NYC - TORONTO ITINERARY
Being based in NYC with wonderful family and friends in Toronto means doing an annual drive to Canada. Our ideal Road Trip Itinerary features a healthy combination of Cultural Institutions; Play Spaces; Good Eating; Wonderful Accommodations; and a very famous Geological Wonder.
OUTBOUND DRIVE, DAY 1: New York City to Syracuse
On your way up the Taconic, grab some Cheese & Charcuterie from Talbott and Arding and go for a panoramic picnic atop the hill at OLANA in Hudson, NY. OLANA is the estate of Frederic Church, and is an important site in the history of the Hudson River School Movement.
Continue up I-90 towards Syracuse. Upon arrival, check in to the historic Marriott Syracuse Downtown (book thru There Now Please). Syracuse is pretty much exactly halfway and it has some great restaurants.
After settling in to your hotel room, grab dinner at the Original Dinosaur BBQ.
OUTBOUND DRIVE, DAY 2: Syracuse to Toronto
Enjoy the Breakfast Buffet at the Marriott’s Eleven Waters before continuing on your northern adventure.
Make a stop in Rochester, NY at either the highly interactive Strong Museum of Play, or, for the film buffs, the George Eastman Museum.
Cross the border into Canada near Buffalo (don’t forget your passport!) and continue to Toronto.
TORONTO: Where to Stay
A couple of great mid-range family options are the Hilton Toronto and the Kimpton Saint George (book either property thru There Now Please).
For Toronto Luxury Properties, we suggest the Shangri-La or the Four Seasons, among others (inquire about our Luxury Properties). Special Amenities for these properties are provided when booking through There Now Please,
TORONTO: What to Do/What to Eat
In the midst of seeing friends and relatives, here are a few spaces we love to experience as a family in Toronto:
The Art Gallery of Ontario for its Indigenous Art Collection & Contemporary Exhibitions; its nearby Grange Park Playground; Summer’s Ice Cream for amazing flavors like Apple Pie & Espresso; The Subway & Street Cars (the major sites are a breeze to reach); and our favorite, one-of-a-kind neighborhoods: West Queen West; Roncesvalles; Yorkville; and the Distillery District.
For a cultural blend of international cuisine that mirrors the city’s rich diversity, try Patois Toronto. If staying at the Hilton or Shangri-La, Momofuku Noodle Bar is only a few feet away.
RETURN DRIVE, DAY 1: Toronto to Syracuse
Before crossing the Peace Bridge back into the states, we highly recommend visiting the Ontario (not New York) side of Niagara Falls. If you are bringing kids and have a time limit, the two tourist experiences we suggest are Niagara’s Fury & Journey Behind the Falls. Both are accessed from within the Table Rock Welcome Center, which has a convenient food court, as well as the table service Table Rock House Restaurant and all the Roots souvenirs you need!
Cross the border into America and head straight to Syracuse, NY. We really do recommend the Marriott Syracuse Downtown (book thru There Now Please), because of its dependability, large rooms, and comfortable beds. It is reliable and it has really unique historic design elements.
For dinner, try Apizza Regionale’s gorgeous pizzas (cooked in wood-fired ovens imported from Naples, using fermented, stone-ground dough and daily homemade mozzarella).
RETURN DRIVE, DAY 2: Syracuse to New York City
On the way back from Syracuse, take I-90 again so that you can absorb more of the splendor that is the Hudson Valley. Stop in at Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill to take a tour through Cole’s house and studio and see some of his most famous paintings. Catskill, NY is a creative community home to many artists, historic and contemporary. I was fortunate to be an Artist in Residence at the Catwalk Institute a few summers ago, where I filmed the Hudson Valley segment of my film “That’s Why I’m Here.” Stop in to the HiLo Café for a bite before heading back to the city.