmares about all the amazing fabric I left behind. I can't let myself be that controlled this time if I find something amazing.

Pascal, thanks for the theatre tip- I will definitely look it up.

[Hausfrau Monica]

Yes, if you are into public transport, the TTC subway is very straightforward, clean and safe (get a day pass which is cheaper than paying for each time you get on and off).  And yes, Queen Street and Spadina are the fabric/fashion streets for you then.  You can walk on Queen STreet (the south corner of the Eaton Centre) west to Spadina.  The MUCHmusic studio/building is also along there on the south side....look up at the building...yup, the one with the car sticking out of the side of the building...that's it!  Warm, comfy boots will definitely be your best friends.

Toronto has a coloured card system at all restaurants....a green card means it has been inspected and passes.  Excellent street food on Front Street between the train station, convention centre and CN Tower.  I have mixed feelings about recommending the Tower as a "must see"....it is a very expensive thing for a very long elevator ride IMHO.  It would have to depend on the day, if it was a really clear day then it would be cool but if you have any fear of heights at all...take a miss and spend the money on fabric.

That sucks about your bank cards.  My cousin is visiting from Germany right now and having problems because most places want a pin # for her credit card and she doesn't know it.  I'll keep watching if you have any other questions.

Oh, yeah. Theatre.....yes, the theatre scene here is big...depends on what you want to see.

[BLAKDUKE]

Do not leave Toronto without visiting the CASA LOMA

[Hausfrau Monica]

Blakduke is absolutely right!!!!....it totally slipped my mind.  Casa Loma IS the closest thing to a real castle that we have and we even have faire there once a year.  I believe that it is open year round.

And Auryn, please pm me when you are closer to being here with an idea of your schedule.  If the timing is right we could even meet up at the castle...I know that Aelynn would probably be able to join us and maybe even Airnwynn too.  I will get in touch with them and give them a heads up.

Credit card pin #'s are now required in several places....they aren't "given out" per se...you swipe your credit card in the debit machine and then put in your pin # to access the account.  Many places do not let you just sign a slip anymore.

[Auryn]

I guess I better call my credit card company and find out the pin# on my credit card- just in case.

I'm gonna go out and get some leggins this week to wear underneath my jeans. We had a nice little cold spell this weekend- the high went from 85 down to about 65, and I realized how little winter clothes I have left.

[Auryn]

As the trip looms before me I am getting more excited.
Flight leaves at 6 am friday.

I checked the weather again and thankfully the forecast has gone up 12oF to an average of 46o vs the 32 they were saying a couple of weeks ago. Thats a big yay from me.

I have a new question- big surprise.
How is the post in canada.
With the new luggage stupidity going on with the airlines I have picked up the habit of taking as little as possible with me.
When I am traveling in the US anything I buy I stick it in a flat rate priority mail box and ship it home to myself.
These boxes are great because basically regardless of the weight (as long as its less than 50 lbs I believe) - as long as it fits in the box they will ship it- and the most expensive box I believe is $15.

Is there anything similar in Canada??
I am trying to pack only a carry on bag.

As of right now it looks like we will be doing our down town toronto meandering on Friday afternoon- going to try to hit up as many fabric stores as possible.

[Auryn]

OMG- just found out Loreena McKennitt is going to be doing album signings in downtown Toronto this saturday.
How serendipitous is that.
now I gotta figure out a way to duck out of the seminar for a couple of hours.

[Hausfrau Monica]

Yes Auryn, posting things home is a great idea.  We do have the one price packages but I don't know the prices.

Where is the seminar?  At the airport where you are staying or at the Metro Convention Centre (awesome place!)?