I need a break. Difficulty Level: 6 year old and Dog Highway-Phobic
June 2, 2023 10:34 AM Subscribe
I'm in Toronto. I really want to go away this weekend. I have a 6 year old and a dog. Where can we go? Oh, and I'm scared of driving on highways if we're anywhere near Toronto (like two lanes of divided highway with no traffic, fine...but traffic or trucks...no way, no how). My son's passport is expired. We do not have camping equipment here (we own some, but not a tent and it's stored at my friend's house and she's out of town). Is there somewhere my kid, my dog, and I could go? I can drive for maybe 2 hours.
Given the dog thing, I assume we'd be going to stay at that place (i.e. not finding some home-base and then going out). Oh, and my son informs me it's going to rain this weekend...so..maybe this is impossible.
Given the dog thing, I assume we'd be going to stay at that place (i.e. not finding some home-base and then going out). Oh, and my son informs me it's going to rain this weekend...so..maybe this is impossible.
Response by poster: Oh he's wrong...it's not going rain.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:43 AM on June 2, 2023
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:43 AM on June 2, 2023
Drive two hours to St Catherines, stay at a pet-friendly hotel, and then walk around Niagara Falls.
(Airbnb works too, but the site was glitching on me, so I'm giving you hotels.)
I used to live pretty close to Niagara Falls, and it's quite stunning every time you go, no?
posted by bluedaisy at 10:55 AM on June 2, 2023
(Airbnb works too, but the site was glitching on me, so I'm giving you hotels.)
I used to live pretty close to Niagara Falls, and it's quite stunning every time you go, no?
posted by bluedaisy at 10:55 AM on June 2, 2023
I really like websites like BringFido.com that have done all the research for you regarding pet-friendly places. For example, here's the map of hotels near Toronto - does anything here strike your fancy? Or using the previous answer, here's Niagara Falls and St Catherines. What's your budget like?
posted by cgg at 11:03 AM on June 2, 2023
posted by cgg at 11:03 AM on June 2, 2023
Response by poster: I'm thinking way less "hotel" and way more "cabin." Both because that's the kind of break I need and because I don't want to just sit in a hotel room and I can't really leave the dog alone in a hotel room to go sightseeing or whatever. Honestly I'm picturing a lake. Given that I decided this like an hour ago, I haven't worked out a budget, but I can throw moderate money at this. Say $500 for lodging costs.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:21 AM on June 2, 2023
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:21 AM on June 2, 2023
There is Go train service to Niagara Falls. It comes with a bus service at the Falls to visit various places.
There are 2 lane Highways available. Hwy 27 ( not 427 ) is a two lane highway which runs North South parallel to the 400. It's a decent alternative to the 400.
You can reach Wasaga beach
by taking Airport Road all the way .It turns into 2 lane rural highway.
Scarlett Road changes to Dixon road which changes into Airport Road.
posted by yyz at 11:21 AM on June 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
There are 2 lane Highways available. Hwy 27 ( not 427 ) is a two lane highway which runs North South parallel to the 400. It's a decent alternative to the 400.
You can reach Wasaga beach
by taking Airport Road all the way .It turns into 2 lane rural highway.
Scarlett Road changes to Dixon road which changes into Airport Road.
posted by yyz at 11:21 AM on June 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Pet-friendly places near Toronto on a lake, available tonight and tomorrow night, for max C$600, via VRBO. (Though note there might be extra cleaning fees and such, part of the challenge of going with VRBO or Airbnb vs hotels.)
It's easy to overthink when you're overwhelmed. I'd say check for half-decent reviews and then smash that reserve button. (Because affordable, last minute, remote but close to a huge city is a tough combo.)
posted by bluedaisy at 11:35 AM on June 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
It's easy to overthink when you're overwhelmed. I'd say check for half-decent reviews and then smash that reserve button. (Because affordable, last minute, remote but close to a huge city is a tough combo.)
posted by bluedaisy at 11:35 AM on June 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
Google is calling it 3.5 hours if you click "avoid highways," but my coworker recently took a vacation to Georgian Bay and it looked idyllic. Cabin rental info here.
posted by babelfish at 11:39 AM on June 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by babelfish at 11:39 AM on June 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
Elora Gorge, north of Kitchener, is about a 2.5-hour drive from Toronto (depending on where in the city) avoiding limited access highways. This Airbnb is pet friendly and is located just a short walk from the entrance to the park.
I'm not sure there's enough in the gorge area itself to occupy a whole weekend, but the town looks cute. (I was last there in 1991, so I'm sure it has changed a lot.)
posted by brianogilvie at 12:02 PM on June 2, 2023
I'm not sure there's enough in the gorge area itself to occupy a whole weekend, but the town looks cute. (I was last there in 1991, so I'm sure it has changed a lot.)
posted by brianogilvie at 12:02 PM on June 2, 2023
Best answer: This cottage rental company seems to have lakeside availability this weekend for reasonable rates, pets included.
posted by minervous at 2:20 PM on June 2, 2023
posted by minervous at 2:20 PM on June 2, 2023
Take the train to Montreal?
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:02 PM on June 2, 2023
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:02 PM on June 2, 2023
What kind of car do you have- could you car camp?
posted by freethefeet at 9:34 PM on June 2, 2023
posted by freethefeet at 9:34 PM on June 2, 2023
Response by poster: Could not have car camped this weekend because all our camping stuff is not in my home (so no tent, no sleeping bags or pads, no stove etc. etc.).
Anyway, I've selected some best answers because I had no idea renting a cottage-like place could be that cheap. I will keep these links for a future date when maybe I have a second, ideally more highway-confident driver to go with us. For this weekend, there isn't anything within two hours or so (all 3-4 hours) and I don't feel safe driving that far without dozing off, especially given "need a break" current condition. Thanks, all, for trying. I think I'll do one of these another time.
And I'm going to order some beach day-trip supplies (hibachi, beach towels) and maybe do a daytrip next weekend.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:58 AM on June 3, 2023
Anyway, I've selected some best answers because I had no idea renting a cottage-like place could be that cheap. I will keep these links for a future date when maybe I have a second, ideally more highway-confident driver to go with us. For this weekend, there isn't anything within two hours or so (all 3-4 hours) and I don't feel safe driving that far without dozing off, especially given "need a break" current condition. Thanks, all, for trying. I think I'll do one of these another time.
And I'm going to order some beach day-trip supplies (hibachi, beach towels) and maybe do a daytrip next weekend.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:58 AM on June 3, 2023
Georgian Bay / Lake Huron / Bruce Peninsula is lovely but yeah it’s 3.5hrs. From Toronto, we usually stop in Shelburne for lunch and a walk.
posted by sixswitch at 5:57 AM on June 4, 2023
posted by sixswitch at 5:57 AM on June 4, 2023
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:36 AM on June 2, 2023