Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto

Not family-friendly at all. I was told I couldn't take my kids' diaper bag into the place. The exhibits tend to be rather lean compared to the dozen or so other places I've been, but it is pretty well maintained. Bottom line: this place is way overpriced for what you get, and then you get nickel and dimed throughout - $8 to check coats and $40 for lunch! Not recommended.

The new ROM is such a sad supposed renovation. So little light is let in, so hard to move around in, so wrong for the treasures it holds. I wish we could go back and start again. I used to love the ROM, now it's been altered to a lesser state.

Now that the galleries are open after the huge renovation, this museum is a gem. The dinosaur gallery is especially amazing, and the Egyptian artifacts are very nicely displayed. Many cultures represented and I assume that negative reviews were written during the long construction period. A must visit!

The crystal outside the museum was one of the great architectural works I have ever seen. As well, most of the exhibits inside were fun to look at. The map of the museum, however, was a little difficult to follow. Other than that, this museum was overall a good place to visit I would recommend to any museum aficionado.

The best collection of African stuff I've ever seen. Not just the masks, but elaborate carvings with many figures, things I hadn't seen elsewhere. The Egyptian stuff was well-organized into chronological and category exhibits, not the mishmash of unmatched objects in other museums. The fabric exhibit was fascinating, including the video presentations by curators (I normally am bored by the multimedia stuff). I didn't even have a chance to do justice to the spectacular collection of Chinese stuff, but the little collection of Judaica was worth the trip, and the exhibit on Wedgewood and his designers was intriguing. Ignore the idiotic "modern" nonsense draping the front of the building. An incredible waste of money, but at least they didn't interfere with the good stuff inside. I could have done without the "sound track" playing in several of the newer galleries. It sounded like the slow movement of a really dull Elgar string trio dragging on for five minutes, climaxing in some hideous animal screeching sounds. I feel the same way about bad chamber music, but there's a time and place... I just remembered the South American and Maori stuff. Believe me, this is a place worth seeing, more than once.

I think that there are far too many Chinese exhibits in this museum. I would have liked the museum to have balance in its display of art, culture and history of the world. I understand Michael Lee Chin is of chinese extraction and that he has contributed a lot to the renovation of the ROM. However, contributions should not force the museum to focus on select regions of the world. I hope the ROM realizes this and strives to represent the various cultures and regions of the world and not focus on one or two regions. I would have liked it if there were more guided tours. The fun quotient was low and there was nothing to kindle the curiousity of my daughter. Guides to take children around the ROM would have helped. The admission fee was much higher than that for the Smithsonian and the Fields museums. I will definitely come back again. Hope the management of the ROM listens to its patrons and makes the ROM visit a more memorable experience.

It was expensive, and was slightly boring in some sections. The paperweight exibit is the best place to go.Let's just say it was pretty good, yet really boring in the occasional place. Boring; lots of things I already know... Good; interesting music(is played right there, right then). Average; totaly!!! There are a lot more better things to do. Also, I suggest going to the Toronto Botanical, but only during the summer!!:-) I would not suggest to go there unless extremely bored with whatever activity you happen to be doing.

Admisson was on par with any museum of this size. During our visit the featured exhibit was from Peru. We quickly walked through the animal exhibits, which seemed a bit anti-climatic. They did offer several interactive areas and the parents with children seemed to be enjoying these. Many artifacts and ceremonial costumes on display in the China and Japan areas. We had just visited Casa Loma and were finishing a busy day, so this may have had an impact on our impression and the amount of time we were willing to spend. Museum is located in a thriving area of the city and on the subway route. It was worth one visit, but I doubt we would return if we visit Toronto again.

The best Museum I have ever been to! Wonderful exhibits, and an amazing staff. The ROM caters to people of all sorts, and everbody can enjoy it, from small children to the more mature in years. I have never been so impressed in my life.

It was a great place to visit while we were here. But it wasn't cup of tea in the end. Although I didn't like it i would recommend it. Beware: WAY OVERPRICED!!!!!