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My family is visiting some extended family near Niagara Falls, ON in about ten days. My family wants to visit Toronto to see some certain attractions while we're there but we've made it clear that we would only have one whole day to visit the city. The following attractions are on the list: Casa Loma, Toronto Zoo, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Center, and the CN Tower (plus dinner at the 360 Restaurant). I have been advised to see Casa Loma early in the day, Royal Ontario Museum after 1pm and to visit the CN Tower after 7pm to avoid crowds.
I'll also included operating hours here:
CN Tower: 9am-10pm
Royal Ontario Museum: 10am-5:30pm (9pm if on a Friday but we'll choose the day based on weather)
Casa Loma: 9:30am-5pm
Toronto Zoo: 9am-7pm
Ontario Science Centre: 10am-4pm
If we were to let any one of those go, it would be the zoo since it's nearly 30 minutes away from the rest of the group and I figure once you've seen a zoo, you've practically seen them all. Nonetheless, we'd like to try and get them all in.
Is there any information that someone could provide me with on these attractions? Is there a good order to do these in? On average, how long have you spent at these places? Any help would be appreciated.
My family is visiting some extended family near Niagara Falls, ON in about ten days. My family wants to visit Toronto to see some certain attractions while we're there but we've made it clear that we would only have one whole day to visit the city. The following attractions are on the list: Casa Loma, Toronto Zoo, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Center, and the CN Tower (plus dinner at the 360 Restaurant). I have been advised to see Casa Loma early in the day, Royal Ontario Museum after 1pm and to visit the CN Tower after 7pm to avoid crowds.
I'll also included operating hours here:
CN Tower: 9am-10pm
Royal Ontario Museum: 10am-5:30pm (9pm if on a Friday but we'll choose the day based on weather)
Casa Loma: 9:30am-5pm
Toronto Zoo: 9am-7pm
Ontario Science Centre: 10am-4pm
If we were to let any one of those go, it would be the zoo since it's nearly 30 minutes away from the rest of the group and I figure once you've seen a zoo, you've practically seen them all. Nonetheless, we'd like to try and get them all in.
Is there any information that someone could provide me with on these attractions? Is there a good order to do these in? On average, how long have you spent at these places? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks for reading!
Go to the Rom in the morning and give it about 3 hrs. 1.5 - 2 hrs and you'll be totally rushing through not appreciating the exhibits its a huge museum.
I'd shelve the zoo and Science Centre (ZOO in suburbia and is huge its a full day on its own, Science Centre isn't in the core and travelling will eat up your time) in favour of the Aquarium if you haven't been to one or like jellyfish and sharks its a pretty good one and interactive - very modern facility plus its at the base of the CN Tower so you can knock them both off without distance between them. So do Aquarium in the aft - grab a bite to eat and cap off the day at the CN Tower.
ROM, Aquarium and CN Tower is a full day and not far from one another all within the DT core and a manageable itinerary.
CASA Loma, the ZOO and Science Centre are worth it when you have more time, otherwise the family will get frustrated travelling to various places instead of enjoying thing in a compact area. Toronto is a big city so I wouldn't recommend venturing out of the core with such limited time!
I'd say it depends on what your family is interested in. There's also interesting shopping districts, places for foodies, the waterfront, Chinatown, maybe even PATH/Financial District.
I agree with the others about skipping the zoo and science center. Does Atlanta or areas nearby have a science center or is that a kind of place you've never been to before?
I'd say it depends on what your family is interested in. There's also interesting shopping districts, places for foodies, the waterfront, Chinatown, maybe even PATH/Financial District.
I agree with the others about skipping the zoo and science center. Does Atlanta or areas nearby have a science center or is that a kind of place you've never been to before?
Oh yeah they are from Atlanta so the Aquarium may not be exactly something different so yes even just walking around the core and shopping along QSW and Kensington would be a fun time. Casa Loma doesn't do it for me over QSW or Kensington but depends on interests.
Yes here in Atlanta, we are most well known for housing the world's largest aquarium named the Georgia Aquarium (I think the only indoor aquarium to hold a blue whale, really cool). We also have the High Museum of Art which holds four stories of artwork, primarily French and Roman. I have looked at pictures of the ROM and they both seem very similar. We also have Zoo Atlanta where the highlight is the giant panda exhibit. I know Toronto has pandas too but growing up in Los Angeles and living in Atlanta, we've never gotten to see arctic animals like polar bears and sea otters. The white lions seem intriguing too though I've heard on review sites that most of the animals are very inactive so that's something else to consider.
Yes here in Atlanta, we are most well known for housing the world's largest aquarium named the Georgia Aquarium (I think the only indoor aquarium to hold a blue whale, really cool). We also have the High Museum of Art which holds four stories of artwork, primarily French and Roman. I have looked at pictures of the ROM and they both seem very similar. We also have Zoo Atlanta where the highlight is the giant panda exhibit. I know Toronto has pandas too but growing up in Los Angeles and living in Atlanta, we've never gotten to see arctic animals like polar bears and sea otters. The white lions seem intriguing too though I've heard on review sites that most of the animals are very inactive so that's something else to consider.
I wouldn't brush over the ROM which is not an art museum ie it has ancient artefacts that are mostly not paintings plus doubles as a natural history museum. (The AGO is Toronto's Art museum)..The far east collection of ancient artefacts is extensive as are the dinosaur exhibits.. There is also the forbidden city exhibit on right now so I dont think you are going to see the same exhibits in Atlanta. Obviuosly a large museum is going to have unique collections and pieces that are native inly to that museum and unless you go to Beijing in a few minths than the forbidden city collection is not going to be replicated anywhere else. The ROM has a good Egyptian collection as well including mummies. Anyway its a fun half day and if one like museums the Gardner and Bata museums are close by for niche collections if you are interested in them worth an hour visit in each.
If you like Aquariums than The Toronto one Ripley's Aquarium of Canada) should still be investigated as its highly interactive and may have specimens that are still not housed in the Atlanta one. Plus its right beside the CN Tower and although CN is touristy it is still an experience and gives one the best view of T.O and the highest observation deck of any structure in our hemisphere - its fun and a great view.
If you just want to roam the streets even though Yonge is kitchy its still bustling and shows the busy street life of the city and for someone from Atlanta - Yonge Dundas would be interesting to see. Wouldn't overlook Queen Street West and Kensington and all ive mentioned are in or straddling the DT core.. The Zoo and Science Centre are just not practicale places to go for a one day visit unless you only want to do one of them and maybe an evening CN Tower visit, otherwise stick with attractions in the DT core that you are interested in because even they can't be done in a day. You'll still have to choose based on interest but atleast you'll have more choice.
Skip the Zoo and the Science Center - too far out and you won't have time. If you have kids I'd consider skipping the ROM and going to Casa Loma instead - the kids will love the hidden passage, going up to the turrets, and the tunnel to the stables.
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