The city of Toronto has grown to become the most populous city in Canada and one of the five most populous cities in North America. It is also one of the world’s most diverse cities, since nearly half of the population (49 percent) was born outside of the country. This diversity is reflected in the neighborhoods of the Old City of Toronto — which covers downtown and its surroundings — where visitors can find two small Chinatowns, Little Italy, Little Portugal and Greektown.
Downtown is connected through an underground pedestrian walkway called PATH, which links to public transit and provides access to shopping, dining and sport and cultural events without having to brave Toronto’s cold, snowy winters and hot summers. PATH was a welcome discovery during my first visit one cold weekend in late November. The city is a great one for walking and exploring, and it would have been a shame not to take advantage of that despite the freezing temperatures.
No trip to Toronto would be complete without a visit to the CN Tower, a 1,815-foot-high communications and observation tower. The tower dominates the city’s skyline and holds the title as the tallest freestanding structure in the Western Hemisphere. Attractions here include the Outdoor Sky Terrace and the Glass Floor (at 1,122 feet above ground) and the LookOut Level (at 1,136 feet). A special SkyPod elevator travels another 33 stories up, where especially daring guests can sign up for the EdgeWalk, a full-circle, hands-free walk on a five-foot-wide ledge around the tower’s main pod while harnessed in to an overhead safety rail. Those who prefer to pair the view with a sit-down meal can make reservations at the rotating 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower, which serves regional cuisine for lunch and dinner.
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Toronto is also known for its vibrant film and theater districts, located close together and centered around King Street. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is the world’s largest public film festival and is headquartered at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, which hosts film-focused exhibitions and screenings throughout the year. Nearby are historic theaters including the Princess of Whales Theatre and the Royal Alexandra Theatre, the Canadian Opera Company, Roy Thomson Hall (home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra), and the Second City comedy club.
One of my favorite spots to visit is the Distillery District, with its beautiful Victorian architecture that made it feel as though I had traveled back in time. Originally the site of the Gooderham and Worts Distillery, the district was restored in 2001 as an arts, culture and entertainment village and officially opened as the Distillery Historic District in May 2003. It, too, has a connection to Toronto’s film industry; its brick buildings and streets have appeared in more than 1,700 films and television shows, including “Cinderella Man,” “Chicago,” and the CW’s “Beauty & the Beast.”
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In addition to shops, furniture stores and galleries, the Distillery District is an excellent spot to stop for refreshments. Pick up an artisanal coffee from Balzac’s, treat yourself to oysters at Pure Spirits Oyster House, or snack on a baked treat from the Sweet Escape Pâtisserie. At Mill Street Brew Pub, the first commercial microbrewery to open in East Toronto in more than a century, visitors can partake in a beer tasting, take a brewery tour or order a pint with lunch or dinner.
For more Canadian history, head to the Hockey Hall of Fame to celebrate of one of the country’s greatest pastimes. The joint museum and hall of fame dedicated to the sport of ice hockey contains exhibits about the National Hockey League and its teams, an incredible selection of memorabilia and several NHL trophies, including the coveted Stanley Cup. To see current hockey players in action, head to the Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (The city’s National Basketball Association team, the Toronto Raptors, plays here as well.)
Just west of the Air Canada Centre is Rogers Centre, the location of games for Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays and the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts. If soccer is more your thing, get tickets for a Toronto FC game at BMO Field.
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Those who would prefer to shop till they dropped will enjoy the Toronto Eaton Centre, the city’s largest mall filled with more than 230 retailers and restaurants. Shoppers looking for more unique finds can browse the stores on Queen West and Ossington or visit St. Lawrence Market for one-of-a-kind items from 120 merchants and artisans.
With all the amazing options for dining, shopping, entertainment and discovery Toronto offers it’s no wonder the city is consistently rated one of the most livable by the Economic Intelligence Unit and the Mercer Quality of Living Survey. It was such a fun city to visit, and I look forward to my return to see old favorites and find new neighborhoods, restaurants and boutiques to explore.
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