Toronto on a whim - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!



Go Back   TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards! > Backpacker College Student Travel Message Boards > Where ya going? & Specific country info! > Canada

Canada Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, french culture, hockey...Ohhhh Canada...

Raileurope.com: See Europe by train
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-18-2008, 10:51 AM   #1
SGRHewitt
 
SGRHewitt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 602
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SGRHewitt Send a message via MSN to SGRHewitt Send a message via Skype™ to SGRHewitt
Default Toronto on a whim

I have a four day weekend before school starts this week, figured why not head up north.

8-hour drive, leaving around 2pm on Wednesday(after work). Maybe stop in Windsor for the night, do a bit of gambling . Then head to Toronto Thursday morning. Found a decent hostel in the downtown area 'Neill-Wycik Hotel', has singles for like $30.

So what is there to know, what should I not miss. What is special on the weekends, what is around the city or surrounding area that I could drive too.

Just put down anything I should know, music, food, arts, movies, anything...

Cheers,
Andrew
__________________
US Soccer and Toronto FC Fanatic.

July 23 - Sept 13: Back in Europe! Off to Brest, France for a French language course. Schedule is open before August 7 and after August 28, suggestions?
SGRHewitt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2008, 04:06 PM   #2
Esterina
french touch
 
Esterina's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Québec
Posts: 3,246
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I can't help you since my only trip to Toronto was some 25 years ago... but I wanted to wish you «happy Canadian weekend» !

__________________

people are people


Esterina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2008, 06:22 PM   #3
joe7f
No one regrets traveling
 
joe7f's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 2,056
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to joe7f Send a message via Skype™ to joe7f
Default

I am not sure how far you want to drive with gas being about 5 bucks a gallon north of the border but last year I went up to Algonquin with the Toronto girls and Kevin-L. The scenery was spectacular!

--Joey
__________________


Countries visited: USA, Netherlands, Norway, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain (and Gibraltar), Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Ireland, UK, Japan, Canada , Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Andorra, Croatia, Montenegro

Next up: Mongolia, China

"I sought trains; I found passengers" - Paul Theroux

Help Travelpunk's continued existence with a small donation
joe7f is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2008, 08:09 PM   #4
SGRHewitt
 
SGRHewitt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 602
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SGRHewitt Send a message via MSN to SGRHewitt Send a message via Skype™ to SGRHewitt
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by joe7f View Post
I am not sure how far you want to drive with gas being about 5 bucks a gallon north of the border but last year I went up to Algonquin with the Toronto girls and Kevin-L. The scenery was spectacular!

--Joey
Yeah that looks beautiful, and I'm definitely not trying to spend much on gas. Which is another issue, parking. But I figure I'll park the car for the 4-5 days and use public transport anyway.

Yeah, I'm willing to do anything though. Just wanting to see as much of the town as I can. I'm sure I'll want to come up again. Its so close I can't believe its taken me this long to go.
__________________
US Soccer and Toronto FC Fanatic.

July 23 - Sept 13: Back in Europe! Off to Brest, France for a French language course. Schedule is open before August 7 and after August 28, suggestions?
SGRHewitt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2008, 09:07 PM   #5
MolsonGirl
Drifter in the making.
 
MolsonGirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: The Bubble, Ontario
Posts: 2,063
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Ummm I'd skip Windsor.. ( no offence to windsor peeps.. but.. well ew... ) and on weekend the Chinese markets on Spadina are always fun. Kensington (also next to China town) is tons of fun for vintage shopping. Maybe also hit up the Bier Markt on the Esplanade for a good time with many different fancy beers (took the Punk boyz to that one too )
__________________

I will not say that your mulberry-trees are dead, but I am afraid they are not alive.
~ Jane Austen in a Letter (1811-05-31)
MolsonGirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2008, 12:06 AM   #6
TheJake
To Smart For Mensa
 
TheJake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 5,585
Thanks: 3
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Send a message via AIM to TheJake Send a message via MSN to TheJake Send a message via Yahoo to TheJake Send a message via Skype™ to TheJake
Default

If you're walking around down by the CN tower, skip it and go to the old roundhouse across the street. Inside is the Steam Whistle brewery. A tour is 7 or 8 dollars and well worth it.
TheJake is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2008, 03:23 AM   #7
expatben
lover of Germany
 
expatben's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 2,660
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

CN Tower is nice but it is pretty expensive. I would maybe check out a show if you like the theatre maybe at the Poor Alex or somewhere like that. Check out Nathan Philips Square as well and for shopping the Eaton's center is still a nice place despite Eatons no longer being there.
__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.

Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.

[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"
expatben is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2008, 04:28 AM   #8
SGRHewitt
 
SGRHewitt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 602
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SGRHewitt Send a message via MSN to SGRHewitt Send a message via Skype™ to SGRHewitt
Default

Yeah the CN Tower is of some interest because of Canadian Bacon . But thanks for the suggestions guys, keep them coming! Greatly appreciated!
__________________
US Soccer and Toronto FC Fanatic.

July 23 - Sept 13: Back in Europe! Off to Brest, France for a French language course. Schedule is open before August 7 and after August 28, suggestions?
SGRHewitt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2008, 06:06 AM   #9
Canadian Bacon
Artist of Life
 
Canadian Bacon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ottawa, Canada aka O-town
Posts: 1,530
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MolsonGirl View Post
Ummm I'd skip Windsor.. ( no offence to windsor peeps.. but.. well ew... ) and on weekend the Chinese markets on Spadina are always fun. Kensington (also next to China town) is tons of fun for vintage shopping. Maybe also hit up the Bier Markt on the Esplanade for a good time with many different fancy beers (took the Punk boyz to that one too )
I second this plan.

You can actually do a walking tour of all the cultural districts... start in Chinatown, then go check out the hippies in Kensington Market (I think Hot Box Cafe is still open... that's worth a check out for sure), then you can eat at Cafe Diplomatico in little Italy on College Street, have some walnut cakes in Koreatown on Bloor, then check out the Annex.

And that's only the west side! Take the TTC to Danforth and check out greektown!

ONE THING TO CHECK OUT! THE CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION!

http://www.theex.com/

This is always fun as hell...

That will fill a late-morning to evening.
__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."
Canadian Bacon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2008, 06:55 AM   #10
simply_angelic
The " ... " queen of TP!
 
simply_angelic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,946
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

oh yeah! I forgot the CNE is on now...def worth checking out! Also...high park is awesome for a cheap view of what beautiful scenery toronto has to offer. It's a 100 Ha park in the middle of toronto. V. pretty....has a pool, trails, animal paddocks (with bison, yaks etc) and it's all free.....you can find it on the East/West line of the subway. The ROM (Royal Onatrio Museum) is pretty cool too....even just to look at from the outside. They renovated it a couple years back and it's shaped like a big crystal now...it's pretty cool. That's pretty much all I got for now....
__________________
~Laura
GO CANADA!!!!

If you walk backwards, you'll find out that you can go forward and people won't know if you're coming or going.

Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.
-James Dean

Countries I've Visited: Austria, Botswana, Canada, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy. Malawi, Mexico, Portugal, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, USA, UK, Vatican City, Zambia
simply_angelic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2008, 10:03 AM   #11
SGRHewitt
 
SGRHewitt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 602
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SGRHewitt Send a message via MSN to SGRHewitt Send a message via Skype™ to SGRHewitt
Default

Yeah actually already planning on it for Saturday. Then heading to a Toronto FC soccer game that night. Maybe get to a Blue Jays game against the Sox or Yankees. Toronto must hate baseball, tickets are like 5 dollars on Stub Hub.

Hmm, wonder if Ribena exists in Toronto. Boy do I miss it.
__________________
US Soccer and Toronto FC Fanatic.

July 23 - Sept 13: Back in Europe! Off to Brest, France for a French language course. Schedule is open before August 7 and after August 28, suggestions?
SGRHewitt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2008, 09:06 PM   #12
SGRHewitt
 
SGRHewitt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 602
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SGRHewitt Send a message via MSN to SGRHewitt Send a message via Skype™ to SGRHewitt
Default

Well got stuff packed, have to finish up some things in the morning, and get the oil changed in my car. Made a Google map with points mapped out of places I'd like to go, or are going to.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...64f1ebb8ce&z=1

Is the link. Anything else I should know? I'll have my laptop with me, so I'll make good use out of that map I suppose. Anyway, thanks for all the help guys. This wont be my last trip to T dot I'm sure, all you in that area we'll have to do a meet up soon enough.

Cheers!
__________________
US Soccer and Toronto FC Fanatic.

July 23 - Sept 13: Back in Europe! Off to Brest, France for a French language course. Schedule is open before August 7 and after August 28, suggestions?
SGRHewitt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2008, 12:30 AM   #13
MolsonGirl
Drifter in the making.
 
MolsonGirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: The Bubble, Ontario
Posts: 2,063
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Make sure you have TFC tix in advance.... not easy to get sometimes.
__________________

I will not say that your mulberry-trees are dead, but I am afraid they are not alive.
~ Jane Austen in a Letter (1811-05-31)
MolsonGirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2008, 04:53 PM   #14
SGRHewitt
 
SGRHewitt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 602
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SGRHewitt Send a message via MSN to SGRHewitt Send a message via Skype™ to SGRHewitt
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MolsonGirl View Post
Make sure you have TFC tix in advance.... not easy to get sometimes.
Had a ticket in advance, found out I was in the U-Sector the biggest supporters of TFC. Met a guy through their message boards. All in all, I was in the front row, singing my heart out to songs I'd never heard before. And having an absolutely ridiculously good time.
__________________
US Soccer and Toronto FC Fanatic.

July 23 - Sept 13: Back in Europe! Off to Brest, France for a French language course. Schedule is open before August 7 and after August 28, suggestions?
SGRHewitt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2008, 05:12 AM   #15
simply_angelic
The " ... " queen of TP!
 
simply_angelic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,946
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

So? What did you think of the rest of Toronto? Hope you had a good time! And so sorry I couldnt make the meetup next time fo sho man!
__________________
~Laura
GO CANADA!!!!

If you walk backwards, you'll find out that you can go forward and people won't know if you're coming or going.

Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.
-James Dean

Countries I've Visited: Austria, Botswana, Canada, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy. Malawi, Mexico, Portugal, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, USA, UK, Vatican City, Zambia
simply_angelic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2008, 04:12 PM   #16
SGRHewitt
 
SGRHewitt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 602
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SGRHewitt Send a message via MSN to SGRHewitt Send a message via Skype™ to SGRHewitt
Default

Toronto is amazing, I absolutely fell in love with it. Got to see Evil Dead The Musical, was GREAT!

Everyone was nice, didn't have to deal with anything. And so much to do.

I'll probably be back around that way coming October 18th weekend, and perhaps even end of September depending on student loan situation.
__________________
US Soccer and Toronto FC Fanatic.

July 23 - Sept 13: Back in Europe! Off to Brest, France for a French language course. Schedule is open before August 7 and after August 28, suggestions?
SGRHewitt is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply






Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:15 PM.



 

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0 (Unregistered)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121