Hi Yogimouse,

You will of course see some colour in and around the city of Toronto but it would be best to take a drive into a more rural area. I personally would suggest a drive to the St. Jacobs area. St. Jacobs is north of the communities of Kitchener-Waterloo (Hwy 85 to Route 15) and in total about a 1-1/2 hour drive from downtown Toronto.

St. Jacobs is a quaint little town out in the countryside... it is also home to Canada's Mennonite population. The town offers much to see and do (farmers markets, outlet malls, quilt shops, antique stores, great restaurants). But most notably it is known for its beautiful character and the warmth of the people.

For more info on this community see: www.stjacobs.com

As for the weather, yes Canada's summers are very very short (from about mid May to mid September). It is most definitely Fall now. Be sure and bring a jacket epecially if rain is in the forecast... you'll need it in the evenings also perhaps with an extra layer underneath (40s is most likely a daytime low... overnights here can get down closer to freezing).

Cheers!

Wine-4-2

PS... I'm hoping the sun-gods shine down on you for your visit. It will make your whole vacation that much better, and keep the trees showing off their colours longer.

Thanks for all the info. We will certainly check it out. Indeed, we love country side more. We are staying at Orrilia on arrival at Toronto.

On our way back from the fall, we want to go to the Niagara on the lake then maybe visiting couple of winery. Any suggestion on these, wine42?

If you're staying in Orillia, which is about an hour and a half to two hours north of Toronto in what we'd call "cottage country", then you are guaranteed to see lots of fall foliage. You will need a car, ad I'm not aware of any public transportation in that area. In Toronto proper the Subway and Bus system is great.

Great idea for Niagara-on-the-Lake and surrounding area. Once again, lots of fall folliage, and in a very picturesque, quaint setting.

Our fav Niagara Region winery picks are:

Wineries too small to accommodate tour buses (an added bonus):

http://www.daniellenko.com/

http://www.flatrockcellars.com/

http://www.fieldingwines.com/

http://www.malivoirewineco.com/

http://www.henryofpelham.com/

http://www.creeksidewine.com/

Wineries that accommodate tour buses (but we like them anyway):

http://www.peninsularidge.com/

http://www.peller.com/peller/index.asp

If you Google Niagara Wine Route you can get a map, although the route is really wekk signed from the main highway (QEW), and you probably won't need it.

Have a great time!

Check out the following website for a fall colour report

http://www.parkreports.com/fall/

Around Toronto, there is not a lot of colour change as of yet. According to the report, there is not a huge colour change north of us either. It's still a little early to see that fall colours in their full glory. You will see in the report that the most brilliant colours right now are more than 2-3 hours north of us.

oops, I meant *the* fall colours, not "that" fall colours

Hi Yogimouse,

Ok, now that we have more info...

Orillia is like another poster said about 2 hours or so north of Toronto, and being that far out of town you'll be able to see the fall foliage there.

A car rental will come in handy for you trip from Orillia to Toronto, but you won't need it in the city... public transportation is great in Toronto. You can also get to Niagara Falls via public transit (Via Rail or the bus)... but having a car in Niagara is very handy so that you can see some of the lovely Niagara Escarpment beyond the tourist centre of Niagara Falls.

The town of Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) is a scenic drive down the Niagara Parkway from Niagara Falls (it follows the Niagara River and the gorge). The town is truly beautiful, one of the most picturesque in Canada. It is difficult to get to and around, if one doesn't have a car (especially if you want to see the wineries, which are spread out across the Escarpment).

Ideally, I would plan to use a car to go from Orillia to Niagara Falls, and then back to Toronto, where I would turn it in... otherwise it will most likely just sit in your hotel garage costing you about $ 20 or more a day in parking charges (some places charge for in-and-outs on top of a daily rate).

As for wineries... There are now over 100 in the Niagara area, LISA & STEVE have given you some very good suggestions, I will name my favourites (there is some overlap), and I will indicate their location and websites, if they haven't already been provided. As noted a car would be convenient to see the wineries outside of NOTL. Although you can book wine tours that include transportation, and by all reports people have had good experiences with them... especially if you intend to do some serious sampling. NOTL was Canada's first wine making area, and as such, it is now home to the bigger multinational interests... there are a few smaller ones there too, but IMO the best wine making these days is going on farther afield.

Flat Rock Cellars - Jordan

Fielding Estate - Beamsville

Henry of Pelham - St Catherines

East Dell Estates - Beamsville

www.eastdell.com

Featherstone Winery - Vineland

www.featherstonewinery.ca

and here are some of my favourites in NOTL:

Hillebrand - Very large, but also has a sparkling wine operation & cellar - Take the tour

www.hillebrand.com

Jackson Triggs - Also very large, interesting architecture. Good ice wine.

www.jacksontriggswinery.com

Strewn Winery - Small winery, award winning.

www.strewnwinery.com

To see a downloadable version of the Ontario Winery Guide (and the map another poster referred to) see www.winesofontario.org

The online version will get you started with your planning, but a hard copy version is available at all the wineries in Ontario.

Cheers!

Wine-4-2

Thanks to all of you. Very helpful information. We will have a car to drive to Niagara Fall, then NOTL. Can't wait to see Eastern Canada. Love ice wine!

We are leaving for McCaren Airport in few hours. Will let you guys know how it goes.

Hi;

From Ontario Tourism’s Fall Colours Progression Report issued on Tuesday;

There is a 30% colour change across the Barrie, Orillia, Midland area and over to Collingwood. The sumacs offering bright red are about 60% turned at this time. During the fall colour season ideal viewing locations include the Horseshoe Valley region and at the top of BlueMountain at Scenic Caves.”

ontariotravel.net/publications/fallcolourrep…

The report is issued every Tuesday & Friday during the fall.

Best Regards

When the leaves here start turning if you want to see fall colors right here in Toronto just take a drive south on the Bayview Extension and continue along Rosedale Valley Rd. It's always beautifully filled with fall colors.

Great reminders of great places, even for us locals.

This is the one time of the year I don't mind driving downtown everyday. Its a wonderful drive down the DVP and Bayview extension.