Northern U.S.A & Canada - travelling with children
Northern U.S.A & Canada - travelling with children
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5potTurbo

Original Poster:

13,381 posts

184 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
Dear PH'ers

Hoping those of you who may have travelled in this part of the world before could give some useful tips on things to do and places to see, the lesser known, more interesting stuff perhaps, and some hotel recommendations?

Mrs 5PotTurbo and I are taking our 2 girls, aged 7 & 9 to the USA & Canada for 3 weeks in the Summer. We're flying into Chicago and spending some time with my brother and his family who live in the area, before driving in our gas guzzling SUV* to Toronto & Niagara. After a few days there, we'll head south-east to New York, where we'll be returning the gas guzzler, before flying home 4 or 5 days later.

Thanks in advance!



  • gas guzzling SUV chosen so children have a better view of what's around them en route, and the roads in Illinois are shockingly bad, with very few bendy bits!

Don

28,378 posts

300 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
If you are up for spending money your kids will not forget a helicopter ride over the Niagara falls.

Dryer than the Maid of the Mist boat ride!

Spudler

3,985 posts

212 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
Don said:
If you are up for spending money your kids will not forget a helicopter ride over the Niagara falls.

Dryer than the Maid of the Mist boat ride!
I'll second that, pretty damm amazing...

gary_tholl

1,013 posts

286 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
If you're thinking of going to the CN tower in Toronto - phone ahead and make a lunch reservation. It includes the fee for going up, lets you walk right by the multi-hour line-up, and the food is pretty good, while giving you a great view without 'the masses' all pushing so they can see as well.

Not sure if you're into racing, or when you'll be there, but Mosport is only an hour or so up the 401 from Toronto, depending on when you're around, there could be some pretty impressive racing going on.

For sports, there are the Toronto Blue Jays (baseball), Toronto Raptors (basketball), Toronto Argonauts (CFL football), and the Toronto Rock (Lacrosse) that I can think of off the top of my head. Basketball and Lacrosse are done for the season already though - with Toronto in the final tomorrow!

Hope that is some help!

Gary

SLacKer

2,622 posts

223 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
Fort York is interesting for an afternoon (Toronto) http://www.toronto.ca/culture/museums/fort-york.ht...

Niagra falls has a good behind the falls tunnel system


SLacKer

2,622 posts

223 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
Fort York is interesting for an afternoon (Toronto) http://www.toronto.ca/culture/museums/fort-york.ht...

Niagra falls has a good behind the falls tunnel system


bull996

1,442 posts

225 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
After Niagra drive south into New Hampshire and through the White Mountains.

Drive the amazing Kancamagus Highway while in the area.

You can also drive past Clarks Trading Post on the way-lots for the kids to do and an amazing black bear show.

Then I HAVE to recommend Lake Winnipesaukee. Preferably a town called Wolfeboro although anywhere on that lake is beautiful.

After that Portsmouth (nice micro breweries and restaurants) and then Boston.

I lived in Wolfeboro, and I still think its a fantastic place)

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

13,381 posts

184 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Thanks all for your tips, folks.

I'll certainly check them out and will do as much as we can in the time we have. VERY interested in helicopter ride (my girls will love that) and the CN Tower restaurant.

I am hugely into motorsport (off to Le Mans again next month) so will see if Mrs.5 pot agrees for some motorsport related activity while we're away....

thumbup

Bull: Cheers for the info on some NY bound visits. I'll get Mrs.5 pot onto the planning right away!

Edited by 5potTurbo on Monday 17th May 13:46

Don

28,378 posts

300 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
5potTurbo said:
I'll certainly check them out and will do as much as we can in the time we have. VERY interested in helicopter ride (my girls will love that) and the CN Tower restaurant.
One point about the CN Tower - on no account take your st-scared of heights spouse over the top of the glass floor and then giggle "look down".

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

13,381 posts

184 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Don: I'm the one that's scared of heights yikes
- but I've already done the Sears Tower (or whatever it's called now!) and will again in July

Thanks again!