I’ve lived in BC all my life, but I was born in Ontario. I’ve always wanted to “go back there” to visit… I guess just for a short vacation. This coming summer will be the summer after my first year at university, and I think this is the best time for me to head to Ontario. I haven’t ran this idea past my parents yet, but even if there’s a problem, there’s not much they can do. My brother went back to Hong Kong to visit after his first year. Besides, I have a job and enough money I can finance the trip myself.
Anyway, I’m guess I’m just looking for some advice. I already know that I want to take a Greyhound. I can’t afford a plane ticket, and I feel iffy about dealing with the airport. It’ll be a three day trip on just the bus, but I think I’m going to be okay. I’m a little confused on where to stay. I know I can’t afford a hotel (they cost around $150 a night in the summer! :eek: ) and a friend suggested looking for a hostel where it’s only about $30 even though I might have to share it with three strangers. I’ve looked it up, and so far it looks promising… the problem is that I don’t have a credit card so I don’t know how I’m going to book anything. I have a friend who lives there who can show me around, but I don’t want to depend on her too much. It is a trip of “self discovery”. I’m good when I have specific directions. Whenever I want to get to a destination here, I always look it up on a map page, or the public transportation page for schedules, but I won’t have the internet once I get there, so I don’t know if I can handle looking at just maps. Also, I don’t know if it’s a little early to start planning. I mean, I’ll need to let my manager know I need about two weeks off work in the summer, and to get tickets bought and stuff packed, but half a year in advance seems like I’m getting ahead of myself.
The rest of my family (three cousins, two aunts & two uncles), and they have never come back - from what I understand, one goes west, but doesn’t return. Oh, except me, I’ve been out west four times to visit (Texada Island and Vancouver). It’s beautiful and would love to live there however very expensive!
I live north of Toronto…if there is anything in particular you need info on, let me know.
Couple of recommendations for seeing - City of Toronto just for the novelty - two districts: Greek on the Danforth and Yonge Street (which you will likely see if you are getting off the bus at Union STation). Where abouts will you be staying?
I was born in Scarborough, and I plan to visit there and just visit that for a day or two. As I understand, it’s a suburb of Greater Toronto… according to my friend who lives there, it’s not that interested and infested in gangs. I don’t know if she’s credible, but I just plan to stay in the Greater Toronto area.
I’m definately visiting the MuchMusic building. And I hear that Queen St. is a funky place to get all sorts of stuff…? I basically just want to be a tourist and visit anything interesting. I’ve had the CN tower recommended to me, but I know that’s really just a tourist trap. But I figure what the hell, I might as well visit it.
What I want to find out is how the public transportation is… is it easy to find directions and get around? How helpful are bus drivers? And can I get around easily on the metro (is that what you call it there? We call it the skytrain). If I plan to stay around downtown, will I manage to find my way around?
Yeah, lived in Scarborough for six years…it was alright then but now (about 15 years later), it’s a bit nasty…a place to definitely avoid. Not quite a slum but well on it’s way.
Queen Street West is definitely a go…similar, I don’t know your age, but I guess what Gastown used to be, somewhat artistic and cultish and definitely funky.
St. Lawrence Market is somewhere else you may want to go (food wise anyway). Not far from Queen Street West.
Our subways run underground, not like skytrain. Two main lines, east/west and north/south with the most centre intersection being Bloor & Yonge. I believe the website is ttc.com or try Toronto Transit Commission. VERY easy to find your way around as long as you have a street guide. The subways all have maps…quite easy to follow (even for such as I who missed the handing out of a sense of direction)).
Art wise, the Distillery District, (also has a website although i can’t remember it)…Queen STreet West, Bloor Street.
Toronto in general is a very good city, although there are some areas I would avoid at night, just like everywhere else I suppose.
There is museums, ARt Gallery of Ontario, of course,the CN Tower ( cool if you like heights)…of course the Skydome similar to the dome they built out there (sorry, name escapes)…restaurants by the million…again toronto.com has listings for everything going on …Air Canada Centre for hockey (go Leafs go)…
Also bus service out of the city is very good…northbound has excellent service…there is a train called the northlander which has a really interesting trip way up north…