Ontario and the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel – Review
By Richard Jones
A lot can happen in 20 years – and even more in 12,000.
As we sat down to celebrate our China wedding anniversary, the conversation between my wife Rachel and I switched between our big day two decades ago and the breathtaking Canadian Horseshoe Falls formed at the end of the last Ice Age.
Whether you’re a fan of natural landscapes, like the world-famous Niagara Falls, or man-made attractions like those in the big city of Toronto, you get the best of both worlds in Ontario, as we found out on a five-day celebratory break in Canada’s most populous province.
After arriving in Toronto on an Air Transat flight from Manchester, we boarded the Union-Pearson (UP) Express Train which runs from the airport to city-centre Union Station avoiding the pesky traffic.
And time was of the essence as I had managed to get hold of two tickets to go see a band who Some Might Say are the greatest on the planet today – Oasis – at Rogers Stadium.
“Sweeping views”
So, once we had checked in at Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, we jumped in an Uber and arrived at the music venue just in time to hear Liam, Noel, Bonehead and co belting out their opening track Hello.
Following a seven-hour flight and a late night in the Oasis fan zone, the Deluxe Guest Room at the Sheraton, was the perfect place to rest and refresh ahead of a busy week of adventure and sightseeing around Ontario.
The next morning, Rachel and I headed up to the hotel’s 43rd floor and refuelled with a complimentary breakfast buffet with sweeping views of downtown Toronto.
And the helpful servers immediately got to know our drinks order – two English breakfast teas – by heart.
Before we’d arrived in Toronto, I’d downloaded the CityPASS app. Combined with a VIP pass from Destination Ontario, it enabled Rachel and I to group together the activities we wanted to sample and places we wanted to visit.
“Great for exploring”
First up, we made a beeline for Casa Loma in the midtown area.
The Gothic Revival castle-style mansion’s tunnels and hidden rooms are great for exploring, and it’s no wonder the beautiful property is a popular filming location, with films and TV shows like X-Men and Goosebumps shot there.
From Casa Loma, we walked down to Royal Ontario Museum to check out their latest prehistoric and natural world exhibitions, before visiting the city’s premier shopping mall Eaton Centre on the way back to the hotel.
The following day, we strolled south towards the shore of Lake Ontario, taking an elevator up what was formerly the world’s tallest building, CN Tower, exploring Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, and stopping off at sports venues Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena, before embarking on a boat trip around the harbour and Toronto Islands with City Cruises.
Kensington Market Toronto
image: Destination Ontario
“Beautifully restored”
Toronto is a highly walkable city and in between all the sightseeing, Rachel and I got in our steps, passing through Kensington Market and Distillery Historic District where we took a liking to the city’s flagship beer, Steam Whistle pilsner.
During our time in Toronto, we dined at a couple of very different but equally wonderful restaurants.
We enjoyed a Friday Night Special taster menu at Linny’s, a cosy new steakhouse with elements of Eastern European Jewish delis on the hip Ossington Avenue.
We also tried out Waterworks Food Hall – a beautifully restored 1932 Art-Deco former utilities facility in King West, full of artisan eateries and bars.
We took a seat at its Indian outlet, devouring their butter chicken with poppadoms and pickles.
“Tranquil”
Although the majority of our Ontario trip was spent in the city, we wanted to see more of the province.
So, after picking a vehicle from Budget Car Rental at Brookfield Place, we drove past the Beach Neighbourhood and down the Queen Elizabeth Expressway to Niagara-on-the-Lake, stopping off at the Premium Outlets to seek out a few bargains on the way.
Our hotel for the night was 124 Queen Hotel & Spa, a tranquil retreat in the heart of the charming village’s bustling Old Town.
Once we’d checked in and dropped off our bags, we went for a walk, skirting the golf course and Fort George National Historic Site, before reaching the lakefront where we could see the Toronto skyline in the distance, and finishing off with a drink at 11th Post on Queen Restaurant.
Cindy, the hotel’s complimentary shuttle car driver, then chauffeured us to what was a special night at the family-owned Peller Estates Winery just down the road on John Street East.
image: Destination Ontario
“Dazzling”
Following a group tasting tour of the vineyards, cellars and the 10 Below ice wine tasting room with guide Karen, Rachel and I took a seat for dinner in Peller Estates Restaurant.
Then, after a look around the kitchen, we devoured a dazzling four-course taster menu with wine pairing, courtesy of Executive Chef Jason Parsons.
Breakfast the next morning was served with a few jokes and magic tricks courtesy of the friendly server at Treadwell restaurant adjacent to the hotel.
From there, we jumped in the car and headed further up Queen Elizabeth Way to a destination that had been on our bucket lists for many years.
The city of Niagara Falls is not only home to the honorary Wonder of the World from which it takes its name, but also a number of attractions to rival any tourist hotspot.
Rachel initially took some convincing to ride Wildplay’s Zipline to the Falls at Grand View Marketplace, but was relieved she did.
image: Niagara Parks Commission
“Exhilarating trip”
We both also donned rain ponchos to experience the thunderous vibration of the millions of gallons water pouring over Horseshoe Falls in Journey Beneath the Falls, took a walk inside the 2,200-foot long Tunnel, and descended 180 feet in a glass-panelled elevator at Niagara Parks Power Station.
Best of all, we also got to try out the new immersive simulator Niagara Takes Flight, which takes visitors on a ‘soaring adventure’, along the Niagara River corridor from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.
Before driving back to Toronto, Rachel and I sat down for a delicious lunch courtesy of Chef Chris Totah and his team at Table Rock House Restaurant, with our table as close as we could possibly get to the Horseshoe Falls.
It was a suitably romantic way to round off what had been an exhilarating trip to mark our 20th anniversary and, safe to say, we had both fallen in love with Ontario.
Richard Jones and his wife Rachel were guests of Destination Ontario, Destination Toronto and Niagara Parks Commission.
They stayed at Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, with rooms starting at £170/$317CAD per night, and 124 Queen Hotel & Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, starting at £139/$259CAD.
Priced at £69/$129.96CAD + tax for adults, the Toronto CityPASS provides admission to five of the city’s top attractions.
Air Transat offers direct flights to Toronto, Canada, from as little as £375pp return, with services from Manchester six times per week.
Manchester Airport offers car parking and lounge options to suit every budget. For parking, Fast Track tickets and access to the Escape Lounge, with complimentary food and drinks, go to manchesterairport.co.uk
While working as a TV, sport and news journalist, Rich first dipped his toe in the travel-writing pool in early 2008 when he accepted a learn-to-ski assignment in the Austrian Alps. Since then, he has travelled the globe, writing features on everywhere from Lake Garda to Las Vegas, Mexico to the Maldives and Barbados to Butlin’s. Rich’s passion is to inform and inspire readers and provide them with tips and advice on how they can make the most of their precious holidays. Over the years, he has been fortunate to stay in some of the world’s best hotels and dine in top restaurants, making him well-qualified to review food and drink, in addition to travel destinations, experiences and accessories.
