In May and June 2023, we travelled from east to west across Canada. From Halifax in Nova Scotia to Montreal in Quebec, to Toronto in Ontario, to Vancouver and Whistler in British Columbia. Along the way some night trains and commuter trains, the Niagara Falls and – imagine this – a bus journey. A true Trans-Canada Train Trek.

Hello Toronto. After checkin in at the Renaissance Inn by Marriott, we took a TTC or Toronto Transit Commission train to Yorkdale for Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Why? Because the mall hosts Canada’s only Cheesecake Factory. So after some light shopping, we overate at the famous franchise.

The next day, we started by walking to Toronto City Hall and Nathan Philips Square where the Toronto letter sign is. Afterwards we visited Little Canada, which I will describe later.

In perhaps an odd move, we went to Dufferin Mall, for lunch and for a visit to Walmart. Sam never did a Walmart. But it’s a disappointing one. 

The next move was the CN Tower, which is unavoidable in Toronto so I will describe that later as well. We had dinner at The Rec Room, a gaming / sports / dinner place at the Toronto Roundhouse. A nice nod to our love of trains. The food was okay. It’s a noisy place though. That’s also near Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. 

The next day was dedicated to Niagara Falls and the day after we boarded The Canadian. So this was our full day in Toronto.

So?

Toronto has major New York vibes. The city often stands in for the American juggernaut. Toronto is Canada’s largest city. But as a brief visitor, I felt less attached than to Montreal.

It seems I’m not alone. Search for Toronto travel videos on YouTube and you’ll find less than Montreal travel videos.

2023 Trans-Canada Train Trek

1. REVIEW | Brussels Airlines Brussels to Munich in Economy.
2. REVIEW | Lufthansa Premium Economy Munich to Montreal.
3. REVIEW | Air Canada Economy Montreal to Halifax.
4. Flying Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and Air Canada Brussels – Munich – Montreal – Halifax in minimal economy.
5. HALIFAX | Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.
6. REVIEW | The Westin Nova Scotian Halifax.
7. NOVA SCOTIA | Sampling Halifax.
8. REVIEW | VIA Rail Canada night train 15 ‘The Ocean’ from Halifax to Montreal.
9. QUEBEC | Meandering Montreal.
10. REVIEW | InterContinental Montreal.
11. FORMULA 1 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal track walk.
12. MONTREAL | Dining solo at Monarque felt like being part of a tv show.
13. MONTREAL | Exporail – Canadian Railway Museum in Saint-Constant.
14. REVIEW | VIA Rail train Montreal to Toronto in business class.