Compare Adventures in Toronto and Niagara Falls With your Grandchild by Road Scholar vs Mackinac Island featuring Niagara Falls by Tours of Distinction

Day 1
Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Toronto, ON D Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Arrive to multicultural Toronto and transfer to the hotel. Program Registration. 4:00-5:00 p.m. Come meet our group leader in the lobby and get your welcome packet. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in and the front desk will be happy to help you.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a welcome dinner

Evening: We’ll begin our evening with an orientation session where we’ll get to know each other as well as review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes. We’ll go over important information as well as have time for questions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars or settle in for the night. You may also wish to explore what the city has to offer. The hotel is located in the heart of Toronto, surrounded by shops, restaurants, movie theatres, and within walking distance to the Ed Mirvish Theatre, the Toronto Police Museum, and the escape game room Roundabout.

Day 2
Kensington Market, Chinatown Scavenger Hunt, Harbour Cruise
Toronto, ON B,L,D Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles, on pavement, stairs; about 3 hours; boarding/disembarking boat. Harbour boat trip is aboard the Oriole, a Great Lakes Steamship replica, all 76 feet have been decorated with the perfect blend of varnished woods, wrought iron, polished brass and plush upholstery. The two wrought iron staircases lead to the canopied upper deck where guests can enjoy music while romancing the skyline from the comfort of one of her many varnished benches. We will be using public transit today.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Learn about Toronto's history and some of the city's most vibrant and culturally diverse neighbourhoods from a local expert before going out to explore on foot. Gain an appreciation and understanding of the 20th century immigrant experience, and the importance of Kensington Market and Chinatown in the development of modern-day Toronto's incredible cultural diversity. Set off to discover some of Toronto’s most colorful and culturally rich neighborhoods. A scavenger hunt through these eclectic and multicultural neighborhoods will help participants young and old learn about the area in a fun and interactive way. We begin our urban adventure at Kensington Market, from there it’s a short walk to a bustling and colorful Chinatown. Here, we’ll explore the history of the Chinese community in Toronto; Jewish and Eastern European immigration and history; fine art, graffiti art and murals, moose on rooftops, a famous King who lived here, and some of the best places to eat and shop. Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world and celebrates over 100 different cultures with over 180 languages spoken.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Embark on a boat trip to experience Toronto Harbour from water. We will explore Toronto Harbour on a relaxing cruise and view the city's breathtaking skyline including Harbourfront, CN Tower, SkyDome, Air Canada Centre, Toronto Islands, and the fabled Gibraltar Point Lighthouse.

Dinner: We’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant

Evening: At leisure. If you wish, you may enjoy the on-site facilities. Kids of all ages love the Eaton Chelsea! The Family Fun Zone features the Kid Centre, pool and the 130-foot "Corkscrew", downtown Toronto’s only indoor waterslide and other supervised activities.

Day 3
Toronto Culinary Extravaganza, Canada's Wonderland
Toronto, ON B,L,D Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles, on paved, busy streets, about 3 hours for morning activity; some stairs, public transit. Walking at Wonderland on mostly pavement, boardwalks, distance based on personal preference. We will be staying at Canada's Wonderland until after the light show ends at 10:30 p.m. The water park at Canada's Wonderland closes at 7:00 p.m. Coach travel approximately 2 hours; about 90 miles.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Head out to explore the history and flavors of Canadian cuisine in this culinary extravaganza linking back to the neighborhood and market walk earlier in the program. Experience Toronto’s food culture with a local expert with international flavors alongside some good old fashioned Canadian classics like Beaver Tails, Poutine, and Canadian Back Bacon. Along the way participants will be introduced to some of the interesting tidbits (and Timbits®) about historical and recent happenings surrounding food in this lively city. We will end our foodie foray at historic St. Lawrence Market, considered by Food and Wine magazine to be one of the world's 25 best food markets, located in the heart of historic Old Town Toronto.

Lunch: Lunch at the market.

Afternoon: This afternoon we'll head out to Wonderland. Canada's first and largest theme park. Canada's Wonderland features over 200 attractions, 68 thrilling rides, North America's greatest variety of roller coasters, Splash Works, a 20-acre water park and live shows. Leviathan, one of the world's biggest and tallest roller coasters was unveiled in 2012. Dinosaurs Alive!, is a new interactive dinosaur park where over 40 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs are set in an outdoor Jurassic themed environment.

Dinner: Dinner at Canada's Wonderland.

Evening: Finish the evening with a starlight spectacular light and fountain show that starts at 10:00 p.m. near the mountain. NOTE: Depart by coach for the return to the hotel; arrive at the hotel about 11:30 p.m.

Day 4
Royal Ontario Museum, Dinosaurs, Free Afternoon
Toronto, ON B Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
Activity note: Walking up to 1.5 miles, about 3 hours, on pavement and in museum, some stairs. We will be using public transit today.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Explore an exceptional array of themed galleries at the Royal Ontario Museum, spanning both world cultures and natural history. With six million objects in the ROM's collections, there's something new to discover around every corner. Travel coast to coast through the exhibits, discovering the rich history of Canada and its natural wonders. From dinosaurs discovered in the Badlands of Alberta to the legacy of Canada's First Peoples and more. Embark on an expert-led adventure in the Museum's galleries; experience the diversity of this great country and discover what makes the ROM like no other museum. Imagine life when dinos roamed the earth at the Age of Dinosaurs exhibit and explore one of the world’s best dinosaur collections. Hundreds of specimens await visitors in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, ranging from insects and fossilized plants, to Canada’s largest dinosaur on permanent display, Gordo the Barosaurus, who clocks in at an impressive 27 metres (90 feet). Participants may also recognize the Stegosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Deinonychus, and the popular Hadrosaur specimens, Parasaurolophus and Maiasaura.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: Dinner on your own to sample from the wide array of dining options Toronto has to offer. There is a restaurant to suit every taste. A list of restaurant options will be provided or visit www.dine.to for suggestions.

Day 5
Voyage to the Falls, Whirlpool Aero Car, Butterfly Gardens
Toronto, ON B,L,D Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
Activity note: Getting on/off boat. Driving 195 miles over 4 hours. Walking 1 mile over the course of the day. Boat ride is approximately 30 minutes on large sight-seeing boat, specially designed for the falls.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: This morning we head to Niagara Falls. Experience the water, power and mist of one of Canada’s natural wonders. We will get up-close and personal on a new state-of-the-art catamaran boat tour “Voyage To The Falls”. We will travel from the Canadian docks at the base of the Great Gorge, past the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the up-close and personal connection with the thundering water, awesome power and amazing mist of the mighty Horseshoe Falls!

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local café

Afternoon: Soar the Great Gorge, high above the racing Niagara River on the Whirlpool Aero Car. We'll be transported through the air in an antique cable car, while far below the torrent of water abruptly changes direction and creates one of the world’s most mesmerizing natural phenomena – the Niagara Whirlpool. Sometimes frightening and always unforgettable! We will then stop for an ice cream from The Laura Secord Homestead. Next, we will visit the Butterfly Conservatory, this magical place features over 2,000 colorful tropical butterflies floating freely among lush, exotic blossoms and greenery. Paths wind through the rainforest setting, past a pond and waterfall and the Emergence window, where butterflies leave their pupae and prepare to take their first flight!

Dinner: At Elements on the Falls in Niagara Falls we will have our farewell dinner before returning by to Toronto.

Day 6
Program Concludes
Toronto, ON B
Activity note: Check-out is 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel. Program concludes

Morning: We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!