Getting around GTA

[haowong]

Hi, I am going to Toronto this week end. I've heard there is an aids conference which took up lots of hotel rooms, but I managed to find rooms in a HILTON in Markham.

I am going with my gf, parents and their friends. I would want to get to Ontario place to spend the day but do not know how to get there without a car.

I went on the TTC website, expecting some kind of route wizard (like "tout azimut" of the montreal transit system) but couldn't find any...

Can anyone tell me where to go to find information to go from 8500 Warden (Markham) to Ontario Place. (or could anyone give me directions using buses and subway)


Also, my parents heard of a big Chinese mall in Markham... as they do not know the English name, I cannot find it on the internet.... something like Markham market.... Does anyone know the name and address?


Thank you!

[go leafs]

the malls are pacific mall / market village ... kennedy at steeles. milliken station on GoTransit
http://www.marketvillage.net/
http://www.pacificmalltoronto.com/

[lost~user]

Speaking of Malls.. there's First Markham Place not too far from the Hilton, you just have to walk West on Hwy 7. It's about a 15-20 minute walk. There's lots of Chinese resturaunts there. If you need to Go to Ontario Place. You'll need to ride 2 different Transit systems. A.. from where you are, u'll need to take a VIVA bus, make sure it's going to the Richmond Hill Terminal. Once you're @ that Terminal, transfer (Free of charge) to a bus that will take you to Finch Subway Station. From Finch Subway Station u'll then have to ride the TTC, and all of Toronto is pretty much @ your disposal...

[Kali]

Hi, I live downtown and don't get up there very often but I think there are several routes you can take. Perhaps someone who lives up there can be of more help.

You can take Yrt transit #1 bus from Warden & Highway 7 west to Finch Station and from there take the TTC subway to Union Station. From Union, you can take the free Ontario Place shuttle bus or take the TTC Exhibition streetcar to the CNE and walk to Ontario Place from there.

You can also take Yrt Viva purple bus westbound from Warden & Highway 7 to Richmond Hill Centre and from there transfer to the Viva blue bus to get to Finch station.

Or you can take the ViVa green bus from Warden & Highway 7 to Don mills station and from there take the Sheppard subway westbound to Sheppard station and then ride it south to Union.

You have to pay 2 separate fares each way. Yrt and TTC. $2.50 + $2.75 x 2 = $10.50 for a return trip. It will take you at least 1 hr to get down to Union Station.

www.yorkregiontransit.com

Perhaps another way is by taking the GO bus from Unionville Station to Union Station and then taking the GO train to Exhibition Station. It is $10.80 for a return trip. You can either drive to the station or take either the Viva purple or green bus eastbound from Warden & Highway 7. I believe it is 50 cents to take the bus if you have proof of a GO ticket or transfer. Its probably easier to get to Ontario Place this way than by taking the YRT and TTC.

www.gotransit.com

If I had a car and especially if there were several of you going, I would probably drive down instead.

I don't know which mall you are looking for. There are the two malls that the previous poster mentioned and also another one at Woodbine ave & Highway 7. That one is called First Markham Place. It is closer to where you are staying. You can find links to the malls here:

http://www.guidingstar.ca/Markham_Shopping_Plazas_&_Centres.htm

Hope this helps!

[wilson_wu]

NOTES
-YRT/VIVA serves YORK REGION. You can transfer from both systems free of charge as long as you have a transfer or valid ticket.
-TTC serves TORONTO. Therefore, you must pay a separate TTC fare when you use TTC.
-You need to pay a fare for YRT/VIVA, and then another fare for TTC. They are SEPARATE.

FARES
YRT/VIVA (http://yrt.ca/fares.asp)
TTC (http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/fares.htm#fares)

IMPORTANT ABOUT VIVA
VIVA buses are special. Make sure you have a ticket/transfer in hand before you board. You can buy tickets with the machines located in the bus stop.

ROUTE OPTIONS FROM HOTEL TO SUBWAY
YRT 1 (http://www.yrt.ca)
*Bus stop location: Across the street from the hotel (view map) (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94/yrtfans/yrtviva.jpg)
*Board bus: "1 HIGHWAY 7 - TO RICHMOND HILL CENTRE"
*Get off at: Richmond Hill Centre
*Board bus: "viva blue - Finch Station"
*Get off at: Finch Station
*Board the subway

VIVA Purple (http://www.yrt.ca)
*Bus stop location: Town Centre Boulevard, a 5-10 minute walk west of the hotel (view map) (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94/yrtfans/yrtviva.jpg)
*Board bus: "viva purple - York University" or "viva purple - Martin Grove"
*Get off at: Richmond Hill Centre
*Board bus: "viva blue - Finch Station"
*Get off at: Finch Station
*Board the subway

VIVA Green (www.yrt.ca)
*Bus stop location: Enterprise Boulevard, a 10-15 minute walk south of the hotel (view map) (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94/yrtfans/yrtviva.jpg)
*Board bus: "viva green - Don Mills Station"
*Get off at: Don Mills Station
*Board the subway

VIVA Pink Rush Hour Only! (www.yrt.ca)
*Bus stop location: Town Centre Boulevard, a 5-10 minute walk west of the hotel (view map) (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94/yrtfans/yrtviva.jpg)
*Board bus: "viva pink - Finch Station"
*Get off at: Finch Station
*Board the subway

[haowong]

Thanks guys, this really does help....
And I found the shopping center thanks to you guys... Markham first place....

Its funny how it doesn't show up on my Microsoft Street and Trips 2006 (shopping list enabled)


Oh well... with you guys, I wont need to look any further.... thanks!

[jason9945]

Hi, I am going to Toronto this week end. I've heard there is an aids conference which took up lots of hotel rooms, but I managed to find rooms in a HILTON in Markham.

I am going with my gf, parents and their friends. I would want to get to Ontario place to spend the day but do not know how to get there without a car.

I went on the TTC website, expecting some kind of route wizard (like "tout azimut" of the montreal transit system) but couldn't find any...

Can anyone tell me where to go to find information to go from 8500 Warden (Markham) to Ontario Place. (or could anyone give me directions using buses and subway)

Also, my parents heard of a big Chinese mall in Markham... as they do not know the English name, I cannot find it on the internet.... something like Markham market.... Does anyone know the name and address?


Thank you!
Glad I'm not the only one who was expecting that!!!!

I cant beleive they dont have such a thing.... Ottawas one is great.

[alv077]

Thanks guys, this really does help....
And I found the shopping center thanks to you guys... Markham first place....

Its funny how it doesn't show up on my Microsoft Street and Trips 2006 (shopping list enabled)


Oh well... with you guys, I wont need to look any further.... thanks!

streets and trips sucks here.

anyways, hope you're ready to be thoroughly disappointed by first markham.

[stars78]

I would highly recommend you rent a car, especially if you want to move around, it'll save time and conveinence for the weekend vs taking the markham transit, then ttc, the streetcar to get to ontario place, likely take at least 1.5-2 hrs each way.

Even going from the Hilton to Pacific Mall-driving is 15 min (although parking is a pain unless you're willing to park way at the back which usually has more spots).. vs taking the bus-you'd need 2 buses and depending on if you have to wait, can take about 45 min.

[ah802]

Exhibition street car will take you within a stones throw of Onatrio place... long throw (Bathurst Street car) you can get on it at the Bloor Subway line, Bathurst stop.