"Toronto, Ontario" a Toronto Travel Page by meteorologist1

Toronto is the largest city in Canada. As a city which boosts Canada's financial and economic sectors, Toronto can be viewed as a global city. The population here is culturally diverse and this is reflected in many of the city's unique neighborhoods. The city is located along the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario which provides Toronto with a beautiful waterfront area. The most iconic structure of the Toronto skyline is the famous CN Tower which is the tallest structure in the western hemisphere, taller than Chicago's Sears Tower. Another area that should not be missed is Toronto's Old Town and specifically the St. Lawrence Market, which has numerous vendors selling ethnic foods, baked goods, and fresh produce and meat. The busy Yonge Street runs right through the downtown area and is great for taking a stroll. The Eaton Centre, which is one of Canada's top shopping destinations, is located on this downtown stretch of Yonge Street.

Toronto has many ethnic neighborhoods, including a Little Italy, Little India, Greektown, Koreatown, and Chinatown. Kensington Market is a multicultural neighborhood near Chinatown and is one of Toronto's oldest neighborhoods. The Greater Toronto Area, believe it or not, actually has at least 5 Chinatowns (or Chinese communities). The incredibly large downtown Chinatown is located in the area around Dundas St. West and Spadina Ave. The two suburban Chinatowns that we visited during our trip were located in Markham (north of the city) and Mississauga (southwest of the city). The one in Markham was surprisingly huge and the Chinese food there was very authentic.

To fully enjoy Toronto, you will need at least three days (or more) to visit the city and the suburbs. The public transportation (subways, buses, and streetcars) there is very easy to use. Enjoy Toronto!