Toronto

By Alison Isaac

Located in southern Ontario, Toronto is Canada’s largest city and arguably its main cultural hub. With about 2.5 million people, Toronto offers big city excitement with the charm of a smaller town.

Visitors and locals can enjoy the generally safe, clean city throughout the year, with suitable activities and attractions for every season. Outdoor types will enjoy the open air skating rink at Nathan Phillips Square during the winter and a relaxing afternoon BBQ at The Beaches during the summer. Others might prefer a walk through the exhibits at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) or the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).

The exclusive shops, restaurants and bars in the posh Yorkville area north of the downtown core is where visiting celebrities are usually spotted while, Queen Street West is a distinctive strip of boutique stores and bustling downtown nightlife. Club hoppers may also want to check out Toronto´s flashy Entertainment District.

With more than 100 languages spoken Toronto may be considered a microcosm of Canada’s mosaic. As expected in a city where about 50 percent of residents were born elsewhere, Toronto boasts an abundance of international restaurants where authentic cuisine is served.

Toronto Highlights

CN Tower – Besides its famed reputation as being the world’s tallest freestanding structure for decades, the CN Tower offers various activities for the entire family. Tourists will find a retail area stocked with souvenirs, an arcade, an observation deck and 360 – a fine dining restaurant with a revolving floor.

Toronto Eaton Centre – This popular retail complex conveniently accessible by two subway stations is a mandatory stop for many visitors. Located in the heart of the city with a wide selection of stores, shoppers are likely to find what they´re looking for, and more.

Air Canada Centre and Rogers Centre (formerly known as the SkyDome) – If you’re into professional sports or live concerts, look into the schedules for either one of these venues. Home to professional Toronto sports teams and host to some of the biggest names in music, a trip to one of these spots may cost you.

Caribana – Also known as the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Caribana is two-week long Caribbean cultural festival. The Caribana parade takes place on the first Saturday in August and attracts about a million visitors to the city annually.

Pride Week – One of the largest gay pride celebrations in the world, Pride Week in Toronto is approximately 10 days of arts and culture programming at the end of June. The Dyke March and Pride Parade are two of the biggest draws to the festival, taking place on the last Saturday and Sunday of the festival respectively.