Rainy Tavel | Toronto, Canada
Hey Ya'll! My husband and I recently came back from a trip from the great northern land of Toronto Canada. I feel that Canada isn't really one of those places you would think of to travel to, especially for those of us living on the complete opposite parts of the states. We chose Canada because we were trying for a baby and when things weren't happening right away, I figured we could book a trip, but some place not too far. Then, Canada came to mind when I remembered that one of my husband's bucket list items was to experience Niagara Falls. I figured if I did become pregnant, it would be a place that where I could speak the same language to a doctor if something was wrong, I could drink the tap water, and I wouldn't have to be on a plane for super long or have jet lag. Fortunately, I did become pregnant and we were able to travel to Toronto Canada at my 14 week mark. Here's how it went!
The Stay
People always tell me Airbnb's are just as much as hotels, but let me tell you all how we looked and looked and compared prices and even the out of downtown hotels were still about $1,000 more than an Airbnb, so we chose an Airbnb as we usually do. We didn't do the whole traveling from city to city like we normally do, with the exception of our day to Niagara Falls, mainly because I am pregnant and traveling like that just wouldn't have been great I imagine. But overall we paid $1200 in U.S. dollars for 6 days and 7 nights right next to the harbor and only a few minutes walk to the train station and other popular sights like the CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium. Overall, I think it was a great location to stay in as a pregnant lady.
Where We Went, What We Did
I felt that we got to see a lot on this trip without feeling too rushed. For us, 6 days was enough days to be in the Toronto area, but there were some museums we chose not to go see, so maybe plan for an extra 7th day if you want to fit those in as well.
CN Tower: I'm actually not one to go up all the towers a every place we visit. For instance, I've been to Tokyo twice and never went up the Tokyo Sky Tree or the Tokyo Tower, but the CN Tower just seemed so tall and massive, that we thought why not give it a chance? The CN Tower stands at 553 Meters high and used to be the tallest tower in the world. There is an observation deck and a café on there too. We enjoyed a couple of drinks and looking out into the vast Toronto skyline. There is a fancier restaurant and a "lean over the tower" attraction, but we opted no on both and just enjoyed the morning sights.
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada: Now, this may seem like a super touristy spot, but it was actually a really cool aquarium. My husband is a lover of all things aquariums and this is a top-rated aquarium with a few exhibits that you don't find just everywhere, such as their fish of the great lakes section and there's a part where you can see behind-the-scenes on how the water filtration systems work. It's a cool experience whether you're traveling with kids or are just a fish lover like my husband.
Casa Loma: This grand castle that bore no royal family is a beautiful sight to see inside and out. Casa Lom was built in 1914 by a rich financier, Sir Henry Pellatt. This historical landmark is now owned by the city and they have done a lot to show off it's rich history. There are secret tunnels to explore, a library fit for Belle herself, and a whole dedication of all the films that have been filmed in the castle, including Scott Pilgrim and X-Men. My husband and I were equally surprised on how long we spent exploring the castle.
Art Gallery of Ontario: Toronto is home to some grand museums, but I chose to visit the Art Gallery of
Bata Shoe Museum: The Bata Museum was something we chose to do at the last minute. It seemed like a different type of museum to explore and it did turn out to be a really cool museum with shoes from different parts of the world and history. It's an interesting way to get to know another's cultural background and, let's face it, looking at shoes is fun.
St. Lawrence Market: St. Lawrence Market is a hub of different kinds of foods, goods, and groceries for you to purchase and try. My husband and I came in with hungry bellies and were able to grab a little bit of everything. From sausage rolls to pierogis to custard tarts. we ate a little bit of everything at the market and we recommend you do the same.
Kensington Market: I would describe Kensington Market as this eccentric, hippie spot in town where the homes have turned into thrift stores, cafes, grocery stores, boutiques, and other things. This was the spot that I was most looking forward to and we were able to go on the most beautiful and sunshine day, and it was Mother's Day! On Sundays, they have extra booths open up in the alleyways and on the sidewalks. It was a fun experience and I recommend it for anyone who just wants to walk around and enjoy a neighborhood.
Graffiti Alley: Graffiti Alley is a fun and photogenic spot with plenty of different and colorful graffiti murals to take pictures of or with. Truly a spot you can't miss.
What We Ate
We honestly tried everything Toronto had to offer from familiar dishes to some with a little different spice. We had Egyptian Street food sandwiches from Tut's Egyptian Street Food that were filled with meat coated in different types of spices and washed down with imported mango drinks from Egypt. We tried pizza at both the very familiar chain restaurant called Pizza Pizza and the little neighborhood gem spot that had a line out the door when we went called Pizzeria Badiali (we recommend this one more).
In Kensington Market, we had Jamaican patties from Golden Patty, a little Jamaican place that we saw on a Buzzfeed Worth It segment. We also tried a couple of coffees at the quaint and award-winning FIKA Cafe. Trust me, you want a coffee from this spot! Just outside of Kensington Market is the Toronto Chinatown with signs for dumplings all over, so of course, we had to try some. We stopped at Dumplings & More Chinese Restaurant for some steamed dumplings and pan-fried buns, both juicy and delicious options.
On our last night in Toronto, I was in the mood for Italian food and we found a place called The Old Spaghetti Factory, which sounded veryyyy familiar to an Italian spot back home that shut down during COVID called The Old Spaghetti Warehouse. Turns out, they're from the same people! Needless to say, this was a happy treat and the prices for what you got were just as good.
Niagara Falls
Okay, Niagara Falls. First off, just WOW! Niagara Falls itself is a beautiful sight to see from both afar and up close.
Niagara Falls is about a 2 1/2 hour train ride from Toronto, a little less when you drive, but we're all about public transportation when we travel, so train it was. Getting there was fine, but since there are a limited number of trains, maybe moreso in the off-season, we had to wait an hour to depart from the station once the train got there, so that was the only thing that kind of sucked.
When we got there, we immediately made our descent to the Journey Behind the Falls attraction. It's an experience you can do to descend to the bottom tunnels that go underneath the falls. I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but it just wasn't it. The water just looked like rushed water and you could only see a small portion of the waterfall from directly behind. There is an observation deck, but it's next to the side of the falls and not behind. It's great for a good shot, but if you don't care about that, I'd say skip this experience.
After that, we ventured in the surrounding downtown Niagara Falls area that's completely filled with all sorts of over-the-top looking attractions including, fun houses, haunted houses, arcades, ice cream spots, churro stands, a giant ferris wheel, go-kart race track, souvenir shops and more. You could definitely tell this was made for tourists, but I can see how this would be a great place to bring the kiddos. We did stop for an ice cream and churro but not after having some delicious poutine from The WORKS Craft Burgers & Beer.
When we were done eating, we went for a beautiful hike at the Niagara Glen Trail. This is a trail where you take some stairs down a level and from there, there are quite a few different ways you can go. There are plenty of markers, rock formations, views of the river, and chipmunks for you to see on your hike. this wasn't the hardest hike we've ever been on, but being pregnant made it just a tad more difficult when going up, in the sense of needing to take more breaks. If you're used to hiking, this is a great hike for you. For people who don't really hike it is more difficult than a leisurely walk, so go at your own pace.
After the hike, we went back to the falls to do our Voyage to the Falls Boat Tour. This is about a 20-minute boat ride that takes you right into the middle of the waterfall action, so expect to get wet. This was truly the highlight of our trip. I would describe this experience as being in the eye of a storm, or at least how I imagine that would feel. The water is splashing in your direction and when you think the boat can't possibly go further in, it does. It's an exhilarating moment that you are experiencing with others around you and it truly makes you feel alive.
We ended our time here by going on the Ferris wheel and capturing the stunning view from high up.
Overall, my husband and I had the best time in Toronto Canada. There was so much to do and see and explore, more than I think most people realize. It's a great place to go if you're pregnant and in the States and want to get away for a bit. The weather is great, there's a variety of food options (didn't need reservations for anywhere), and we encountered some very friendly people. If you're planning to visit the Toronto area, I hope this blog was helpful. If you have any more questions, please feel free to comment below. If you've already visited Toronto, let me know your experience! Until next time, Happy Travels!
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