Best thing about Toronto/SW Ontario (home, low cost, nicest)

[botticelli]

Originally Posted by Redrum237

I realise 8-10 hours isn't a super short drive, but my point is, Toronto has the highest number of what I would deem exciting cities within that range (along with Buffalo and Hamilton and other cities nearby). Other places to the south and/or the east may have more cities within a 5-7 hour drive, but they'd be a long, long distance from Chicago or Quebec City for instance. My point is, Toronto and the surrounding area have the most of what I'd deem exciting cities that could be reached within a day's drive.

I don't know why you consider Ottawa or Quebec City as "exciting" cities. They are very small/insignificant outside the context of East Canada. Quebec City is nice charming city, but let's be honestly, it is very touristy. I had never heard about it before moving to Canada a few years ago. Besides spending maybe 2 days sightseening in Old Quebec, why does anyone have to go there for a second, third time? Ottawa is the same. Being close to either is hardly that important.

I would say Pittsburgh, PA is close to everything.

NYC: 6.5 hours
DC: 4.5 hours
Chicago: 8 hours
Toronto: 5.5 hours
Philadelphia: 5.5 hours
Cincinati: 5.5 hours
Charlotte, NC, 7.5 hours
Ottawa: 9 hours
Boston: 10 hours
Montreal: 10 hours
Nashville: 10 hours
St Louis: 10 hours
Atlanta: 11.5 hours

Honestly, there is not much advantage with being close to Quebec City, which is really not close to anything except Montreal.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by botticelli

I don't know why you consider Ottawa or Quebec City as "exciting" cities. They are very small/insignificant outside the context of East Canada. Quebec City is nice charming city, but let's be honestly, it is very touristy. I had never heard about it before moving to Canada a few years ago. Besides spending maybe 2 days sightseening in Old Quebec, why does anyone have to go there for a second, third time? Ottawa is the same. Being close to either is hardly that important.

I would say Pittsburgh, PA is close to everything.

NYC: 6.5 hours
DC: 4.5 hours
Chicago: 8 hours
Toronto: 5.5 hours
Philadelphia: 5.5 hours
Cincinati: 5.5 hours
Charlotte, NC, 7.5 hours
Ottawa: 9 hours
Boston: 10 hours
Montreal: 10 hours
Nashville: 10 hours
St Louis: 10 hours
Atlanta: 11.5 hours

Honestly, there is not much advantage with being close to Quebec City, which is really not close to anything except Montreal.

The advantage of being close to Quebec City is that you can visit it and that it looks like this:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1rdH-0RTnc...uebec_city.jpg

It is a way more attractive and interesting place to visit than half the cities on the list above. Charlotte? Cincinnati? Come on man!

And also we are talking about Toronto's location, not Quebec City's. So the fact that it is only really close to Montreal is irrelevant.

[Redrum237]

Originally Posted by botticelli

I don't know why you consider Ottawa or Quebec City as "exciting" cities. They are very small/insignificant outside the context of East Canada. Quebec City is nice charming city, but let's be honestly, it is very touristy. I had never heard about it before moving to Canada a few years ago. Besides spending maybe 2 days sightseening in Old Quebec, why does anyone have to go there for a second, third time? Ottawa is the same. Being close to either is hardly that important.

I would say Pittsburgh, PA is close to everything.

NYC: 6.5 hours
DC: 4.5 hours
Chicago: 8 hours
Toronto: 5.5 hours
Philadelphia: 5.5 hours
Cincinati: 5.5 hours
Charlotte, NC, 7.5 hours
Ottawa: 9 hours
Boston: 10 hours
Montreal: 10 hours
Nashville: 10 hours
St Louis: 10 hours
Atlanta: 11.5 hours

Honestly, there is not much advantage with being close to Quebec City, which is really not close to anything except Montreal.

Historical and cultural institutions such as museums in Ottawa...Quebec City's architecture. Those two cities are both major tourist destinations and are known for being quite scenic, Quebec City in particular.

Most cities aren't exciting enough to merit a visit of more than a few days. Whereas Ottawa and Quebec City in terms of attractions and culture and things to do beat out a lot of the ones you listed (Cincinatti, Charlotte, Nashville) easily.

I'm not sure what criteria exactly you're using. Why would being "touristy" be a negative? What sort of criteria exactly are you ranking these cities by? Concerts, nightclubs, live theatre?

[johnathanc]

I can't comment on SW Ontario but in terms of Toronto, my personal opinion (everyone is entitled to their own) of the good and bad is.

Pros:

-multicultural city where, if you want, you can get to know people from all over
-different ethnic food offerings
-tolerant and peaceful for the most part compared to big US cities
-solid bohemian vibe in some parts is interesting
-good place to go partying in as there are many nightlife options
-most people are liberal and open-minded
-although I don't like the winter myself, some people take advantage with skiing, snowboarding and playing hockey
-city has a good big city, urban core feel in certain parts
-work-life balance is more accepted here
-the city has been and is going through a renewal of some sorts. There is momentum to improve some infrastructure and restaurants and other amenities are getting better
-well rounded w/ a little of everything for everyone; sports scene, nightlife, corporate headquarters, restaurants, cottages and events
-Canadian values of access to health care and education results in less crime and ghettos, and hence a good place to lead a comfortable, middle class life (with smaller upper and lower classses of course)

Cons:

-cost of living - the salaries and low and everything cost a lot for what it is
-lack of entrepeneurial or innovative spirit from a business perspective, very plain vanilla in this regard
-architecture from condos to suburbs are bland; city planning has not been great
-weather is not great, it is still pretty cold 6 months of the year
-scenary is not great, i.e. no mountains, rivers, oceans and Ontario is pretty flat and boring compared to other parts of the country
-transportation system is expensive and inadequate
-people are polite but Torontonians not super friendly by nature
-institutional racism and treatment of immigrants
-lack of shopping and sense of style. People are poorly dressed compared to other big cities (even MTL or Van people look better)
-lack of identity & a defined culture in the city. Aside from multiculturalism, it has a bunch of things but doesn't necessary excel in anything that could define it's personality
-location is not really close to anything (i.e. 3 hour drive) except Buffalo, Niagara and Northern Ontario
-lack of world class amenities in terms of culture, business and education - still very regional focused so one still needs to leave if he/she wants to compete at a world level in terms of achievement/career

[botticelli]

^ speaking of sense of style, I notice one thing in Toronto: many men wear a crew-neck top underneath their shirt, even at work.

I can understand some men like to wear something underneath the shirts, but I guess a V-neck tank top is more appropriate so that you don't show anything around your neck outside the collars of the shirt. but the crew-neck T-shirt inside?

Is that a Toronto thing or a Canada thing? I rarely see that in other major urban centers. In Toronto, it is quite popular!

[tarp]

Dude, NYC and Philly are about the same distance to Quebec City as Toronto is.

[travis3000]

Originally Posted by botticelli

Multiculture is not a Toronto thing. Any big city in NA has that.

Food? Mediocre at best when compared with other metro areas with 5M+ people.

Women? they are the same as anywhere else.

Communities? Which cities do NOT have good and bad communities?

Low Crime? Only average or even slightly high when compared with big cities in other developed countries (Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Tokyo, Hong Kong). Toronto is only "safe" when compared with American cities, which are the outliners than the norm.

I honestly do NOT understand why Canadians think Canadian cities are incredibly safe. Put in a global context among all rich countries, Canada probably is on the higher side when it comes to crime rate. We should know there is a world outside the USA.

Ya we know, Canada sucks. Everywhere else in the world is better. Your responses say the same thing every time. It's very entertaining

[BIMBAM]

Originally Posted by botticelli

^ speaking of sense of style, I notice one thing in Toronto: many men wear a crew-neck top underneath their shirt, even at work.

I can understand some men like to wear something underneath the shirts, but I guess a V-neck tank top is more appropriate so that you don't show anything around your neck outside the collars of the shirt. but the crew-neck T-shirt inside?

Is that a Toronto thing or a Canada thing? I rarely see that in other major urban centers. In Toronto, it is quite popular!

It's a crewneck undershirt, you wear it undernearth a dress shirt, as white collar work attire. You shouldn't be able to see it if the person is wearing a dress shirt. I'm a Montrealer, and I wear them, as does my father and the other men in my family. I never thought it was unusual. Do men in your country not wear this kind of undershirt?

[DanielMar1228]

The best thing about Toronto is the multiculturalism . But I would say the best thing about the rest of Southern Ontario are the towns. Ontario has some of the nicest towns in my opinion. Stouffville, Collingwood, Bradford, Bolton etc... I find it nice that these towns seem to have their old main strips and then built around are those plazas with Walmart and Home Depot etc... and of course newer subdivisions from 90s and 00s. They also seem to be fairly diverse.

[fusion2]

Originally Posted by CMBurnsey

These are randy cities no one knows. Washington DC vs. Suzhou? NYC vs. Hangzhou? Quality over quantity.

Just because these cities aren't well known in the western sense doesn't make them less 'interesting' - just more unknown to us. Also, people are focussing on driving but I think air connectivity is important as well. So availability and how long will it take you to fly to a bunch of cool places should also be considered. In that regard I think Toronto is well positioned. I also think however that it depends on the person. I LOVE S.E Asia so for me Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur is perfectly located. I can take cheap flights on say Air Asia to all kinds of points in S.E asia - many just an hour or two flight. Europe with Ryanair/EasyJet and a host of other Low cost carriers also makes a good argument for Europe If you like that continent.