In this blog series I show you how easy it is to budget
travel anywhere and I also give you a quick overview of a new city each time in
a brief 48-hour itinerary.
Next year we’ve decided to vacation in Toronto. We’ve only ever been to B.C. in Canada, so this will be a new
experience, plus an interesting destination that I doubt many people think
about. We were going to make this a friends vacation, but they can’t make it,
so we are going to go anyway and maybe do a second leg in NYC, because why not?
So, if you’ve been thinking about heading North, here’s my plan for spending
two days in the city of Toronto. (Obviously, I’ll be spending around a week
there, but maybe you can drive up for the weekend, or need a starting point.)
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Day 1
{CityPASS now has the TorontoPASS which could save you up to 43% on 5 of the city’s most popular
attractions.} Let’s assume you got in last night or early this morning, so you
can hit the ground running. Start the day off with a healthy and unique
breakfast at Cora’s. The meals can
be large, so if you aren’t a huge breakfast person, you can easily split an entrée.
Most range between $10-12. Look to spend
around $20 for 2 if you split something and have coffee/juice.
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Make sure you’ve packed your
camera today, because you’re going to head to CN Tower now and get a bird’s eye view of Toronto. It has two
observation levels, one with a glass floor, at over 1,100 feet above the
street. If you buy your tickets online,
these will cost you $44 per adult, but it’s included in your CityPASS.
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Walk the few blocks to Union Station and take the train to the
Royal Ontario Museum. This is where
you’ll check out dinosaurs, artifacts from Egypt and Canada’s history. It’s
Canada’s largest museum of world cultures and natural history. In between your
browsing of exhibits, head to the museum’s café for a bite for lunch. You can
get all the usual easy foods like pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs, or you can
get something more unique like chicken schwarma or veggie masala. Two people can eat for around $25. Admission
for the museum is $17 per person, but this is also included in the CityPASS.
If you’ve purchased a CityPASS, I
suggest heading back towards the CN Tower and visiting Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. It’s open late and is Canada’s largest
indoor aquarium. There are dive shows each day, local marine life and so much more.
This is great if you have kids, or just a lover of stuff in the water. If you
didn’t purchase a CityPASS and this doesn’t sound appealing, head to the Distillery Historic District. It’s a
no-car zone and the architecture is fantastic. You won’t find big box stores
here, as they aren’t allowed, so you’ll be surrounded by pure Toronto. The District is free, but the aquarium is
around $32 per person if you pay separately.
Save some bucks on dinner and hit
up Nari Sushi to get some fish to go
and enjoy it in your hotel room while you relax and prepare for tomorrow. You can pick up three 8-pc rolls for around
$15.
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Day 2
Make sure your camera’s charged
and you have a fresh memory card in it, or you have a backup battery for your
phone, today you’re going to explore the fabulous Casa Loma. I’ll just tell you it’s a castle, because what? You can
get there right when they open and head to the café for breakfast. They serve
everything from muffins to waffles, so you can grab something light or fill up
before walking the grounds and exploring hidden passages(!!!). Admission to Casa Loma is $25 per person and
a meal in the café for two can run around $20. Casa Loma is included in your
CityPASS.
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Head back to the city and go
straight to St. Lawrence Market.
Browse stalls of foods, plants, jewelry and more. There’s even an art gallery!
Cobble together a lunch from finds at the market or grab something from a stall
who offers made food for you. The market
is free to wander. Plan to spend around $20 for lunch for two.
Walk over to the Harbourfront Centre where you can check
out free shows and culture along Lake Ontario. You’ll find a wide range of
foods here as well from a variety of local food vendors. Look to spend around $20 for two.
Head back to your hotel and pack
to leave tomorrow. If you do everything on the list, you’ll spend around $292
CAD ($226US) – with the aquarium, it’s more like $276 US. If you purchase theCityPASS, you’re looking at $237 US.
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There are plenty of cool things
to do in Toronto that aren’t on this itinerary. I also want to check out The Lockhart, a Harry Potter-themed
bar, have tea at the Kitten and Bear
and visit the magical Library at Osgood
Hall. Oh, and check out The Danforth
(or Greektown), because I’m a nerd and love the line in Barenaked Ladies’ Old Apartment.
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