A visit to majestic Casa Loma - a castle in Toronto

I have always loved castles and history, but I was not expecting to see a castle in the middle of Toronto! However, Casa Loma (the “house on the hill”) was a joy to visit, an amazing place which had so much to see, we couldn’t even fit all of it in one day. I would highly recommend it to anyone, as it is beautiful, and it has a remarkable story behind it.

The castle – North America’s only “full sized castle” as it describes itself - is, as it name suggests,  situated on top of a hill with five acres of land around it. It is one of Toronto’s top tourist attractions, but that shouldn’t put you off. There’s a reason why it’s so popular.

Casa Loma was built in 1911 by Sir Henry Pellatt (who was of Scottish ancestry) and became the largest private residence in all of Canada. It took 300 men nearly two three years to complete (at a cost of an incredible $3.5m – back then!) We would highly recommend starting your visit by going downstairs and watching the documentary about the life of Sir Henry as it puts everything in context and is really interesting.

[caption id="attachment_4337" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The views were gorgeous[/caption]

Sir Henry was truly a remarkable, talented man. He became a successful stockbroker, as well as a successful middle distance runner, and proud military man, and travelled widely. He was also extremely modern and, having realised that supplying electricity could be extremely profitable, he founded the Toronto Electric Light Company in 1883. His company had a monopoly on the city’s street lights by the time Sir Henry was 30.

He also invested in the Canadian Pacific Railroad and made a fortune, and in 1902, he and his partners were awarded the rights to build the first Canadian hydro-generating plant at Niagara Falls. We saw this when we went to Niagara Falls, and it is quite a building! Sir Henry was knighted in 1905 for his military service (there is a Queen's Own Rifles museum at Casa Loma) and started his plans for Casa Loma after that. He had, at that time, a fortune of $17m (over $400m in today’s money). But the magic did not continue.

[caption id="attachment_4336" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Henry Pellatt's bedroom at Casa Loma[/caption]

The house went over budget and the Pellatts went into debt. This was not helped at all by the Toronto government who decided that private companies should not be able to own electricity. They took over the company – astonishingly, with no compensation offered. The same thing happened with the Niagara power generator, while the First World War made everything worse. Sir Henry's business decisions no longer seemed lucky. The company went into bankruptcy and he had to sell off his possessions – for a small percentage of its cost (there’s a newspaper report of this in one of the rooms).

Casa Loma is now owned by the city and it’s stunning. The film is eye-opening, and after you’ve watched it, you have a number of options. You can explore downstairs, or outside (definitely go out at some point, as the views of Toronto are wonderful). Before or after the film, make sure you do take a look at the video (on loop) which shows the huge number of films which have featured Casa Loma, from X Men to Chicago. But don’t restrict your visit to the basement area! There are also so many rooms inside, with wonderful furnishings.

[caption id="attachment_4333" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The shower was pretty modern for the early 20th century![/caption]

We spent a number of hours here, following the self-guided audio tour and so going up secret staircases and seeing servants quarters and family quarters. We admired at the modernity of Pellat’s bathroom (a shower with six taps coming out was a marvel back then) and the decor. The old telephones were fun, while the conservatory was utterly beautiful. Imagine entertaining there!

[caption id="attachment_4334" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The beautiful roof of the conservatory at Casa Loma[/caption]

We also queued up to go to the top of the tower, and although this took 20 minutes or so, I’d recommend it (though perhaps not if you have small children or walking issues as you go up a cramped staircase). The views from the battlements were great here too.

We didn’t make it to the tunnel, which connects Casa Loma to the stables and carriage house. It shows an exhibit of Toronto’s “Dark Side”, from Prohibition to The Great Toronto Fire. I wish we were nearer to go back and see it, but it’s rather far from London...

Overall, I loved the house and came away having thoroughly enjoyed myself, learnt a lot and felt sorry for Sir Henry Pellatt, and particularly how his fortune – and dreams – ended. We all had a great time and I would thoroughly recommend a visit.

Casa Loma is open from 9.30 to 5.30pm every day. It costs 24 CAD per adult, 20 CAD for 14-17 year olds and 15 CAD for ages 4-13. However, we went there via our CityPASS which enabled us to jump the queue entirely!

Disclosure: We were fortunate enough to be given a CityPASS to try out when we were in Toronto. This meant we got free entry into a number of attractions and, as importantly, that we skipped the queue! We genuinely thought the CityPASS was fantastic as it gave you freedom to do what you wanted, when you wanted – but the company had no input into our decisions of what to do, or what we wrote in this post. If you book your CityPASS online, it’s cheaper – 55 dollars per adult and 37 per child.

Read about our trip to Toronto in full, and all the other great things we did there.

Soft serve filled cakes at Eva's Original Chimneys, Toronto

Jess, aged 15, writes: During our short stay in Toronto, our family had an amazing time visiting Eva's Original Chimneys. This shop makes chimney cakes, rolls them in various toppings, and then fills them with different treats. The result was a massive and incredibly delicious snack which I would love to have again!

I had found Eva's Original Chimneys from a video online, and subsequently begged my parents to let us go. Luckily they agreed, and while the shop is not in the centre of the city, it was very easy to get there. Though we had no idea how to navigate the subway system, we easily found the neccessary stop and walked to the shop.

[caption id="attachment_4188" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] There was such a wide variety of choices![/caption]

Once entering the shop, we were greeted by chimney cakes of all shapes and sizes. Chimney cakes are Hungarian cake treats, which are generally rolled into a cylindrical shape. The chimney cakes had been rolled in different toppings, such as cinnamon sugar, coconut, and graham crackers. There was an option to buy the chimney cakes by themselves, but we opted for the more calorific versions...

I chose the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, which consisted of: a cone shaped chimney cake rolled in graham crackers, a chocolate to stop the toppings falling out, vanilla soft serve, berry coulis, cheesecake pieces, more soft serve, and strawberry sauce. Dad opted for a coconut themed option, mum tried a chocolate themed chimney cake, and Robert "made his own", choosing cheesecake, nutella, and pretzels.

[caption id="attachment_4189" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] With our treats![/caption]

When our chimney cakes arrived, we were astounded by their size. My one was taller than my head! The treat was scrumptious - especially the cheesecake and the cone. It was a really unique place to eat, tasted really good, and was generally really exciting. Our portion was so big that we had no reason to eat lunch, and were sated until supper.

Overall, we all had a really great time at Eva's Original Chimneys. It was a very special place with fantastic food, and I recommend it to anyone visiting Toronto.

You can find Eva's Original at 454 Bloor Street West, Toronto. The cones cost around 6-10 CAD each (that's around £3 to £6). Do note that it is a cashless shop, so bring a credit card!

Read about our trip to Toronto in more detail - and find out our tips for what to do!

Four days in Toronto with kids

Jess, aged 15, writes: We have just returned from a break in Toronto, Canada, where we spent four days discovering the city. We did everything from bus tours to cycling, and really loved our time in the city. There was a lot to see and do, the people were friendly, it was unusually clean for such a big city, and the attractions were very well done. Here are our highlights of the trip and what we'd recommend:

What to do

Jess writes: My favourite part of our trip to Toronto had to be the island cycling tour. We met our friendly and knowledgeable guide Mina early in the morning and were quickly armed with bikes and helmets. Soon, we found ourselves cycling downtown to the port, where we took a ferry to the Toronto Islands. We spent the morning cycling around the islands, and learning about their history. I particularly enjoyed visiting the beach, listening to ghost stories, and seeing the lighthouse. This was especially interesting as it was only built six metres away from the seafront, but sediment deposition means that it is now inland. We all had an excellent time - the islands were gorgeous, the stories were fascinating, and the cycling wasn't too strenuous. Despite not being used to cycling on roads, we all felt very safe. It was a wonderfully tranquil morning.

[caption id="attachment_4303" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Casa Loma was spectacular[/caption]

Brian says: One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Casa Loma, a huge medieval looking mansion surrounded by beautiful gardens and a fountain. The gothic exterior with its two towers in completely different styles makes it look a bit like a fairy tale castle.
We began our visit with the very interesting 20 minute newsreel type film about the life of Sir Henry Pellatt, the financier who spent millions building Casa Loma then was forced to leave in 1923 after going bankrupt. We really enjoyed looking at the film posters on the walls downstairs showing the many movies shot there, and there was also a TV screen showing some clips (e.g. X-men, Chicago, Cocktail etc) with captions letting you know which room had been used for that scene. We then took an excellent audio guide of the nearly hundred rooms, the most beautiful ones for me being the Round Room and the Conservatory. We then climbed up the narrow steps to the Norman tower, which gave stunning views of the city in the distance. We were there for about two and a half hours, and hadn’t seen everything we would have liked to (especially the secret tunnels) as we just ran out of time. It might be a tourist trap, but Casa Loma is definitely a must-see when you come to Toronto.

Read more about Casa Loma here, in a full blog post by Sarah.

[caption id="attachment_4304" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Ripleys Aquarium was a must-visit![/caption]

Robert, aged 12, writes: Ripley's Aquarium is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, tourist attraction in Toronto with so much to see and do for both kids and adults. There are loads of different creatures to look at including jellyfish, sharks, turtles and an octopus. Throughout the aquarium were loads of interactive things to play or touch. There was a section when you could feel how cold the water is for the fish, customise your own jellyfish or even feel some baby sharks. Some of the creatures were incredible to look at especially the ones in the tunnel - I loved watching the sharks swim over my head. Over all I had a really fun time and there was really something for everyone. There's even a play area for younger kids.

[caption id="attachment_4309" align="alignnone" width="1200"] If you like shopping, you need to visit the Eaton Centre![/caption]

Jess says: The Eaton Centre is the busiest shopping centre in North America, so we knew we had to give it a try. The Centre contains a range of shops (varying from high end to ones you may see on the high street) and we enjoyed walking around and finding chains which we don't have in the UK. We exited the complex with books, t-shirts, and trousers, and generally had a nice, relaxing time traipsing the stores.

Robert writes: One of the tallest, most symbolic buildings in Canada is the CN tower which can be seen from nearly all the city and even further away.

[caption id="attachment_4311" align="alignnone" width="1200"] View from the CN Tower[/caption]

Classified as one of the modern wonders of the world, the tower stands at 1,815 feet so the views are amazing. We went up the first viewing point which was great, you could see the whole city. You could pay extra to go up a few extra floors but it seemed pointless to me as it is the same view. One floor down were two glass walkways on which you could sit, jump or even lie on while looking down at the roads directly under your feet.

[caption id="attachment_4310" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert on the glass floor at the CN Tower[/caption]

I found the whole experience very enjoyable, but it was just another view which I've seen a lot of - and there were so many great things to do in Toronto that it wasn't my favourite.

[caption id="attachment_4308" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The spectacular Horseshoe Falls[/caption]

Sarah writes: It’s hard to tell you how wonderful our visit to Niagara Falls was without referring you to our full post on it (which you can see here!). It was, honestly, the most fantastic day and we cannot recommend it enough – it’s unlike anything else we’ve ever done.

[kad_youtube url="https://youtu.be/PhfPag2VQCw" width=200 height=100 ]

The Falls are majestic and beautiful, a real wonder of the world. And it doesn’t mater that Niagara is really busy, because all the people who are there simply want to enjoy what you do – extraordinary waterfalls!
I have never seen The Falls from the US side, but my husband assures me that the Canadian side, with the Horseshoe Falls, is far better. I can believe it. We experienced our trip from different angles – a helicopter above, a boat riding on and going down to see the Falls at the level at which they gush past. All were well worth doing.
We hired a car to get to Niagara and it took around two hours. We left early in the morning and would recommend that. It really was a wonderful day.

What to see

[caption id="attachment_4307" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The views from the islands were amazing![/caption]

Jess writes: Aside from Niagara, the best views on this holiday had to be on the ferry from Downtown Toronto to the Toronto Islands. During our cycling tour, we took a ferry from the port to Hanlan's Point, and the view was simply stunning. We had a clear, close up view of the Toronto skyline, the water shone in the sun, and there was a small breeze in our hair. It was truly lovely; very serene and tranquil. It made our visit to the islands even more special.

The City Sightseeing Toronto bus tour is another way to see the sights. The two hour journey takes you all around the sights of Toronto, giving lots of information. There was also a real guide, as opposed to listening through headphones and hearing the same annoying music again and again! The only negative of this was it could be difficult to hear the guide due to the microphone static. The trip was very pleasant, though traffic meant we moved quite slowly.

Where to eat

[caption id="attachment_4321" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The food at Eva's was so delicious![/caption]

Brian says: We ate some delicious food on our Canadian holiday, but Eva’s Original was one of the standouts. My sweet toothed daughter had found out about this before our visit, and it took us about 20 minutes to get there from our hotel downtown, but it was really worth it. Eva’s bake traditional Hungarian chimney cakes fresh on the premises. They look delicious enough all by themselves, but we added some extra calories by each having chimney cones which are filled with delicious vanilla soft serve ice-cream. I chose a cone that had been baked with coconut flakes, and a chocolate sauce topping. It was huge, but delicious, so I managed to finish it. We then saw that a couple at the table next to us were sharing one. Eva’s Original was a real treat, and I would love to go back again one day.

Jess writes: Kensington Market is very different to the rest of Toronto, as it is filled with vintage clothes stores and hipster places to eat. I would have loved to explore had we had more time, as there was lots to see and do. We had lunch at a waffle shop which was a bit of a let down, but I know that there were many other places to go to which looked nicer.

[caption id="attachment_4306" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Beavers Tails were so delicious![/caption]

Sarah says: We found the BeaverTails stall down by the waterfront in Toronto. Quite honestly they were utterly delicious and it is lucky they don't seem possible to get in London, as I would galumph my way through them and become far too vast! Put it this way, we got one each and the couple sitting opposite us, shared theirs...
They are basically pastries with toppings on, but that doesn't sell them well enough! They are huge, the pastry (fried!) is delicious and the toppings - whether chocolate hazelnut or nutella are utterly decadent. A real holiday food!

Jess writes: In conclusion, we all had a lovely time in Toronto. Paired with an excursion to Niagara, it was a holiday with something for all the family. The atmosphere was friendly, it was easy to navigate, and there was lots to do. I definitely recommend a visit.

Disclosure: We were fortunate enough to be given a CityPass to try out when we were in Toronto. This meant we got free entry into a number of attractions and, as importantly, that we skipped the queue - particularly brilliant for the CN Tower and Aquarium! We genuinely thought the CityPass was fantastic as it gave you freedom to do what you wanted, when you wanted - but the company had no input into our decisions of what to do, or what we wrote in this post. The CityPASS costs around £55 per adult and £37 per child.
We were also very fortunate that Toronto Bicycle Tours provided us with the bicycle tour of the Islands, including bike hire and ferry crossing, on a complimentary basis. This usually costs around CAD 90 per person (around £54). However, they also had no input into this post and all our thoughts, as usual, are our own.

A day in stunning Niagara Falls

If you go to Toronto, you really need to visit Niagara Falls, and of course we did. It certainly didn't disappoint and is something none of us will ever forget. The Falls - which are made up of the American Falls and the even more spectacular Horseshoe ones are truly magnificent, an absolute wonder and truly beautiful. We saw them in a number of different ways, and while Jess and Robert would say the helicopter was the best, Brian and I would go for the boat, which takes you right up to the edge of the Horseshoe Falls (and gets you soaking wet!).

[kad_youtube url="https://youtu.be/PhfPag2VQCw" width=200 height=100 ]

Niagara is an amazing place to visit, and very easy to get around. We parked in the centre and then used the WEGO buses to get us from one place to another. The town is very busy, as you'd expect, and we'd recommend getting there early. We picked up a hire car from Toronto at about 8.30 am and arrived around 10.15.

There are loads of shops and eating places in the town, as well as more things to do such as visiting the world's largest aviary or Guinness World of Records exhibition. However, we stuck to seeing the Falls themselves and were thrilled when we saw a rainbow right above them just before we left.



Robert, aged 12, writes; Before getting up close and personal with the Falls, Jess, Dad and I decided to look at them from a different angle - up in the sky on a helicopter with Niagara Helicopters. We took off and flew towards the waterfalls, going so high we could see for miles and miles. The view of Niagara falls was breathtaking and it was amazing to look at it from above. The whole thing lasted about ten minutes and it was my favourite part of our day in Niagara. It was absolutely amazing!

[caption id="attachment_4230" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert admires the view![/caption]

Jess, aged 15, writes: Our helicopter journey over Niagara falls was like nothing I'd ever done before. After being strapped into my seat, we seemed to zoom off into the air, with glorious views beneath us. We had incredible, unobstructed views of the whirlpool, rapids, American Falls, and Canadian Horseshoe Falls, and the route meant that you could see easily from wherever you were sitting in the helicopter. There was also audio commentary, but I was so overwhelmed by the experience that I didn't really manage to take anything in! I was initially very nervous about going in a helicopter, but my fears were quickly dispelled - the journey was really smooth. Our helicopter trip over the falls was short, but incredible. I quite honestly loved every second.

[caption id="attachment_4231" align="alignnone" width="1200"] We all had to wear ponchos so we wouldn't get soaking wet![/caption]

Sarah writes: Journey Behind the Falls takes you behind the Falls, and I really enjoyed doing it. It starts with a lift which takes you down 150 feet. Everyone is handed a poncho (definitely necessary) and we headed to the observation deck first, which was stunning. It's a brilliant way to see the Horseshoe Falls (which has up to 2,800 cubit metres of water thundering past every second) and amazing to stand right next to the water and see it rushing past you.
After this, you can join the queues to see the 130 year old tunnels, which have cut into the bedrock. You will hear the Falls too and then see the water in front of you.
These tunnels do get very busy, and at the end, as you can see from the pic, you simply see water gushing past, and stand behind a barrier to do so. But that isn't to put it down - you can't really expect to be on a ledge or something within the Falls itself and the view is well worth it. However, small children may find the waiting a little frustrating (ours were fine and we enjoyed looking through both tunnels).

Brian writes: We had flown over the Falls in a helicopter, and then travelled down behind the Falls. Now it was time to get up even closer, by taking a trip on a Hornblower Cruise. We were all given red ponchos, so we knew we were going to get a little wet. It did not take us long to get onto a boat, as each one takes 700 people.  We managed to get a good spot on the top deck, and soon we were on our way up the river towards the falls.

[caption id="attachment_4233" align="alignnone" width="1200"] A Hornblower boat at Niagara Falls,[/caption]

We first travelled past the American falls (and the Bridal Veil Falls) and it was surreal to see an alternative experience taking place not too far away on the US side – the Maid of the Mist boats and their passengers with their blue ponchos, and the Cave of the Wind walkers in their yellow ponchos. These falls were impressive enough, with the roar of the water thundering down not too far from the boat.

[caption id="attachment_4247" align="alignnone" width="1200"] We got wet, but it was brilliant![/caption]

However, this was nothing compared to when we reached our final destination, the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, where the noise and spray levels increased dramatically. The boat seemed to be ridiculously near to the base of the falls, and it felt a little tense, with people all around us screaming. The falls stretched impossibly high above us, and it was if we were in a biblical movie at the parting of the Red Sea.



 

After a few minutes there the boat turned for home again - we were drenched, but it had been an amazing experience that we would remember for the rest of our lives.

[caption id="attachment_4235" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The views were amazing![/caption]

This was the highlight of my time at Niagara Falls (even more than the helicopter ride), as the Falls were literally in your face. It really was an amazing experience to see one of the natural wonders of the world up close, and this is a must do if you are ever lucky enough to come here.

Jess, aged 15, writes: We ended our day with the White Water Walk: a short riverside boardwalk of the Niagara Rapids, classified as some of the most dangerous in the world. We began by talking a lift 70 metres down to the bottom of the gorge, where there was a short exhibition on the stuntmen and women who have tackled the Niagara rapids.

[caption id="attachment_4238" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The rapids at Niagara Falls[/caption]

Next came the 300 metre boardwalk, which goes right next to the water's edge. We learnt about the geology, flora, and fauna of the area, and marvelled at the rapids. These travel at speeds up to 48 miles per hour and can reach five metres tall, so it was very exciting to see them up close. There were also viewing platforms in order to help us get a better look. While it was a lovely walk, it was very short, the queue was long, and the views were not as amazing as the places we had previously visited. But it was still worth going!

[caption id="attachment_4239" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Us by the fast-flowing rapids![/caption]

If you have time after your visit to Niagara, we would recommend driving back via the scenic route and Niagara on the Lake. This is a most beautiful little town with loads of shops and restaurants and beautiful views of Lake Ontario. The houses are gorgeous too (and very pricey) and we really enjoyed buying sandwiches and eating them overlooking the Lake.
It's about half an hour away from the centre of Niagara and well worth a trip.

[caption id="attachment_4245" align="alignnone" width="1200"] At beautiful and serene Niagara By the Lake[/caption]

We were extremely lucky to be helped by Ontario Travel, Niagara Helicopters and the Niagara Parks Commission for our fabulous day out. They provided us with complimentary admission and transportation to all the attractions, but had absolutely no input into this blog post.
Our tickets for the helicopter trip were provided by Niagara Helicopters, which charges 144 Canadian dollars per adult (£89) and 88 per child. Niagara Parks sells an adventure pass classic which covers the Hornblower Niagara Cruises, Journey Behind the Falls, White Water Walk, Niagara’s Fury and two day access on the WEGO). It costs from $57 CAD (£35) + tax per adult