Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is not only the largest city in Canada but a melting pot of diverse tourist attractions, museums, ample historic architecture, and an intense love of sports, especially ice hockey. Once in Toronto, one cannot escape indulging in delicious cuisines, hitting the club to catching an ice hockey game, and watching the old and new merge seamlessly. Whatever it is your heart desires from exploring the top sights, dancing the night away, or turning into a gastronome there’s an area of Toronto that’s perfect for you and we have it all laid out for you:
Where to stay:
To make the most of your Toronto vacation ensure you stay close to the central area as possible. The Entertainment district is the best area to stay in Toronto for first-time visitors as that’s the center of nightlife and entertainment. The Ritz Carlton is a gorgeous luxury hotel overlooking the CN Tower and offers high chances of running into celebrities too. The second coolest neighborhood in the world, West Queen West is a dynamic and energetic option where the city’s young congregate both day and night.
What to do:
Toronto is a cultural hub with a motley of ever-evolving set of activities to choose from across all forms of culture. Right from Toronto’s vast number of museums, bountiful nature, its varied and nearly endless cuisines, to sport betting, there is plenty to fill up the itinerary. Nature-lovers should see the sights of a nine-mile stretch of cliffs known as the Scarborough Bluffs, home to a series of 11 different parks. Similarly, art lovers must take out time and stopover the Art Gallery of Ontario which boasts more than 90,000 items in its collection, which spans the last 2,000 years. Fashion lovers will be left gobsmacked at the Bata Shoe Museum Foundation housing more than 13,000 shoes and related objects. Sports lovers must experience the sports culture and adrenaline of Toronto at the Rogers Centre is one of the largest stadiums in Canada, with over 53,000 seats. End your day by strolling along with St. Lawrence Market or unwind at the Mill Street Brew Pub located at Toronto’s Distillery District, pedestrian-only Victorian-style industrial buildings from a former distillery.
Where to shop:
From retro bargain finds or upscale couture you will find it all in Toronto. However, it is important that you don’t go back home without purchasing some quintessential not-to-be-missed Canadian products such as Canadian diamonds from Birks’ flagship store at Bay and Bloor. For a fun shopping activity head straight to Kensington Market, one of Toronto’s most fabulous shopping districts where you will find over 200 artists, jewelers, and craftsmen offering home decor, retro fashion, in the many unique boutiques. No trip to Toronto (or Canada, for that matter) is complete without sampling some of the delicious maple syrup. Queen West is an eclectic shopping destination lined by hip and unique boutiques as well as outlets, with both designer names and high-street favorites to choose from.
Where to eat:
As much as Toronto is known for its ice hockey, it is also known to be a foodie destination. There are definitely more things to eat here than the number of days you have in hand but some must-have things are listed here to make the decision-making process a cakewalk. Peameal bacon sandwich is an iconic Toronto food item best enjoyed at Carousel Bakery. One must delete the word ‘calories’ from their dictionary before enjoying the gran fritto misto platter in Little Italy that is a shamelessly decadent mess of fried snacks. If you are heading to Kensington Market for a shopping trip, do indulge in some authentic Chilean food, and nab yourself some Baja fish tacos, for they are the best ones in town. People with 32 sweet teeth can savor some sugar-coated churros from Pancho’s all across town. St. Lawrence Market is often regarded as one of the best food markets in the world by food experts, and travelers couldn’t agree more.
Final Thoughts:
On your visit to Toronto make sure you take in city views from the world-renowned CN tower followed by the Royal Ontario Museum which’s one of the best museums in North America and the best place in Toronto to engulf in history. Sports fans must visit the Hockey Hall of Fame, a museum that is dedicated to the history of hockey. For completely surreal experiences, one must take a trip to Niagra Falls, watch the sunset at the Harbourfront, and explore the Distillery District.
