Canada’s largest metropolis is buzzing with action. Considered among the most diverse cities in the world, it is a melting pot for people from all corners of the globe. Toronto is also a kaleidoscope of sorts, filled with festivals, events, and activities during the peak summer season it certainly attracts a crowd. What’s not to love about Toronto? You might wonder. With endless summer days, art, food, and beach venues all come alive, adding to the city’s unique cultural diversity.
Exploring Toronto is a unique cultural experience; soaring humid summer temperatures might make your expedition a hurdle, but summer is by all means, the ideal time to savour the city. Frigid Canadian winters are not a deterrent; Toronto has its fair share of winter activities, but if you plan to explore the city, the best time would be in summer.
One of the most exciting spots to explore is the CN Tower. The unique experience can give you a nudge as to how to it feels to be 1,151 feet above the ground. A marvel of architectural design and engineering, the CN Tower has three observation levels with panoramic views of Niagara Falls, Rochester, New York, downtown Toronto, and Lake Ontario. The CN Tower is Toronto’s icon, if not Canada’s, besides the Maple leaf and Beaver, other renowned Canadian icons.
With no fence and windows, the Edge Walk gives you a thrilling experience to walk around the tower hands-free. Floor-to-ceiling windows, glass floors, and the remarkable Edge Walk provide an exceptional viewing experience. One of the CN Tower’s most remarkable venues is its 360 revolving restaurant. The restaurant has over 550 international and Canadian wines from its unique “Cellar in the Sky” and sumptuous cuisine prepared by renowned Canadian chefs.
Exploring Toronto’s Neighbourhoods
Toronto’s neighbourhoods are packed with restaurants, boutiques, and unique cultural hideouts at every twist and turn. Consider exploring the financial and entertainment districts with fine dining and celebrity chefs. Also of interest is Kensington market and Chinatown hosting a variety of cuisines from all corners of the globe. Kensington has organic charm, with a mix of mom-and-pop shops, punk record label stores, and a large selection of wine and butcher shops, making it one of the most vibrant spots in the city. Small houses and a street labyrinth of vendors selling everything from fresh fish to produce complement Kensington market’s shopping experience.
Toronto’s Chinatown is another unique cultural hotspot. Spadina Avenue is filled with shops, restaurants, historical monuments, and spas. Chinatown is ideal for savouring authentic Chinese cuisine with fresh ingredients and authentic eats. There are hundreds of restaurants, ranging from high-end to affordable cheap eats, and various nondescript stalls and shops. Chinatown’s cityscape is rapidly evolving, thanks to different artwork and murals gracing its streets from Dundas to Spadina. Streetcars are periodically decorated with dragon sculptures and ornaments, adding to that unique oriental feel.
The distillery district east of downtown Toronto known for its colourful and lively neighbourhoods, is also another unique hotspot. It has some of the best preserved 1800s-era industrial architecture and is a national historic site showcasing a variety of the world’s largest whiskey collections. The history of the distillery district began in 1831 when James Worts came to Canada and opened a mill for grinding grain with his brother-in-law and their extended families. Two years later, the project expanded, and the Distillery District was granted new life becoming Toronto’s most popular hotspot for filming blockbuster movies after Hollywood.
In 2001 the distillery district underwent a restoration project to turn it into a car-free neighbourhood paving the way for preserving its heritage and expanding its cultural and entertainment spots. The project was completed in May 2003, and the district is now one of Canada’s top attractions showcasing Toronto’s unique heritage. The district’s acclaimed pedestrian-only village draws many of Toronto’s youths to its cobblestone streets, restaurants, designer boutiques, and art galleries.
Toronto has its fair share of artistic heritage as well. The Royal Ontario Museum is Canada’s largest museum of world cultures and natural history. Commonly referred to as the ROM, the museum has over 40 galleries, a unique collection of fossils, dinosaur skeletons, minerals, and meteorites, and an impressive array of bird galleries and artwork. The Museum attracts more than a million visitors each year. Located north of Queens Park and Bloor Street West, the ROM is easily accessible by Toronto’s public transport, commonly known as the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). As you exit the museum, you will come across a large collection of books, maps, and souvenirs, all of which can be purchased for a memorable experience.
Gracing Toronto’s waterfront is Harbourfront Centre, Toronto’s scenic waterfront in Queens Quay encompasses a four-hectare strip of land that was once abandoned warehouses. Its vibrant atmosphere attracts many, thanks to its trendy cafes, art galleries, film screenings, and festivals. Now a stunning urban playground the Harbourfront Centre is a great place to unwind and spend some quality family time. The Harbourfront centre is best explored in summer, but it has its fair share of winter activities with open ice skating rinks and other winter activities.
Downtown Toronto
Exploring Toronto’s downtown is an exciting experience. Venues of interest include Eaton Centre, a large shopping mall complex with more than 330 stores and restaurants. It is also home to the renowned Canadian Hudson Bay flagship store. Once you explore Toronto’s downtown core, you will come across Union Station, a major transport hub located on Front Street West. The station is Canada’s National Historic site since 1975 and is the country’s largest. Over 72 million passengers cross path with it daily. GO and VIA transit trains serve the station daily, making it their hub.
Not to be missed when exploring downtown is Toronto’s City Hall and Nathan Philips Square. Toronto’s City Hall is the seat of the municipal government and the corporate head office for the city of Toronto. Nathan Philips Square is an urban plaza that forms the forecourt of the city hall. It is where crowds and families gather to frolic in the summer. The square is regularly used for concerts, political rallies, veteran’s day celebrations, and New Year’s eve parties. The reflecting pool is ideal for kids to play and run around. During winter, the pool is converted into a huge skating rink to delight kids and adults alike.
Renowned the world over as one of the longest streets in the world according to The Guinness Book of World Records, Yonge street is a major arterial street in Ontario. Yonge Street is 56 Kilometres long, and gracing its start is the office of Canada’s largest paper, the Toronto Star. The Yonge and Dundas intersection is Canada’s busiest. It hosts a wide range of public events and activities, with over 100,000 pedestrians crossing its path daily.
To wrap up the fun, stop by Canada’s Wonderland, the renowned and thrilling theme park first opened its gates in 1981. The theme park in Vaughan has a nirvana of exciting rides and unique colourful, and fancy family escapades. Wonderland has undoubtedly evolved in the last couple of years, adding bigger rides with thrilling themes and various live shows and events. Wonderland’s season pass is one of the theme park’s major selling points, adding to the endless fun for the young and old alike.
Also of interest for first-time Toronto explorers is a stop by the CNE. The Canadian National Exhibition is one of Canada’s largest community events; it was founded in 1879. People come here to experience the latest technological innovations and products. Every labour day, more than 1.4 million visitors annually flock to experience the rides, games, air shows, carnival games, parades, and food festivals.
With all it has to offer, Toronto undoubtedly has a seamless energy found nowhere else in the world. Unlike other cities, it’s unique cultural, scenic, and urban escapes will leave an indelible mark on your memory!
