What to do in Toronto (by myself) in October

[JennyWreny]

I'm lucky enough to be able to go with DH when he visits Toronto for work mid October, but he will be busy with a conference and meetings from Breakfast until after dinner for at least 4 (probably 5) of the 7 days we are there.

I'm pretty sure I can occupy myself just wandering round and exploring reading by the hotel pool , but I thought I'd ask if anyone could recommend anything that I shouldn't miss. I have been to Toronto a couple of times but not recently (1998) so I've done CN Tower, Casa Loma, Science Center, Niagara although I may go there again.

I'd also be interested in -

Any restaurants that you'd recommend.

Nice parks/walks.

Great coffee shops where I can sit and read for a few hours.

Anywhere other than Niagara to go on a day trip?

We are staying right by Union Station, so quite central.

Hi OP, firstly have an amazing time when you are there and secondly apologies for not knowing the proper name of places as it was 2003 and 2005 that I visited.

We took a street car to a place called cabbage town? Where we had the most beautiful walk and visited an amazing cemetery not everyone's cup of tea and I'm not sure if it was the same day or not but there was a beach there that we walked along and it was lovely. It was November and February when I visited hockey season and XDH is a massive Leafs fan so it was snowy and cold but being from Scotland it wasn't an issue for us.

We also went to an island which, if I recall correctly was quite close to where we were staying (Front Street east so really near the centre) but this little island had the most amazing houses and little cafe\restaurant and I loved wandering around, I'm sure there's a local who will be able to tell you what the name of the island is.

I also loved st Lawrence market, FOOD!! And loved walking all the way up younge Street for as far as my legs would take me.

Obviously if you are interested in hockey then the hall of fame and the place where the Maple Leafs play are interesting.

And Niagara on the Lake is just beautiful! XH proposed when we stayed in the Prince of Wales hotel and as it was November all the Xmas lights were up and it was beautiful. Wish the marriage had lived up to the proposal!

Anyway, let us know where you go and how you are getting on, I've lost touch with the couple that we used to visit there due to the breakdown of my marriage and the fact they were XDH friends, but they were a wonderful couple and I have amazing, happy, funny memories of spending time there and with them, they even travelled here for our wedding but decided not to keep in touch with me when our marriage ended , I will always miss them, they were older than me but I felt i had met a soulmate friend in the wife.

Sounds like you had a great time Delores I've added those places to my list. Thanks. You were right about Cabbagetown and the Island is Toronto Island which I think someone mentioned upthread - I think I will spend some time there, it looks so peaceful. Also I'm looking at Niagara tours which stop at Niagara on the lake.

So, this is the plan! I think I need to stay for about a month to visit all of these places (especially the coffee shops).

Hope you can see my map.

Looks great!

Looks great!! Keep us posted with all your doing!!

My TO people!

Jenny, since you're staying near Union, I definitely think that you should head to Boxcar Social at Harbourfront Centre for coffee one morning. The coffee is fantastic, and the shop is very peaceful in the morning. It's right on Lake Ontario and has lovely views. And, the shop is licensed and serves wine, beer, bourbon, and scotch later in the day and in the evening; I think it's open until midnight? It's also next door to the Power Plant, a free contemporary art gallery. I also love the Music Garden, designed by Yo Yo Ma, at Harbourfront: www.harbourfrontcentre.com/venues/torontomusicgarden/

Other coffee shops I like include Tandem (King St East and Trinity; take the 504; cash only); Arvo (in the Distillery District); and Baddies (on Lansdowne just north of Bloor/south of Lansdowne subway station; has a beautiful breakfast/brunch menu).

One place you might like is The Cloud Garden, a curious little spot near the Eaton Centre; I think it's on Temperance St: www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=355cfe59abc61410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

Well the flights and hotel are booked now. Just over 2 weeks and I'll be there! Exciting!

VanderlyleGeek Boxcar Social and the Cloud Garden look great. I'll add them to my list/map. Thank you!

How was your trip, JennyWreny?

We just arrived today! Am in the loose moose that someone up there ^^ recommended! Will post more updates soon!

They have a special deal on Caesars on Sundays so I guess that was a sign.

Have a great trip! And sorry - totally got the wrong week

Yes yes to Niagara on the Lake, very lovely.

This post has made me seriously homesick! Am from Bloor West Village- a suggestion from early on in the thread. Enjoy my beautiful city!

Rainy today so I think I'm going to aim for Royal Ontario Museum, Mackenzie House, Art Gallery etc. Bike tour booked tomorrow morning and Niagara (including Niagara on the lake!) Wednesday. Trying to get tickets for Blue Jays game tomorrow pm. Now to hunt down some breakfast! Thanks so much everyone

You were all right! I love Toronto. It's such a great city. . Since I last posted, I've been to the harbour front (Boxcar Social), the ROM (including amazing Chihuly exhibition), a great Bike tour which went through many of the neighbourhoods you recommended. I went to the Blue Jays game last night which was fantastic, with an incredible atmosphere (possibly helped by them winning) and today a trip to Niagara. I'll see if I can attach a few pics. The weather here is unbelievable (the locals keep telling us. It was about 22 c today! Unfortunately, I think we are going to have a couple of days of rain now.

Enjoy the rain. We've got snow already.

Snow!

UltimateFrisbee - you around tomorrow at all? If so, it would be great to meet up for coffee?

Today it's raining (not too bad though). I've discovered how great the PATH system is. I walked from Union to Queens without getting wet and then caught a streetcar to Leslieville to try out some coffee shops!

I would definitely definitely go and do a tour of the steam whistle brewery, it's just behind the cn tower if my memory serves me right. That was one of my favourite bits of my trip there and will go again next time we visit.
If you see any crown royal maple whiskey, drink it for me! I love it but it's really expensive here.

Thanks. Will try and do the brewery tour in the next couple of days.

Pics from today. I also managed a walk through Riverside park, Cabbagetown and the library at Yonge and Bloor. Now my feet are throbbing!

Have just seen this post! You are probably home now, but glad you had such a great time. The Jays are doing well so great you could experience it. Delighted you checked out Lady marmalade and Rooster! And you had a Caesar! I'm going back to Canada for Christmas and will likely have a few hours stopover in TO, so not long for me to wait.

Hi Normandy144, you are right, I'm back home now. Since I posted I also did the trip to Niagara - for anyone reading this looking for tips, I would def recommend Niagara Day Tours - they had a minibus rather than a coach, so were able to park in town rather than the coach parks, which are further out and therefore saved long walks! I went to the Distillery district - some great shops there and had coffee in Arvo recommended by VanderlyleGeek - that was lovely. I walked back via St Lawrence's market and had a Peameal bacon bun - nice! Saturday, DH was with me as his conference had finished and we caught the streetcar to The Beach and walked along the Boardwalk. We also walked past Lady Marmalade which had a huge queue, so I was glad I'd been there earlier in the week. Had coffee at Boxcar Social (Queen/Boulton) which was great - it was a tasting flight of coffee (see pic). Then went to the Aquarium which I wasn't keen on but DH wanted to go. It was very good. We also visited the Art Gallery of Ontario which had a special exhibition on Mystical Landscapes which had just opened. Also managed to pop into Jimmy's coffee which lemonpoppyseed recommended, although it was busy and there were no seats, but a great coffee. We also did the Steam Whistle Brewery tour which I agree with Darkswan was brilliant (and very good value).

There are so many things on this list that I didn't get to that I will surely have to go back one day - High Park, Richmond Station, Cloud gardens, Crema coffee etc etc.

I am so glad I started this thread, I wouldn't have found half of these places by myself, so thanks again everyone.

and the Island. We didn't get time to go there. Must go back!