Toronto’s Hockey Hall of Fame was our first stop in Canada’s largest city, and my hockey-playing son was really looking forward to it!
(If you’re planning a road trip from the Midwest to Canada, you can visit Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia all in one drive. So here was our amazing Canadian adventure!)
HOCKEY HALL OF FAME
The Hockey Hall of Fame is a shrine to Canada’s favorite sport and contains a comprehensive collection of hockey memorabilia. It has interactive exhibits, virtual reality puck-shooting, and the holy grail of hockey– the original Stanely Cup.
Outside the Hockey Hall of Fame
Since we were there on a Sunday, we found street parking across the street from the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is housed in Brookfield Place which has its own parking garage.
The Hall of Fame is located in a former bank building from 1885 and contains the most extensive hockey collection in the world along with the original Stanley Cup.
Outside the building is a bronze sculpture of young players ready to leap over the boards for a game of hockey.
Accessing the Hockey Hall of Fame
Enter Brookfield Place through 10 Front Street West. Proceed through Sam Pollock Square to Galleria and take escalators down to Concourse Level. Follow directional signage. Hockey Hall of Fame Admission is located east of the Brookfield Place Food Court,
First, my son checked out some of the uniforms worn by former hockey stars like Wayne Gretzky.
Then, in a room decorated in blue, there is a display of the many different hockey helmets, such as those with stripes or that look like a shark’s head.
A display holds past hockey helmets such as one that is a simple mask.
We also found a display of hockey rings that my son enjoyed looking at. We even saw one given to the St. Louis Blues.
Playing Hockey
You can get in on the action in the Game Time Zone on a fake ice rink.
Here you can shoot a puck at a life-size video projection goalie.
Or face-simulated shots from greats Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.
Stanley Cup
Next, we had our picture taken with the Stanley Cup. You can look at the bottom and see the names of recent winners like the hometown team, the St. Louis Blues.
Great Hall
The Great Hall features players and icons in the former 45-foot-high Great Room. Giants of the game appear on the Honored Members Wall, and every major NHL trophy is on display.
Montreal Canadiens Locker Room
This is a recreated locker room to make you feel like you are about to go to the game.
Movie Theater
My son enjoyed watching the 4-D movie where you could feel the action through the special effects.
Spirit of Hockey Shop
The Hall of Fame also has a Spirit of Hockey Shop for gifts and hockey-themed merchandise.
Shop hours: Summer – 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily; Fall-Winter-Spring – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Admission: $25, ages 14-64; $15, ages 4-13; $20, ages 65+; free, ages 3 and under.
Address: 30 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M5E 1X8, Canada
ST. LAWRENCE MARKET
Nearby is the St. Lawrence Market where we had dinner.
The market has many different vendors, from cheese to seafood to bagels and sandwiches.
Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday; Closed, Monday
Address: St. Lawrence Market, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3, Canada
NOTE: There are plenty of other activities to do in Toronto, but we had to get up to Montreal the next day to meet the family for dinner.
ON THE WAY TO CANADA
Driving from St. Louis, we stopped in Sarnia, Ontario to stay at the Holiday Inn Express.
This allowed us to spend some time at the beach on Lake Huron. Just know that the water can be cold, even in the summer, but it is clear and refreshing.
Holiday Inn Express Sarnia-Point Edward
Address: 1460 Venetian Blvd, Point Edward, ON N7T 7W6, Canada
After Toronto, we continued our travels through Canada.
MORE CANADIAN ADVENTURES
Short Trip to Montreal
See a giant apple, drive by a Thousand Islands, tour the War of 1812 Fort Wellington, and check out the Olympic Park Biodome in Montreal!
Two Days In Quebec City
In Quebec City, we explored the remains of a fort underground, toured the historic Old Town, and saw the nearly 300-foot Montmorency Falls.
Fredericton and the World’s Longest-Covered Bridge
From Quebec City, we visited waterfalls and drove through the 1,282-foot-long Hartland Covered Bridge before arriving in picturesque Fredericton.
Parlee Beach Fun and Prince Edward Island Touring
Shopping at Fredericton’s Farmers Market, and swimming at the warmest beach in Canada, Parlee Beach, before staying the night in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
PEI Ferry, Titanic, and Halifax Citadel Exploring
Take the ferry from Prince Edward Island to Nova Scotia to go to Halifax to explore the Citadel and see the Titanic exhibit at the Maritime Museum.
Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park Adventure
Walk on the sea floor at low tide among rock formations at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park and explore the forested coast at Fundy National Park in New Brunswick.
After staying the night in Halifax we headed to Hopewell Rocks. We only stopped for lunch and had to manage our time for the drive based on the tides, which is important if you want to walk on the ocean floor.
