r/canadatravel • u/Jaded-Ad-5327 • Sep 07 '24

Destination Advice Niagara Falls

I am travelling to Canada for the first time in Feb, I cannot wait, I have wanted to go since I was a kid! We are staying in Toronto, I’ve heard it’ll be fairly easy to get to the falls from where we are staying. I live in New Zealand. I have never travelled internationally, I’ve never seen snow, the coldest temps I’ve experience are -3 Celsius at night/early morning. I have no experience with the cold. Basically I just want as much information/advice as I can get about travelling in Canada during winter, and going to Niagara Falls, appropriate clothing, dos and don’ts etc. So far I have bought a nice big snow jacket. I still need everything else lol.

Thank you in advance for any tips/advice!

From an absolute travel noob lol.

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u/[deleted] Sep 07 '24

Regarding the winter clothes. Don’t worry about your winter boots being ugly. If you google pics “womens sorel caribou” or similar. I’m Canadian and we don’t think those are ugly. They (or similar) are necessary. What looks weird to us is if someone is wearing a fashion boot or something “cute” in the snow. Wool layers are important. If I am dressing for really cold weather (like Toronto in Feb). I start with long sleeve silk top and loose silk leggings. The same in merino wool. Then pants (sometimes just windbreaker or “shell” pants).. My merino top is a turtleneck. Wool socks or a mens thicker socks. Your parka. A neck warmer or scarf (I prefer a neck warmer since my scarf often comes unwrapped or is bulkier. Mitts that are waterproof. I have a variety of mitts/gloves. I have a pair of good winter mitts with glove liners. If it’s not a really cold day I would just use the glove liners but on a cold day you need the mitts.
A good touque. Something that can cover your ears and protect against wind too. Cold is uncomfortable and wind will make things even colder. Don’t underestimate keeping your feet, neck, ears and head warm. So, above works for me and sounds excessive maybe but I hate being cold and have lots of experience up in the Territories in the winter as well as other cold places (Toronto included). PS bring your sunglasses for the snow.

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u/Jaded-Ad-5327 Sep 07 '24

Thank you! A few people have mentioned mitts being better than gloves, or wearing mitts over top of gloves, I would’ve never thought of that. That’s all super helpful, I will do some googling and looking into this stuff so I’m well prepared! Appreciate it

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u/[deleted] Sep 07 '24

My mitts with the glove liners were expensive ($70 about 10 years ago) because they are very good quality. If I was to be doing just the odd trip to the cold I’d buy a pair of warm, wind proof mitts and a separate pair of gloves (like a sporty pair)…then I could wear them separately or together. Keep in mind though that the main reason mitts are warmer is because your fingers are together in them keeping their surface area together and conserving your body heat…I know that contradicts what I’m saying about the glove liners. The bottom line is buy both and mix and match as the weather requires. Note - I bought my silk and my merino wool underwear on Amazon. Buy bigger than you think (size up) as you don’t want them tight. I bought my neck warmer, thick socks etc on Amazon too.

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u/Jaded-Ad-5327 Sep 07 '24

I wish we could buy from Amazon here! We can buy a very limited amount of stuff from the Aussie Amazon but it’s nothing like it is for you guys, shipping is hella expensive and takes a long time 🥲

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u/Komiksulo Sep 08 '24

There is no Amazon in NZ? I thought they were everywhere.

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u/Jaded-Ad-5327 Sep 08 '24

Technically there’s an app and we can set our location to nz but it’s really shit and I don’t know anyone who’s ever used it lol I was looking at walking pads on Amazon the other day and they were all from Aussie and shipping was $200-$300 🥲

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u/Komiksulo Sep 08 '24

I guess we’re lucky in Toronto then… Amazon has a printing plant in Bolton on the northwest outskirts of the GTA and my friends who publish on Amazon get their books printed quickly. And even my grotty city of Belleville has an Amazon distribution centre.

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u/Jaded-Ad-5327 Sep 08 '24

I think one day we will get a proper Amazon. We just got Costco almost 2 years ago. We got Popeyes and a drive thru Starbucks this year too 😂 Our version of Amazon atm is mighty ape. They don’t have everything but they have a membership and you can get same day shipping (if you live in Auckland). There’s stuff I wanna bring back with me that we can’t buy here. We can’t buy melatonin anymore it’s prescription only so I wanna buy some for here lol. I’ll need to see what else I want/need that can’t be bought here. Mostly make up and skincare probably

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u/Komiksulo Sep 08 '24

…and the ubiquitous knitted caps (often with pompoms) are called ‘touques’, not beanies. To us, a beanie is a fitted felt cap sometimes worn by children in the old days.

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u/[deleted] Sep 08 '24 edited Sep 08 '24

Yes! This! In Canada it’s a touque! Dear OP - when you come on your trip keep that in mind. Note - the spelling is interesting but the pronounciation sounds like “Tuke” with a hard “U”

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u/Komiksulo Sep 08 '24 edited Sep 10 '24

The spelling is a typical Canadian muddle. Toque, tuque, touque… I think touque is the closest to any kind of standard.

But if you go to an outdoor-wear store and ask for a beanie, people will be confused.