Category: Toronto

With a full two weeks off from school in December, our daughter finds the house gets a bit small and confining. Here’s our list of winter diversions in and around Toronto: 1. Tobogganing! In Toronto, the big hill in Riverdale Park (a few blocks south of Broadview subway station, bordering the east side of the Don Valley) is classic, as is High Park, but since we’re fortunate enough to have a pretty hilly city, smaller hills also abound. 2. Head to the giant indoor waterpark at Niagara Falls. Several hotels connect directly to the waterpark and have package deals which […]

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I haven’t been at the restaurant in quite some time and I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to see some changes. What a difference a year makes. What always catches my eye is the big maple tree that’s in the middle of the restaurant. The menu and the decor have always changed. I proceeded into the newly renovated dining room and the view in there is spectacular. I was greeted at the entry by a pleasant waitress by the name of Rebecca. She promptly took my order and five minutes later my food was delivered to the table. […]

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I moved to Toronto somewhat reluctantly a few years ago in order to study at the University of Toronto. Despite my reservations about moving to the big stale city (this is a viewpoint shared by many Westerners!), I’ve found nothing but great experiences, wonderful people and a vibrant cultural scene here. Let me tell you why culture in Toronto is booming… The opinion in general seems to be that the bigger the city, the less personal the cultural experience that one can enjoy there. In Toronto, from my perspective, because there are more events to choose from, it is simply […]

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High Park is one of the great underrated pleasures of visiting Toronto … and half the fun is getting there. The efficient, but boring, way of getting to High Park is to take the Bloor-Danforth subway to High Park station, get off at the High Park Avenue exit, cross Bloor Street, and enter via the main entrance. But you’re in Toronto, and so you have no excuse for being boring … so try one of the alternative routes and see something of the city. The 506 College/Carlton streetcar will take you to High Park from downtown along College Street from […]

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In Part I of this article, I took you from Union Station through the St. Lawrence neighbourhood to Toronto‘s Distillery District. Now that you’ve had your refreshments at the Distillery District, you’re ready for Part II. From the Distillery District, walk north up Trinity Street to King St. E. Now you’re right in the middle of Toronto‘s old Irish Corktown neighbourhood, one of Toronto‘s oldest neighbourhoods and now one of the interesting transitional neighbourhoods. It’s now in a sort of process of re-gentrification, as old workers’ cottages on side streets become converted into highly desirable small urban abodes. As you […]

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Toronto is a great city for walking, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes to explore urban spaces. Here’s a suggestion for a leisurely exploration of some of the more interesting parts of the Toronto‘s eastern downtown, combined with a look at some of the up and coming transitional parts of the city. (Although Toronto is generally a very safe city, you will probably feel more comfortable on some parts of this walk during daylight hours.) You can start anywhere and end anywhere, but for ease of reference I’m going to start at Union Station right downtown, and […]

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Starting with the 2006-2007 season, the Canadian Opera Company moved from its longtime home at what used to be the O’Keefe Centre near Union Station to a distinguished new building at the corner of Queen Street West and University Avenue. This opens up multiple possibilities for great food before or after the opera. A few recommendations: Nota Bene, 180 Queen St W. This new restaurant, a few doors west of University Avenue in the new federal courts building on the north side of Queen, is a new hot location for dining. Their usual dinner menu will set you back a […]

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You may know that Yonge Street starts in Toronto Ontario, but did you know that it is the longest street in the world?  It ends in Ontario, but do you know where? Yonge Street ends at the farthest extent west in Ontario, at Rainy River, at the Minnesota USA Border.  Rainy River has a population of approx 1000 people.  Although not a large community, they have all the amenities you need plus there is a lot to do! The Rainy River District is known by Birders as it is a unique area where the Eastern & Western Regions meet, and […]

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In my Toronto travels, anther of my favourite places was the Kensington Market located between Dundas and Baldwin Streets. I’ve been to many markets, and Kensington has come out on top. Not to mention, I’d much rather spend a day wandering around the Market than the crowded, metropolis Eaton Centre. The market has everything to make the perfect day trip. If you’re going to Toronto anytime soon, make sure you set aside a day to explore the Kensington Market. The greatest thing about the Kensington Market is the bargain shopping. Never in my life have I seen such an impressive collection […]

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I find I often get tired to the same daily grind being a tourist: go to the big attractions, take photos, get lost, look like an idiot reading the map upside down, getting ripped off by cab-drivers; maybe that’s just me. Luckily, I had a friend who lives in Toronto who directed me to a few local haunts to escape the tourist vibe and really get a feel for the city. She took me to Queen’s Street West and told me to avoid any place with a big sign. Off I ventured, desperately trying to blend in. She was right […]

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