Apparently I don’t know how to Quote. Thanks for the link, Leaffan.
There is no way I’m missing the Toronto Zoo. Initially I was thinking we’d stay in Niagara 5 nights and then stay one day in Toronto due to proximity to the airport but now I’m all confused. Since flying to Buffalo seems to make more sense.
Will I really not be hassled, renting a car in Buffalo and driving to Niagara Falls? It probably seems like a silly question. I won’t have guns or drugs with me. I’ve only traveled outside of the US once and it was by plane so the security aspect of crossing a border had already been taken care of.
I should mention that the “tourist trap” designation doesn’t necessarily sway us from visiting a restaurant, gift shop, museum etc…
We’re tourists that in 2011 had dinner at Hard Rock Cafe in Venice, Italy. Just once and maybe that makes us simple Americans but we’d been there 6 days and just wanted a cheeseburger. Acqua naturale.
As American citizens, renting a US-registered vehicle and driving into Canada will be no problem.
The problem only exists if you’re a Canadian citizen driving into Canada in a US-registered vehicle, as I once found out. (But the Canadian boarder guard let me away with it, given the circumstances. However this was before 9/11.)
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Yeah, that’s why I said ‘tea and cake’, and not dinner! If you stick to dessert and beverage it’s about the same cost, but a MUCH more pleasant experience!
I’m not sure what you mean. You have to order from a prix fixe menu, whether it’s lunch or dinner. There’s no “dessert and beverage”-only option, as far as I can tell.
I’m from that area (US side) and the border crossing is easy peasy. The biggest delays I have experienced have not been directly related to the border part, such as a car accident on the bridge, which is a pain but no different from what could cause delays on any other roadway.
In terms of things to do, I LOVE the Maid of the Mist, the boat that goes close to the base of the Falls, and they have them from both the American and Canadian side. It’s nothing more than “you go on a boat and then you get wet because you’re near a waterfall” but it’s really fun.
On the US side, right before you get to the bridge, there is a super cute ice cream stand called “Twist of the Mist” that’s shaped like an ice cream cone, in a very roadside attractions way. They have good ice cream (it’s a local brand that features a lot of rotating flavors) and great soft serve.
Hey, I once had a personal pan pizza at a Pizza Hut in Prague; after a week and a half in central Europe, and infinite quantities of schnitzels and sausages, I wanted a pizza, dammit. I’m don’t think that I’m a snob, but there’s only so much tacky that I can take in one dose.
Since you live in Minnesota, you might be familiar with the Wisconsin Dells. The tourist businesses around the Falls reminded me a lot of the Dells. Might be right up your alley, but I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were in for.
A couple thoughts:
Car rental - check with your insurance company in advance to make sure there’s no issues/add Canadian coverage.
Cell phone - check with your provider in advance. I believe it’s Verizon charges you roaming unless you (temporarily) upgrade to an international plan.
Side Trip - Letchworth State Park - 2015 USAToday Best State Park. While not Niagara-scale, there are 3 waterfalls, one over 100’, all in a 600’ gorge; it’s called the Grand Canyon of the East. Great hiking at a little under 1½ drive from Niagara Falls.
As an added bonus, I’ll be there Memorial Day Weekend. …for the balloon festival.
Good point. I have AT&T, and bought an international plan (including a data plan) for a month when we went to Canada (as I would have been roaming otherwise). Remember that it’s going to be data (not phone calls) which can be brutal for roaming charges; if you don’t want to buy an international data plan, there should be a setting on your phone to disallow international data roaming.
Toronto has some decent restaurants, good ethnic restaurants of any type, and hotel prices are okay for a big city.
The moon.com 7 day Ontario (Google this) itinerary suggests the McMichael art gallery, Algonquin and includes Ottawa. It’s a lot more driving, but may be worth it.
Toronto has mainstream shows, attracts good concerts, has good comedy and local theatre, has pretty good shopping, very good sports, plenty of traffic with overzealous parking enforcement, some good museums (ROM, AGO, Ontario Science Centre, Bata if into footwear) and some okay theme parks (Canada’s Wonderland… of fried foods).
Niagara Falls is worth a day, not much more, unless into casinos.
If Algonquin is too long a drive, Mono Cliffs has easy hiking and pleasant village pubs. If going 90 minutes north of Toronto, visit the Globe Restaurant in Rosemont and see the Group of Seven museum in Kleinberg, perhaps?
I don’t think anyone has mentioned Toronto’s very large “Chinatown” district (it’s actually a mix of various Asian groups). If the weather’s nice it’d worth taking a walk along Spadina Avenue.
Ottawa is a three hour drive from Toronto. That’s a lot of driving if the OP is mainly interested in the Niagara area. I really like Ottawa, but that seems a reach.
I’d say four to five is more likely, depending on traffic conditions leaving Toronto. Coming from the Niagara area is already a bit of a hike and that may be an awful lot for a seven-day trip. And while Algonquin is lovely, the south entrances are already about 300km from Toronto, so also a bit of a stretch.
If you’re interested in any type of food in particular, you can get it in Toronto. All of your standard ethnic cuisines in quantity, plus unusual twists (a Wilco-themed sandwich shop? It’s amazing. A place that serves both Hungarian and Thai food? Sure. A place that specializes in back bacon on a bun? Why not!), so if food is something of an attraction, do some digging beforehand and you won’t be disappointed.
I did say it was a lot of driving to Algonquin and Ottawa. And offered less driving (Kleinberg, Mono Cliffs). Travellers vary quite a bit in how far they want to move, but if renting a car it’s nice to consider options - cram everything into a week, exploring Toronto you don’t necessarily need a car.
I’m don’t think that I’m a snob, but there’s only so much tacky that I can take in one dose.
…for the