OOOOH CAAAANADAAA! WOOHOO! After a short drive from Lansing, Michigan and an easy passage across the Canadian border, I have finally made it to The True North after a decade and a half of living within a handful of hours from it. So we were more than ready to enjoy our long-overdue weekend of fun amongst the Canucks.
Where To Stay
The first night in Canada we stayed in Brantford, which is about an hour outside of Toronto to the west. Early Saturday morning we drove into the city. We were staying at the Town Inn Suites in the Church-Wellesley Village, slightly more expensive than some other places we have stayed so far on this road trip, but right in the city, within walking distance from almost anything we would want to do.
I ended up paying an average of $140 per night, but this meant that we had an entire suite to ourselves, and didn’t have to pay money on parking or transportation the entire weekend. In hindsight I could have done better and shopped around a little bit more, but the whole trip was a little scattered and I ended up booking the hotel on the way to the hotel.
The hotel was good for us: it was more of an apartment than anything, with a living area, separate bedroom, kitchen, and balcony. It was perfect for a couple of girls and a chihuahua spending the weekend in the big city.
Highlights of Toronto
Church Street Espresso
Because we were early for check-in at our hotel, we walked across the street to the Church Street Espresso and ordered a pitcher of Sangria. MEREDITH IS ALLOWED TO DRINK IN CANADA. I’m not sure I have ever been this happy. Literally every one of my dreams coming true; there’s nothing quite like going to a bar to really immerse yourself in the culture of a new country (even our friendly northerly neighboring country!).
We actually came back to this little café again before we left and would recommend going while you’re in Toronto. The girl working there was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met and talked to me a lot about growing up in the city, and the delicious Sangria was only an added bonus. They also serve ice cream and coffee…a very diverse menu: the perfect place to start or end your day.
Yonge Street
After checking into the hotel, we took Stella to a woman’s apartment about 2 blocks from the hotel. We found Lara through dogvacay.com for $30 per night; she came as a highly recommended and experienced doggy babysitter in the Toronto area, and we didn’t want to have to leave Stella alone in a strange hotel all night long (plus, we did not think that the other guests in the hotel would appreciate her anxious cries and poops either). This service is a LIFE-SAVER when you’re traveling with pets, and a much better alternative to boarding. As for us human girls, we were going out!
According to the movers who came for my furniture in Phoenix, as well as several online resources, Yonge Street is the place to be on a Saturday night, so we started by shaving our legs, slapping on some eyeliner, and stopping into a small Yonge Street bar called Wild Wings to get a few beers (Canadians, since we had never had them before. Sort of like the Bud Light of Canada: light, cheap, not for beer snobs). We met two regulars, Trevor and Joe, who talked to us for a long time about Canada, things to do, where we are from, etc. (and ordered us some shots of Jack, because we are cute out-of-towners). We proceeded from there onto Mick E Flynn’s (more beers), and Firkin (more beers, and a self-purchased Jack shot each for some reason), and didn’t end up collapsing into our shared king bed until nearly 5 am.
Meredith and I met our fair share of colorful Canadian locals on Yonge Street (Canadians ARE friendly — one of those stereotypes that we found to be true), and the nightlife here is a must for anyone going to Toronto (and a delicious savory breakfast at The Croissant Tree the next day to ward off the aftermath is also a must).
Sugar Beach & Harbourfront
Sugar Beach is a recent development within the past five years, in the city’s effort to draw more people to the waterfront and revitalize the area to be a popular destination for both locals and tourists (I think that this is a nice way of saying that the area was a little seedy leading up to the revitalization). It is a nice urban beach, meant for relaxing in the sand, and is surrounded by food and trinket kiosks. When we came down to the Harbourfront on a Sunday, the area was absolutely brimming with people playing frisbee, lounging in the sun, and strolling the boardwalk. It is the place to be, and offers awesome views over the water and of Toronto’s iconic CN Tower. Best of all, it’s free! (Although seeing the CN Tower may tempt you into grabbing your dinner at the top for a meal with a 360 degree view, which is definitely not free, but hey, you have to eat sometime, right?)
Hockey Hall of Fame
Though we did not get to go inside, this is Canada, ice hockey is huge in Canada, and this is one of the most famous museums in all of Toronto. Located on Yonge Street, and only an $18 general admission, this is a great option for sports fans and those looking to learn more about the sport that this country so devotionally adores.
City Halls
Toronto’s City Halls are some of the most prominent structures in the city. Old City Hall, used for city council gatherings from 1899 until 1966, is several blocks up from the harbor and across the street from New City Hall. When it was first constructed in 1899, it was the largest civic building on the entire continent, and remains today one of the most extravagant buildings in the city. Across the street at Nathan-Phillips Square, New City Hall stands, two towers curved around the council chamber. It’s interesting to see the juxtaposition between the two structures, both of which are considered landmarks of Toronto.
Nathan-Phillips Square
And right adjacent to Old and New City Hall is Nathan-Phillips Square: the home of the famous Toronto sign that was installed for the 2015 Pan American Games (a mere month before we arrived!). The Square is gorgeous, as well as a spot for lots of different events, like ice-skating in the wintertime, festivals, and a New Year’s Eve Party. Looks like I’ll be coming back in the wintertime, eh?
Casa Loma
Talk about a fairytale beaut! The fact that this massive place was once a house is mind-boggling, for a financier no less! It is the largest private home ever constructed in Canada, and is now used as a museum, filming location, and wedding space (and if I ever have multiple thousands of dollars to drop on my wedding, and if I can ever convince a poor unassuming boy to marry me, then this is something to consider. I mean THINK OF THE WEDDING PHOTOS!). I am in love with this place, probably more so than I’ll even be with the man I am marrying in it.
Admission to the home including access to all the rooms and a chance to learn some of the history comes in at $25, but if you get a Toronto CityPASS (currently granting you entrance into Casa Loma, the Toronto Zoo or Ontario Science Center, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum, AND the CN Tower), you save a ton on all of these babies. If you’re going to be hanging out in Toronto for a while and are trying to do it right, the price tag is more than worth it — saving you up to 45%!
Up Next…
I think it is safe to say that Canada is one of the best countries to visit in the entire world, especially for residents of the USofA — it is easy to access (border patrol is a breeze, as long as you have nothing fishy up your sleeve), full of fun and friendly people, laid back and comfortable. Packing up our stuff in our little apartment hotel and getting ready to leave was no easy feat. There’s nowhere to go but south and east now: in a few more stops, starting with Niagara Falls, we’ll be arriving at our final destination of Baltimore, MD.
canadagrid
