A Weekend in Toronto, Canada
The City of Neighborhoods
Words & Photos by Tonya White
Toronto is the largest city in Canada and is known by many names: Hogtown, ‘Tee dot,’ or ‘Tee oh’ (standing for Toronto, Ontario). Most significantly, Toronto is known as the ‘City of Neighborhoods,’ as more than half of the almost 3 million residents were born outside of Canada, creating a unique cultural travel experience.
Day One
Start near the epicenter of the city with Royal Ontario Museum, one of the most-visited museums in North America. Don’t miss the dinosaur exhibit and the world’s largest collection of fossils. The crystal architecture erupting from the sidewalk is incredible. Eat at their cafe, which has guests dining inside the crystal itself.
Head downtown to Art Gallery of Ontario. At 480,000 square feet of space, it is one of the largest museums in North America, and visitors go for the interior architecture as much as they do for the art. Don’t miss the Group of 7 exhibition area to experience some of Canada’s most beautiful watercolor landscapes. Make sure to swing by their coffee shop to warm up and enjoy the large windows for a peaceful break.
The museum is just blocks away from Chinatown with tasty dinner options. Strolling along Spadina Avenue, Swatow and Juicy Dumpling are a couple of casual dining favorites. For the adventurous spirits, consider the Kensington Market food tour, which organizes a foodie adventure across half a dozen restaurants in the area.
Day Two
Get above the clouds with a visit to CN Tower. One of the seven modern wonders of the world, CN Tower is the largest freestanding structure in the western hemisphere. On a clear day, onlookers can see the mist of Niagara Falls, which is almost 100 miles away! Each level provides a different viewpoint, and be sure to walk across the glass floor. Finish the sky-high adventure by grabbing lunch at the 360-degree rotating restaurant.
Head over to Nathan Phillips Square for ice skating. A short walk from there is Eaton Centre, one of the largest indoor shopping malls, home to over 200 stores and multiple food courts. Grab a pre-game snack here and head to a live game of your choice. The City of Toronto boasts seven franchise sports teams: hockey, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, football, and basketball.
Day Three
Commune with nature today and plan to explore and hike through High Park, the largest park in the city. There’s a zoo, and the paths lead directly to the lakefront trails which offer cross-country ski. Head up to the Runnymede area on Bloor Street, known for its Eastern European cuisine, and fill up on pirogies and meat pies.
Before You Go…
Getting Around:
No car is required; Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has an excellent system of easily navigated underground subway lines and above-ground streetcars.
Forecast:
It’s going to be cold, with or without snow, so bundle up and come prepared with layers and thermal underclothing to make the adventures more comfortable.
Things to Know:
Over 200 ethnicities and 150 languages and dialects have been identified within the city! So don’t be surprised to hear many unknown languages while traveling around the area.
Fun Fact:
The Toronto islands are the only urban car-free community in North America. Catch a ferry to the islands to experience some of the best cityscapes of Toronto.
