Mike & Alissa
Things To Do
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
About a 30-minute drive from the Sandman Hotel. This museum has a pretty cool array of Canadian warplanes and outlines Canada's contribution to conflicts from World War II to today. Open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM.
West Harbour GO
This is the public transit station nearest to the hotel. Trains to Toronto and Niagara Falls service the station every hour.
Distillery District
This 13 acre stretch of Toronto is the largest group of Victorian industrial buildings in North America. Once home to Gooderham and Worts, the largest distillery in the world, the Distillery District is a unique area in Toronto with plenty of boutique shops and upscale restaurants, plus a microbrewery, sake brewery and a chocolate factory. This area is designated for pedestrians and cycling only; cars and parking are allowed just at its borders. Here historic architecture meets contemporary creativity, and as such, it is a leading component in Toronto’s artistic and cultural community, with events held throughout the year. Possibly the most picturesque area in Toronto, the Distillery District is a perfect spot to spend the afternoon shopping and dining or to spend the evening celebrating. This area is about a 50-minute drive from the Sandman Hotel.
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is an eclectic neighborhood, brimming with cafes, boutiques, and sights in and around the partially outdoor market. Originally built to house Scottish and Irish immigrant laborers in the late 1800s, the neighborhood housed a large Jewish population in the early twentieth century, and today is home to a large Chinese population, along with Central American and African immigrants. Designated a National Historic Site of Canada, the resulting mix is a collection of great restaurants, fun food trucks, and produce stalls; funky clothing shops and wild gifts from around the globe; a place where counterculture, new ideas, and artistic prowess flourish. This area is about an hour drive from the Sandman Hotel.
Dundurn Castle
Experience a guided tour of this 40-room Italianate-style villa built in the 1830’s on Burlington Heights; the former site of a fortified military encampment established by the British in 1813. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online. The Castle is about a 20-minute drive from the Sandman Hotel.
Royal Botanical Gardens Grindstone Creek
Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is the largest botanical garden in Canada, a National Historic Site, and registered charitable organization with a mandate to bring together people, plants and nature. Admission is $18 and the garden is open from 10 AM to 8 PM daily. It is about a 20-minute drive from the Sandman Hotel.
St. Lawrence Market
National Geographic named St. Lawrence Market the world’s best food market. Since 1803, the market has been going on in the area, originally as a weekly market under temporary cover, later in a wooden structure, and then the first brick structure (the current South Market building) popped up in 1845. The South Market houses over 120 vendors selling fresh produce, dairy, meats, baked goods, and more. The North Market hosts a farmers market on Saturdays and an antiques market on Sundays, plus other events during weekdays. The St. Lawrence Hall is mostly offices and event space. The market is closed every Monday and Sunday, except for the antiques vendors. The market is about a 50-minute drive from the Sandman Hotel.
Jordan Station
Jordan Station is small tree-lined village with quaint boutiques, welcoming art galleries, patio dining, and the award-winning Cave Spring Cellars winery. Conveniently situated amidst many wineries and craft beverage makers and nestled at the base of the Niagara Escarpment, the village is a quiet getaway. Jordan Station is about a 25-minute drive from the Sandman Hotel.
Spencer Gorge Wilderness Area
A beautiful area to hike that's about a 30-minute drive from the Sandman Hotel. There is a $10 parking fee and a $5 per person entrance fee. Parking: Weekend - Christie Lake Conservation Area, 1000 Highway 5 West, Dundas, ON Monday-Friday - Tew Fall Parking lot, Harvest Road, Dundas, ON
Peller Estates Winery And Restaurant
If you’re a sucker for a good glass of wine, then make sure to pop into the Peller Estate in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Just outside the town itself, Peller Estates has some delicious wine tasting options (right in the vineyard itself). When you’re here, make sure to try their Ice Cuvée - a sparkling wine that's perfect for a hot summers day. Also, if you’re into sweeter dessert wines, try their Vidal Ice Wine that has an almost marmalade-like taste. They have an ice bar downstairs where you can taste the wine at the temperature at which the grapes are picked. The winery is about a 45-minute drive from the Sandman Hotel
Château des Charmes
This is just one of hundreds of wineries in the area! Château des Charmes was founded in 1978 by Paul Bosc, a fifth generation French winegrower. Paul and his young family arrived in Niagara in the 1960’s with the idea that growing our own grapes was the best way to make fine wine. The winery is about a 30-minute drive from the Sandman Hotel.
Battlefield House Museum & Park National Historic Site
For those interested in historical battles, this museum provides a snapshot of the War of 1812 from the Canadian perspective. The museum is just a 10-minute drive from the Sandman Hotel. Tickets are $7.50 and can be purchased online. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 PM to 4 PM.
CN Tower
The tallest tower in the Western Hemisphere and third tallest in the world, the CN Tower is the most iconic structure in the Toronto skyline. At over 553 meters, the tower offers unmatched views of the city and harbor from its observation deck. There’s a glass floor and restaurant on the main deck and higher up (with an additional fee), the SkyPod. For a thrill, sign up for the Edge Walk, where visitors step outside, lean over, and walk the full circle around the deck. The CN Tower is open every day from 9 AM to 10:30 PM. Admission is overpriced at $38 for general, plus another $12 for the SkyPod, but they are part of the CityPASS (along with the aquarium right next door), which alleviates some of the sting if you plan on visiting multiple attractions. This iconic tower is located 45 minutes from the Sandman Hotel by car.