My Wife and 8yo son will be joining me in Toronto for three days in June. We love sports and have already made plans for a game at Skydome and a trip to the Hockey HOF. I am hoping for recs for other activities during the stay. Is the CN Tower a good time? Is it in town or will I need to arrange transportation? Also, my wife wants to go to the St Lawrence Market. How much time is reasonable to block out for this? And finally, any suggestions for really good Chinese food are appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Andrew

My Wife and 8yo son will be joining me in Toronto for three days in June. We love sports and have already made plans for a game at Skydome and a trip to the Hockey HOF. I am hoping for recs for other activities during the stay. Is the CN Tower a good time? Is it in town or will I need to arrange transportation? Also, my wife wants to go to the St Lawrence Market. How much time is reasonable to block out for this? And finally, any suggestions for really good Chinese food are appreciated.

CN Tower is literally right next to Skydome, the 8yo will love it, especially the glass floor.

The St. Lawrence Market is closed Sundays and Mondays. The big deal is to go midmorning Saturday when there are big crowds. It's really just a food market, unless your wife is deep foodie you won't need more than an hour. The quintessential Toronto lunch is the peameal bacon sandwich from the Carousel Bakery. It's about a 10 minute walk from the HHOF.

Another thing the 8yo would probably enjoy is the Ontario Science Center, it's a bit of a hike but accessable by public transit.

The best Chinese Restaurants are reputed to be in the Northern suburbs, without leaving downtown the Chinese restaurants in the Westin and Metropolitain Hotels are well regarded (and expensive) and I'm sure other's will suggest places in Chinatown.

Two other suggestions for things to do with an 8 year old (which are both near the CN Tower) are Ontario Place which has an imax theatre, waterpark, rides, bumper boats, etc. and the Toronto Islands which has Centreville, an amusment park. You take a ferry over from the harbourfront to Centre Island and from there you can rent bikes, go to a beach, or go to the amusement park. Links are:

http://www.ontarioplace.com
http://www.centreisland.ca

Both of these places really are weather dependant as most of your time would be spent outside.

I'm not an exspert but i have been to toronto 5 or 6 times, always as a tourist (sort of) my tip for you would be getting a toronto city pass, i havent ever got one myself, i only have one last thing to do on it, Casa Loma. But if it's a first time it looks well worth it.

here's a link http://www.citypass.com/city/toronto.html

have a great time

Yada

Thanks everyone for the ideas. The City Pass actually looks like a great deal for us.

Any more ideas?

Try the Ontario Science Centre - very kid friendly and generally pretty fun.

Has any one done the amusement park (Canada Wonderland??) recently. WE are lookign at goign the summer of 08 and thought the kids 6 & 7 would like it.

If you're into markets, the Kensington Market is an alternative one to the St. Lawrence.

Not that it matters much, but the skydome is now know as the Rogers Centre though I don't think anyone will miss or mistaken something else for it as it is one of the city's visible icon.

As for the Chinese restaurants, the northern suburb that another poster is reffering to are located in Markham/Richmond Hill which is about a 35 minute drive if you are staying in the downtown area. There are also some descent Chinese dining in the Mississauga area not far from the airport in places such as the Golden Square Center near Burnhamthorpe & Central Pkwy. I personally have seldomly dined in the downtown Chinatown ever since I relocated back to GTA in January 2007 because the quality just isn't as top notch as what I can get closer to where I live in the suburbs.

The public transit system in toronto is excellent. You can get just about anywhere in the city using the subway. Most of the attractions you have mentioned are all right downtown, and walkable from each other.

I'm not sure where you are staying, but there is a great hotel (The Royal York) is right next to the HoF (personal favorite of mine) and not far from the ACC, Skydome, etc.

Lee Garden is always a favorite of mine in the chinatown area. Well worth it if you are staying downtown.

JP
As for the Chinese restaurants, the northern suburb that another poster is reffering to are located in Markham/Richmond Hill which is about a 35 minute drive if you are staying in the downtown area. There are also some descent Chinese dining in the Mississauga area not far from the airport in places such as the Golden Square Center near Burnhamthorpe & Central Pkwy. I personally have seldomly dined in the downtown Chinatown ever since I relocated back to GTA in January 2007 because the quality just isn't as top notch as what I can get closer to where I live in the suburbs.

There's a lot of good ethnic enclaves in Toronto you may enjoy. You could do a lunch at the St. Lawrence market (go to carousel bakery and get a peameal bacon sandwich) and then take a King streetcar east to Broadview/Gerrard. There's a small chinatown here that has lots of visual pleasure. Then, get back on a Gerrard streetcar east to little india, which is very colourful as well - get some of the corn with lime/chili on it from a street vendor. After that, get on the Coxwell bus south to Queen and turn right for a walk through Leslieville or left for a walk through the beaches (quite touristy, lots of cutesy shops.)

After that, get on the Coxwell bus south to Queen and turn right for a walk through Leslieville or left for a walk through the beaches (quite touristy, lots of cutesy shops.)
The Leslieville voice just keeps on getting lounder and lounder. :D

Has any one done the amusement park (Canada Wonderland??) recently. WE are lookign at goign the summer of 08 and thought the kids 6 & 7 would like it.
Lots of rides, many too wild for me. Big swim/spash/slide pools. Kids will probably love it. Little in the way of non ride 'attractions' a la Disney though.

You'll need a car, it's a half hour drive north of Toronto. Have fun.

Cheers,

The Leslieville voice just keeps on getting lounder and lounder. :D


Here's a description and map of those stores. Tons of 'em, 'though this is more of a trip for adults.


http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9016643&postcount=3

After you are done, walk back to Carlaw Ave. Take the Pape 72 bus North on Carlaw, takes you to Pape Subway Station. Right there you catch the Don Mills 25 North, this bus goes directly in front of the Ontario Science Center! @:-) @:-)

How's that for a good trip. Allot 1hr for these two legs.

You'll need a car, it's a half hour drive north of Toronto. Have fun.
Traffic on Black Creek-Weston-Keele is a PITA. I live in Richmond Hill and have used the 400 continuing to that surface street (the 400 ends shortly after passing the 401 interchange) going to downtown and once I hit that length of that surface street, it is so damm slow even during non rush hour. Believe me it is a PITA on both directions and this will be the main journey path between downtown and wonderland. So I would allow plenty of time just to get to the theme park if you plan on maximizing a full day's play.