If you’re thinking of visiting Canada, Toronto is one of the best tourist destinations money can buy!
It is the most populous in the country and perhaps the most multicultural city in the world. Even though a lot of you think it’s cool or cold year round, the weather in the city isn’t that bad. In the summer time, Toronto can get up to +35 celsius maybe more.
What makes Toronto such a wonderful city to spend your vacation is the fact that its beauty doesn’t lie in a particular structure, history, or its must-see attractions, although this city has plenty to offer. If you want to get the most out of your vacation in the city, you really have to experience its green spaces, neighborhoods, diversity, culture, food, and people.
A vacation in Toronto wouldn’t be complete without visiting Niagara Falls. It is a 90-minute drive from the City but it is definitely worth the travel time. It is the city’s major tourist attraction, and it has the right to be so. When you get to watch 3 000 000 litres of water a second slide off a mountain in front of you, you will be thoroughly impressed. You can also experience the breathtaking view from the top. The Table Rock site allows you to stay at least a meter away from the edge. Niagara Falls is a natural beauty from all sides. For thrill seekers, you can even go on a boat that runs right by the falls or can also choose to fly over the falls using the Niagara Helicopters.
After visiting the Niagara Falls, you should make your way to downtown Toronto where you will find exquisite shopping, theaters, eateries, and beautiful views. As you walk around downtown, you’ll find yourself in the presence of culturally rich neighborhoods like the ultra hip Queen st. West known for the trendiest shops in the city and bohemian lifestyle or the glamorous and chic Yorkville where you might bump into a movie star. Other great neighborhoods you shouldn’t miss out on: Greektown, Chinatown, Little Italy, all have a quite authentic feel where you can forget for a moment that you are in Canada.
If you are looking for local delicacies, you will find the food that will definitely satisfy your palate with a huge selection of restaurants and bars to choose from. If you are a sports fan, you should definitely consider going to a game. The Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey), Toronto Raptors (basketball), Toronto Blue Jays (baseball), and Toronto Argonauts (football), are first class professional clubs. If you enjoy museums, there are quite a few. The Royal Ontario Museum which is the largest in the country and has notable collections of dinosaurs, minerals and meteorites, African art, Asian art, European and Canadian history. The Art Gallery of Ontario has over 80 000 works spanning from the first century to the present day. The Hockey Hall of Fame which is a holy grail for hockey fans has over 5000 m2 of exhibits. Visitors can view trophies, memorabilia, and equipment worn by players during special games. If you have a passion for shoes or just curious about Tomas Bata’s company history, then you should definitely visit The Bata Shoe Museum and see the 13 500 items on display.
Other great places worth visiting: The Toronto Zoo with over 5000 animals on display and 10km of walking paths, The Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada which is home to the longest underwater viewing tunnel in North America. The Ontario Science Center is home to interactive experiences with science and technology. Canada’s Wonderland which is the largest amusement park in Canada and features more than 200 rides and attractions and is perfect for all ages.
You should also consider riding the ferry and head to Toronto island. Toronto Island is also home to an amusement park with fabulous rides and great scrumptious funnel cakes. It is also a great place for walking and cycling along its sandy beaches. You can easily get back to nature and check out the seabird sanctuary.
No trip to Toronto would be complete without a visit to CN Tower. The tower was completed in 1976 and at that time was the world’s tallest free-standing structure and one of the Wonders of the Modern World. The views from above are simply spectacular yet not for the faint of heart, especially when standing on a glass floor looking straight down at cars that look like ants. For thrill-seekers there’s the EdgeWalk, a walk outside around the circumference of the roof!
The best time to visit Toronto is in May or June, when the temperatures are quite warm for most part but not extremely hot like in July and August. Also in September and early October is a great time, the humidity tends to disappear and the temperatures are very pleasant.
So don’t hesitate and book your ticket to Toronto… you’ll be glad that you did!
Autor: Petr T., lektor angličtiny