Toronto Things to Do Tips by mim95

At 553m, it has been the world's tallest structure since it was buit in 1976.

On a clear day, you can even see the Niagara Falls from the observation deck! If you're not afraid of the high height, stand or jump on the huge glass bottom floor on the deck. It can actually hold the weights of 14 hippos! If you like fine dining with a view, 360, the revolving restaurant inside the Tower, is definitely the top choice.

And if you're walking downtown and doesn't know your bearing, see if you can locate the CN Tower, the direction towards the Tower is south.

It is a little expensive to go up though.

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

Skydome has been recently renamed to Rogers Centre. I'll still call it Skydome as it sounds less commercial. Skydome is a great entertainment complex, with restaurants and a hotel. It's home of the Blue Jays, Toronto's baseball team and the Argonauts, Toronto's football team. Other than sporting events, Skydome also holds concerts, trade shows and conventions. The roof can open or close in 20 minutes, making it first in the world.

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Directions: Right next to the CN Tower, a short walk from Union Station.
Website: http://www.skydome.com/

The Old City Hall was built in 1899 by E.J. Lennox, a Toronto architect whose work included the Casa Loma and the King Edward Hotel.

You have to go up close to the building to truly admire this masterpiece, as there are lots of detailed stone works and carvings, especially in the front entrance. It was the City Hall of Toronto until 1965, when the new city hall was completed.

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Directions: NE corner of Queen & Bay, a block west of the Eaton Center or Queen subway station.

The City Hall was built in 1965 by a Finnish architect named Viljo Revell. A modern design made up of two curved office buildings and a circular structure in the center, where the city council sits.

Nathan Philips Square, situated in front of the City Hall, is a popular spot for free concerts, festivals and skating in winter, when the pool is turned into a skating rink.

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Directions: NW corner of Queen & Bay, a block west of the Eaton Center or Queen subway station.
Website: http://www.toronto.ca

Dundas Square is the newest square in the downtown core. It's an excellent place for concerts and events.

The two rows of water fountains are the most interesting items in the square. Controlled by computer, the fountains can "dance" and there are special lightings at night as well.

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Directions: SE corner of Yonge & Dundas at Dundas subway station, or right across from Eaton Center.
Website: http://www.ydsquare.ca/home.htm

Yonge Street begins at the waterfront of Lake Ontario, running north passes through the busy business and shopping districts of Toronto, passing the residential suburbs and farmlands, ending near Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario.

There is a subway line running underneath Yonge Street within the city of Toronto, which gets quite crowded during rush hours.

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The Financial District is the home of the skyscrapers of Toronto. At 298m, the First Canadian Place (white tower in the photo) is the tallest office tower, occupying the NW corner of King and Bay. It's the headquarter of the Bank of Montreal. CIBC, Scotia Bank and TD Bank all have their head office at the other corners.

The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) is just a quick walk from this corner. You can go inside the TSX Broadcast Centre to see exhibits and the media at work.

The following website contains a description and a map of the latest underground walkway (PATH) beneath the financial district. If you get lost (which is very likely especially if you're a first-timer), the easiest solution is find the nearest escalator and go back up to the street level.

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Directions: Bounded by Queen St, Front St, Yonge St. and University
Website: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/path/index.htm

Chinatown is one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods in Toronto. It's always nosiy and crowded during the weekends. You'll see stores with their products (especially fruits and vegetables) proudly display on the sidewalk. Prices are slightly cheaper and fresher for the produce compared to those in the supermarkets.

There are many restaurants in the neighbourhood as well, most are Cantonese, serving a large varieties of food such as bbq pork, seafood, noodles and rice. There are also hot pot restaurants, where you cook your food in a big pot of soup bases, and Sichuan restaurants if you like hot and spicy food.

In recent years, there are many Vietnamnese restaurants in Chinatown as well. Their specialities include Vietnamnese noodles in soup and Vietnamese buns (hot dog shaped buns filled with meat and veggies).

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Directions: Chinatown spans a few blocks from Dundas & Spadina

The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of North America's largest art museum, with over 25,000 pieces of artwork.

Plan to spend a few hours in here, as there is a lot to see!

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Directions: A short walk west of the St Patrick subway station on Dundas.
Website: http://www.ago.net/

Established in 1803, St. Lawrence Market has been the place where you find the greatest selections of meat, seafood, veggies, and freshly-baked bread. You'll find a lot of interesting things here that you can't find in the supermarkets, like elk meat, yogert made with goat milk, hand-pick wild mushroom, super-sized colossal tiger shrimp.

The Market is the busiest on Saturday mornings, when the North Market opens. The North Market is in a separate building on the north side of Front Street. Go early if you want to see the action and try the freshest baked items.

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Directions: On Front Street, a 10-minute walk east of Union Station.
Website: http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/