Experience

ONTARIO | Touring Toronto

Posted by Timothy on

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.

Toronto.

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.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Cheesecake Factory.

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.

Toronto sign and vicinity.

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. 

Dufferin Shopping Mall.

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. 

Rogers Centre and Toronto Roundhouse.

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.

Nine times the CN Tower.

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.

26 Comments Add yours

  1. Monkey's Tale's avatar Monkey's Tale says:
    5 December 2023 at 10:28 am

    You certainly did a lot in a short visit. Toronto isn’t my favourite city either. 😊

    Reply
    1. Timothy's avatar Timothy says:
      5 December 2023 at 11:11 am

      Yes we did. Time, money and not everyone in the group has that many days off to work play with.

      Reply
  2. Share wealth's avatar Share wealth says:
    5 December 2023 at 11:23 am

    HELLO

    Reply
    1. Timothy's avatar Timothy says:
      5 December 2023 at 11:32 am

      Hello from the other siiiiiide.

      Reply
  3. Pingback: REVIEW | Little Canada museum in Toronto – Trip By Trip
  4. Pingback: TORONTO | CN Tower – Trip By Trip
  5. Pingback: REVIEW | Residence Inn by Marriott Toronto Downtown / Entertainment District – Trip By Trip
  6. Pingback: 2024: rising prices affect travel plans and vacation activities – Trip By Trip
  7. Pingback: CANADA | Train excursion to Niagara Falls – Trip By Trip
  8. Pingback: Life on board VIA Rail’s The Canadian: eating, sleeping, showering and keeping busy – Trip By Trip
  9. Pingback: Is the four-day The Canadian night train journey something for you? – Trip By Trip
  10. Pingback: REVIEW | Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront Vancouver – Trip By Trip
  11. Pingback: BRITISH COLUMBIA | Introduction to Whistler – Trip By Trip
  12. Pingback: REVIEW | Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre – Trip By Trip
  13. Pingback: VANCOUVER | Granville Island – Trip By Trip
  14. Pingback: VANCOUVER | St. Lawrence Restaurant – Trip By Trip
  15. Pingback: REVIEW | Hotel Belmont M Gallery Vancouver – Trip By Trip
  16. Pingback: Vancouver & Whistler 2023 – Trip By Trip
  17. Pingback: REVIEW | Lufthansa Premium Economy Vancouver to Frankfurt – Trip By Trip
  18. Pingback: Flying on a Lufthansa Boeing 747 in economy from Vancouver to Frankfurt – Trip By Trip
  19. Pingback: REVIEW | Lufthansa Economy Frankfurt to Brussels – Trip By Trip
  20. Pingback: Canada 2023 – Trip By Trip
  21. Pingback: USA | A Sunday and a Monday in New Orleans, Louisiana – Trip By Trip
  22. Unknown's avatar Timothy says:
    3 February 2026 at 2:02 am

    Easter 2025. I’m visiting my uncle and aunt in Leland, North Carolina. It’s my first trip of two to the United States in 2025. I…

    Reply
  23. Unknown's avatar Timothy says:
    8 April 2026 at 2:02 am

    VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) has announced on 2 April 2026 an investment of CAD 150 million (€100 million) to undertake a comprehensive modernisation of…

    Reply
  24. Unknown's avatar Timothy says:
    8 April 2026 at 2:22 am

    VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) has announced on 2 April 2026 an investment of CAD 150 million (€100 million) to undertake a comprehensive modernisation of…

    Reply

Leave a Reply

To respond on your own website, enter the URL of your response which should contain a link to this post's permalink URL. Your response will then appear (possibly after moderation) on this page. Want to update or remove your response? Update or delete your post and re-enter your post's URL again. (Find out more about Webmentions.)