DETAILS: Toronto

GETTING THERE: United and Air Canada have nonstop flights from Dulles, BWI and National. Numerous airlines offer connecting flights. Although it's a short haul -- about an hour and 20 minutes nonstop from Washington -- prices generally begin at about $500. Luckily, there are sales, particularly in the winter, that cut the price nearly in half, and United recently has been offering last-minute specials as low as $174 round trip.

WHERE TO STAY: The elegant choice that feels like a posh Manhattan establishment and is extremely well located, in tony Yorkville: the Park Hyatt (4 Avenue Rd., 800-633-7313, http://www.parkhyatttoronto.com). A check of room rates over the next few weekends shows doubles starting at about $285 a night; AAA members get 10 percent off and free breakfast.

The Fairmont Royal York (100 Front St., 800-441-1414, http://www.fairmont.com), built by the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1929, is a historic choice near the financial district. Double rooms start at about $249 a night.

The Delta Chelsea (33 Gerrard St., 800-243-5732, http://www.deltachelsea.com) is a basic full-service hotel with pools and programs for kids. It's in a convenient location, and the price is right, starting at about $130.

Those on a budget will find clean rooms and a central location at Hotel Victoria (56 Yonge St., 800-363-8228, http://www.hotelvictoria-toronto.com), where double rooms in winter begin at about $110 a night. The really tight budget choice: Global Village Backpackers (460 King St. W., 416-703-8540, http://www.globalbackpackers.com). Private rooms start at about $73 a night, shared rooms at $26.

WHERE TO EAT: Crystal Five, also known as c5 (100 Queen's Park, 416-586-7928, http://www.rom.on.ca, click on "Dining"), features gourmet fare in an elegant, modern setting at the top of the new addition to the Royal Ontario Museum. Dinner entrees begin at about $20. Judy Perly's Free Times Cafe (320 College St., 416-967-1078) hosts a huge Jewish brunch on Sundays, with all you can eat for about $17 and klezmer musicians entertaining.

You could make an entire day of trolling around to sample some of the 100 best food and drink items in the city, as outlined by in a recent issue of Toronto Life ( http://www.torontolife.com/features/eat-drink-and-be-daring.) I skipped the lamb testicles at Nawzar Halal and the tempura eel at Zen's, but loved the Portuguese malasadas (that is to say, doughnuts) at National Bakery (812 College St.) and the Jerusalem artichoke gratine at Fat Cat (376 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-484-4228). While I can't personally vouch for the Hungary Thai (196 Augusta Ave., 416-595-6405), in the interesting but somewhat downtrodden Kensington Market area, I'd be glad to know what it's like if someone else gives it a whirl. Testing won't cost too much: Dinner entrees start at about $8 and a three-course option is $13.95.

For more Toronto dining ideas, see Post food critic Tom Sietsema's Postcard From Tom at http://www.washingtonpost.com/travel.

Note: Many of Toronto's best restaurants will participate in special fixed-price lunch and dinner menus Jan. 25-Feb. 7.

INFORMATION: Toronto Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-499-2514, http://www.torontotourism.com. -- C.L.