Being a mom is a fulltime job, and it’s not an easy job either. You spend most – if not all – of your time taking care of the family. For moms who also work or study for a degree, the challenges are even more complex. While being a fulltime mom is demanding, you should still find time to have fun and do the things you love to do.
There are a lot of things you can do on your “Me time,” and one of them is spending time with friends. You can take it a step further and travel with the girls for a couple of days. To help you get started, we are going to take a look at Toronto as the destination of choice in this article.
Why Toronto?
There are several reasons why a trip with the girls to Toronto is the perfect way to have fun away from the family. For starters, you can always find direct flights to Toronto from anywhere in the country. From here in New York, for instance, there are flights to Toronto every day. You can visit flyporter.com for more info on available flights to the city.
Toronto is also relatively close. A direct flight from New York to Toronto takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. You can go to Toronto, spend the entire day there, and go home on the same day if you want; spending a couple of days in the city is still the better way to go, but you have the option if needed.
Toronto also has a lot to offer. There are great things to do – which we will get to in a bit – and plenty of restaurants to try. In the evening, you can go club-hopping and relive the days you spent having fun with your closest school friends. There are shows to see and museums to explore too; there is something for everyone in Toronto.
Things to Do in Toronto
Since the plan is to have fun with some friends, you want to focus your itinerary on things you can enjoy together. The first thing I highly recommend is a visit to Toronto’s Distillery District. As the name suggests, this is where you will find Canada’s best breweries and a gorgeous pedestrian-only neighbourhood.
Spending half a day in the Distillery District means going from one art gallery to the next, sampling the local restaurants and the incredible dishes they serve, and relaxing while enjoying a pint of beer. The ambience at this place is too good to miss. It is also home to some festivals and exhibitions, so you might want to time your visit around those festivals.
There are unique things to do in Toronto too. You can, for example, give axe throwing a try by visiting the Backyard Axe Throwing League. This is where you can learn all about axe throwing and have a bit of competition with your friends. Toronto is also home to several paintball arenas should you feel a bit more adventurous.
Speaking about adventures, there is a growing number of escape rooms and adventurous tours in Toronto. The one I highly recommend is the Escape Casa Loma. It is an incredible escape room game set in a castle. The castle is beautiful, and the actors involved in the game make the whole experience even more enjoyable.
Of course, a trip to Toronto is never complete without some partying and club-hopping. Toronto has a long list of great clubs and lounges to visit, starting with Cake Nightclub on Adelaide Street. Travelling with the girls means getting free entry to the best clubs, including Cake Nightclub, on most days. Dance Cave is another must-visit if you love good music and some dancing.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to go club-hopping in Toronto. The city is also home to affordable places like El Furniture Warehouse, which is famous for its affordable menu and great ambience. The Madison Avenue Pub completes our list of must-visits with its tasty snacks and great cocktails. The ambience here will make you want to return.
Preparing for the Trip
Planning is everything when you want to have a fun weekend getaway with some friends. You can start by getting your partner involved and making sure that you can leave the kids for a couple of days without returning to a giant mess at the end of the trip.
Booking flights and securing accommodations are the easy parts. As mentioned before, you have flyporter.com helping you find direct flights from many cities in the country to Toronto. Booking sites and platforms like Airbnb are just a few taps away.
If you are travelling in a large group, booking a villa or a holiday rental in Toronto is certainly worth considering. A villa may cost more than a hotel room, but you get more space and can divide the cost among your party. Besides, you get more amenities and a better location with most villas.
Once you have these basics covered, it is time to start working on an itinerary. While the goal is having as much fun as possible, you don’t want to pack too many activities into your itinerary. Toronto is a laid-back city, and you want to be just as relaxed when exploring it.
Use the recommendations we discussed earlier to get started. Aside from the recommended activities and places to visit, there are so many other things to try while in Toronto. Leave room for when you want to be spontaneous.
The best way to get around Toronto when travelling with friends is by car, so check if you can rent a car for the duration of your trip – and if the cost of renting a car suits your travel budget. Driving also allows you to explore more of the city and its nearby attractions.
Last but certainly not least, give yourself plenty of time to get ready. Pack early, let the kids know that you will be away for a couple of days, and make sure you lay some ground rules. Speaking of getting the kids ready….
Your First Getaway
Going on your first weekend away from the children can be difficult for both you and the kids. However, the benefits of being able to refresh and be away for a while are well worth the challenges you need to face before you go.
I find that the best approach is getting the children involved in preparing for the trip while letting them know that you need to be away for a couple of days. Don’t lie if you can; simply state that you have something important to do – which is taking care of yourself – and that you will be back soon.
While in Toronto, pick up a few gifts for the children. Schedule calls beforehand and meet those schedules to keep the children (and yourself, really) calm. You can schedule one call in the afternoon or in the morning, and another before you hit Toronto’s lively party scene.
With careful planning and help from the family, going on a much-needed weekend getaway doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Besides, the children will be as happy as you are when you return from the trip.