Toronto Things to Do Tips by windsorgirl

Well, it is a pricey proposition, but if you do as I did and make an evening out of it, you can take your drinking money and spend it on a trip up the CN Tower and become inebriated by the wonderful views!

We planned our visit to coincide with sunset. We got there just in time and had wonderful views from the Skypod at 1136 feet which is 114 storeys! We also visited the glass floor and outdoor lookout at 113 storeys high.
The ride up to this level cost $18.99. You can also travel up higher to the Sky Pod at 147 storeys high, for an extra $8.

We ate an excellent dinner at the Horizons Cafe and enjoyed a view of Toronto at night.
My chicken entree cost $29
Prime rib will set you back $39
A GLASS of wine is $18
A Glass of water is free
The view....priceless!

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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/

The Skydome sits beneath the CN Tower in downtown Toronto. It is home to the 1992 and 1993 World Series Champions Blue Jays as well as the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts.

It has a retractable roof which covers 8 acres and rises to a height of 31 storeys. It takes 20 minutes to open or close the roof.

You can take a one hour guided tour of the facility for $12.50. Visit the website for a discount coupon.

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Website: http://www.skydome.com/

Completed in 1965, this uniquely designed City Hall resembles two boomerangs enclosing a spaceship. The "spaceship" is actually the saucer shaped Council Chambers, while the "boomerangs" are two curved office towers of unequal height.

In front of City Hall you wil find Nathan Phillips Square which becomes a public skating rink in the winter time.

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Address: Queen St West
Directions: Exit at the Osgoode or Queen Street Subway stations.

Casa Loma translates to House on a Hill. It is more like a castle set on 5 acres of gardens. It was built in 1914 by Sir Henry Pellatt. He found his fortune developing hydroelectricity in Ontario.

Unfortunately for Sir Henry, Casa Loma was repossessed in the 1920's for unpaid debts. It is now owned by the City of Toronto.

You can tour the interior of Casa Loma and its 98 lavishly furnished rooms, secret passageways and turrets for about $12. Parking at the site is another $3/hr.

Casa Loma is open from 9am to 530pm daily

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Address: 1 Austin Terrace
Directions: near the intersection of Davenport and Spadina, or the Dupont subway station
Website: http://www.casaloma.org/

Located not far from Casa Loma, I found High Park to be a lovely oasis in busy Toronto. It is the largest park in Toronto covering almost 400 acres, which stretches south from Bloor St West to the Gardiner Expressway.

There are many paved walking paths meandering over rolling hills, along the banks of Grenadier Pond, and crossing over a lovely little waterfall, pictured here.

I was happy to find free parking here and a nice self serve restaurant with a good selection of reasonably priced lunch items. There is also a small zoo and large children's play area and several sports fields at High Park.

I think High Park is a great place for lunch and a walk, bring along some nuts for the very friendly squirrels or some bread to feed the ducks and swans. I have more views of High Park in a travelogue.

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Address: 1873 Bloor St West
Directions: from the Keele Subway station head west along Bloor to the entrance to the park or if driving it is near the intersection of Bloor St W and Parkside.

There are 18 islands only a 10-minute ferry ride from the foot of Yonge Street in Lake Ontario. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city skyline, miles of parkland with beaches, barbecues and picnic tables, boat rentals, bicycle paths, a children’s farm and even an amusement park. Bring your bike and a picnic lunch and make a day of it!

Check out the website below for the ferry schedule and fares.

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Website: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/to_islands/ferry.htm

If you can't make it across the big pond to visit Oxford or Cambridge then I suggest you check out the U of T campus in downtown Toronto. There are many beautiful old buildings here with fantastic architectural detail.
See my travelogue for more U of T photos.

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Directions: Exit at the St.George subway station and head south towards the CN tower. The campus is located just east of Queen's Park (the provincial parliament buildings).