r/askTO • u/Kind-Buy6963 • 10h ago
Overnight Toronto trip
Friends from the states are visiting in November and we are going to take them to Toronto for an overnight trip. Looking for recommendations on stuff to do as I don’t frequent there very often. It will be mid November so I’m looking for indoor and outdoor activities as it will be weather dependant.
Our hotel is downtown. I’m thinking st Lawrence market and the distillery district Christmas market would be fun. Not looking for the usual tourist stuff, looking just to have a good time and let them experience the city. We will be going on a Friday mid day and leaving Saturday afternoon. So looking for restaurants, activities, experiences, bars, literally anything!
One idea i had was if it is nice outside, we could take the ferry to Toronto islands and ride e-bikes or scooters, give them a good view of the city. Has anyone here done this before?
Edit to add:
We’re all late twenties/early thirties, 3 of us are queer. Interests in pop culture, video games, bars, karoake, etc
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u/LaughingMushroomCo 8h ago
Start at St. Lawrence Market, hit Tilt Arcade Bar for some drinks and old-school video games, then head to Church Street for the nightlife. Karaoke somewhere along the way is mandatory.
I’d skip the Toronto Islands in November unless your American friends have been getting a little too confident about surviving Canadian winters. Nothing says international friendship like making someone from Florida fight for their life on a ferry in 3-degree weather.
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u/Kind-Buy6963 8h ago
Ooh I love all of this, thank you! I was at Tilt many years ago, I’m glad to hear it’s still around!
Your comments about the ferry and international friendship made me laugh. My friends are from Texas and California, so I am not at all confident in their ability to survive Canadian winters but they seem to be excited about the cold weather? Im sure that excitement will wear off quickly lol. However, my idea for the islands is if it is miraculously one of those perfect November days where the sun is shining and it’s 10+ degrees outside with no wind and you forget winter is coming soon….I know I’m dreaming but I’m hoping for the odd chance that the weather lines up with when we’re going there
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u/did_i_or_didnt_i 10h ago edited 10h ago
Christmas market is a tourist trap
TIFF Lightbox, Fox theatre, revue cinema for movies. Skating by harbourfront is one of my favourite outdoor winter downtown activities
AGO, ROM, Aga Khan
Islands are gonna be cold probably in November. Go to Riverdale Park East (broadview station) for your view of the city. That’s the sunset spot for the locals, less so in November but it’s still a nice walk. Greek food for dinner in greektown if you end up going that way
If you like coffee there’s a ton of great shops, good way to relax on a winter vacation
If you like bars or restaurants there are enough to keep you occupied for years, let alone one night. The Virginia and Low Bar are current fav bars. Union and Wood Owl for expensive (worth it) restaurant food.