48 Hours In: Toronto

Downtown Toronto at night

Being from Rochester (NY), I feel lucky to live so close to a foreign nation. I never appreciated it as a child, but in the past few years, I have really grown to love living so close to the Canadian border. I’ve especially gained a fondness for Toronto, a city that is so close to home, but yet feels worlds away.

Toronto is approximately 170 miles from Rochester. The trip can be done in two and a half hours, if traffic is light – which it rarely is! I generally plan on 1.5 hours to the Canadian border, and then 1.5 hours to Toronto from the border. Remember to bring your Easy Pass, as there are a few tolls along the way. Traffic normally gets heavy around Hamilton (ON) and sometimes stays heavy getting into Toronto. Either way, it’s generally about 3 hours, which really isn’t bad for a weekend getaway. I usually leave on Friday around lunch, so I’m up there and settled in before dinner on Friday!

Toronto is a large city, with a current population of 2.5 million people. It’s very urban, very ethnic, and very lively. It’s filled with great sports venues, great theater, and great restaurants. Plus, hotels are very reasonably priced and the exchange rate, while not great, has gained ground recently. Currently, it’s $0.90 USD for every $1 CAD (so, multiply rates you are seeing by 0.9 to convert to USD). While the city does have a subway system, many of the amenities are located within walking distance of the downtown area.

Superior room at the Cosmopolitan Toronto

I love Toronto because it’s modern and there are lots of new, trendy hotels and restaurants. My two favorite hotels are part of the Skyclub Chain – the Cosmopolitan Toronto and the Pantages Hotel. The Cosmopolitan is located off Younge Street, just south of King St W. All rooms at the Cosmo have a kitchen and living area, which make it great for a long weekend and great for families with children. Rates start around $200 CAD ($180 USD) for weekends this summer. The Pantages Hotel is similar to the Cosmopolitan as they are run by the same company. It is located further north, off of Younge St near the Eaton Center. The Pantages Hotel has many rooms with kitchens, but also a superior room that lacks the kitchen. However, all rooms are great here. Rates start around $150 CAD ($135 USD) for weekends this summer and include a continental breakfast. Both of these hotels are within walking distances of all the major attractions in downtown Toronto, and conveniently located along the subway line. Contact www.pantageshotel.com or www.cosmotoronto.com for more info.

Toronto has a very ethnically diverse population which provides some great food options, along with world renowned chefs running high end restaurants. For some great ethnic choices, head up to Queen St W (between Younge St and Spadina Ave) for some cheaper choices such as sushi, Korean, Indian, and Middle Eastern. For a higher end meal, head to Ultra Supper Club (314 W Queen St, www.ultratoronto.com) for an intimate, modern food experience featuring great dishes such as hoisin ginger salmon and duck two ways (entrees run from $18-28CAD). Or head to Madeline’s (601 King St, www.susur.com/madelines) run by well-known chef Susur Lee, who is considered to be Toronto’s best chef and is world-renowned. This menu features tapas-style entrees with heavy European influences. Both of these places require reservations in advance.

Rogers Centre during a Blue Jays game

Toronto has great sports venues and theater. The Blue Jays (MLB) and the Argos (CFL) play here, along with an occasional Buffalo Bills game, and many great concerts. Upcoming concerts include Coldplay, the Jonas Brothers, and U2. Tickets to Blue Jays games start at only $12 for 500 level seats, and $36 for field level seats. If you are really looking for a splurge, the Toronto Marriot is directly connected to the Rogers Center, offering great views overlooking the field on game days! For more information go to www.marriot.com or www.rogerscentre.com.

Finally, Toronto may be best known for its theater, which rivals Broadway. One of Toronto’s best known theater acts was Phantom of the Opera, which played in Toronto for over 10 years at Pantages Theater. Currently playing are The Sound of Music, Jersey Boys, High School Musical 2, and many more. Visit www.toronto-theatre.com for more information on current theater acts.

Besides all these attractions, Toronto has many festivals throughout the year that keep the city lively and busy. The city also has many permanent tourist attractions, such as the CN Tower (the tallest building in the world!) and the Hockey Hall of Fame. No matter what time of year you visit Toronto, you will be pleasantly surprised by home far away you feel after just a 3-hour car ride! It’s a city that deserves more credit and attention than it receives, and it makes for a great weekend getaway!