The last stop on our 6-month journey was one of those highlights that made this great time unforgettable for us. The entire region that stretches in a semicircle from the western end of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls did not disappoint us. But read for yourself what you can do in Toronto and whether Niagara Falls is really worth a visit.
Canada. Seemingly endless forests, magnificent lakes and cities with a high quality of life. There are also probably the most famous waterfalls in the world. Actually far too good to become the 51st state in the USA. Canada is certainly one of the most attractive destinations for emigrants, but it is also at the top of many people's list as a travel destination. Same with us!
Final stop Toronto
After our first stop in Vancouver and a three and a half week interlude in Hawaii, we flew to our very last stop in July. After more than 6 months we finally had to go home from Toronto. To Vienna. We could have easily stuck with it for another 6 months. We chose Toronto because we have never been here before and because the direct flight to Austria, with a flight time of around 8 hours, is much more pleasant than from Vancouver or even Hawaii.
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With almost 3 million inhabitants, Toronto is not only the capital of the province of Ontario, but also the largest city and part of the most densely populated area in Canada. The lively metropolis is located on the so-called Golden Horseshoe, at the northwestern end of Lake Ontario, the smallest of the five Great Lakes with an area of 18,960 km². The city is not only a tourist magnet, but also Canada's economic center and one of the world's leading financial centers. Due to its location in the extreme south of Canada, Toronto has a very moderate climate for the country. We had mostly sunshine, but we also experienced one of the fiercest thunderstorms of our lives.
Our arrival in Toronto
We flew from Maui to Toronto with an overnight stop in Vancouver. Air Canada got us to our destination well and from Toronto-Pearson Airport we made a detour to a car rental company and got a rental car that we had reserved in advance. An inexpensive update to a spacious SUV from BMW made our arrival more pleasant - just the right vehicle for our tour to Niagara Falls the following day.
Our hotel for one night was not far from the airport and the car rental: Holiday Inn Express and Suites - Toronto Airport South by IHG. For such a stopover, this hotel in the outskirts of the city is highly recommended. The rooms were spacious, the breakfast was good and there is even a small indoor pool - all for a comparably low price. Top!
From Toronto to Niagara Falls
The Niagara Peninsula is a peninsula of contrasts. But more on that in a moment. First we had to make our way from Toronto to probably the most famous waterfalls in the world. By rental car you drive south on the six-lane QEW (Queen Elisabeth Highway) around the densely populated arc of Lake Ontario. The direct route to the small town of Niagara Falls is around 130 kilometers and in good traffic conditions it takes around 1.5 hours. There are also regular bus services that travel this route - it just takes slightly longer.
Our tip: On this route we recommend a short detour to Niagara-on-the-Lake. To do this, you leave the highway at one of the junctions shortly after St. Catherines and drive through the most famous wine-growing region in Canada. The town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, located directly on Lake Ontario, is one of the most beautiful small towns in Ontario with its 16,300 inhabitants. Here you can relax wonderfully and take the WeGo bus to the sights of Niagara Falls every 20 minutes - it's best to leave the car in Queenston Heights Park to the south.
Wine from Canada? But definitely!
For a long time, Canadian wine was considered an absolute no-go, but times have changed. As early as the 1970s, a few European winemakers discovered the warm, humid climate of this region. There are now some very successful wines coming from this wine-growing region and many local wineries offer guided tours and tastings, some of them free of charge.
There's also something going on culturally. For example, the Shaw Festival has been held annually since 1962 and has a good international reputation. From April to October, plays by George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries are performed in three theaters.
From Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Niagara Parkway runs 56 kilometers along the Niagara River, which forms the natural border with the USA. The waterfalls can be admired from both countries. We chose the Canadian site for practical reasons.
The Canadians could have saved themselves the amusement park in Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls: Nature meets tastelessness
Niagara Falls State Park on the US side is the oldest state park in the United States and is connected to Canada with an impressive bridge and border crossing over the Niagara River. The Niagara River, which connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario, is just under 60 kilometers long and has a flow speed of up to 50 km/h. It is one of the shortest and wildest rivers in the world.
The name “Niagara” comes from the indigenous people and means “thundering water”.
There is Niagara Falls on both sides of the state border. Both districts also use the falling water masses as a source of energy and live from the approximately 12 million visitors who travel to the waterfalls every year. In our opinion, the Canadian side has exploited the tourist crowd a little too much, because the place at the waterfalls is reminiscent of a cheap fairground. Even though the waterfalls are impressive, the charm of this natural spectacle is somewhat lost when you walk past the trashy entertainment establishments such as “Ripley’s Belive it or not” or the “Guinness World of Records Museum”. Well at least the children enjoyed it and the view of the incredible bodies of water left an impression on us too.
Some impressions of Niagara Falls.
What can you do at Niagara Falls?
There is a lot to do for travelers and tourists around the impressive waterfalls. We decided on a guided tour lasting several hours including a boat tour and a trip behind the falls - you read that right: you can go behind the falls! An activity that sounds more exciting than it actually is, because the waiting times are long and you have to walk in a row through the tunnels carved into the rock until you get behind the water. After all, there you can see water, lots of water!
We definitely recommend the guided tour, as they get priority on the trip behind the falls - so you don't have to wait that long!
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Other things to do in Niagara Falls:
Hornblower Cruises: Offer trips to the falls. You do get plastic covers, but it's like wearing a raincoat in the shower. A must if you don't book the guided tour.
Mistrider Ziplines: You can experience the waterfalls from a bird's eye view on the 670 meter long ziplines.
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours: If you like action, you should get on one of the jet boats at the Hotel King George III. Equipped with several thousand horsepower, they ride through the rapids.
Zoom Leisure: offer guided bike tours.
Sentineal Carriages: Here you can book a city tour in a horse-drawn carriage.
Skywheel: 53 meter high Ferris wheel on Clifton Hill offers great views.
Niagara Park Botanical Garden: located just south of Queenston. Nearby is also the…
Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory: Over 2,000 exotic butterflies flutter through this tropical rainforest.
Table Rock Welcome Center: The terrace offers a great view of the falls. The “Journey behind the Falls” also starts here.
Niagara’s Fury: hour-long 4-D spectacle and animated show about the creation of the falls (also at the Table Rock Welcome Center).
Skylon Tower: The 236 meter high tower on the edge of Queen Victoria Park has an observation deck and a revolving restaurant at a lofty height.
IMAX Theatre & Daredevil Gallery: Here too there is an interesting film about the history of the waterfalls and a museum with information and exhibits from the numerous conquerors (the fall addicts) of Niagara Falls - many of whom also died.
Nighttime light show: 22 powerful spotlights bathe the waterfalls in colorful light every day after sunset - a nice spectacle.
Niagara Glen Nature Area: Rugged valley with over 4 kilometers of hiking trails. An insider tip.
Whirlpool Aero Car: Just 1 kilometer from the Niagara Glen Nature Area, this cable car swings over the circular whirlpool known as Whirlpool Rapids. An experience.
Accommodation in Niagara Falls
We stayed in an Airbnb again for one night. We're glad we only had to stay one night at this property as it wasn't particularly inviting and had a serial killer vibe about it. With hotels like the Sheraton on the Falls or the Crown Plaza, there are also much better, but also more expensive, addresses. There is also a KOA Campground in Niagara Falls if you are traveling with an RV.
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Back to Toronto
After our detour to Niagara Falls, we went back to the big city. We had booked another four nights in another Airbnb apartment and hoped we had made a better choice than Niagara Falls. On the way back we stopped at Lake Ontario and took a short but nice hike along the shore - there are several options for this.
Our apartment was not in the city center, but in one of the numerous residential areas on the outskirts. This time we had a really good time and moved into a well-equipped and very comfortable apartment in a single-family home for four nights. One of the nicest accommodations on our entire trip, Stunning 2 Bedroom Loft in Toronto is located on a quiet cul-de-sac. Mila, the hostess, was extremely helpful and friendly. This is how Airbnb has to be!
We immediately felt at home in our Airbnb apartment in Toronto.
Take public transport to the center
On our first full day in Toronto we take the bus and metro to downtown Toronto. It's hard to believe that this international tourism and financial center was a real sleeping pill a few decades ago. Until the late 1950s, Toronto was a center of ultra-conservative white purists. As late as 1950, the well-known Eatons department store had its windows covered on Sundays to prevent sinful “window shopping”. You don't notice any of that anymore these days. Toronto is colorful, modern and sexy and has presented itself to us from the start as a kind of friendly, Canadian New York - not so wild, not so hectic, not so dirty.
Anyone who walks through Toronto and listens carefully can hear up to 100 different languages, as Toronto is a first-rate North American city of immigrants. This diversity is also reflected in the shops and, above all, in the culture. After New York, Toronto is considered the most productive stage city in North America. Musicals, theater, cabaret, jazz: you will find what you are looking for here. However, we were only out and about during the day and had great fun exploring this metropolis and its different “neighborhoods” on foot. However, we were primarily traveling in the downtown area - it is large enough for our desire to explore and the time available.
Lots to see in Toronto Downtown
Like many North American cities, the colorful cosmopolitan city on Lake Ontario was designed on the drawing board. Orientation in the chessboard-shaped streets is relatively easy. The CN Tower is also a landmark that can be seen from afar. The city's 553-meter-high landmark was the tallest free-standing, unbraced structure in the world from 1975 to 2007, when the Burj Khalifa reached a height of 555.30 meters. He's still impressive. Today it is the city's main tourist attraction and receives up to two million visitors every year with its various levels, viewing platforms and revolving restaurant.
Most of Toronto's attractions are located in Downtown, which borders the large lake and is bounded by Spadina Ave., Bloor Street and Yonge Street. The area north of Bloor Street is called Midtown. There are also the West End and East Side districts. Downtown Toronto can easily be explored on foot in a day. We took the subway to Dundas Square, a square that is vaguely reminiscent of Times Square in New York. We started from here.
What can you see in downtown Toronto?
We walked along Yonge Street from Dundas Square towards Harbourfront and along Queen Street to Nathan Phillips Square with its iconic Toronto sign. The old and new City Hall, the city's town hall, are also located there. Passing Osgood Hall, we finally took a longer break in Grange Park with a coffee and some Timbits (sweet fried dough balls) from Tim Hortons. There is not only a great children's playground, but also the Art Gallery of Ontario. If you leave the park back up towards Bloor Street, you will come to the extensive university grounds and Queen’s Park.
Toronto Downtown has something for everyone - kids and adults.
However, we went back towards the Lake, crossed the Entertainment District with its theaters and went through the Finance District towards Queen’s Quay. From there we also visited the CN Tower. Toronto's waterfront has been given a new lease of life with the spacious Harbourfront Center and relatively new surrounding infrastructure. This is damn good for the city. All kinds of boats and ferries dock and depart between the modern condominium towers. From here, excursion ferries and vintage ferries travel to the offshore Toronto Islands, which are very popular with locals and tourists.
Day trip to the Toronto Islands
11 kilometers long and 325 hectares in size, the offshore islands are a popular local recreation area. To the west of the Westin Harbor Castle, small ferries run several times an hour to the island jetties of Hanlan's Point, Center Island and Ward's Island. The almost car-free islands are home to a few private houses (the owners can count themselves lucky) and offer a number of green spaces, sandy beaches, sports facilities, a small farm and a friendly little amusement park. From the terrace of the garden restaurant on Center Island you have an unobstructed, magnificent view of Toronto's great skyline until the evening hours. While you're here, you should definitely come here for island hopping.
Our trip to the Toronto Islands was a real highlight of our trip.
Our trip to the Rouge National Urban Park
On our second day in Toronto we took a trip to Rouge National Urban Park. The local recreation area is about half an hour from the center and right next to the Toronto Zoo - so you could combine both sights. We skipped the zoo and treated ourselves to a wonderful day in Canadian nature. The Rouge National Urban Park impresses with its intricate network of trails and invites you to take longer hikes. You pass several viewpoints to Rouge Beach on Lake Ontario. Entrance to the park is free.
A trip to the Rouge National Urban Park is a great contrast to the big city.
Other sights in Toronto – a selection:
Ontario Place: artificial amusement park built on three islands, approx. 40 minutes walk from Harbourfront Centre.
Union Station: the most magnificent train station in the city.
Historic Fort York: Toronto's historic nucleus, built on the rubble of the French Fort Rouille.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada: the largest aquarium in the country is located at the foot of the CN Tower.
Roger’s Centre: Stadium of the Toronto Blue Jays (baseball) and the Argonauts (football).
Scotiabank Arena: Multi-purpose hall and home of the Toronto Maple Leafs (ice hockey) and the Toronto Raptors (basketball).
Maple Leaf Square: Building complex of two high-rise buildings that houses the sports bar with the most and largest HD screens in all of North America.
Roy Thomson Hall: houses the Toronto Symphony Ochestra and the Mendelssohn Choir.
Royal Alexandra and Princess of Wales Theater: These two stages almost single-handedly established Toronto's reputation as a musical city.
Old Town: East of Yonge Street, between Queen Street East and Front Street, you approach old York. Here you will find the oldest houses in the city and a few nice photo opportunities, e.g. E.g. the Gooderham Building.
Our conclusion about Toronto
Toronto has captured our hearts after almost a week. The city simply has an incredible amount to offer and, with its location on Lake Ontario, is one of the most beautiful cities we have been able to visit so far. You have to remember: When you stand on the shore of one of the five large lakes, you think you are at the sea. There is no difference! If you visit Toronto, you shouldn't miss Niagara Falls in addition to the Toronto Islands off the coast. Who knows whether you'll come back to this area again.
We are pleased that you have visited our rice blog and hope that we have given you a taste for it.
Kind regards Max, Steffi and Co.
Our Shopping Tips for Toronto and the Niagarafalls
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