…so we’re off to a family golden wedding at the end of the month, having for decades declined invites. There for about ten days, hotel booked in town for the first four, which I think will probably be enough.

So is there anywhere worth visiting within half a day or so’s drive, train, afford able flight, whatever? A bit of biking (any sort) would be a major bonus.

This is starting to feel like one of those seemed like a good idea at the time things… in other words help!

Escape from Toronto…

Nah. He’d never be able to land a glider on the CN tower.
Not when it’s spinning round.

“Snake Plissken? I heard you were dead eh?”

So is there anywhere worth visiting within half a day or so’s drive

Well Niagara falls can be done in a day from Toronto. The town itself wasn’t up to much when I was there (this was almost 20 years ago) but the falls themselves were pretty spectacular.

… subconscious init. I was actually thinking NY’s not too far (it’s way too far.)

Spent two weeks in Toronto a while back, I could’ve stayed for way longer, fantastic city. Nigeria falls (the town) makes Blackpool look like Monaco.

Ok so not Nigeria falls…

Just got back from Toronto and Niagara Falls. As said, the falls are spectacular but the town makes Blackpool look good. Toronto Islands are nice for a day out.
I’d suggest staying in Toronto and taking a day trip to the Falls rather than staying at the Falls for more than one night.

I’m told that the village of Niagara On The Lake is nice. Wine country so there are day-long winery tours for about $125 per person

John you don’t go to Niagra Falls for the town, the clue is in the name 😉 definitely do that.

Normal trip would be out into the countryside, rent a lakeside cabin, do some hiking, rent a boat go for a paddle. IMO 4 days in city is enough, its a cool city for bars, restaurants etc but its a crime to go to Canada and not see the great outdoors.

NY is a short cheap flight, I used to go up/back same day frequently for meetings when I worked there.

(wife’s been to Nigeria/ Niagara and I’m happy to give it a miss so that prince will have to wait to give me the cash he owes)

@jambalaya Ah! So head for where? Algonquin nat park say? Look for a rentable cabin (rellos have one on a lake but not that far)? Biking looks shite, tho I guess that’s not the point…

If you’re going to the falls (and you should), then Niagara-on-the-Lake is actually really nice. As said, Niagara less so…

Fort George is worth visiting too, if you’re going down that way.

Algonquin is proper northwoods, I would definitely try and go there, but the logistics might be hard depending if you have small camping gear you can take with you, or are willing to buy cheap when you get out there. School holidays so you need to book campsites or apply now for a permit to hike into the backcountry camp sites. There will be hire places (outfitters) and tons of trails as well as a chance of seeing wildlife (e.g. moose). If you do go for it, take lots of mossie spray and buy a netted hat if you are camping or canoeing – the black fly season is over but the mossies, horse flies etc will still be about.

Indeed

Toronto? The home of the world famous CN Tower?

If the weather’s good there’s a fair amount to do. In the city you can go to the islands, which is good for a half day – you can rent quadricycles, amble around, see if you can find the “clothing optional” beach, rent canoes etc.
The Distillery district’s not bad, and St Lawrence market is interesting enough too; High Park has a mini zoo (world-famous escapist capybara) plus lots of green space.
Out of town, there are a heap of wineries on the way to Niagara, about an hour’s drive away – Henry of Pelham does a good lunch, Mike Weir does brunch, and so on.

If you can stretch to it, Langdon Hall is a lovely country house about an hour out of town (different direction), with a very nice spa and restaurant – they do cream teas as well which are tasty.

For biking, if you have your own bike the Don Valley has trails, mostly unmarked (that’s in the city, so rideable from wherever you are). Within an hour’s drive, check out Albion Hills, which has purpose built mtb trails plus wide tracks for the kids and family to ride on. Further afield, Hardwood Hills is worth a visit, but about 2 hours’ drive to get there.

CNN Tower looks a bit small in that pic…

Anyway, thanks everyone. I should have been clearer, I guess, about looking for somewhere to stay out of Toronto…

all day winery tours

The very definition of asking for trouble…

So the mozzer defended north it might be…

Toronto is great fun, lots of good restaurants and a lot to see ( not just the CNtower but that’s well worth a visit) there are some good museums up in the university district as well as Casa Loma, a rather good folly/castle in the north of the city. Island park is worth a long afternoon pottering round,

As for Niagara, yup the city itself is best avoided ( well, we drove though it going “dear god!”) unless you really like casinos and amusement arcades. The Falls and Rapids however are truly spectacular and make a very good, long day out so may be a bit much as a day trip from Toronto. Niagara on the lake is a very good bet for a shortish stay as it’s everything Niagara city isn’t…quiet, very pretty, chilled out and there are some very good vineyards around it. Didn’t get the chance last year when I was there to hire a road bike and cycle up Niagara parkway ( v scenic road to the falls) but would have loved to if I had had the time.

As for other places to go you could always try Ottawa or Montreal.