Hello everyone,
I'm new here so bare with me. I'm hoping that there is a few of you who have either lived in Vancouver or moved from Toronto to or vice verse. I have lived *almost* my entire life in Vancouver and quite frankly, I'm bored of it. Yes the scenery is great but the general snobbish attitude, ridiculous real estate and general "no fun zone" is getting a bit over the top.
I've been interested in giving Toronto a run for my money. Now I've heard people say it's expensive (as far as real estate) but comparing it to Vancouver, it's cheap. Also I REALLY want snow in the winter however I'm quite concerned about the summers since I've heard they're rather hot.
Anyway I'm rambling a bit here but what I was hoping I could get is a few people who have lived in both or even just people who live in Toronto to say a few things they like about it and things they don't. It'd be interesting to hear a few different opinions.
Thanks!
Hi and welcome.
I've lived in both places and like yourself, mountians and forest is beautiful but even a perfect steak gets boring when it's all that is on the plate. Toronto is different than Vancouver. Not to say there aren't snobs here. Some of the worst probably. Real estate is nuts here too. But you can find a gem to the north and east of you look hard enough. Toronto also has the temperence crowd but the real fun is under the radar. You can go and do pretty much as you like without anyone getting upset over it if you don't bother them.
Toronto is like many very small villages all with their distinct flavour and culture.
No where is as diverse as Toronto. Once you get to know some of these, you will find walking a pleasant passtime. There is of course the lake which will take care of any ocean going habits you happen to have as well, there are thousands of smaller lakes just right for a canoe trip. A couple hours outside of Toronto and you can find the peace and solitude of any B.C. wilderness.
The weather is fine. We get winter here but the hard cold winter doesn't last more than a couple of weeks a year. A good time to take a week in the south to warm up and get some decompression time in.
Summer is not bad at all. Last year it was really rather cool. Few really hot days with high humidity. I loved it! Hot and sunny during the day and cool enough to sleep at night. Right now it's 7 and climbing to 10 degrees with bright sunshine.
I think I will take a walk with the dog, and see what I can find. Just last week I found not far from my home an international significant site that is one of the first and few places on Earth that show clearly the changes of climate from about 450 million years ago to today. From tropical sea to glacial scraped bedrock, it's all right here to look at. Make my own few turns around the block seem so very quick and insignificant.
Lots of places to take the pooch out though there is breed specific ban in place in all of Ontario.
A big part of Toronto is actually not Toronto at all. It's cottage country. A lot of people have a place to escape from the hustle and bustle in the summer. There is no shortage of places to go either. If you are a boater, you will have all the adventure you want right here. From the Great Loop which can take you down to the Gulf of Mexico and along the Eastern Seaboard returning through the St.Lawrence to Lake Ontario, to the Eastern Loop, and the journey through the Trent Severn water way locks from Kinston to Georgian Bay will both test your abilities and show you some nature at it's best.
Of course everything is on a world scale here. Niagra Falls being one of the seven wonders of the world is just an hour and a half drive from Toronto through wine country. New York is an eight hour drive or just a short flight from downtown. Montreal of course is also easily within a days drive so there is all the Canadian heritage and history you could want to see.
Toronto isn't for everyone. But for those who fit in and can deal with the levels of stress, hustle and bustle it's not difficult to see why this is the center of the universe.
Something you might try if you have the money is a short term rental in Toronto. Come stay for a couple of weeks or a month and get on the ground to see it's the place for you or not.