Toronto For Dummies^®

by Michael B. Kelly

• ISBN13: 9780470833988
• ISBN10: 047083398X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-03-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Travel smart at www.dummies.comMake the most of your trip to Toronto.From the view atop the CN Tower to its electric nightlife to it's global cuisine, Toronto offers its visitors an unforgettable travel experience. And with Niagara Falls and Stratford just quick trips away, there's no shortage of things to see and do. With this friendly guide, you'll plan a vacation that's perfect for you. Discover: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn't miss-and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it r Flags to mark your favourite pages

Author Biography

Michael Kelly is a freelance editor and writer, focusing on such diverse general interest topics as travel, sports, and religion. A seasoned traveler, he has lived on both U.S. coasts and in the U.S. Midwest before contentedly settling down with his wife and daughter in Toronto. As an editor, Mike has contributed to literally dozens of For Dummies books.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
About This Book	2	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	3	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	4	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	4	(2)
Part I: Introducing Toronto	4	(1)
Part II: Planning Your Trip to Toronto	5	(1)
Part III: Settling into Toronto	5	(1)
Part IV: Exploring Toronto	5	(1)
Part V: Living It Up after Dark: Toronto Nightlife	5	(1)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	6	(1)
Where to Go from Here	6	(1)
Part I: Introducing Toronto	7	(28)
Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of Toronto	9	(8)
The Best Toronto Travel Experiences	9	(1)
The Best Toronto Hotels	10	(2)
The Best Toronto Restaurants	12	(2)
The Best Ways to Celebrate Toronto's Diversity	14	(1)
The Best Toronto Neighborhoods	14	(2)
The Best Places for Celebrity Spotting	16	(1)
Chapter 2: Digging Deeper into Toronto	17	(6)
History 101: The Main Events	17	(2)
Building Blocks: Local Architecture	19	(1)
Taste of Toronto: Local Cuisine	20	(1)
Background Check: Recommended Movies and Books	21	(2)
Chapter 3: Deciding When to Go	23	(12)
Looking for Snow or Sun (or Something in Between)	23	(4)
Toronto in springtime	24	(1)
A Toronto summer	25	(1)
Autumn in Toronto	26	(1)
Bundling up for a Toronto winter	26	(1)
Getting the Lowdown on Toronto's Main Events	27	(10)
January	27	(1)
February	28	(1)
March	28	(1)
April	28	(1)
May	29	(1)
June	30	(1)
July	31	(1)
August	32	(1)
September	32	(1)
October	33	(1)
November	33	(1)
December	34	(1)
Part II: Planning Your Trip to Toronto	35	(40)
Chapter 4: Managing Your Money	37	(10)
Planning Your Budget	37	(4)
Costing out your transportation	37	(1)
Estimating your lodging costs	38	(1)
Eating up those restaurant costs	38	(1)
Ponying up to see the sights	39	(1)
Shopping by the loonie	39	(1)
Loving the nightlife - at a cost	40	(1)
Taxing matters	40	(1)
Cutting Costs - But Not the Fun	41	(1)
Making Sense of the Loonie	41	(4)
Exchanging your dollars	42	(1)
Accessing ATMs and carrying cash	43	(1)
Charging ahead with credit cards	44	(1)
Dealing with debit cards	44	(1)
Toting traveler's checks	45	(1)
Dealing with a Lost or Stolen Wallet	45	(2)
Chapter 5: Getting to Toronto	47	(9)
Flying to Toronto	47	(3)
Finding out which airlines fly there	47	(1)
Getting the best deal on your airfare	48	(1)
Cutting ticket costs by using consolidators	49	(1)
Booking your travel online	49	(1)
Driving to Toronto	50	(2)
Choosing an Escorted or Package Tour	52	(4)
Joining an escorted tour	52	(2)
Choosing a package tour	54	(2)
Chapter 6: Catering to Special Travel Needs or Interests	56	(6)
Traveling with the Brood: Advice for Families	56	(1)
Making Age Work for You: Tips for Seniors	57	(1)
Accessing Toronto: Advice for Travelers with Disabilities	58	(2)
Following the Rainbow: Resources for Gay and Lesbian Travelers	60	(2)
Chapter 7: Taking Care of the Remaining Details	62	(13)
Do You Need a Passport?	62	(2)
Applying for a U.S. passport	63	(1)
Applying for other passports	64	(1)
Renting a Car (Or, Five Reasons Not to Rent a Car)	64	(3)
Getting the best deal	66	(1)
Adding up the charges	66	(1)
Playing It Safe with Travel and Medical Insurance	67	(1)
Staying Healthy When You Travel	68	(2)
Staying Connected by Cellphone	70	(1)
Accessing the Internet Away from Home	70	(2)
Keeping Up with Airline Security	72	(3)
Part III: Settling into Toronto	75	(102)
Chapter 8: Arriving and Getting Oriented	77	(22)
Navigating Your Way through Passport Control and Customs	77	(1)
Making Your Way to Your Hotel	78	(3)
Arriving by plane	79	(1)
Arriving by car	80	(1)
Arriving by train	81	(1)
Getting to Know the Neighborhoods	81	(6)
The Annex	81	(3)
The Beaches	84	(1)
Bloor West Village/The Kingsway	84	(1)
Bloor/Yorkville	84	(1)
Chinatown	85	(1)
The Danforth	85	(1)
Downtown	85	(1)
Entertainment District	85	(1)
Harbourfront and the Islands	85	(1)
Kensington Market	86	(1)
Little Italy	86	(1)
Queen Street West	86	(1)
West Queen West	87	(1)
Finding Information after You Arrive	87	(1)
Getting Around Toronto	87	(12)
Negotiating Toronto on mass transit	88	(4)
Hailing a taxi	92	(1)
Making your own way: Driving around Toronto	92	(6)
Walking the streets of Toronto	98	(1)
Chapter 9: Checking In at Toronto's Best Hotels	99	(31)
Picking the Kind of Place That Suits Your Style	100	(1)
Hotels where you feel right at home	100	(1)
Hotels that treasure their independence	100	(1)
Bed-and-breakfast options	101	(1)
Finding the Perfect Location	101	(2)
Downtown	102	(1)
North of downtown	102	(1)
The Entertainment District	102	(1)
Harbourfront on the lakeshore	102	(1)
Finding the Best Room at the Best Rate	103	(5)
Finding the best rate	104	(1)
Surfing the Web for hotel deals	105	(2)
Booking to fit your itinerary	107	(1)
Finding a Room when There's No Room at the Inn	108	(1)
Toronto's Best Hotels	109	(17)
The Hotels	112	(14)
Runner-up Hotels	126	(2)
Index of Accommodations by Neighborhood	128	(1)
Index of Accommodations by Price	128	(2)
Chapter 10: Dining and Snacking in Toronto	130	(47)
Getting the Dish on the Local Scene	131	(4)
Tasting some of Toronto's dining trends	131	(1)
Finding the top dining areas	132	(1)
Eating like a local	133	(1)
Wrapping up the details	134	(1)
Trimming the Fat from Your Budget	135	(1)
Toronto's Best Restaurants	136	(28)
Knowing what the $ symbols mean	136	(1)
Finding a meal right where you are	137	(27)
Dining and Snacking on the Go	164	(8)
Why stopping to eat doesn't have to slow you down	164	(1)
Locating Toronto's hidden gems for cheap eats	165	(4)
Spotting the fry truck (and other street vendors)	169	(1)
Giving in to the Canadian doughnut obsession	170	(1)
Sipping coffee and watching people	170	(1)
Having dessert first	171	(1)
Index of Restaurants by Neighborhood	172	(1)
Index of Restaurants by Cuisine	173	(2)
Index of Restaurants by Price	175	(2)
Part IV: Exploring Toronto	177	(74)
Chapter 11: Discovering Toronto's
Best Attractions	179	(1)
Toronto's Top Sights	180	(21)
Finding More Cool Things to See and Do	192	(1)
Exploring Toronto with kids in tow	192	(2)
Exploring Toronto with teens	194	(1)
Toronto's art appreciation tour	195	(2)
Finding Toronto's architectural highlights and stately homes	197	(1)
Discovering Toronto's sporting and entertainment life	198	(2)
Taking a brisk walk or a long bike ride	200	(1)
Seeing Toronto by Guided Tour	201	(5)
Seeing Toronto from the south - cruising on Lake Ontario	201	(2)
Walking with the talk - Toronto walking tours	203	(2)
Touring and commuting at the same time - bus tours of Toronto	205	(1)
Chapter 12: Shopping the Local Stores	206	(18)
Surveying the Shopping Scene	207	(2)
Where the money goes	207	(1)
When the money goes: shopping hours	208	(1)
Taking stuff home	208	(1)
Checking Out the Big Names	209	(10)
Pure Canadian: Exploring the big national stores	209	(5)
Keeping it local: Toronto originals	214	(3)
Importing style: Drawing the international players	217	(2)
Taking It to the Street (Markets)	219	(2)
Kensington Market: Toronto in a nutshell	219	(1)
St. Lawrence Market: A weekend getaway (for all of Toronto?)	220	(1)
Searching Out the Best Shopping Neighborhoods	221	(2)
The Beaches	221	(1)
Bloor West Village	221	(1)
Bloor/Yorkville	222	(1)
On the Danforth	222	(1)
Leaside	222	(1)
King Street West	222	(1)
Queen West	222	(1)
Index of Stores by Merchandise	223	(1)
Chapter 13: Four Great Toronto Itineraries	224	(7)
Taking in the Town on a Long Weekend	224	(2)
Spending a Week in Toronto	226	(1)
Toronto for Families with Kids	227	(1)
Toronto by Public Transit	228	(3)
Riding the Yonge-University-Spadina loop	228	(2)
Riding the Bloor-Danforth line	230	(1)
Chapter 14: Shakespeare and the Falls: Day Trips around Toronto	231	(20)
Stratford and Shakespeare	231	(10)
Getting there	232	(1)
Taking a tour	232	(1)
Seeing the sights	233	(3)
Where to stay	236	(3)
Where to dine	239	(2)
The Niagara Region: Wine, Theater, Casinos (and the Falls)	241	(12)
Getting there	241	(1)
Planning your personal themed day trip	242	(6)
Where to stay	248	(1)
Where to dine	249	(2)
Part V. Living It Up after Dark: Toronto Nightlife	251	(16)
Chapter 15: Toronto's Cultural Scene	253	(7)
Getting the Inside Scoop	255	(1)
Finding Out What's Playing and Getting Tickets	256	(1)
Raising the Curtain on the Performing Arts	257	(3)
Taking in a show: Toronto theater	257	(1)
Attending the symphony	258	(1)
Following the surtitles: Toronto opera	258	(1)
Jazzing it up in Toronto	259	(1)
Dancing to the beat	259	(1)
Chapter 16 Hitting the Clubs and Bars	260	(7)
Doing the Bar Scene: Pubs and Clubs Style	260	(2)
Doing the Bar Scene: Hotel Style	262	(1)
Following the Music	263	(2)
Tracking the Laughs: Toronto's Comedy Clubs	265	(2)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	267	(14)
Chapter 17: Ten Things to Do to Fill a Free Hour	269	(3)
Drinking Coffee or Beer at a Sidewalk Table	269	(1)
Sipping Afternoon Tea at a Toronto Hotel	269	(1)
Savoring Ice Cream	270	(1)
Walking the Boardwalk in The Beaches	270	(1)
Checking Out the Antiques Stores on Queen	270	(1)
Strolling through Kensington Market	270	(1)
Browsing the Bookshelves of Toronto	271	(1)
Lacing Up for a Skate at Nathan Phillips Square	271	(1)
Checking Out the St. Lawrence Market Vendors	271	(1)
When in Doubt, Just Look Around	271	(1)
Chapter 18: Ten (or So) Weeks to Consider for Your Toronto Visit	272	(4)
Attending Previews at the Stratford or the Shaw	272	(1)
Following the Leafs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs	273	(1)
Taking Pride in Pride Week	273	(1)
Partying with the Caribana Crowd	273	(1)
Jazzing Up the Streets of Toronto	274	(1)
Tasting on the Streets of Toronto	274	(1)
Enjoying Excitement at the Ex	274	(1)
Screening the Toronto International Film Festival	274	(1)
Browsing for Books on the Waterfront	275	(1)
Welcoming Santa Claus for the Season	275	(1)
Celebrating Winter at Its Peak	275	(1)
Chapter 19: Ten Toronto Bargains (No Matter Your Currency)	276	(5)
Spending a Day on Centre Island	276	(1)
Taking Time to Smell the Roses	276	(1)
Talking to the Animals at Riverdale Farm	277	(1)
Browsing for Bargains at Honest Ed's	277	(1)
Following the Crowds to ROM Friday
Nights - It's Free!	277	(1)
Spending an Evening with the Bard in High Park	277	(1)
Opening Doors to Toronto's Diverse Architecture	278	(1)
Finding Fireworks - Not Just One Night a Year, but Two!	278	(1)
Perusing the Galleries in the Distillery District	278	(1)
Taking a Chance on Half-Price Theater Tickets	279	(2)
Appendix	281	(8)
Fast Facts	281	(4)
Toll-Free Numbers and Web Sites	285	(2)
Where to Get More Information	287	(2)
Index	289