HOW TO GET THERE
Land at Toronto Pearson International Airport, take the Up Express, which leaves every 15 minutes and takes 30 minutes to arrive in city center. If you land at Billy Bishop Toronto City airport, an airport shuttle or taxi will get you downtown in minutes. Once you’re in the city, public transit is accessible — on game day you’ll see local fans decked out in the Blue Jay’s signature colors. There are no large parking lots around Rogers Centre so even if you’ve rented a car, don’t drive to the game. At $7 a day, renting a city bike (www. bikesharetoronto.com) is another easy way to get around and explore Toronto.
WHERE TO STAY
For a truly unique experience, stay in one of 70 stadium-facing rooms at the Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel and watch the game through full-length windows looking onto the field. Prices for a ‘room with a view’ range anywhere from $499 to several thousand dollars during the playoffs. Book early as the hotel typically sells out quickly during the playoffs or when the Jays play the Red Sox or Yankees. If you’re looking for a smaller, boutique hotel experience, Le Germain and SoHo Metropolitan are both a short walk to the Rogers Centre and minutes from numerous quality restaurants.
TIPS FOR GAME DAY
Come early to watch batting practice. Enjoy beer at WestJet Flight Deck overlooking the bullpen. Or ask the ushers if you can stand by the dugouts and you could get a baseball signed for your kids. If your seats are high up (i.e., the nosebleeds), you can stay in the Flight Deck for the frst few innings too. Grab a hotdog on the street from one of many vendors outside the stadium (there are veggie versions too and loads of topping options). You can also bring your own snacks — or an entire picnic — inside the gates. If the kids are joining, come for Jr. Jays Saturdays and your little ballplayer (14 and under) can run the bases on the actual field after the game. Parents can watch but only kids do the running.
WHAT ELSE IS IN TOWN?
Hockey fans will want to check out the Hockey Hall of Fame, which hosts the NHL Centennial Exhibit, a comprehensive tribute to the players and best moments of the National Hockey League from 1917-2017. Get a spectacular bird’s eye view of Toronto at 1,136 feet by making your way up the CN Tower. Thrill seekers can try the Edge Walk, a hands-free walk, 116 stories up, via a 5-foot ledge that’s on the top of the tower’s main pod. You can also enjoy the view from the Glass Floor looking 1,122 feet straight down at the tops of the buildings and ground below. Go to the site where legendary baseball player Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a professional. Hanlan’s Point is a short ferry ride away in the Toronto Islands and once you’ve checked out the history, you can take a dip at the public beach where clothing is optional. Toronto also offers wonderful museums like the Royal Ontario Museum that features collections on ancient cultures, earth and space and contemporary culture. The Toronto Zoo is another fun place to visit with over 500 animals representing over 460 species from around the world.
FROM DCA – Air Canada and American Airlines offer daily nonstop flights to Toronto Pearson International Airport.