North of the Border

Make sure to visit the Science Center on the east side of the city, the CN tower in center city (it is the tallest free standing structure in NA), Ontario Place and the Toronto Islands (this one is often missed by visitors but well worth the ferry ride over to the Island parks and back). Outside Toronto, don't forget to visit Niagara Falls (about 1 hour drive) and if you have the time and inclination a visit to Stratford (near London On.) is worth the trip to see Shakespearian plays and the beautiful town (it is built to copy Stratford England). Make sure to see the city under ground - you can walk, take the subway, shop, stay, eat and get from one end of downtown to the other without ever going outside - especially great in the winter.

Quick Tips:

Niagara Falls, Stratford, Georgian Bay. You will need a car to visit all and all are truly unique. The Canadian side of Niagara Falls is the Horshoe shaped falls. Make sure to stay until after dark and see them lit up in colors. Visit Stratford to get a glimpse of being in Stratford England as it is modeled after that town complete with the Avon Theatre, and Shakesperean plays. Georgian Bay is a water lovers paradise in the summer and a winter lovers paradise in the snow,as there are many ski areas in and around the area. All of these areas are within 2 hours driving distance of Toronto.

Best Way To Get Around:

Toronto is a very easy city to find your way around with lots of public transportation. The subways are the cleanest and safest you will find in North America, and buses, trains etc. will get you everywhere you want to go. Parking downtown is difficult to find and expensive, park at a subway station and take the subway into town.

TCN Tower is the world's tallest free-standing structure. The tower stands 553 meters in height. It offers a stunning view of the city, especially at sunset. You can test your courage by taking a walk across the glass floor 113 stories above the ground, or travel higher up the tower to the Sky Pod another 33 stories above ground.

The tower has a revolving 360 degree restaurant that has an award-winning wine list and fantastic view. There is also an arcade with exciting rides located in the Tower's base.

Casa Loma is an actual Castle in the middle of the city. It was built by a man to fulfill his childhood wish for a castle.

It has secret passageways, towers, sweeping staircases, an 800-foot tunnel, stables, and five acre gardens - everything you expect to see in a real live castle.

The owner came upon hard financial times and the city of Toronto took it over and turned it into a tourist attraction. Don't miss it.

Harbourfront Centre is a year-round facility, featuring concerts, dance performances, and many other cultural activities and programs. It is located in the Toronto Harbor Area and is a great family location with something for everyone.

Did you know that Toronto has the 3rd largest Theatre District in the world? It is right after New York and London. At any one time, you can find more than 80 venues for live theater, and many are in beautiful restored historic buildings. The Pantages Theater is an example, renovated just for the Phantom of the Opera. I have seen the Phantom there and the building itself is an artform.This theatre has been faithfully restored to the original 1920s Thomas Lamb design and opened in September 1989 with Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera". The restored building seats 2200 people and is one of the busiest theatres in Canada. The US dollar is worth quite a bit more than the Canadian dollar right now and makes a trip to Canada much cheaper for Americans.