Entertaining Americans..

[captainsunshine]

Hey all..

So my parents are coming to visit me here in Burlington this coming weekend (the 1st-3rd)..

I just wanted to see if there were any suggestions on things that would help entertain them while they're here...

They're last (and only time) in Canada was about 25 years ago..

I know they want to go to Niagara Fall's for a bit, and that's all that's planned right now..

ALSO.. They're real cool parents (my dad's an old hippie and has seen the GD a few times..).. and I want to see if there's any good music going on on Friday or Saturday while they're here..

Thanks y'all!! It will be a super help!!

[Jared]

take them to some pot cafe's, or kensington, people seem to like the cn tower

[questcequecest?]

You could go to the Royal Botanical Gardens

specifically, the Glass Under Glass Exhibit

Edited February 26, 2007 by Guest

[zero]

The New Rom, AGO (both for sure), check out the new Opera House nearby. At night once take them to Hugh's Room. Find any actually nice italian place around college and ossington- study the menu some are shit some are killer.

[Jaimoe]

For Toronto, I'd take them for an eating, shopping and drinking tour around some of Toronto's best ethnic areas like Greektown (Danforth Ave.), Little Italy, Chinatown and Little India. Plus, the Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market are a 10 minute walk from each other and are really cool and interesting. Queen Street West is an entertaining shop/walk and they may find the ultra-ritzy celebrity haunt Yorkville fascinating if not outrageously expensive (just north of Bloor and Bay, on Cumberland and Yorkville Avenues).

I'd avoid the Art Gallery Of Ontario (although it is in Chinatown). The ongoing Frank Gehry renovations won't be done until the fall rendering the AGO a mess visually and in maneuvering around inside.

[captainsunshine]

Thanks all!!

Keep em coming!! My cousin is also coming in town in like 3 weeks, so these suggestions are helping with that visit, too..

You guys rock...

[Jaimoe]

Taking one of those double-decker bus tours is a good way to see a lot of the great areas of Toronto, then you can explore on your own during or after the tour.

[Jared]

those tours are lame, plus its a bit cold to sit out side ont he top.

i'd second the distellery district, really really good food there, but its pricey, at least where i went.

like 100 - 150 for dinner for 2 with a few drinks

the cn tower resturant 360, its really cool, it makes the trip to the tower worth wile. plus it spins and on a nice day they veiw os great, i you have bonoculars you can see the falls, i tred but just saw some fog they said was the falls.

that place is a bit price to, but definalty worth it, there menu is on line,, you could probably do like 60 - 80 a person.

if it were me, i'd probably do one day where we got up early

cruised to youg st, and took a nice walk, maybe from bloor to st toward front.

stop at a few pot cafe's on young and some cool stores. hit up lunch in kensington, then do a bit of queen west and st laurence market.

then head to the tower for a tour, and if you wana splurge, dinner at the 360

maybe a nice show, after, theater or something

that would pretty much covr everything

[edger]

Good morning,

If you're hitting up Niagara Falls anyways, it might be worth checking out the Butterfly Conservatory while you are there. Pretty cool place.

Also, I'd second Zero's suggestion for Hugh's Room in Toronto. In fact, Todd and I will be there this weekend with my parents. David Francey is playing there on both Friday and Saturday night. He is basically a folk singer.

Good luck!

[phishtaper]

... checking out the Butterfly Conservatory while you are there. Pretty cool place.

i second that. very cool place, be sure to take your cameras.

where are the folks from, captainsunshine? if its a smaller sorta place ... i'd recommend a bunch of places we tend to take for granted living in a big city, like the Eaton Center, the subway, city hall, CN Tower, as well as the other more Toronto-specific places like the Hockey Hall of Fame, Harbourfront, and all the ones already recommended.

note that the weather may be wonky, so as good as the suggestions are re: various districts in town (chinatown, greektown, kensington) they may not be as nice if its slushy outside.

should be fun. enjoy!

[Jaimoe]

If you go to Niagra Falls, be sure to go to the lovely town of Niagra-on-the-Lake. Most of the wineries don't have tours at this time of the year, but some still do. Niagra is #1 for ice-wine plus one of the best wine producing regions in the world. The fake Niagra Falls town is Clifton Hill. Avoid the real downtown. It's depressing.

Tours are good if you don't have a lot of time to explore.

[captainsunshine]

where are the folks from, captainsunshine?

They're from northern Kentucky/Cincinnati, Ohio.. So they're used to the big-city type things, but would still be interested in checking them out since they've never been to Toronto before..

Thanks, all.. You're a huge help!

[Kanada Kev]

If you go to Niagra Falls, be sure to go to the lovely town of Niagra-on-the-Lake. Most of the wineries don't have tours at this time of the year, but some still do. Niagra is #1 for ice-wine plus one of the best wine producing regions in the world. The fake Niagra Falls town is Clifton Hill. Avoid the real downtown. It's depressing.

I've always enjoyed Niagara-On-The-Lake and hitting the Olde Angel Inn when I'm there.

http://www.angel-inn.com/

Great food and beer, and often there's a band jamming too. Cool old building, and it's haunted by an old British soldier

[captainsunshine]

I've always enjoyed Niagara-On-The-Lake and hitting the Olde Angel Inn when I'm there.

http://www.angel-inn.com/

Great food and beer, and often there's a band jamming too. Cool old building, and it's haunted by an old British soldier

Wow, thanks.. Now this is DEFINITELY something my parents would love..

[Kanada Kev]

the cn tower resturant 360, its really cool, it makes the trip to the tower worth wile. plus it spins and on a nice day they veiw os great, i you have bonoculars you can see the falls, i tred but just saw some fog they said was the falls.

that place is a bit price to, but definalty worth it, there menu is on line,, you could probably do like 60 - 80 a person.

Since you don't have to pay extra to get to the top when you're going for dinner, it gives you the most bang for your buck if you want to do it. The food is good and the fact that it rotates rocks! Just don't leave anything on the window sill as it doesn't rotate with you .

[phishtaper]

Just don't leave anything on the window sill as it doesn't rotate with you .

back in the 70's when it opened, my friend's mother left her purse on the sill, remembered it just as it was "coming back around", but everything was still there. can you imagine that nowadays?

[Kanada Kev]

back in the 70's when it opened, my friend's mother left her purse on the sill, remembered it just as it was "coming back around", but everything was still there. can you imagine that nowadays?

That's precisely what happened to my sister way back when too I wonder if they warn people of that.

[Baj]

first step;

good ol' Canadian beer...

that should get things rollin'

[captainsunshine]

first step;

good ol' Canadian beer...

that should get things rollin'

That will be your job..

[Baj]

yes dear

Edited February 26, 2007 by Guest

[Kanada Kev]

mmmmm .... beer. I'm thirsty now.

I just picked up some C'est What? Homegrown Hemp Ale yesterday. It will be my beverage this evening while watching the Leafs v. Habs ...

http://cestwhat.ca/beer.asp

[captainsunshine]

YES!

My parents will surely love that beer!! Perfect..