In one of those “why not” moments my wife and I decided to buy some $3 tickets on Megabus to Toronto.
Now I am working out the logistics. As I understand, the bus station is downtown and there are a couple of subway stations nearby. If we get in late at night is it best to walk on the street or take the PATH to the subway? We would each be dragging a small bag with us.
Without a car, which areas are best to get a hotel? I don’t mind being away from downtown as long as I am a couple of minutes from the subway.
Any areas I should avoid?
Since I will be there over a long weekend, is there a decent sports bar to catch a football game?
From the megabus stop (610 Bay St), just head for the Eatons Centre. There is a subway station there. For hotels it really depends on your budget and what you want to do while you’re here. There are hundreds of hotels along the subway lines and likely deals available at some of them. You said long weekend, this one or Thanksgiving?
The PATH can be like a maze and travelling through it takes longer than walking on the street. Its only real benefit is in lousy weather. To get to the PATH from the bus station, you’d be entering pretty much by the subway, anyway. It’s only about a block away.
If you’re sight seeing, it’s not worth renting a car because the transit system is less cumbersome that dealing with parking and downtown traffic. By the time I park my car, I could have walked to my destination in less time more times than not. Even the zoo which is well out of the heart of the city is easily accessible by transit. There are tons of sports bars. It will all depend on where you are staying. They’re all so similar that none are really worth a special trip to get to it. Hotel prices can really vary. Depending on whether or not you are in the core and how nice a place you hope to have.
There are a few hotels in the $120-$160 range right downtown by Yonge and College/Carlton with a sports bar right around the corner called Hoops Sports Bar and Grill that is known for crappy service. I’d go down to Yonge and Dundas where there’s a Jack Astor’s.
If you’re planning on mostly hanging out in the heart of the city, a car will mostly be an inconvenience.
No but I can’t think of much else to do late on Sunday night outside of heading out to grab some eats and catch a game. Most of what I find going on Sunday nights in my limited search are night clubs and comedy clubs, both of which I detest. Do you have any suggestions?
Our main free weekly alt-paper has listings for a lot more stuff: http://www.nowtoronto.com/whatson/ (navigate the stuff on the left). The paper comes out every Thursday, so you’re much better off checking the listings then, because the current listings won’t cover anything that’s opening this weekend.
But, the Canadian National Exhibition (The Ex) will be in full swing this weekend. So roller coasters, rock and roll, outdoor movies, the Air Show, a busker stage, a crazy stunt stage, and a daily Mardi Gras parade.
I wish I was going this weekend. I’ll be there later on this month.
Another quick question. I want to buy hats. Baseball caps to be specific, for my collection. CFL teams, colleges, minor league hockey. Any good place to buy hats that won’t cost me an arm and a leg?
Yonge Street has a bunch of stores between Dundas and Bloor that have licensed sports team stuff. I can’t vouch for the price and I think it’s all pretty much major league stuff. Let me ask my wife and get back to you on that one, she’s better at knowing where to find neat little out-of-the-way places.
I thought of that one, but it’s near my office and I don’t really recall much as far as minor league teams and they certainly don’t have much as far as college/universities.
Right, but I don’t think any smaller stores would necessarily have a bigger selection (for sports, anyways – perhaps a bigger selection of hats with funny sayings).
For a downtown sports bar, go to the new sports bar in Maple Leaf Square next to the Air Canada Centre–I think it’s called Real Sports. There’s also an apparel store next door.
When you exit the bus, you’ll probably be in the “arrivals terminal”. It’s easiest to walk along the street. Leave the terminal, walk south to Dundas Street. Turn left, walk east, cross Bay Street, walk east another block, and you’ll be at Yonge. Dundas Square is there. Lots of ads on the buildings. The subway station is underneath the intersection of Yonge and Dundas.
Hotels? Hmm. There’s a Mariott on the west side of the Eaton Centre, by Trinity Square; to get to this hotel, turn right at Bay Street, then walk south. The hotel is on the east side, almost directly across from the backside of City Hall. This may be the closest major hotel to the bus station. There’s another Mariott further up Yonge St, north of College. That’s 1 subway stop north of Dundas, or about a 15-minute walk.
Speaking of subway… if you’re going to sightsee, best to buy a “day pass”. On weekends, two adults and four kids can travel on one pass after 10 AM. It’s $10 for unlimited rides on bus, subway, and streetcar.
There are a number of hotels closer to Union Station on Front Street: the famous Royal York, the Intercontinental next to the convention centre. At Avenue Rd and Bloor there’s another Intercontinental, across from the Royal Ontario Museum. There are many many others in different areas of the city; I’m just remembering ones offhand.
What things do you want to see? Or are you working?
If you can’t find them in stores (which is possible, despite the fact that the Argos actually have a winning record so far this season), the Toronto Argonauts play their home games at the Rogers Centre, which is near the base of the CN tower. I’m sure they must have a store there with their gear.
Depending on the weekend, they may be playing a home game and their opponent might have stands set up to sell their gear as well.
Tickets can be bought through the CFL.ca website; they are rather inexpensive (20-80$ before service fees) if it’s something you think you might want to do!
Definitely a tourist trip. Haven’t figured out what I want to see since I havent really researched it. I tend to play it by ear.
The CN Tower is probably something I will do. Probably will go to the Royal Ontario Museum. My wife will likely look for a high fashion area for window shopping, unless she decides that Canadian fashion doesn’t really have anything to offer. Not sure if its possible to tour, but I would like to see the Provincial Parliament Building. Not sure if there is a brewery tour in town, but those are fun for me.
As far as hotels, I’ll define areas by Priceline’s area guides. (I’ll likely be getting a room through them). None of my forays into Canada have included Toronto, so my knowledge of the city is frankly pretty lousy.
Toronto (West), Vaughan - North York, Scarborough - Pickering, Oakville - Mississauga South, North York East, Mississauga, Markham, Downtown South, Downtown North, Burlington - Oakville South, Don Valley
Thanks for the tip on the day pass for the sub. I was going to ask about that. Can I buy that right at the station or do I have to go to a special ticket office?
You can get Day Passes at subway stations and at many retailers, like convenience stores. You scratch off the date and write the date at the top to make it valid. You do not have to buy it on the day you use it.
High-end shopping? Try Yorkville. Bloor street between Yonge and Avenue Rd. Conveniently close to the ROM. The ritzy area extends north of Bloor a couple of blocks to Hazelton Lanes shopping centre. Lots of chic little stores and restaurants where the stars like to be seen. Great spot for cruising your Ferrari too. Ironically, the actual Ritz is nowhere near the area (the Four Seasons will have to do).
Actual stars and paparazzi will also probably be found closer to the new Festival Tower, where TIFF is opening this year.
Brewery? I believe Steam Whistle Brewery offers tours. It’s in the Roundhouse next to the Railway Museum. South side of Bremner, west of York Street (south of the tracks, in an area that is now skyscrapers but five years ago was parking lots and fifty years ago was railway yards, hence the roundhouse).
Across from the ROM is the Hyatt with a terrific rooftop bar. It’s the 18th floor and has pretty good food and a great view of downtown Toronto. Great place to have a drink and watch the sunset.
Your wife might like the Bata Shoe Museum. Surprisingly not as lame as it sounds.
:smack: Of course, that’s a nice one. I was thinking the OP was gong to be bussing in and just poking around, I didn’t realize it was to be a nice trip with the wife, hence my suggestion of mid-range hotels.
The Distillery District has the Mill St. brew pub and they have some really interesting beers, but there’s not much to see as far as a tour. But the Distillery District is still need and a great place for a nice meal. There is also the Old Toronto Beer Tour that has some September dates this year.
You’re traveling out of town… to watch TV?