toronto-niagara-new york

[puzzled54]

Thinking of flying to Toronto and taking the train to Niagara an then on to New york. Any tips or advice? For example, how many days in Toronto and Niagara to do them justice? Thanks

[raysparx]

Make sure you see Niagara from the canadian side ,haven't been to Toronto but to do New York justice spend at least 3 days there,so much to see.if you like Blues music BB,King has a club just off of Times Square,also get a day and night tour bus ticket from an agency it is good value. Empire state go up there at Night,unbelievable

[Machecoul]

Check the train times - may be Via Rail or Amtrak. They have good websites.There might not be many trains each day!!! (Possibly only one to New York).
We once spent all day waiting in Buffalo for a train to Niagara (which was travelling from New York on to Toronto etc) Buffalo was VERY cold and we spent all day in a small shopping Mall - ahem!) We had flown from Boston to Buffalo to catch this train - don't ask!

See if you can afford to upgrade to First Class - we've found it quite reasonable (compared to UK). Used it to travel from Seattle to Vancouver.

If you are going to Niagara over Easter try and get the Parks Commission tour mini bus - it was free when we were there. Only need a couple of days (two nights) in Naigara to see everything. (And in that time you will see everything) And yes you need to be on the Candian side.

Enjoyed Toronto last Easter - took the tour bus to get bearings - lots of museums / art galleries to visit. Good night life apparently and sports available. I think there are tours that go to Niagara from Toronto so you might not need to stay there?? Look at www.tripadvisor.com and visit the forums for information on all of your destinations. Very useful site.

[JoolsTwo]

You have to go with Via Rail to Niagra to be on the Canadian side then book from Niagra to New York and back to Toronto with Amtrak if you are flying out of Toronto. Amtrak can take you from Niagra (Canadian side) to New York, but not from Toronto with a stop in Niagra. We have booked this trip for July. We only have a couple of days in Toronto but 5 days in New York and we have been told we still won't get to see everything. Hope you enjoy the trip, we are really looking forward to ours.

[vida]

Hi Puzzeled54

As raysparx said you must view the Falls from the Canadian side and make sur that you stay their for at least 1 full day and one full night. The falls is illuminated at night by multicoloured spotlights and look pretty spectacular, also make sure you catch a ride on the Maid Of The Mist boat trip which take you right upto the bottom of the Falls. New york is definatly a three dayer, go to broadway for a show, central park in a horse & carriage by day......don't ever visit the park at night!

Have a great time

[puzzled54]

Thank you all for your replies. Hoping to go in the summer so the cold shouldn't be a problem! Have been to New York before, thought it might be nice to end up, and fly back, from there. I have looked at the train websites, but it's always good to have some first hand information.

[Polotoo]

Hello! Just got back from Canada ourselves.

Personally wasn't keen on Toronto, second time we've been and can't see what the fuss is about, but guess I'm just a country girl at heart! Two nights was enough for us!

Absolutely loved Niagara went back for the second time, a couple of nights would be enough to see Niagara itself, but maybe spend some time exploring locally too. This time we also stayed two nights at Niagara on the lake which was wonderful (nice and peaceful as off season but really busy in summer!). You can hire bikes and cycle to the falls if you want. Very pretty. Definately visit some of the wineries and don't forget to try the ice wine!

We paid extra at Niagara to have a fallsview room, quiter than the main town and you can watch the falls all night from bed! But depends what you want. Would also recommend dinner at the Skylon tower, expensive but worth it! Its a revolving restaurant with falls view, we preferred it to the CN tower in toronto, although disorientating when you go to the loo!

I'm so jealous, I want to go back again now! In summer Niagara is heaving, we got the bus down from toronto and the driver said sometimes in summer the journey can take 3-4 hours longer!! We visited the american side, and it was a hassle and not worth it! There's nothing there, which is wierd as I'd have thought the action was that side, but everything is in canada.

If you do take the train, don't forget to book in advance as if you buy 5 days before from Via Rail its much cheaper.

Can't comment on New York as not been, I'm afraid.

Hope this is helpful and I haven't waffled on too much! Have a lovely time!