Toronto Things to Do Tips by Bwana_Brown

While back in the city for another meeting in June, 2004 our group was treated to an evening baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although this was only the second major league ball game that I have ever attended, the big attraction for me was my first visit to Toronto's famed Skydome. This sports complex, which can seat 50,500 spectators for baseball was built between 1986-1989 and features an 11,000 ton retractable roof. It was closed during our visit because, although the temperature was 30 degrees C, there had been a severe thunderstorm cell pass through the city that evening. Also, in the middle of the photo you can see the Jumbotron video screen, the 2nd largest in the world when the Skydome opened. I really enjoyed the whole atmospere and it was a good ball game too - some nice fielding plays, a home run with fireworks afterward and a great view of the action as Toronto rolled to a 4-0 victory! Mind you, I did not have to pay the $54 ticket price (US$40)!

The second photo was taken in March, 2008 as I took off from Toronto on a flight from Regina, Saskatchewan to Fredericton, New Brunswick. It gives a nice view of the downtown core of the city along the shore of Lake Ontario, including the circular 'white' Skydome and Toronto's landmark world's tallest structure next-door!

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Directions: Centre of the city, beside the CN Tower

Sue and I decided to take advantage of a few hours break in the wedding preparations to drive into downtown Toronto for our first ever 'tourist' activity there! I checked out a few things on the internet in our room before we left and we decided on a 90-minute tour of the city (C$38 each) via a combined land/water contraption known as a 'Hippo' bus. Traffic was good and we quickly found a parking garage only 3 blocks away ($8 all-day on Sunday).

Toronto Hippo Tours presently operate three of these 20-ton vehicles, specially-built in Canada using a school bus chassis and equipped to carry 40 passengers either on land as a bus or at a speed of 5 knots in the water - costing $1 million each according to our tour guide. Loading is via a rear ramp and seating is 4-across, with two on each side of the aisle with open windows to enjoy the sights.

The tour itself was quite interesting as it headed past many famous landmarks (Royal York Hotel and Union Station before heading inland to take us past Eaton Place, City Hall, the Art Gallery of Ontario, University of Toronto, Chinatown and Little Italy) before arriving back at the waterfront near the Canadian National Exhibition. I was impressed with many of sites as the guide explained their history and also cracked a few jokes. Traffic was jammed near the CNE, but we eventually made our way to a special concrete ramp leading into the water, which surged halfway up the windshield as we charged into it - to the great thrill of all onboard! It was interesting to view the CNE fairgrounds from the harbour as we cruised past the various attractions of Ontario Place, located just off-shore there. We had a good look at some of the luxury yachts tied up as well as a 3-masted ship as it sailed out of the harbour. Despite the slight traffic jam, we arrived back only a few minutes late after the quite enjoyable trip.

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Phone: 1-877-635-5510 (Toll Free)
Address: 151 Front Steet West, Toronto
Directions: Office and loading/unloading at 151 Front Steet West, just a few steps east of the CN Tower
Website: www.torontohippotours.com