Toronto Things to Do Tips by Paul2001

If you come to Toronto with children(and even if you don't) go to the Metro Toronto Zoo. I is without doubt one of the best zoos in the world. Then if you are still feeling energetic take a walk though the Rouge Valley. It is a lovely park especially in the autumn when the leaves turn colour.

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Address: Meadowvale Road, north of Sheppard Ave.
Directions: The Northeastern area of Scaraborough. Atop of the Rouge Valley.
Website: www.torontozoo.com

The Toronto Islands are a large park just of the shore of Toronto's Inner Harbour. It is a place that something for everyone. On Centre Island, where the ferries make their most frequent trips, there is an amusement park and petting farm for children. There are also beaches (including a nude one), fishing holes, tennis courts, gardens, marinas and bike trails. On Ward's Island there are still homes which the residences have renovated into picturesque cottages. There are a couple of charming cafes among them and I understand that there is a bed and breakfast also. Take the ferry back at sunset. The view of the skyline at this time is stunning.
I consider myself well traveled and I still rank this the Islands as my favourite city park in World.

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Directions: South of Toronto, across from the harbour. They can only be reached by ferry.

This huge museum is the largest in Canada(and according to one travel book I read the second largest in North America) is a must for anyone spending a lot of time in Toronto. The museum is a hodge podge of all kinds of exhibits from Ancient Egypt to decorative arts to natural history. In fact because of its size and broad scope of collections it could be said that The ROM is a sum greater than its parts. No particular collection is really outstanding on its own but in total, this is quite an interesting museum. The one exhibit that you should visit if you have children is the dinosaur collection on the second floor. It is very well exhibited and very informative. Kids seem to love it. This section has recently been rearranged with glowing results.
The museum is open all seven days of the week but the hours vary. From Monday to Thursday and Saturday, it is open from 10am to 6pm, on Friday it is open from 10am to 9:30pm and on Sunday it open from 11am to 6pm. It cost $10.00 to visit the museum but they up the price for special exhibits. Reputedly on Friday it is free after 6pm but I have yet to check this out in person.
The ROM has been recently restored and a very flashy addition has been added to the building as whole. This is the much talked about, and in some circles acclaimed, "Crystal". This a series of jagged silver cubes that seems to be now engulfing the original building. The result has been somewhat controversial as some people hate while other love it. My opinion is growing towards the side of the latter. It certainly is distinctive but my criticism is that it really did not nothing to increase the size of the exhibition space. Also don't stand under one of the jagged edges after a snowfall or you will be impaled by an icicle.

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Address: 100 Queen's Park, Toronto
Directions: Bloor and Avenue Rd or just North of Queen's Park.
Website: www.rom.on.ca

The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the three best art galleries in Canada. It has a strong collection of Golden Era Dutch/Flemish paintings that include works by Hals, Van Dyck, Rubens, and Rembrant. Other collections include works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet and many more prominent artist. The gallery has the largest collection of the works of Henry Moore, over 800 pieces, in the world. If you go, check ahead to see what special exhibits are showing. The AGO frequently hosts important traveling exhibitions such as the Barnes Exhibition.
If you choose to visit you should also look in on the exhibit of decorative arts on loan by Kenneth Thomson. They are superb.
Finally the AGO is a great place to be introduced to Canadian artist such as the acclaimed Group of Seven, David Milne, and Tom Thomson.
The Art Gallery of Ontario is presently being expanded dramatically. This means much of the gallery will be shutdown until the autumn of 2008. Only rooms where special exhibits are still open and some other rooms where some of the most important galleries pieces are displayed are open.

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Phone: 416-977-0414
Address: 317 Dundas Street West.
Directions: Western side of Downtown Toronto.
Website: www.ago.net

This is the Hockey Mecca of the World, a place which every serious hockey fan should visit. On display here is virtually everything that you wanted to know about hockey including a stats and biographies on the inductees, old uniforms and memorabilia. There are also plenty of interactive exhibits that will entertain the kids. In my opinion the exhibits are very well displayed which makes this a superb museum of its kind.

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Phone: 416-360-7765
Address: 30 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Directions: Entrance is on the concourse level on the extreme eastern side of Toronto's beautiful BCE Place office complex(a tourist attraction in itself).
Website: www.hhof.com

If you traveling to Toronto with children then the Ontario Science Centre is a must-see. This is one of the most interactive museums you will ever visit with a large number of hands on displays that will thrill you kids.
Importantly the OSC keeps up to date with technology and exhibits are always updated. There are lasers that be shot off, insect exhibits and so on. I have visited a lot of similar museums but I have yet fine an equal to OSC for hands-on displays.
Furthermore there are things that will keeps adults interested. This include Omnimax Theatre and a recreated rain forest exhibit.

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Phone: 416-696-3127
Address: 770 Don Mill Road
Directions: Don Mills and Eglington East. Not too far from downtown Toronto.
Website: www.osc.on.ca

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection possesses one the best collections of Canadian art in all of Canada. Basically all of the schools of Canadian art are represented with high quality works. This includes a large quantity of pieces by Canada's famed Group of Seven, Emily Carr, David Milne and Tom Thomson. There are also works by Canadian aboriginal artists and other contemporary artist.
The McMichael frequently has excellent exhibitions too. During my last visit, I saw a superb exhibition featuring the works of Emily Carr, Georgia O'Keefe and Frida Kahlo.
The McMichael sits on top of a gorgeous valley where after you finished in the gallery itself, is an delightful place for a walk or picnic. The building itself is quite attractive as it is made out of logs, thus resembling a huge overgrown cabin.
The McMichael is located in the quaint town of Kleinburg to the Northwest of Toronto. There are lots of good restaurants in this colonial old town.
Finally it is rather difficult, but not impossible, to get to Kleinburg via public transportation so I highly recommend that you drive up by your own vehicle.

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Phone: 905--893-1121
Directions: Kleinburg, Ontario.
Website: www.mcmichael.com

The CN Tower's claim to fame is that it is the tallest free standing structure in the world. The tower stands a whopping 553m tall (1815 feet) and can be seen from virtually anywhere in the city. It is one of those sights that you just have to visit while in Toronto simply for the fantastic views. However it is expensive at $16.00 for adults. The Lookout Level, 346m high, has a glass floor where you can look down below and think about throwing up. There is also an overpriced restaurants that revolves 360 degrees around the tower. For another $7.00 you can take another elevator up to the Skypod where from 447m you can see for 120 miles on a clear day. To add to all this fun is the fact that the elevators have glass windows to ascend the tower really quickly. All in all a visit is not for the weak hearted.
At the base of the tower are a number of tourist attractions such as an IMAX theatre and flight simulators but I personally I think this is where you run into tourist trap country.

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Address: 301 Front St. W.
Directions: In the heart of Downtown Toronto, right in between the SkyDome and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Front Street, just north of Bremner Blvd.
Website: http://www.cntower.ca/

While wandering through the Downtown Core of Toronto you definitely have to visit the astonishing Galleria of BCE Place. This is one of the more stunning open spaces in all of Toronto with high buttresses soaring 85 feet overhead. The place seems more like a cathedral than a commercial office complex. The Galleria was designed by Santiago Caltrava and actually serves to connect to two main office towers of the complex. Also of interest with BCE Place is the manner in which they incorporated the facades of several 1850's building into the design of the overall structure. It has been superbly done.
BCE Place is also the home of The Hockey Hall of Fame. Besides that there are several very good restaurants and shops that will make your visit worthwhile.

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Phone: 416-777-6480
Address: 161 and 181 Bay Street
Directions: Bay and Front St.
Website: www.bceplace.com

Harbourfront and Queen's Quay is a federal government attempt to restore the harbour district of Toronto. Back in 1972 this area was falling into decay and required restoration. The government took over control of much of the lands and began redevelopment. This has not been without controversy. Much of the lands where turned into condos and rather ugly ones at that. There is a lack of green space to relax in. Other than for an outdoor skating rink there is hardly any reason to come down here at all in the wintertime. There have been some recent openings of major nightclubs in the area to draw an after hours crowd.
For me the best time to come here is on the weekends in the summertime. There are always some kind of music and folk festival going on. You can also take a lakefront boat cruise which can be fun.
Queen's Quay is a privately operated building just to the east of the Harbourfront Centre. There is some decent shopping the main floor and a couple of acceptable restaurants and cafes where you can watch the boat sail by. Up above are condominiums where several of Toronto's professional sports celebrities have lived over the years.

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Phone: 416-973-3000
Address: 235 Queen's Quay West
Directions: On the Harbour.
Website: www.harbourfront.on.ca