Toronto
Canada's largest city, is easy to like. An orderly metropolis of 5.7 million, it's a good place for shopping, dining, kicking back, and exploring attractions such as the CN Tower, Toronto Islands, AGO, and ROM. People here are friendly, and it's the influence of the city's 200-plus ethnicities that together make Toronto vibrant. And it all happens in the heart of the city, which means it's possible to drop in for a few days and "do the town" without running yourself ragged. In a rush to grow up, the city shamefully demolished much of its past in the name of so-called progress. Visitors and locals alike, however, get to witness a Toronto reinventing itself today with bold new initiatives to reclaim the waterfront from industrial decay, to remake failed social housing experiments from the post-war era, to dazzle with whimsy, and to accommodate cultural growth and house all who want to make Toronto their home. That said, the city's architectural history is still in evidence and is made up of a wealth of architectural styles, from Gothic Revival churches to Romanesque civic buildings to the modernist bank towers in the Financial District. While it lacks any unique and defining Toronto style, the city's push for sustainable architecture that is environmentally aware will characterize the future of its buildings. Source: www.frommers.com
CN Tower
Toronto's famous landmark, the 553-meter CN Tower, is one of the city's must see attractions and also the most impossible to miss. Towering above the downtown, the structure can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. Visitors have the option of simply appreciating the building from the ground, or taking a trip up to one of the observation areas or restaurants for fabulous views of the city and Lake Ontario. The CN Tower, built between 1972 and 1976, was once the tallest freestanding structure in the world, but has long since been surpassed. The highest viewing area on the CN Tower is from the Sky Pod at 447 meters above the city
Royal Ontario Museum
known as the ROM, is one of Canada's premier museums with an international reputation for excellence. It houses an outstanding collection and also features major exhibitions from around the world. A controversial expansion of the facility saw a modern wing featuring glass and sharp angles added on to a very traditional older building. The museum contains collections covering a great variety of periods from all over the world.
Art Gallery of Ontario
The renowned Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) occupies a unique looking modern building on the west side of the city center. A whole series of temporary exhibitions are mounted throughout the year by this exceptionally well endowed gallery. Highlights include the collections of Canadian, African and Oceanic, and European art. The museum also holds a particularly impressive collection of Canadian paintings.
Casa Loma
Standing in beautifully kept grounds, Casa Loma is an extraordinary building somewhat reminiscent of a medieval castle. It was originally constructed for Sir Henry Pellatt, an eccentric Canadian multi-millionaire who was among the first to recognize and exploit the money-making potential of Niagara Falls. With close to 100 rooms, including three dozen bathrooms, the house is now a museum. Visitors can take a look back in time to a period of European elegance and splendor. Canada's foremost castle is complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and five acres of estate gardens.
St. Lawrence Market
The St. Lawrence Market houses a variety of vendors selling various food products, flowers, and specialty items. The St. Lawrence Hall was built in Toronto in 1850 and served as a public meeting place and a concert venue. The hall was restored in 1967, but has retained much of its old charm. The building provides a unique atmosphere for the market and is also occasionally used for film and television shoots. The interior features a grand staircase and a gas-lit chandelier.
City Hall
Dominating the spacious Nathan Philips Square with its bronze sculpture, "The Archer," by Henry Moore, is the still highly acclaimed new City Hall. It was designed by the gifted Finnish architect Viljo Revell and built in 1965. City Hall consists of two arc-shaped high-rise blocks, 20 and 27 stories high respectively, wrapped around a lower central building topped by a flattened cupola. Out front in the square is a manmade pond, which becomes a popular skating rink in winter. This area is beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays.
Distillery District
Toronto's Distillery District is a restored historic area that has been turned into a trendy entertainment and shopping district. Visitors will find charming boutiques, galleries, artists' studios, and restaurants. The Distillery District also hosts a variety of entertainment events and is home to numerous performing arts venues and schools. This is an interesting place to come during the day or evening. Source: www.planetware.com
Canada's largest city, is easy to like. An orderly metropolis of 5.7 million, it's a good place for shopping, dining, kicking back, and exploring attractions such as the CN Tower, Toronto Islands, AGO, and ROM. People here are friendly, and it's the influence of the city's 200-plus ethnicities that together make Toronto vibrant. And it all happens in the heart of the city, which means it's possible to drop in for a few days and "do the town" without running yourself ragged. In a rush to grow up, the city shamefully demolished much of its past in the name of so-called progress. Visitors and locals alike, however, get to witness a Toronto reinventing itself today with bold new initiatives to reclaim the waterfront from industrial decay, to remake failed social housing experiments from the post-war era, to dazzle with whimsy, and to accommodate cultural growth and house all who want to make Toronto their home. That said, the city's architectural history is still in evidence and is made up of a wealth of architectural styles, from Gothic Revival churches to Romanesque civic buildings to the modernist bank towers in the Financial District. While it lacks any unique and defining Toronto style, the city's push for sustainable architecture that is environmentally aware will characterize the future of its buildings. Source: www.frommers.com
CN Tower
Toronto's famous landmark, the 553-meter CN Tower, is one of the city's must see attractions and also the most impossible to miss. Towering above the downtown, the structure can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. Visitors have the option of simply appreciating the building from the ground, or taking a trip up to one of the observation areas or restaurants for fabulous views of the city and Lake Ontario. The CN Tower, built between 1972 and 1976, was once the tallest freestanding structure in the world, but has long since been surpassed. The highest viewing area on the CN Tower is from the Sky Pod at 447 meters above the city
Royal Ontario Museum
known as the ROM, is one of Canada's premier museums with an international reputation for excellence. It houses an outstanding collection and also features major exhibitions from around the world. A controversial expansion of the facility saw a modern wing featuring glass and sharp angles added on to a very traditional older building. The museum contains collections covering a great variety of periods from all over the world.
Art Gallery of Ontario
The renowned Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) occupies a unique looking modern building on the west side of the city center. A whole series of temporary exhibitions are mounted throughout the year by this exceptionally well endowed gallery. Highlights include the collections of Canadian, African and Oceanic, and European art. The museum also holds a particularly impressive collection of Canadian paintings.
Casa Loma
Standing in beautifully kept grounds, Casa Loma is an extraordinary building somewhat reminiscent of a medieval castle. It was originally constructed for Sir Henry Pellatt, an eccentric Canadian multi-millionaire who was among the first to recognize and exploit the money-making potential of Niagara Falls. With close to 100 rooms, including three dozen bathrooms, the house is now a museum. Visitors can take a look back in time to a period of European elegance and splendor. Canada's foremost castle is complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and five acres of estate gardens.
St. Lawrence Market
The St. Lawrence Market houses a variety of vendors selling various food products, flowers, and specialty items. The St. Lawrence Hall was built in Toronto in 1850 and served as a public meeting place and a concert venue. The hall was restored in 1967, but has retained much of its old charm. The building provides a unique atmosphere for the market and is also occasionally used for film and television shoots. The interior features a grand staircase and a gas-lit chandelier.
City Hall
Dominating the spacious Nathan Philips Square with its bronze sculpture, "The Archer," by Henry Moore, is the still highly acclaimed new City Hall. It was designed by the gifted Finnish architect Viljo Revell and built in 1965. City Hall consists of two arc-shaped high-rise blocks, 20 and 27 stories high respectively, wrapped around a lower central building topped by a flattened cupola. Out front in the square is a manmade pond, which becomes a popular skating rink in winter. This area is beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays.
Distillery District
Toronto's Distillery District is a restored historic area that has been turned into a trendy entertainment and shopping district. Visitors will find charming boutiques, galleries, artists' studios, and restaurants. The Distillery District also hosts a variety of entertainment events and is home to numerous performing arts venues and schools. This is an interesting place to come during the day or evening. Source: www.planetware.com