Never having been to Canada, I was very excited when my daughter decided to go to university in Toronto! With time on my hands, I decided to go drop her off and spend a few weeks exploring .
With more than 3 weeks in Toronto, I planned not to waste a minute. Having scoured google to find as many of the places recommended by locals and fellow travelers I was prepared for my adventure.
Looking back, I am proud to say, I think I have seen way more of the city than most locals have! This was aided by A LOT of walking, despite Toronto having good public transport, which led to many unexpected discoveries and experiences.
Following is a glimpse of my favorite places.
Center Island, Toronto
The Toronto Islands is a quick 15 minute ferry ride from downtown Toronto and one of my favorite places in the city. It is actually several islands connected by paths and bridges with the most popular, Center Island, sandwiched between Wards Island on one side and Hanlan's Point on the other( the city airport is also located here but not accessible directly).
The ferries are the cheapest and easiest way to get to Center Island but if you are short on time, patience, or a bit of both, there are water taxis available too. Although more expensive than the ferry they are a faster and more fun way of getting to the Island! You will still need to return by the ferry though.
Center Island to me was like a piece of paradise! From the minute we reached I was mesmerized by the greenery, the fall colors, and the amazing views. Home to fountains, formal gardens, the Centerville Amusement Park, a long pier extending into Lake Ontario, sandy beaches( even a clothing optional one!), picnic areas, The Franklin Children's Garden and many other attractions- the Island has something for everyone. In season you can even rent bikes, canoes and kayaks for an active day out. The Island is that totally car free, which I loved, so remember to wear good shoes and to carry a stroller if you have young kids.
As our trip was at the very end of the season, most of the attractions and snack counters were closed- the crowd was mainly families picnicking and enjoying the last few days of sunshine and, of course, tourists like us! After a small picnic of our own, we walked around some of the Island before heading to the pier to enjoy a spectacular sunset. Once the sun had set, however, it got cold and dark really fast forcing us to head back to the dock and line up for our return ferry to the city. Although we were half frozen from waiting in queue so long, the Toronto skyline views from the ferry made up for it and had us scrambling for our phones to take photographs even though our hands were numb! Back on the dock we made a beeline for the Tim Hortons for a HOT drink before heading home.
I did visit the Island a second time a few weeks later and it was pretty deserted but the views were even better with no crowds ....this is one place I could keep visiting and hope to do so again-this time in peak season!
Harbourfront Walk
The Harbor Front or Boardwalk is not a single location but, as the name suggests, a walkway along the harbor. It stretches along the north shore of Lake Ontario and offers uninterrupted scenic waterfront views. I'm not sure how long it is but I have walked over 12 km along it while exploring! On any given day it was my go to for a day out- there are cafes, mini beaches, off leash dog areas, play areas, skateboard areas, outdoor seating- simply a great walking / cycling /jogging spot and of course the views never disappoint. Depending on when you visit there may be temporary art installations, street performers, pop up events etc too and if nothing is on, just grab a coffee and people watch!!
This walk connects to a couple of other nice places I visited so I'll mention them here.
The Toronto Music Garden was a place I read about online and its about 2.5 km from the ferry dock. After a quick pit stop at a café along the way to try out the famous Canadian Beaver Tail ( super sweet and tasted like an deep dish sweet pizza with toppings). I headed out.
The walkway was pristine and had gorgeous views of the bay as expected and I even spotted a beautiful sailboat along the way!
The Music Garden turned out to be smaller than I'd expected but it was serene and peaceful with lovely colorful flowers all around. The location can host musical performances, weddings etc. but on most days it simply a place where young and old go to spend a relaxing few hours in the sun.
As I learnt later, the area was designed by landscape architect Julie Moir Messervy in collaboration with the cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Its design is based on the First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello by J.S. Bach, which has six garden 'movements': the Prelude, the Allemande, the Courante, the Sarabande, the Menuett, and the Gigue. These are reflected in gardens of Canadian Shield boulders, a birch wood, a wildflower meadow, ornamental grasses and conifers and give the Garden it's "Music".
About 7km from the Music Garden is the Humber Bay Arch Bridge. This iconic bridge is one of the many photogenic spots in the city and is always bustling with pedestrian traffic, cyclists, and rollerbladers. It was built as part of the Martin Goodman Trail which spans 22 km from east to west along Toronto's waterfront and allows the path to continue west linking close to 68 communities along Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and the St. Lawrence River.
Once you cross the bridge there is a nice little hill with chairs for the public and it's great to take some time and just enjoy the peace and quiet and admire the CN Tower from a different perspective!
* We had actually walked here from High Park which is 1 km away and met some lovely feathered friends along the way! You can combine visits as per your time, interest and fitness levels!
High Park
Another favorite which I visited twice with very different experiences- I know now that timing is everything!
The first visit was at the beginning of September to see the famous fall colors.
Having just visited a pop up market nearby, my daughter (and co explorer) and I decided to walk to to park. Big mistake as we had no clue how large the area was and ended up entering the park from a place quite far from our intended spot. After MUCH walking through various trails for both humans and dogs, we finally reached the visitor center. Don't get me wrong- the walk was lovely and through forest paths but we were already tired when we started and exhausted when we reached. Still, recovery was easy, as it was a gorgeous sunny day and we simply took a couple of hours to lay on the grass and soak up the sun to ease our exhaustion! Bliss.
Feeling much better after our RnR we walked around the visitors area taking in the awesome fall colors- spectacular to most but especially to us as first timers! As September starts getting cooler, the park facilities were not really open and there we very few visitors so we had a fairly private visit and really enjoyed the day!
My second visit was in the last week of November -totally the wrong time. The park was wet and muddy, no swans in sight, windy and REALLY cold.
Learning: there is a reason places are busy mainly during peak season!!
The Distillery District
Yet another favorite! Designated as a world heritage site, the pedestrian-only Distillery District is set in a once large whiskey distillery. Cobblestone streets lined with hip restaurants, bars, coffee shops, artisanal treats and trendy boutiques are always busy but especially on weekends so be prepared for crowds and waits for tables. Luckily there is much to see as you take a number and await your turn- galleries, outdoor sculptures , dance, music and seasonal events are more than enough to fill your time. There are also several Instagramable locations which will have you posing even if you don't want to! A very eclectic area to explore and spend a fun afternoon or more.
Nathan Philips Square
Nathan Philips Square, named after a former Mayor of Toronto, is a vast space located in front of the new City Hall and next to the Old City hall. Not only does it have the much photographed TORONTO sign but also a stage for performances and a fountain water body which doubles up as an ice skating rink in winter. Although many events take place here throughout the year, its visibility from and proximity to City Hall also make it the place for peaceful demonstrations.
Great place to sit and watch the sign changing colors while people watching- I particularly enjoyed seeing to what lengths people would go to for the perfect selfie!! There is a snack counter here in case you get peckish but I got a coffee from the Starbucks nearby!
Although it photographs well from most angles, I found if you go up to the viewing walkway it gives the most uninterrupted views and can help eliminate much of the crowd from your pictures- mostly serious photographers and camera crews use this place. The walkway is also a nice elevated stroll around the square which was quite empty whenever I was there- probably because most people don't know of its existence or how to get up to it(several unmarked stairways go up).
The CN Tower
An icon in the Toronto skyline, the CN or Canadian National Tower is a communications and observation tower in Downtown Toronto. Today the 9th tallest freestanding structure, it held the title of tallest for 32 years till the Burj Khalifa took over.
Visited by hundreds of tourists daily it has the best views of Toronto from the top and is well worth a visit. Tickets to various levels are available at the tower as well as online and are priced depending on which levels you visit. We decided to splurge and have dinner at the highest and largest revolving restaurant in the world located at the top called 360. Included in this was access to the various viewing areas and worked out to be an overall great experience. NB. The Sky Pod was not included and, honestly, I doubt it would have a view any different from the observation deck or restaurant which were 360' and simply spectacular.
For adrenaline junkies, the Tower also has a thrilling experience called the Edge Walk. It is the world's highest full-circle, hands-free walk. Visitors are tethered to an overhead rail system and walk around the edge of the CN Tower's main pod above the 360 Restaurant on a 4.9 ft metal floor as well as precariously lean into nothingness for an extra thrill. My daughter and husband did it and vowed it was one of their best experiences- next time I want to do it too!! As no cameras etc. are allowed due to the danger of falling objects, photographs are taken by the walk leaders and are available for purchase- they do give you a free video too as a memento of the experience. At CAD$195 it is not cheap but provides a priceless experience!
If you don't wish to ascend to the top for any reason, the Tower is visible for many places in Toronto so you can never miss it totally!
*a note here that one of the famous craft beers of Canada is brewed here at the historic John Street Roundhouse which used to be the Canadian Rail Company's steam locomotive repair center. This area has Breweries and restaurants and also offer tastings and tours during the day. Several original engines are also on display and make daily appearances chugging along the display tracks providing a unique glimpse into the history of the area. The Steam Whistle Biergarten, is mere steps away from the Tower and well worth a visit for a taste of the brew accompanied by the famous pretzels with mustard!
Ripley's Aquarium of Toronto
Located at the base of the CN Tower, the Aquarium is a great place to spend a few hours marveling at the hundreds of underwater species on display. Tickets are available online as well as at the venue but ask about special offers ( I got a discount with my GO Transit card).
Remember to look out for the cute "grate" art on the pavement outside before entering- its a nice touch!
Inside, the aquarium has different zones, and one of my favorites was the underwater tunnel. The moving walkway there takes you on a journey to glimpse a world unknown to most of us and the majesty of the many larger undersea species is truly amazing. A great way to be able to see them all in a single location without the need to go diving and also as close an encounter with the sharks as I would ever want!
Another favorite was the touch center- crowded with people, its worth the wait to be able to touch sting rays, baby sharks etc. under the supervision of the aquarium employees off course!
The sting ray zone. too, kept me mesmerized and I could have sat and watched them all day. The fluidity of movement was beautiful and the cheeky "faces" were adorable!
Its a nice family friendly place with many interactive areas such as tunnels, photo spots and "weigh yourself as Catch of the Day" to keep you happily busy for a couple of hours or more.
Of course, as with most tourist places there is a café for a quick bite. Beware, however, if you are with "children" as you must pass through the tempting gift shop to exit - there's no way you will leave empty handed!
Casa Loma
A mini castle/mansion, Casa Loma and its gardens are now a landmark in Toronto. Sitting atop a small hill, it now functions mostly a museum with a fine dining restaurant, the aptly named Blueblood Steakhouse, within. It can also be rented for private events such as weddings if you have a large enough budget!
The interiors are ornate and grand with a stunning conservatory. You are free to wander through all the rooms and there are several historic exhibits to look at. The best part for me was the climb up to the turrets for a view out over the city.
Due to its unique architecture, Casa Loma has been the preferred location for several famous movies such as X-Men, Chicago, The Tuxedo, Descendants and The Pacifier, to name a few- makes me want to re watch old favorites to see if I recognize the location!
A unique and unexpected place to explore in Toronto.
St. Lawrence Market
Being a huge foodie I always try to visit the famous local markets in any city, and, in Toronto, it was the St. Lawrence. The market has 2 main levels with the smaller lower one being used for assorted food stalls and souvenir shops. The main upper one has the farmers goods and if you love cooking, eating and food, you will be in heaven. The freshest fruits and vegetables, the best meats, preserves, cheeses, wines- its all here! There are also many more food vendors here selling famous local delicacies and your only problem will be how to possibly try everything! We solved this dilemma by eating on site, taking away and eventually returning to the market another day!!!!
Graffiti Alley
As I had many days to explore, I decided to give this place a shot.
Instead of opting to join a tour, I thought I'd stroll about the area myself- I missed out on specific information about the art and artists but got to see a lot of great works anyway. If you're lucky you may even see an artist at work! Please note this is not just one giant alley with artwork- you will need to peer through locked gates and explore different connected alleys to discover the graffiti- I even unwittingly stepped onto private property and was politely told the gate would be closing and to leave before I couldn't!! Although I was a bit wary of wandering alone in what did not seem to the best of areas , once I got involved in the art, I forgot my apprehensions and just enjoyed myself! For total peace of mind go with someone or join a group!
Not too far away is a nice pub called the Big Bull (which is also the place the tours start) and on a sunny day its great to grab a beer and some food and just watch life happen around you- who know even the friendly neighborhood Spiderman might drop by!!
Ps. I loved the signs for the washrooms so had to share!
Miscellaneous
For lack of a particular category I will do a pictorial representation of some other fun places to explore if you have the time!
Allen Garden- Nice conservatory for nature lovers but as I stayed nearby and had to go through the surrounding park often, I must say the addicts who seemed to gather there daily did make me feel a bit unsafe alone.
The 1/2 House and Flat Iron Building
Saw this on some site and had to visit for myself! Its still occupied by an owner who refuses to sell against all odds- good for them!
There's a park near the Flatiron building which is often used for amateur pop up performances and we were lucky and caught part of a Shakespeare play there- unexpected joys!
The Financial District and, Union Station and The PATH
Joined a free walking tour here( look online) and really enjoyed it. Got loads of information about the area as well as some juicy anecdotes from the guide- highly recommend it.
Ps. for "Suits" fans make sure to see the building where it was filmed!
There are of course many many more things to see and places to visit but I think I managed to do most of what I wanted and have shared some of my experiences. Next visit I hope to do more day trips and weekends out from Toronto and explore beyond- Watch this space for more!!
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