Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site allegra.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!allegra!thomas From: thomas@allegra.UUCP (David Thomas) Newsgroups: net.travel Subject: Re: Canada (corrections to summary) Message-ID: <4726@allegra.UUCP> Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 08:50:21 EDT Article-I.D.: allegra.4726 Posted: Tue Jul 16 08:50:21 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 16-Jul-85 21:36:29 EDT Distribution: na Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 117 Following are some corrections to my summary of info about Canada and NE US: David Thomas From ihnp4!utzoo!lsuc!msb Tue Jul 16 05:38:48 1985 > (2) Ontario Cottage Country > between Ottawa and Peterborough (on the way to Toronto) highly > recommended Well, that's a matter of opinion. Anyway, don't try to drive from cottage country to Toronto on a Sunday night -- or worse, a holiday Monday night. > (3) Toronto > Try the down-town area, Ontario Science Centre ("Cinesphere" travel > movies highly recommended), Ontario Place, 1400ft CN tower, Harbour > Front, Toronto has more restaurants/cinemas per capita etc. than > anywhere else in the world and is one of the cleanest, modern cities in > North America. Cinesphere is at Ontario Place (2 miles W of downtown) not Ontario Science Centre (6 miles NE). They sometimes show IMAX films at Cinesphere by the way. CN Tower is 1815 feet, tallest free-standing structure in the world. 1400 ft may be the height of the upper observation deck, also highest in the world. I think the Tower is looking rather tacky after 9 years of existence, but it sure gives an impressive view when the air is clear. Since I like Toronto (I live here) I'll give you some more information... First, the public transit system is a good one, featuring two subway lines (one V-shaped with its downtown segments on Yonge and University, the other east-west along Bloor street). Cash fare 95 cents, but buy 8 tokens for $5.90 at any subway station. (Or tickets for the same price at convenience stores displaying the TTC Exact Fare sign, but then you can't use the automatic secondary entrances at some stations.) The excellent system map called the "Ride Guide" is also the best SMALL general map of Toronto that you'll find. (It shows all the streets but only labels main ones.) There are several streetcar lines and, connecting with the east end of the subway, a modernistic light rail line to Scarborough Town Centre. Most of the transit system, including the subway, starts up at 6-7 am (9 am Sunday) and runs until after 1 am. A few routes run all night. All the main downtown routes have pretty frequent service well into the evening. Some notable new-type buildings - Roy Thomson Hall where symphonies are played, a unique circular glass building; Royal Bank Centre, two triangular towers with shopping underneath, and a magnificent open space in the center where the bank itself, and the exterior GOLD-PLATED (looks coppery); Eaton Centre, another grand enclosed space consisting principally of 3 shopping levels, and 2 subway stops long; Metro Toronto (main) library; City Hall. This is just a selection of my favorites; all are downtown. Some notable old-type buildings - Provincial gov't at Queen's Park; Union Station; Old City Hall; old Bank of Commerce building now called Commerce Court North (during banking hours try taking the escalator in from the underground shopping concourse; only the one area that you thus reach is open to the public); Casa Loma (there was this rich eccentric, and he decided to build himself a castle; now you take guided tours). Oh, and walk around the University of Toronto. All these places are downtown or near downtown. By the way, the parking garage under City Hall, the Sheraton Centre hotel, First Canadian Place (tallest office building in Canada, 72 storeys), Toronto-Dominion (Bank) Centre, Royal Bank Centre, Commerce Court, the Royal York Hotel (some would call this a notable old building also), and Union Station are all connected underground. You see more above ground, of course, but if the weather is bad... Delta's Chelsea Inn is said to be the best accommodation value among the major hotels in downtown Toronto. I have no personal evidence. > (4) Elora Gorge - nice little Toronto->Niagara-on-the-lake stop NO. N-o-t-L is about 90 miles from Toronto by road going SW then SE around the curve of the lake. Elora and the Gorge are about 60 miles W., not at all on the way. On the other hand, if you're going to Stratford (100 miles W, where they have a major Shakespearian festival May-Oct(?), THEN Elora is on your way, more or less. I wouldn't make a special trip there, personally. > (7) Niagara falls - grossly overcommercialized (but probably > mandatory), cheap accommodation. The Canadian side of the falls (the > Horseshoe Falls) is the better tourist attraction. Try to see the > falls from Goat Island in the middle of the river at the top of the > falls. There are also (boat) tours that go up to the falls on both US & > Canadian sides. There is even a tour of the caves under the base of > the falls if you feel brave. It's tunnels, actually, though they call it caves. What I think is a "must see" is the Great Gorge Trip, which takes you down to the fastest part of the rapids of all, about a mile downstream from the falls on the Canadian side. This is where Lois Lane decided to fall into the river in Superman II ... pure suicide if she hadn't guessed right! The geographic sequence from north to south and curving around to the west in a J-shape is: City of Niagara Falls, NY; American Falls, Luna Island (small), Bridal Veil Falls (small), Goat Island (fairly big), Horseshoe Fall (biggest, crosses border); City of Niagara Falls, Ontario. Visit both sides to see all the views. You can go up near both edges of all the falls. From watmath!electro!carlo Tue Jul 16 05:33:31 1985 In your summary of travel spots in the NE part of North America, you mention that someone said that Niagara Falls has cheap accommodation. Watch out! The cheap accommodation is only off-season! From Sept. to Apr., you can get nice motel rooms for $15-$20(Cdn.). My fiancee and I got a room on a weekend in April at the rate of four nights for the (reduced) price of three. However, from about May or June to the end of August, the prices double and triple so that the average cost of a night is about $55. The best way to find out about this (and the rest of Ontario) is to go into an AAA office and pick up their Ontario guide book for about $5. It's well worth it! -Carlo Sgro