Canada

[ilovemysphynx]

This question is for those of you who are from Canada I think there is A few of you?
We are planning A trip to Niagara Falls and I have some questions?
If you have been what are the must see and do? There seems to be so much.
We are going in April so I know it will be A bit chilly but the kids have A week off and I really want us to see it.
Next question we have been thinking about getting another Sphynx so I am looking into getting one while we are there.
Can I cross the border with A live animal and what do I need to do so?
We will be driving so no planes involved.

 

[kalliee129]

I'm not from Canada but I have travelled there a lot as a child and I was in Toronto and Niagra Falls just a few years ago. I am also going toto will be in Montrel and Quebec in April. Who knows we might run into each other at the border

Ok here is my list of MUSTS. You must take two boat rides at the falls, one is on the boat called something mists and that is a big boat that will actually take you very close to the falls and you WILL get soaked While walking around the falls you will see the boats if you look down. Second is there is a boat that actually goes under the falls. Total blast and a little queasy but totally worth it. My personal favorite was sky diving there and you will see signs on the side of the road for that. It's a sign made by the state? or country of canada and not a homemade sign. If you get a chance you should definately drive into downtown Toronto. It is not the far of a drive maybe an hour or less. It's only like 40 miles or so away. You can visit the CN tower, but if it is too windy they will shut it down, because it does sway in the wind. If you want to shop you HAVE to go to Eaton Centre which is a large above and underground mall. It is in downtown, but honestly it is a really nice downtown. It is really clean and completely driveable unlike our downtown areas. Plus everything is in walking distance. There is a theater there with these head status coming out of it that is so cool to see and I think your kids will get a real kick out of it and you can see it by just walking around downtown. TRUST me you have to go!!!!! To eat, there is a really good resturant there called the pickle barrel and here is the website http://www.picklebarrel.ca/. As far as the weather it is during the colder season because really they only have two seasons...hot and freezing. During April it will be a little warmer but take warm clothes and rain gear and umbrellas because it will also be a little wet there. I know you can take animals across the border and I think all you will need is their shot records but I'm not one hundred percent positive on that. I hope you have a great time!!! I LOVE canada and wish I could live there, but the cold chased me away

 

[ilovemysphynx]

Thanks so much Kalliee, your info is great! I think the two boat things are close in April and open in May (from what I have read) but that is ok because there is no way in he*l that I would get Admin to do that anyway!
Supper glad you pointed out the mall being that shopping is my favorite past time!
Any Hotel suggestions? Want to have A view of the falls and A indoor pool for the kids, I have been looking but pictures can be deceiving.
We always do beachy vacations but this is something we have never done and I think the kids will love it!

 

[Pbinky]

I live in Toronto and i've been to the Falls several times. There's tons to do there and it's a lot of fun for the kids. The "strip" is full of things to see and do, especially for the kids. And there's Fallsview Casino if you like gambling. Tons of night life but i think it's more for 19 - 25 year olds... so not so appealing. If you can get out to Niagara On The Lake to check outs some of the vineyards and wine tasting tours. That is lovely.

Toronto is actually about 2 hour drive from Niagara Falls and definitely a must see. The traffic is horrendous so if you can park your car somewhere and just use transit or walk you'd be much better off. CN Tower is fun, if you can stomach it (very high up... very). We have TONS of excellent restaurants. Just check out www.toronto.com if you're planning a trip here. I don't mean to boast but Toronto is an awesome city.

Since your going to the Falls and you want to adopt a kitty the closest cattery to the Falls is Beeso Cattery and they are located in Hamilton, Ontario. That is just about 1 hour away from Niagara Falls. I got both my boys from Beeso. But, my second kitty came to me quite ill. The breeder said he didn't see any signs of illness in my cat or any of his other kitties. And he's agreed to pay me back in full for Skinner to help with all the vet bills. He offered me another cat but i said no, and i wanted to nurse Skinner back to health. anyhow, the website is
I don't know the procedure of getting across the boarder with an animal. You should probably contact the government for that so you don't have any problems what so ever.

 

[ilovemysphynx]

Thanks for the info
Seems that I have alot of planning to do!

 

[kalliee129]

I actually stayed in a hotel in Toronto by the airport even though we drove there. It was a four star hotel and did have an indoor pool and we got it super cheap, like $70.00 a day...canadian no less. Now when I was young we would camp in Niagra Falls and it was across from the falls so you could hear it, but I'm not to sure if it was on the New York side or the Canada side. I'm pretty sure it was on the Canada side.

When we went shopping we actually stopped in a Wal*Mart and we came upon some funny things that we don't have here in the states. If you want a fun game to play with your kids you can play like an I spy of things that are different. One thing was the milk. I know sounds weird, but they sell their milk in bags?!?! Craziest thing I've ever seen :Laugh: Also I loved the merge sign because some said merge, but most said "Squeeze" When we went to buy some food to keep in our hotel room because we were staying there for two weeks I wanted some cottage cheese. I totally threw the market guy off when I asked him how to tell what kind of curd it was because I only like large curd cottage cheese. When I told him that in the states we choose what curd we want he just gave me this dumb founded look and said...here we get to choose what size container we want Also if you have a craving for biscuits while there they don't have any. They use english muffins and I found that out the hard way when I stared at the McDonalds menu for like ten minutes trying to figure out what was missing :Laugh:

Now there is a flea market in Toronto that I think is only open on Saturday and Sunday and a MUST stop. Here is the website http://www.drfleas.com/toronto/index.shtml. Can you tell I LOVE Toronto :Laugh: I would be so jealous of you if I were not going to be in Canada at the same time. When we get back we will have to swap stories. I can't wait to go to Montreal and Quebec, I want to see if I can reuse my french from Paris.

Now when you come back this is where we ran into problems, for some reason it was harder to get back over the boarder then it was to get into the country. They didn't detain us or anything, but it just took longer. I loved the fact that I have Virginia tags and a US passport and the guy at the border actually asked me why I was crossing the boarder. I told him I lived in Virginia and was just going home. He then asked me how long I was planning on visit I just looked at him and said I wasn't to sure but when I figure it out I would call him :Laugh:

 

[ilovemysphynx]

Oh that last one is A pisser!
Flea market, malls, good food, when will I have time to see the sites?
I was planning on 5 nights?

 

[kalliee129]

Thanks for the info
Seems that I have alot of planning to do!

If you want to get a travel guide the canada website has a wealth of information, but for me on every trip I buy a travel guide by Dk Eyewitness. In my opinion they make the most informative, user friendly books. As much as I like to read things I want to visually see it and Dk Eyewitness does that beautifully and they will have sections that have places to go, eat and stay and will list which is most cost friendly.

 

[kalliee129]

Oh that last one is A pisser!
Flea market, malls, good food, when will I have time to see the sites?
I was planning on 5 nights?

Plenty of time. We planned things by day's. One day in Niagra and that included sky diving, one day horseback riding and that included some shopping, 12 days for shopping and eating :Laugh:

 

[kalliee129]

Oh god I forgot you also have to take the kids to see Castle Loma. Here is the site: http://www.casaloma.org/ It is absolutely gorgeous and weird at the same time because of where it is located. To get there you would think you have to drive out to the country or something but it's literally in the city area. You are driving through housing areas and downtown shops and then out of nowhere right next to some houses is the castle!! The great thing is the view. You can climb up the very top and get a total birds eye view of all of Toronto. Oh man so much to do!!

 

[ilovemysphynx]

If you want to get a travel guide the canada website has a wealth of information, but for me on every trip I buy a travel guide by Dk Eyewitness. In my opinion they make the most informative, user friendly books. As much as I like to read things I want to visually see it and Dk Eyewitness does that beautifully and they will have sections that have places to go, eat and stay and will list which is most cost friendly.

I think I will get that book! I look on line but like to have somthing in my hand!
They do not offer free info for the canada side anymore only the new york side.
Canada is on line only.

 

[kalliee129]

I think I will get that book! I look on line but like to have somthing in my hand!
They do not offer free info for the canada side anymore only the new york side.
Canada is on line only.

Yeah I run into that problem whenever I want to travel outside of the US. Now if you want to visit somewhere here in the states if you go to that states web page they will not only send you books, coupons and sometimes videos.

Now I don't know if this will work or not, but when I went to Paris I contacted the us embassy there and they hooked me up. I got free passes and coupons to a bunch of stuff. Granted I didn't use any of it since none of it was for shopping I didn't try that when I went to Canada as I didn't know to ask. My uncle actually told me to do that and it was great advise. The way I see it, it doesn't hurt to ask. The worst they can say is no and then you're no worse off then before you asked. They may also be able to give you the requirements for animals going over the border.

 

[ilovemysphynx]

I will try that!

 

[Brooke]

Jeez, you guys! Now I want to go to Canada!!

 

[Pbinky]

Jeez, you guys! Now I want to go to Canada!!

Wanna switch? I wouldn't mind some time in Tampa

 

[Brooke]

Wanna switch? I wouldn't mind some time in Tampa

Heck yes! 2 days in this heat and humidity and you'd be begging to go back home. You'll have to kick me out of the Great North!