We are often busy planning international travel, and sometimes we forget to enjoy the world-class sights we have at home. We live near Toronto, the largest city in Canada. It’s good to remind ourselves to take advantage of that! We won tickets to see a musical and so that was our incentive to make a day of it.
Getting There
We took the GO Train to and from our hometown. The GO Train is a commuter train subsidized by our provincial government (GO – Government of Ontario). The ride takes 1.5 hours from our city, Barrie, to downtown Toronto. The train is a faster option during rush hour or in winter conditions. In ideal driving conditions, it also takes 1.5 hours, and then you must add the stress of driving, fuel and parking costs. As a couple, taking the train is less expensive and more convenient.
We discovered (too late for us today) that there are new group rates! If you purchase your train ticket online, it’s half the price! Use the Weekday Group Pass. It is now available for two or more travellers!
Union Station is centrally located to many attractions. We were attending a play in the early evening, so we added another attraction to our day.
Toronto’s Ripley’s Aquarium
Ripley’s Aquarium is located under the CN Tower and is a short walk from the train station. We booked a 3:00pm admission ticket. This time of day is less crowded (because school trips are done). We were able to explore all of the displays and aquatic habitats at our own pace. We purchased our entrance ticket online with our CAA membership (20% off) the day before our trip. We planned for a 2-hour visit.
Ripley’s Aquarium is a fascinating place. If you intend to visit a few times a year, consider purchasing an annual membership. They also host nighttime special events. Our two-hour visit was ample time to see all the displays.
Our next activity in Toronto was to enjoy a hearty meal and beverage. It was a short ten-minute stroll from the Aquarium to our chosen restaurant.
The Elephant & Castle Pub
We made reservations at the Elephant & Castle pub. It is a busy spot! Blue Jays fans were there before and after the game, and many diners were theatre goers like us. The pub is in the theatre district. We enjoyed our time there practicing our Irish Pub skills. I had my first pie flight! I sampled four of the pot pies from the menu. My favourite was the leek and cheddar pie. We indulged in a tasty bread pudding for dessert.
The Royal Alexandra Theatre
We thoroughly enjoyed Mirvish’s production of Come From Away at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The 118-year-old theatre, restored by the Mirvish family, is a national treasure. It was the first steel-framed structure with cantilevered balconies. Whenever I see a show here, I marvel at the engineering and the architecture. The last time Come From Away was in Toronto, we had missed it because we were in Vietnam. So when I won the tickets from a @checkinfromaway contest, we were excited to attend. Come From Away is the quintessential Canadian musical! It is about the people of Gander that came together to support the stranded passengers on September 11, 2001. The performers were multi-talented, and the staging was unique. We were lucky to enjoy a world-class performance in a Toronto institution.
After the play, we had ample time to return to Union Station and catch the GO Train back to Barrie. We had an entertaining day! It was a great reminder to take advantage of the great “touristy’ things to do close to home. No passport or flight was required for this day trip!
Here’s a link to a related post about a great Toronto day trip: We attended a Blue Jays game and took a day trip to Stratford.
I took my first flight at 6 months of age and I have continued to plan trips and travel to more than 50 countries. Now as a middle age traveler we have learned some travel hacks and budget saving ideas that we are happy to share. Follow our posts for ideas and tips to stretch your travel budget in your gogo years!
