Toronto and Cars

We may take the train in to Toronto from Montreal area - leave the car at one of the stations near Montreal, take the train in to Toronto.

Our friends had their vehicle stolen at the Toronto airport last Christmas. They were tracking it when they were gone, so they were able to work with police to locate it while they were still in the US on vacation.

The numbers of auto thefts in the GTA ( Greater Toronto Area) is very high due to organized international auto theft, they steal the cars in the GTA and almost immediately place them in shipping containers to ship them overseas.

Once a car is stolen it's almost impossible to recover it, try to make your car difficult to steal.

Use a Faraday pouch for your key Fob, that prevents the interception of the radio signal between the key Fob and the car.

Install an engine immobilizer.

Use the Club on the steering wheel.

If possible park in lit area, ask the hotel if they have security in the parking lot ( probably not).

We love Brothers Bakery on Kennedy Rd. I'm crazy about the pineapple custard buns, and DH likes the sugar doughnuts and the pineapple/peanut butter buns. We drive in every few months.

Yikes on the auto theft rings! I need to determine whether the situation is similar in Dorval (outside Montreal), where we may park and leave the car, taking the train from there.

Thanks for the bakery tips, Andrea! Sounds like you must know Toronto fairly well. Any suggestions for a fun neighborhood to base ourselves?

Actually I'm seldom in Toronto, but I have stayed a number of times at Sheraton on Queen. I really like a Sheraton and this one is a quick walk to Queen St West area.

I wouldn't feel any better leaving my car in Montreal. And the bakery I recommend requires a vehicle.

Hi Km,
Local Torontonian here.
I once had an unusual Spec Ed teaching job that took me to meet young offenders who'd been expelled at many of our libraries across the city.
Libraries that are worth a detour and maybe include nearby two-fer opportunities:
-Beach branch: washrooms; superb lakeside walking on the famed wooden boardwalk just south. The Kew beach park that one walks through to do that has a wide variety of trees.
-Riverdale (a Carnegie Institute creation)-in the smaller of our 2 Chinatowns. Greektown (aka The Danforth) just north of there, is a fantastic row of various restaurants, not all Greek. Big Withrow Park just below that. Pantheon restaurant has some of the world's best tzatziki.
-Reference Library (downtown Yonge/Bloor): second floor has one of the world's greatest collections of Travel books, guidebooks, maps and more. Fifth floor has a cool Sherlock Holmes room complete with rare chess set featuring Conan Doyle characters. *Free color copying available for the near future, btw. Additional displays and more. Nearby loooooooooooooong Yonge street makes for a good urban walk southbound.

-Lillian Smith library is in the larger, more interesting of our 2 Chinatowns. Both Chinatown and its adjacent Kensington market are a mere 10 min. walk west. The College Street strip heading west from there is a superb spot for nightlife.
*The Evergreen Brickworks is an excellent example of urban renewal, and on Saturdays amounts to a wonderful two-fer. One may shop (don't miss Efangelo/Angelo's organic dairy cheese and tomatoes and olives at the farmers market and then also walk the man-made marsh trails just behind. *October may include a modest Day of the Dead celebration-worth asking about.

**The St. Lawrence market (referenced in the famed Neil Young song) is open daily. Saturdays can be too crowded nd busy, but the market still has several booths worthy of a detour. In the basement especially, the Eastern European deli and its freshly-squeezed juice partners, the exotic coffee shop across the way; the small, rare honey kiosk, Rube's Rices; the trio of cheese shops upstairs are fantastic, if pricey. *Don't leave without buying the best pumpkin pie on the planet: Chudleighs in the basement!! I am serious.
Possibly by October, the long-overdue renovation of the northerly market building may finally be complete.
Bon Chance!
I am done. the end.

Forgot. At that above Reference library, those with an interest in historical travel guidebooks may ask to see the ancient, red Baedekers guides dating from as far back as 1870. London, Germany, Paris and much more.
I am done. the end

A fellow library afficionado! Thanks loads for the library tips, Greg.