Visiting Toronto and Ottawa . . . any ideas for sightseeing/attractions?

[HughBeaumont]

I know there's Canada's Wonderland 30 minutes away . . . and there's lots of shops and restaurants and a few museums and old buildings . . . any specifics that would grab my interests?

[MissHoneychurch]

1. No help here

just wanted to say :hi:

:loveya:

[HughBeaumont]

4. MHC . . . MHC . . .MHC . . .

Too bad I'm not visiting Germany.

Alone.

:evilgrin:

[MissHoneychurch]

19. Too bad indeed

:evilgrin:

[bif]

2. Chinatown is very cool

In Toronto. It's huge so you won't be able to avoid it. The art museum is excellent. And there's a cool shopping area on the east side--I forgot what it's called. The Hockey Hall of
Fame is supposed to be excellent. You might want to post over in the Canadian forum for more advice.

[rockymountaindem]

3. Check out the University of Toronto

I'm an alum so this is a shameless plug, but I really think that it has plenty of interesting architecture and some nice grounds if you're into that sort of thing. It's kind of like a park in a way.

[LynneSin]

5. If you enjoy wine, I suggest checking out the Niagara Pennisula Wine Region

They have some lovely Wineries up there with plenty of tasting available. I did the tour about 2 years ago and enjoyed it. Niagara is about 3 hours from Toronto. Plus once you get to Niagara you can go see the Falls, which are quite beautiful. It's unfortunate that the city of Niagara is a giant tourist trap. My motel was next to the Wax Museum of Mass Murders. That was a classic

[u4ic]

12. It's about half that time to the Niagara region

:hi:

edit: Niagara on the Lake is stunning as well.

[JVS]

6. Elsinore brewery!

[HughBeaumont]

7. Yeah. OK, well, uh, we found, uh, this mouse . . .

. . . in a bottle of YOUR BEER, eh. Like, we was at a party and, uh, a friend of ours - a COP - had some, and HE PUKED. And he said, uh, come here and get free beer or, uh, he'll press charges.

:rofl:

[JVS]

8. Give us free t-shirts too, eh, ya hoser!

http://www.founditemclothing.com/t-shirts/elsinore.html

[jobycom]

9. The Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam.

[terrya]

10. The CN tower in Toronto.

Fantastic view.

[u4ic]

11. Casa Loma

http://www.casaloma.org/

Depending on when you're going, the CNE could be on, too. http://www.theex.com/

The Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

I definitely agree with another poster about Chinatown.

Fort York: http://www.toronto.ca/culture/museums/fort-york.htm

The Museum of Civilization in Ottawa http://www.civilization.ca/visit/indexe.aspx , as well as the Parliament Buildings http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/visitors/index-e.asp

[leftyclimber]

13. All of the above

You'll recognize Casa Loma from the X-Men movies, if you saw them, but it's much cooler in person. The gardens are lovely.

Also check out the Bata Shoe Museum on Bloor Street. Sounds weird, but it's pretty cool. If you can catch some late-night theatre in TO, definitely do so. If Video Cabaret is still around, I can't recommend them highly enough. Some of the most innovative staging you'll ever see.

And the library in Parliament is a must-see. If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to build a replica of it and live in it, stacks and all. :P

[u4ic]

15. Forgot to mention the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto

http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/

Kensington Market

Queen Street West

[applegrove]

14. Are you visiting with kids? Cause the Science & Technology Museum in Ottawa is a good

one. Also the aviation museum, the war museum and the Museum of Civilization.. all in Ottawa are pretty good. Go to the market area in Ottawa and eat a beaver tail.

[HughBeaumont]

18. This would be a good one.

The stepkid is into science, as am I.

[applegrove]

20. Called the National Museum of Science & Technology I think. On St. Laurent Blvd in the east end of

Ottawa. Have fun!

[DeepBlueC]

16. Ontario College of Art & Design

On McCaul Street between Dundas and Queen. Building on legs designed by Will Alsop. Coolest building in the city. Often referred to as the tabletop building. Black and white checked box on multi-colored legs. Very arty.

I second recommendation of the Bata Shoe Museum. A block or two away the Royal Ontario Museum has just had a renovation by Daniel Liebeskind that has crystals bursting out of a stately old building. Across the street fro0m ROM on University is the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, small but wonderful with an EXCELLENT restaurant by one of the most prominent chefs in the city, Jamie Kennedy. Very small though so reservations recommended. The Royal Ontario Museum also has a new and apparently excellent restaurant. Not cheap, either museum restaurant, but worth it.

Kensington Market also seems to charm (near Chinatown and the Alsop building both), lots of small open air stores & cafes, and tons of funky vintage clothing. Definitely more funky than beautiful.

The Toronto Islands are beautiful for walking or biking or beach at this time of year. Ferry boat access from Queen's Quay.

[DeepBlueC]

17. If you like gardening ...

the Music Garden is a lovely series of landscape architecture right on Queen's Quay on the Harbourfront. Different designs along a continuous path. They do have free concerts in the garden some Sundays. Pick up a copy of NOW and eye magazines, free entertainment papers issued every Thursday and available at boxes all around the city. It will list plays, concerts etc. Very useful though many people object to the classified section in the back of both papers that contains ads for escort services and assorted hookers. Colorful, pictorial. So be forewarned if you have kids.

[Forkboy]

21. The NHL Hall of Fame.

Duh!

:P