So it just hit me that ill be in Toronto for the weekend after flying into buffalo. Never been to either but planning to hit some spots for buffalo wings as well as the buffalo brew pub.
Any suggestions for plane spotting in Toronto.
Any suggestions for catching some decent freight rail action in that area? Any it's recommended? We are staying in Brampton.
Planning on the Niagara Falls, just to see it but will likely do so on the drive from fort Erie to Niagara on the Lake. I hear that highway is longer but is a more scenic ride.
Would welcome any suggestions. Thanks!
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Toronto Buffalo Photography?
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
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- WestJet747
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RE: Toronto Buffalo Photography?
| Quoting mirrodie (Thread starter): Any suggestions for plane spotting in Toronto. |
Easy! The Wendys/Coffee Style parking lot on Airport Road. You're literally right at the end of 23R at YYZ. I spot there frequently.
Here's a link to the spot: http://goo.gl/maps/348c3
As for YTZ, I've never actually spotted there, but when I've attended festivals and outdoor concerts at Ontario Place which is the next island over directly west of the airport, and I always see PD planes passing over top. I imagine you'd get some half-decent spotting in from the Ontario Place parking lots, but you'll only see Q400s and 172s all day and a handful of helicopters.
Link to Ontario Place: http://goo.gl/maps/l2hIW
| Quoting mirrodie (Thread starter): Planning on the Niagara Falls, just to see it but will likely do so on the drive from fort Erie to Niagara on the Lake. I hear that highway is longer but is a more scenic ride. |
There's plenty to do in Niagara Falls (Canadian side) other than to just see the falls, but it's all really touristy stuff, so I'm not sure if you're into that or not.
I assume you're talking about the QEW as the highway? "Scenic" is definitely a generous word to use. You're better off taking the back-roads and driving through vineyard country.
I'm not sure what else to tell you, but I went to university about 20 minutes outside of Niagara Falls and I know the area decently well, so if you have any specific questions feel free to ask.
Flying refined.
RE: Toronto Buffalo Photography?
| Quoting mirrodie (Thread starter): Any suggestions for plane spotting in Toronto. |
Can't help you there, but...
| Quoting mirrodie (Thread starter): planning to hit some spots for buffalo wings as well as the buffalo brew pub. |
I'll make some suggestions for Buffalo. As far as wings go, avoid the Anchor Bar, which has gone downhill and relies on its reputation as the originator of wings in the Buffalo style. Duff's (in the suburbs) or Gabriel's Gate (in Buffalo itself) are better. The Buffalo Brew Pub (in the suburbs, not far from BUF) is ok too, and you may like the Blue Monk (in Buffalo itself).
| Quoting mirrodie (Thread starter): Planning on the Niagara Falls, just to see it but will likely do so on the drive from fort Erie to Niagara on the Lake. I hear that highway is longer but is a more scenic ride. |
| Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 1): I assume you're talking about the QEW as the highway? "Scenic" is definitely a generous word to use. You're better off taking the back-roads and driving through vineyard country. |
Niagara Parkway, which runs along the Canadian shore of the Niagara River between the Fort Erie side of the Peace Bridge and the village of Niagara-on-the-Lake is pretty nice. It beats I-190, unless you want an obstructed view of the old Dunlop plant. WestJet747 is right about the QEW. It's reasonably scenic between St. Catharines and Hamilton, but the stretch between Hamilton and the Gardiner Expy in Toronto is just another stretch of dense, unattractive suburban expressway.
| Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 1): There's plenty to do in Niagara Falls (Canadian side) other than to just see the falls, but it's all really touristy stuff, so I'm not sure if you're into that or not. |
There's nothing to do on the U.S. side of the falls other than see the falls.
Have a fun trip!
RE: Toronto Buffalo Photography?
For spotting I've always like Silver Dart Dr for 24 L/R, there is a parking garage where you can park on the bottom level and it gets you off the road.
CN or CP have a large rail yard in Brampton at Hwy 50 and Rutherford Rd, I've not been through that area in a while but there should be some good areas for pics.
I might get flamed for this, but In my opinion the wings are better in Toronto. The ones I've had in Buffalo, including the famous Anchor Bar were not that good.
Enjoy your trip.
Rich
| Quoting mirrodie (Thread starter): Any suggestions for catching some decent freight rail action in that area? Any it's recommended? We are staying in Brampton. |
CN or CP have a large rail yard in Brampton at Hwy 50 and Rutherford Rd, I've not been through that area in a while but there should be some good areas for pics.
I might get flamed for this, but In my opinion the wings are better in Toronto. The ones I've had in Buffalo, including the famous Anchor Bar were not that good.
Enjoy your trip.
Rich
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- desertjets
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RE: Toronto Buffalo Photography?
Its been a long time since I've been in YYZ. The Wendy's parking lot is always a solid bet, and I very much forget where else I was taken to when I was there spotting all those years.
Don't know where to get wings in BUF, but I did go to Anchor Bar once, and didn't order any wings.
I am somewhat a fan of Niagara Falls. You need to go, even if you only go once. The Ontario side is godawfully touristy but there is stuff to do and you get the view there. But the only reason to stop on the New York side is that you are right up against the falls and that is pretty amazing. The casino is actually pretty nice and has a few decent restaurants. Otherwise Niagara Falls, NY is a hole.
Don't know where to get wings in BUF, but I did go to Anchor Bar once, and didn't order any wings.
I am somewhat a fan of Niagara Falls. You need to go, even if you only go once. The Ontario side is godawfully touristy but there is stuff to do and you get the view there. But the only reason to stop on the New York side is that you are right up against the falls and that is pretty amazing. The casino is actually pretty nice and has a few decent restaurants. Otherwise Niagara Falls, NY is a hole.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
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- corinthians
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RE: Toronto Buffalo Photography?
I go to YYZ about every other month. Are they using new take-off and landing procedures there? I noticed one time they were landing on 24L and taking off from 24R and 33R. Is this new?
RE: Toronto Buffalo Photography?
Thanks. Finally settled in.
Flew into BUF on B6 and immediately hit 3 wing joints in 3 hours.
Duffs Grovers and the Anchor Bar. They were all good but I have to say that Anchor Bar seemed best to me as there were the perfect blend of juicy and crispy wings. But it was close!
Stayed up in Brampton right near that rail facility. TOo many opportunities to see family so I really didnt get any photos in but great to see some long trains in action.
NIagara was a nice quick drive through. Go to view it from both sides, inbound and outbound.
Got an unexpected surprise in Brampton. Strolled into the Chrysler Assemble building where they put together the Challenge and 300s. NIce.
THanks for hte tips!
Flew into BUF on B6 and immediately hit 3 wing joints in 3 hours.
Duffs Grovers and the Anchor Bar. They were all good but I have to say that Anchor Bar seemed best to me as there were the perfect blend of juicy and crispy wings. But it was close!
Stayed up in Brampton right near that rail facility. TOo many opportunities to see family so I really didnt get any photos in but great to see some long trains in action.
NIagara was a nice quick drive through. Go to view it from both sides, inbound and outbound.
Got an unexpected surprise in Brampton. Strolled into the Chrysler Assemble building where they put together the Challenge and 300s. NIce.
THanks for hte tips!
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
RE: Toronto Buffalo Photography?
| Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 1): Easy! The Wendys/Coffee Style parking lot on Airport Road. You're literally right at the end of 23R at YYZ. I spot there frequently. |
Wendy's is the best spot if planes are landing on 23, 24R/L and 23 gets a lot of the heavies. If they are landing on 5 and 6R/L the best bet is on Convair drive which runs along the fence between the runways and the 401. If in Brampton go east on Courtneypark or Britannia until they turn parallel to the fence and you will see the runways before you head down the hill where AF358 overran. That spot is better for takeoffs and pretty good if they land on 6L (they always take off on 6L) but if they land on 6R you can't really get close. There is also a spot on Dixie that is another Wendy's/Tim Horton's that you will see planes approaching runway 5 but you won't see them touch down like you can on runway 23.
Here are the locations I mentioned if you want to put them into a GPS or google maps to see where they are.
43.663091,-79.627718 - Convair Drive (no address on this one)
Wendy's near runway 5 - 1420 Mid-way Blvd, Mississauga, ON L5T 2S4
Wendy's near runway 23 - 6585 Airport Road, Mississauga, ON L4V 1S8
| Quoting corinthians (Reply 5): I go to YYZ about every other month. Are they using new take-off and landing procedures there? I noticed one time they were landing on 24L and taking off from 24R and 33R. Is this new? |
Landing on 24L and taking off on 24R is normal for peak times and 6R/24L isn't really used much in off peak times. I reckon takeoffs on 33R are done for heavies bound for Asia when the wind favours that direction and not extreme enough for the 15's and 33's to be used in normal opps. The only seem to use those when its windy enough that you can't keep your car straight on the road.
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