Oh Canada!

Oh Canada! In July I found myself crossing the border to visit our friends to the north. I spent the last week of July in the wonderful city of Toronto. I have not done much exploration on the eastern part of Canada so I was very excited for this travel opportunity.

Toronto has so much to offer, from great neighborhoods, to places to explore and restaurants to eat. What I really enjoyed about Toronto was how diverse and multicultural the city was. There were representations of different cultures everywhere I looked.

I spent seven days in Toronto and experienced such a great city, so here are a few of my favorite highlights and recommendations of my week there.

My hotel was located in the downtown area close to the financial district and the entertainment district. It was also located directly across the street from Nathan Phillips Square which is home to the “Toronto” sign. The square is a perfect place to people watch. The square is also located from walking distance to the downtown Yonge area and Toronto’s Eaton Centre – both are great areas for shopping.

Nathan Phillips Square

Toronto has several Chinatown’s in its downtown area, I went to the one closet to my hotel which was located on the bustling streets of Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street. There are so many great places to eat and places to shop. I recommend this area if you are looking for affordable souvenirs to take back.

Chinatown

Located right next to Chinatown is Kensington Market. When I was asking for recommendations about places to visit while I was in Toronto this place was the first places people suggested. Kensington Market was my favorite district to visit while I was in Toronto. It is so full of vibrant colors, eclectic shops and delicious food. Local musicians line the streets – I heard people rapping, someone playing the bagpipe and another singing 80s songs all while I walked down one street. The district is very multicultural, very welcoming and that was what I enjoyed the most.

Kensington Market

Located close to these two areas is the Art Gallery of Ontario also known as the (AGO). The AGO has an amazing collection of Canadian art, French Impressionist, Inuit Art and a large collection of Henry Moore sculptures. I was lucky enough to visit on Wednesday night which on this night offers free admission after 5 pm. Enjoy all the great art and amazing views from the 5^th floor – it overlooks the Toronto skyline.

AGO’s Henry Moore Collection

Views from AGO’s 5th floor

On the east side of Toronto is St. Lawrence Market. If you are looking for a fun place to people watch and leisurely stroll this is the place for you. It is one of the best farmer’s markets I have visited. St. Lawrence Market is two stories and filled with people selling fish, meat, fruit, vegetables and cheese. In addition to food there are stalls filled with artisans selling crafts and jewelry. There are stalls that sell amazing maple syrup and I stocked up on a few to take home to family and friends.

St. Lawrence Market

For a very Instagram worthy shot head over to Brookfield Place and head inside to take a look of the amazing architecture. The overhead arch of steel and grass produce such great juxtaposition of light and shadow.

Brookfield Place

While you are at Brookfield Place stay and head over to the Hockey Hall of Fame. I am big hockey fan and this was the highlight of my week. The Hockey Hall of Fame houses the most comprehensive hockey artifacts and memorabilia such as the original Stanley Cup trophy. In addition, there are great interactive exhibits housed throughout the rooms. You can take your hand at stopping a puck from players such as Sidney Crosby. The best thing about the museum is you have the opportunity to take a photo with the Stanley Cup!

The Stanley Cup at the Hockey Hall of Fame

If hockey is not your thing head over to Rodgers Centre to catch a Toronto Blue Jays game. Nestled right next to the CN tower (the largest tower in the Western Hemisphere) the baseball stadium has great views of downtown when the roof is open. I went to a game with a few of my coworkers and we were able to find great tickets to a game. If you have time before the game, head over to Steam Whistle Brewery for some great craft beer.

Blue Jay’s game at Rodgers Centre

To cap off my week in Toronto I spent some time at the waterfront. There are some great walking paths that offer nice views of Lake Ontario but if you want a great view take a ferry out to the islands. There are several options to choose from ferries to water taxis. I did not have the time to take a one hour tour of the islands so I opted for a quick water taxi tour that still offered the great views of the city.

Toronto has so much to offer here are additional recommendations:

Places to Eat

• Pai Northern Thai Kitchen – Delicious Thai Food. This place is very popular so try to head over during lunch to grab a seat.
• Rasta Pasta – Kensington Market has a wide variety of delicious multicultural foods to choose from. The infusion of Jamaican and Italian offers some amazing pastas and meats.
• Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Cheesecake –  Don’t let the line of people waiting for a piece of Japanese Cheesecake stop you from getting yourself a piece. One of the most unique desserts I had while in Toronto.

Places to Visit

• CN Tower – To see breathtaking views of Toronto head up 114 stories to the top of the CN Tower.
• Royal Ontario Museum – This museum houses a large collection of ancient mummies, dinosaur skeletons, totem poles, and Chinese treasures.
• Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada – Located next to the CN tower, the Ripley’s Aquarium is a great place for families to visit to discover fishes, sharks and stingrays.

 

It was a fun and action packed week filled great places to explore and marvelous places to eat. There is still so much of Toronto left to explore and I can’t wait to come back for another visit.

-Bridget