Toronto has often been called the New York City of Canada. I think it lives up to this comparison. However, Toronto is much cleaner and safer than New York City. I have been amazed at how clean the city is for such a large population. I have also never felt in danger even when walking around past midnight.
As far as things to see and do, you will never run out. I have probably made about twenty five trips to Toronto in my life and I have never been bored. There is always old favorites along with new things popping up all the time.
Below is my list of the top ten things you should see and do in Toronto. These are things that you should not miss on your visit.
1. Take a walk down Bloor Street. This is the Park Avenue of Toronto. You will find all of the fancy shops on this street. Including Gucci, Prada, and the amazing Holt-Renfrew department store. If you can afford $500 for a pair of jeans, this is the place for you. Beyond the expensive stores, it is a nice walk and great people watching. And as always, window shopping is free.
2. Visit the quirky shops of Queen Street. This street is synonymous with the term "Funky". You will find hip clothing stores, independent record shops, and other off the wall type establishments. Favorite bar to visit on this street is the legendary Horseshoe Tavern. Every great Canadian music act has played there.
3. Stroll through Chinatown. Looking for dim sum? Exotic Chinese herbs? Rare teas? Toronto's Chinatown is the place for you. Chinese restaurants shy away from the traditional "North American Chinese" menu. Instead, they serve up variety of authentic dishes that feed the over 400,000 people of Chinese background in Toronto.
4. Shop at the Eaton Center. I am not one for shopping malls. However, I do love the Eaton Center. The mall itself is a six storey glass ceiling structure modeled after Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. It has over 285 stores with a great food court on the lower level. Make sure to visit New York fries and order the Poutine. A blend of french fries, cheese curds and gravy.
5. Take a trip on the subway. The Toronto subway is clean, safe, and easy to navigate. There are two main lines, the Younge-University-Spadina and the Bloor-Danforth. From the subway, you can get to all of the main tourist hotspots.
6. Visit the top of the CN Tower. The world's tallest building at 553m (1815 ft). The view is amazing. At the top of the tower is the 360 restaurant. This is a world class restaurant. The floor does a complete rotation every 72 minutes. When dining, you will get to view the city below from each direction.
7. What would a visit to the great white north be without a bit of hockey? Toronto is home to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Hockey has a special place in the national conscious of the Canadians. Make sure to visit the Wayne Gretzky area.
8. Gourmets will love St. Lawrence Market. Considered in the top twenty five markets in the world, it has over 50 specialty vendors. Great vegetables, fruits, meat, cheese, and seafood abound. On the lower level, visit the St. Lawrence Market Juice Bar. They specialize in freshly squeezed juices of all kinds and related products.
9. Visit the eclectic Kensington Market area. Dating back to the original settlement of Toronto in 1790s by the British, you will now find a diverse area of shopping representing the cultures of Portuguese, East Indian, Ethiopian and Caribbean.
10. Eat in Little Italy. For my money, the restaurants in Little Italy represent are the best restaurants in all of Toronto. Beyond restaurants, you will find exciting night life in this area. This includes wonderful Italian coffee shops, gelato, music bars, and even Latin dancing.
I hope these tips will help you enjoy your visit to Toronto.
Every year millions of people pack their bags and travel somewhere other than their own home town. For some, travel is necessary for their careers and is a normal part of their daily life. For others, travel may be those long awaited two weeks that our employer offers as a benefit. No matter which category you fall into, one needs to plan methodically to find the cheapest prices on lodging and airfare. Follow these tips and you're sure to get some great bargains on travel.
Plan Ahead. But Not Too Far Ahead.
With airfare and gas as volatile as they are right now, it's essential to be aware of the travel deals that are available. Rates and fares can change in a matter of hours, so you need to be on top of where pricing is for your desired destination. Take the time to sign up for all the discount travel websites and set it up to receive email notification on them daily. Sure your email box will be full for a while, but its well worth the time saved from looking manually every day.
Beware of purchasing airfare or hotels too far ahead. Since airlines are cutting down on the number of flights, you may assume that every flight will be booked if you don't purchase far in advance. Not true. Much more often, the flights and hotel rooms will decrease in price as time nears your departure date since they will want to be at full capacity.
Be Flexible.
Flexibility is key to getting great airfare rates and hotels. Even if you have to request time off from work to go on vacation, if you can be flexible on either your departure or your return you can save an enormous amount of money on booking.
Skip Mardi Gras.
Before you decide to book your tickets for any destination, do some research on what is going on there locally during your travel dates. Believe it or not, if can make a tremendous difference on what you pay for airfare and lodging. If the city (or nearby cities) are hosting events such as Mardi Gras or even a small local wine fest, this will significantly increase the price of everything. If you're not specifically going there for these events, book your trip there for another date as you're sure to save some big bucks.
Be Aware of Discounts for Restaurants and Local Activities.
Once again, do your research. Look online for restaurant coupons and coupons on activities in the area you plan to visit. Restaurant.com is a great place to buy coupons for all sorts of restaurants. Also, be sure to check with the local Chamber of Commerce to see if there are any specials on local food and tourist activities.
Both Sharon Stajda & Robert D. Thomson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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