Travel Mom says: Take The Family to Toronto

My friend Claudia is a true Travel Mom. She is on a trip as we speak, actually. Her home base is now Morris Plains, NJ. Previously, however, she lived in Toronto with her family for 6 years, and she became an expert on fun things to do there. Here's Claudia's advice:

1) How will you get there? From New Jersey to Toronto, Ontario is 8 hours by car.  If you decide to drive, try a stop overnight in Buffalo, NY and then cross the border early in the morning to avoid long lines.

The flight to Toronto is 1 ½ hours. Try Porter Airlines, a Canadian Airline that offers good deals right from Newark.  They land on Toronto Island and it is convenient to take public transportation to downtown from the island.  The border crossing is taken care of via the paperwork at the airport and through the airline on your flight. Once you are in town, public transportation in Toronto is $3 per ticket. One ticket carries over from a bus to the subway to the streetcar for the same ride. To get more details, go to www.ttc.ca

2) When should you go?  Where will you stay?  The best time of the year to visit is summer.  Spring and fall are fabulous too with the blossoming of the flowers and the foliage's change. Winter is great if you like winter sports, but it is super cold!  The seasons are similar to New Jersey but a few degrees cooler. 

For a hotel, Claudia recommends using www.priceline.com or a website of your choice to name your own price.  During low season (November to April), they have stayed at a Ryerson Hotel for $50 per night.  Prices will be higher during the summer, the peak season to visit.

4) What should you do?   You can spend the whole day at the Ontario Science Center. Kids are encouraged to touch and try everything, so it's a very hands-on experience. The IMAX theatre there is amazing with lots of 3-D movies.

The Riverdale Farm is a great place for kids. You can see people milking the cows or collecting eggs.  There is no admission fee!   

Ontario Place is fabulous for summer activities. There is a fair with rides and a water park. ROM, the Royal Ontario Museum, is a large museum that has many areas that are family and kid-friendly, including hands-on galleries.  The CN Tower (Canada’s National Tower) is impressive.  The tower is beautiful to see from the city and you can view the entire city from atop the tower. If it is a sunny day, you can even see Niagara Falls!  Toronto Island has a zoo, a garden, a water park, and the beach.  That is more than one day of activities right there.  There is also the amphibian bus, the Hippo Tours. They offer 90 minute tours of Toronto that start on land and take their buses right into the water. Don’t worry!  It’s a “Bus that Floats.” 

I’ll conclude with a quote from Claudia:  “I feel that I can't tell you enough about Toronto.  It is such an amazing place to live and visit that you will always find something great to see, no matter the temperature!”

Please share your favorite destinations, travel secrets, and comments.  And wherever you wander, enjoy your trip, have a great time, and be safe!  Bon Voyage!