Toronto / Niagara

[walterh]

<p>Hi - I will be in Toronto in beginning of September on a business trip.<br>

I may add a few days to stay one weekend and maybe one or two additional days to explore the area using a rental car from (and back to) Toronto.<br>

My main interest is outside of the city: nature and landscapes.<br>

The obvious place to go are the Niagara falls - but I am afraid it might be too crowded. I just hate touristy crowded places. What is the situation early mornings or late afternoon, night - moonlight?<br>

Any suggestion what to do where to stay? Are there any good places in the countryside? Any suggestions to read about the area including Niagara?<br>

Thanks for your time.</p>

 

[mountainvisions]

<p>I can't be a ton of help on Toronto specifically, I spend a lot of time in Montreal and Ottawa but toronto is a decent drive for me, and thus it's the major city of the 3 I have visited least.</p>

<p>Niagara falls are lit up at night, but honestly, if you arrive around sunset, and stay for a few hours, it will die down. Granted I've rarely been there in the middle of summer, I have been there in September (about when you are going) and in the winter, and since it's past tourist season (peak season) you should be fine sticking to a sunset to say midnight time frame.</p>

<p>I don't remember if the lights get turned out on the falls, I assume they do, but I was there as late as 10-11pm in september and they were on, maybe midnight is the magic time.</p>

<p>I'd also guess mornings are good, around sunrise or before should be ideal (actually probably an hour before sunrise). While people tend to linger late, when I am up before sunrise to shoot ANYTHING unless it's a huge photo destination I am usually alone.</p>

<p>Niagara falls is obviously a huge destination for everyone including photogs but 20 photogs spread out over the area isn't exactly a crowd, there are many vantage points to shoot from.</p>

<p>Just as a note, you won't get any foliage at that time of the year, Niagara falls area is actually one of the last places in Upstate NY to change, it's about the same as the coastal areas of NY (ocean coast) with a mid/late October change. Conversely, if you can get to a mountain range (Adirondacks for instance) foliage at higher elevations is already changing and approaching peak by early september.</p>

<p>Another option would be Algonquin Park. Although it might be a little far, it's very close to Ottawa and Montreal. It's one of the great "accessible" wilderness in what I'll call the Northeast (for Northeastern US, although I fully understand it's in Canada, i just don't make that distinction with my neighbors to the north, just as many of them don't really consider the Adirondacks a foreign land).</p>

<p>Algonquin unlike the Adirondacks has a strong permit system, making it a bit less friendly, but it is beautiful lake country, and one of the best paddling locations in eastern North America, obviously doesn't compare to Woodland Caribous in western Ontario in size or scope but unlike WC it doesn't require a float plane ride in to access the interior. Algonquin does have a fairly intake biome though, and is a really amazing place.</p>

<p>You might also look at Letchworth Park in NY, about 1 hour from Buffalo (maybe 1.5 which is about 2 hours from the US side of Niagara Falls). Beautiful gorge.</p>

<p>You could conceivably do a loop from Toronto, through Niagara falls, hitting Letchworth and then the western Adirondacks, back through Ottawa and then Toronto over a 2 day stretch. If you had 3 days it would work well, but with 2 the timing might be tight. Alternately you could hit Niagara falls, shoot across I-90 and spend 1.5 days in the Adirondacks to get some foliage shots, and then back to Toronto. I'm sure Algonquin foliage will also be fairly colorful in early September.</p>

[stemked]

<p>I was just up in Niagara in March and have been there in Summer as well. I have only seen it from the Canadain side(the better view). Yes there maybe crowds but you won't necessarily see them in your images because all you need to do is get up to the fence and, unless the laws of gravity fail, there won't be anyone in the photo. I used a tripod myself on a fairly busy day and really didn't have all that much trouble.</p>

<p>The area south of Hamilton to Niagara has a fair amount of wine growing (noted for Ice-wine) I admit we just drove through the area without stopping. However the area may offer some vineyards to photograph.<br>

The islands in Lake Ontario near Kingston sound lovely, but I personally have never been there. However these islands are located on the east side of the lake (Toronto is on the west side).<br>

Algonquin is north of Toronto, I have friends who go frequently to the park and they too love the canoeing. I suspect the mosquitos would be a tad thick this time of year, but it would be a beautiful destination.</p>

<p>A note about Toronto traffic, it can be pretty bad, best to avoid rush hours if at all possible.</p>

[DWScott]

<p>"I just hate touristy crowded places."<br>

That says it all, right there. Niagara Falls is a touristy crowded place. It is not a landscape photography destination. The crowds there are bigger than ever, and in the last ten years there have been many hotel towers and two casinos added to the landscape. Niagara Falls is more like a mini Las Vegas with a big water-attraction at the centre of it. It's a place to embrace bright lights and big crowds, not look for tranquil views of nature's majesty. Working within that, there are some interesting photographic opportunities. Beyond the falls itself, you may enjoy photographing some of the (surprisingly beautiful) hydro electrical generation buildings and facilities that surround the area (including a classical temple-like structure near the falls, and the Sir Adam Beck dam. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Adam_Beck_Hydroelectric_Power_Stations">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Adam_Beck_Hydroelectric_Power_Stations</a><br>

For landscape photography I suggest the wine country that skirts the Niagara Escarpment. If you are heading southwards to Niagara from Toronto, you will encounter the escarpment and enter wine country around Beamsville. I encourage you to get off the main highway (the Queen Elizabeth Way) and you will encounter a charming vineyard landscape and gently rolling hills, often framed by the escarpment, all the way down to the western edge of St. Catharines (which is the major regional centre of Niagara.) I have often meant to bring my camera along and capture some of the lovely scenery around spots like Vineland (take the Vineland exit from the QEW) or Jordan Road.<br>

For a more village-like atmosphere (in contrast to Niagara Falls) check out Niagara-on-the-Lake (which is a high-end tourist town which traffics in faux Victorianism) and Queenston (which is completely off the tourist radar. It clings to the slopes of the upper Niagara river and retains its authentic period village appeal.) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queenston,_Ontario">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queenston,_Ontario</a><br>

Best of luck on your expedition. The best advice I have is to not limit yourself to the touristy spots, and don't be afraid to wander. Niagara is a very safe and welcoming spot.</p>

<p> </p>

[phil_marion]

<p>There's plenty of nice things in the city of Toronto...check another current thread on that topic on this board. As other posters have mentioned there is are extensive green areas in Toronto - large parks, undeveloped islands, nice water front. It hasn't ALL been paved over and exploited by developers as much as most large North American cities.<br>

But Niagara Falls IS one of the world's wonders and not to be missed. PLENTY of accomodation there. The Falls will be as busy as you want them. The crowds are lazy and do not venture too far from the Falls. There are incredible walks in nature paths along the gorge carved out by the falls. FEW tourists know of them. You'll be alone there. The Falls can be viewed early in the morning while most lazy tourisst are trying to get their money's worth at the breakfast buffet. Then there is a scenic wine region with plenty to see.<br>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_marion/sets/72157607047283876/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_marion/sets/72157607047283876/</a></p>

[walterh]

<p>Great advice and comments. Thanks so much. I still have plenty of time to read up and zoom in on Google Earth but it is so much easier with a starting point :-)</p>

<p>With these info alone I can get a good mixture of the world wonder and other quieter places I usually prefer.</p>

[hfd4177]

<p>Don't forget your wallet!! Niagara is very very expensive.</p>

[james_lai]

<p>The Province of Ontario travel website has lots of info: http://ontariotravel.net</p>

[walterh]

<p>Brian I expected as much - but hotels near the falls seem not as extreme as I expected. Restaurants probably are.<br>

One thing about the hotels is puzzling: The guest ratings vary a lot and are much less consistent than at other places. Perhaps staff is replaced more often or guest are strange in their expectations.</p>

[duck_squat]

<p>I shot a wedding in Syracuse last August and then took my wife up through Niagra, Toronto and all around the big lake. Niagra is fine if you are there on weekdays. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza on the Canadian side. As a guest, you can go to the top on their deck and photograph the fireworks and night-lit falls. I did just fine with my 70-200mm.<br>

Actually, my best photos weren't the typical ones from the falls. Walk up river for great scenery. After the old power station, hang a right into the park and there are smaller tributaries with great "S" curve trails and stepping stones across the water.<br>

Toronto is a beautiful large city. I shot a lot of great urban scenes there. Especially fun was photographing the historic Distillery District!<br>

My fave place of all was Thousand Lakes on the NE end of the lake. That few hour drive made my whole trip! If you have the time, check it out.</p>

[walterh]

<p>Duck I thought about Thousand lakes. It looks like a good place to visit by boat. Is it still worth it to visit just by car?</p>

 

[james_lai]

<p>There is a Lac des Milles Lacs (Lake of a Thousand Lakes, if I remember my high school French correctly) in Ontario, but I think Duck means the Thousand Islands: http://www.visit1000islands.com/visitorinfo/</p>

[walterh]

<p>James I fell into that :-)<br>

You are right - I should have noticed when I said I thought I need a boat (to see the many islands1^^).</p>