CN Tower
The CN Tower is a concrete communications and observation tower in the heart of downtown Toronto. Completed in 1976, it was the world’s tallest free-standing structure for 34 years until 2010. It is a signature icon of the city’s skyline, a symbol of the nation and attracts more than 2 million international visitors per year. It takes less than a minute in one of the glass-fronted elevators to reach the LookOut Level with breathtaking views. On this level you can also find the Horizons Restaurant celebrating the multicultural flavours of Toronto, which is also available for special events with a large capacity. One level down you will find the famous Glass Floor and the Outdoor SkyTerrace located 324m above ground. Board a seperate elevator on the LookOut Level to travel through the core of the Tower an incredible 33 additional storeys higher to SkyPod, featuring interpretive exhibits. Learn what happens when the Tower is struck by lightning and watch a pendulum to see how the Tower moves in the wind!
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Immerse yourself in a world of 16,000 aquatic animals and discover your own underwater adventure. The aquarium features North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel with more than 5.7 million litres of water and over 100 interactive opportunities. Get up close and personal with three touch exhibits featuring horseshoe crabs, sharks and rays, as well as daily dive shows every two hours. The aquarium is conveniently located at the base of the CN Tower making it easily accessible.
St Lawrence Market
Named the world’s best food market by National Geographic in 2012, this beautiful market was originally established in 1803. The main and lower levels of the market contain over 120 specialty vendors selling everything from fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, to grains, baked goods and dairy products as well as unique non-food items. The Saturday Farmers’ Market has been a tradition since its opening bringing together farmers from around the province selling their seasonal produce. On Sunday, over 80 antique dealers fill the market displaying their items for sale.
The Distillery Historic District
Located east of the downtown core, this district is home to many bars, cafes, restaurants and art galleries housed within the heritage buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts Distillery, which was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1988. It is the largest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America spanning over 40 buildings across 10 streets. The district hosts many events throughout the year including the Toronto Light Fest, Music City Summer Series and the famous Christmas Market.
Restaurants
Toronto has no shortage of fine dining spread out throughout the vast metropolitan area, it is hard to narrow it down to a select few! Some of the must tries include; Sotto Sotto, bringing the romance of Italy with its authentic cuisine and wide variety of wines, Harbour Sixty Steakhouse for the best meat selection and Ki Japanese for the sake pairings. One of the best ways to enjoy Toronto and its multicultural flare is to venture through the various neighbourhoods, like Chinatown, Little Italy and Greek Town, to find authentic restaurants and street food.
Bars
Toronto has a buzzing nightlife with districts lined with bars and nightclubs but some stand out amongst the crowd. BarChef brings a contemporary approach to cocktails with the use of frozen carbon dioxide and blowtorches to create its drinks. Named one of the World’s Best Bars, the cocktail menu includes a wide range of choices from the traditional to the unconventional. This dimly lit venue has an apothecary style and has nostalgic music to help set the mood. The Rooftop Lounge at the Thompson Hotel has breathtaking 360-degree views of the entire city and lake. Guests can dip in the infinity pool by day and lounge in cabanas by night enjoying creative cocktails.
Don’t Miss the Canadian National Exhibition!
Canada’s largest community event was founded in 1879 as the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, the CNE has enjoyed a distinguished history as a showcase of the nation. It has been the place where people come to experience the best and the brightest from the latest innovations in technology and commercial products to the greatest performers of the time. Although the CNE has changed significantly over the years, it continues to be a great annual tradition! Taking place over the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day, it is affectionately embraced as an end-of-summer ritual by more than 1.5 million visitors annually, visitors who reflect the rich diversity of Toronto and the region.
