In April 2015 we decided for our first big road trip. The kids have been to Indiana plenty of times (Chicago to Indiana, Indiana Dunes Visit, La Porte County Fair Visit, Bug Collecting at Indiana Beaches, Chicago to Michigan and our Jamaica trip - with tips on Air Travel and Packing for sanity while traveling with kids. Of course there is a post on what we locals do here in Chicago.
Below is an outline of our itinerary. I usually plan the trips with 3-ish hours of drive time, thats about all the kids can handle in one sitting and we will have pits stops along the way - before an overnight at a hotel. We try to always include a breakfast and pool because it is just so convenient when traveling with kids.
I love the ROAD TRIP planning process and exploring what the locals do.
The Hotel Plan // Toronto
Staying in Downtown West, entertainment district. There are only 3.5-4 star hotels on this side via priceline and hotwire hot hotel deals. Altho downtown east has more great hotels 3-4 star. And after booking you need to call and request your room type and a high floor or views.
Originally i wanted to stay in the nearby suburbs and drive to town, but similar to Chicago downtown parking is hard to come by and pricey! Also the suburban hotels aren't less expensive then downtown, especially if you get a deal or hot rate on expedia. And aren't better rated or reviewed on Trip Advisor. Then add sitting in traffic for 30+ mins just to get back downtown!! And find parking and have the enthusiasm of my kids and husband....Not worth it! Downtown everything's walking distance and we can walk all day no problem!!
We git a hot rate 4 star hotel for US$100 night - no bidding! We could've had a 3.5 star for $84 or a 3 star for 75$
As for Niagara Falls, I found a hotel with FLOOR TO CEILING window views of the falls. You can stay on the canadian side, or US side. We chose to walk to the US and then back to the hotel. YOU MUST WALK THE BRIDGE! Its an amazing experience and feat of architectural engineering. So we splurged on this hotel, saving on others along the way.
PACKING // The Clothing Plan for the Trip. Toronto Weather, rainy and cool in early spring.
All kids are getting a backpack of clothes. Early spring weather is 30-40's, so our northface light jackets will be in tow. Plus hoodies underneath.
A bag of hats, gloves and scarves for the car and rain boots for Niagara Falls and the Badlands stop!
Crocs for the car - easy slip on and off - and gym shoes for walking days. We can do a load of laundry in Toronto if needed.
Each kids fun bag for the car will have snacks they can eat WHENEVER they want. Journals and a baggie of crayons and pencils. Ipads w preloaded shows (ive never done this before). On long strectches and while sitting at the border crossing on the return trip will make me glad I did the preloaded shows!!
If its extra cold, our fitted PJs can serve as layers for under jeans on walking days in Toronto and Niagara. On driving days we will wear sweats and comfy travel clothes.
EXCHANGE RATES AND CANADIAN CURRENCY
A little on the basics. We are driving vi Sarnia which is a less busy customs location.
Exchange is US $0.75 : CDN $1
so Ill be subtracting 25% on every price during the trip.
Here we go ...
Itinerary Toronto // Chicago Road Trip to Toronto, Ontario Canada and Niagara Falls
TUESDAY April 7, 2:00 pm
Chicago Departure, Portage Mi dinner and Overnight at Davison Hotel
294 S to 94 W
Paw paw area in Watervliet chicken coop restaurant
Or
Decatur MI Laura's little burger joint Chapman Burger!
Or
to Kalamazoo
Sweetwater’s Donut Mill 2138 Sprinkle Road Kalamazoo, MI (269) 388-4613
Or
Drive to Portage Mi. (Approx 2.5 hours ) 5:00 pm
- kids break and dinner Arrive Bella ice creamery, pie restaurant, Noodles
- dinner:
- ice cream parlour
- park:
Depart: 8:00 or sooner. Drive 2 hours
Arrive 11:00 pm
Drive to Past Flint Mi, Davison MI
CheckIn: HOTEL
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WEDNESDAY APRIL 8
Border Crossing, Badlands and Toronto
Continental Breakfast, on the road by 9:00 am
Drive to Sarnia 1.5 hours, border crossing
11:00 am Welcome to Canada Center
Bathroom break - Refresh snacks and fruits - Exchange Money
Sarnia lunch - Purdys fish and chips
or Greek Diner (John's Restaurant) on London Line (off the 402). Homemade food.
Drive to Toronto 2.5 hours
402 > to 401 > to 403
See woodland cementary off 403 and route 6 near royal botanic gardens
North to restaurants.
Lunch: Cafe Polonez: Between wright and fern
195 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R, Canada +1 416-532-8432
195 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R, Canada +1 416-532-8432
Polish community restaurants -
Polish rest. Sorauren and then wandered up and down Roncesvalles. Eat first or monuments and walk?Park at southern end of Roncesvalles Avenue and Queen St W.
Queensway and Roncesvalles streets, two monuments are erected in memory of two events in Polish history. A large monument in memory of the massacre of Polish prisoners of war during World War II, and especially the mass graves of officers found in Katyn forest. Fresh wreaths are placed there regularly. Next to it is a memorial to thousands of Polish citizens deported to Siberian labour camps during the Second World War.
Checkin Hotel // Toronto (we used a trip advisor deal, any hotel in the district we wanted 4 stars and up was $99)
Get walking path map form hotel and Request double beds and high floor and views
Walking tour - west or east
Walking path system - largest underground system of shops.
WEST
Walking Path to CN Tower
Ride elevator in CN tower ($100 for 4 of us to tour)
CBC broadcasting
Skydome where Toronto Blue Jays play
Old City Hall Architecture 60 Queens St West
Dinner: EAT elephant and castle pint and pizza 212 king st w
WE DID EAT AT ELEPHANT AND CATLE AND IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. LOTSA LOCAL BRITS and hearing there accents was super fun. Since mommy always immitates accents I was a brit the rest of the day.
EAST
Walking Path to Hockey hall of fame
Amazing views in Toronto! Toula for Lava Cake and Gelato!
St lawrence market
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN TORONTO // Toronto Sites and Things to Do with Kids.
Polish rest. Sorauren and then wandered up and down Roncesvalles. Polish community
St lawrence market
Ride elevator in CN tower ($100 for 4 of us to tour and see views). Instead we will visit one of four restaurants with amazing views in Toronto! We picked Toula for Laca Cake and Gelato!
St clair street car line
Walking path system
Timmys local fast food
Hockey hall of fame
Skydome where Toronto Blue Jays play
Queen st, yorkville and distillery district are nice to visit
Old town toronto
Harborfront & Ward Island Ferry
#1 of 9
Point Pelee, southeast of Windsor - The southernmost point in Canada and has a beach area and it's a stopping point for migrating birds and butterflies.
Straford - it's well known for its theatre productions but probably not for your kids. But you can rent a paddle boat to cruise around the river.
St Jacobs - a nice small village
Elora - another small village with a small waterfall
Cheltenham Badlands trail in Caledon - has very unique landscape, this once large river is now exposed and eroded queenstone shale, caused by bad farming practices of the 1930's. Red color is caused by iron oxide deposits ... I WISH WE DID THIS!
Frankemuth Michigan - german stop - WE DID THIS ON THE WAY BACK TO CHICAGO.
Madison Manor Boutique Hotel
Walter, Peter and I love cities. And our four nights in Toronto were the perfect introduction to that cosmopolitan yet friendly gem on Lake Ontario. We visited the vertigo-inducing observation deck of the CN Tower, gorged on poutine (French fries with gravy and cheese curds), strolled through artsy West Queen West, took the subway to High Park and hopped the ferry to the Toronto Islands beaches, where the water's chilly.
As a counterbalance, we spent time in more manageable towns, too, including Niagara-on-the-Lake, a Colonial-era Napa whose vineyards produce some of the world's best ice wines. With a main street that's just blocks long, it was easy for the kids to scope out their favorite bakery, which displayed faded photos of Queen Elizabeth's visit in 1973.
Best of all, the town is a tranquil 20-minute drive to the adrenaline rush of Niagara Falls, best viewed from the Canadian side. We skipped the whirlpool jet boat rides in favor of the classic Maid of the Mist, which noses its way toward the falls, drenching anyone standing on deck.
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Thursday, April 9
Breakfast: 5 min walk --- YES THis was excellent and yummy!
See opposite of yesterday EAST or WEST
Lunch en route to Badlands: red onion 14010 Hurontario st Caledon off hwy 10
40 mins off hwy by gas station
Leave Toronto 12: Noon
to Cheltenham Badlands 1 hour 15 mins
Cheltenham Badlands trail in Caledon - has very unique landscape, this once large river is now exposed and eroded queenstone shale, caused by bad farming practices of the 1930's. Red color is caused by iron oxide deposits.
There is a viewing area with limited parking on the south side of Olde Baseline Road, between Creditview and Chinguacousy Roads, west of Hwy 10 in Caledon. Visitors are asked to stay at the top of the Badlands and keep off the humps sloping into the valley. This will help to preserve the site. There are no hiking trails connected to the Badlands viewing area. Access to the Bruce Trail can be found to the east and to the west of the Badlands off Old Base Line Road. There is limited parking at the access points to the trail.
Leave by 3:30 pm
Drive to Niagara Falls 1.5 hours
Dinner options:
Smokes Pountinerie - Canada's loaded fries must have! WE DID THIS at the Elephant and Castle, they were yummy and worth a try.
5869 Victoria
11:a- 3:am
Check in arrival 5:00 pm
At leisure, Walk the falls area at night.
We did not walk thru the "wisconsin dells" of niagara. Many arcades, unpside down attractions and the like. Gatlinburg tennessee also looked like this, as did Pigeon Forge area. We did let the kids see one or two stores and then we walked the falls.... after all is is what we were there for.
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Friday, April 10
Check out leave bags in car
Breakfast
Easy street sandwiches and treats
Or
Joe and Linda
8:-1:00
8674 lundys lane (1 main streets n. Of easy st. Rest.)
Helicopter ride w coupon, sadly these were closed for the season in early spring.
Maid of the mist
MUST DO Noon lunch::
Queens tea room, 10:-7:00 (food at 11:)
5689 main st, excellent British tea experience
We took the Blue Water Car Ferry and Customs !!! Its awesome!!!
Head back to Sarnia border OR
Bluewaterferry.com faster then border wait (20 mins between boats) 7:am-10:30 pm
Take ferry from Sombra Ontario to Marine City MI $7 per car
Just south of Sarnia
Eat on road?
Hotel in Davison - 4 hours
Hotel in Saginaw - 5 hours
Frankenmuth Michigan
- german stop - great town to walk around in, see the sites and get a feel of old town germany. Christmas time is insane here with many shoppers and activities. WE DID THIS ON THE WAY BACK TO CHICAGO.
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Saturday, April 11
Continuing our Japan travels at home, we had an authentic Japanese tea ceremony experience. Shockingly while in Japan we didn't do this. The green tea was earthy. Baby girl was not impressed, but she liked the cookie treat. As you leave a gift is a paper oragami shape boxes, fish and the like.
Japanese cultural center
Arrive noon
2:00 authentic tea ceremony - Scott confirmed reservation
8$ per person
DRIVE BACK HOME TO CHICAGO.
Arrive Chesterton (overnight)
Happy and Safe Travels!
