Toronto Things to Do Tips by citygirl29

High Park was a gift to the city. The original owner's house is run as a historic home showing life in Victorian times. There's a small zoo, beautiful gardens, wilderness trails, a truly joyful children's playground (think castles!), a restaurant, a pond, and, in August, Shakespeare in the Park in a natural outdoor amphitheatre (no reservations -- come very early!).

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Directions: Bounded by the Queensway/Parkside/Bloor/something on the west (darned if I can remember what, though).

It's a shoe museum! Really!

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Address: Bloor Street West at St. George

This is both a museum of human culture and a museum of nature. My children particularly like the Earth and Rocks area and the Dinosaurs. There's also some nice Armour upstairs. And stuff for grownups, too, of course! They run a lot of special exhibitions and events. And you can dine in style at chef Jamie Kennedy's restaurant, JK ROM. Be sure to order his fries! He even has a children's menu. The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art is part of the ROM and is across the street.

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Directions: University Avenue just below Bloor Street (Museum subway stop).
Other Contact: www.rom.on.ca

Yes, the town is a tourist trap, but the Parks Authority has kept the area around the Falls pristine. If you can cross to the American side, the Maid of the Mist boat has shorter lines there. But the view is best on the Canadian side. Go by bus to avoid parking nightmares; if you do drive, though, there are shuttles from the parking lots. The Niagara Falls Museum is entertaining -- it is the only museum I've been in with two-headed animals. And if you have time, find the Niagara Falls Brewing Company for some truly awesome beers, especially their unique Eisbock.

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Address: Niagara Falls, Canada

This neighbourhood has been home and gathering place for waves of immigrants for over a century. There are still stores and synagogues here here from the time when it was a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood. Now you can find Arab, African, Caribbean, and Latin American foods and goods. And there are lots of second-hand clothing shops. The area is also one centre for the artistic community of the city.

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Directions: Bounded by Dundas, Spadina, College, and Bathurst.

This is one of the largest Pride Day events in North America. The party goes on and on and on!

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Directions: Church/Bloor to Yonge/Bloor, south on Yonge to Dundas, east to Church. The rest of the party is on Church Street.

New City Hall/Nathan Phillips Square
You've seen New City Hall before -- including on Star Trek, where it's twin white curved towers made it an important building of the distant future. It's been 'New' City Hall since the 1960s. The Square in front has ice skating in the winter (beats Rockefeller Hall by a mile!) and cultural events of all sorts the rest of the year.

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Address: Queen St. at Bay