"Toronto, The Greatest City On Earth. " a Toronto Travel Page by wreckloose

So I realize that it says my last trip to Toronto was in November of 1981. That's only half true... I was born in Toronto in November of 1981 and have lived here my whole life, so my last trip to Toronto was actually my first trip to Toronto seeing as how I've never left. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, it's time to big up Toronto. 2003 was a rough year for the tourism industry here, mostly due to the propaganda spewed by major news stations (cough*CNN*cough) regarding the SARS disease. While the rest of the world cowered in fear avoiding Toronto, those of us that lived here wondered what the hell all the fuss was about. If anything, SARS made the people of Toronto live more hygienically because everyone started washing their hands with more frequency. I guess when Mick Jagger says that Toronto possesses the best features of the world in one clean, safe, friendly place, people start to take notice. For those of you that have never been here, take note:

- We have a theatre scene rivaled only by London and New York's Broadway.
- We have more than 80 cultures from around the globe living within the city limits.
- Some of the dopest malls you'll see.
- Some of the best dining the world has to offer, thanks to the many cultures that have taken up residence here.
- Year-round international festivals of film, culture, music etc...
- Miles of waterfront, beaches, boardwalks and trails to explore and relax on when you get sick of walking through the city.

And the best part about all of this is that it's in one of the safest cities in the world.

- Just in case you were wondering, Toronto gets its name from the Huron word for ‘meeting place’

- Yonge Street is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “longest street in the world”, stretching 1,896 km (1,178 miles) from the lakeshore in Toronto, north to Rainy River, Ontario, at the Minnesota border. It's also a great place to shop

- Toronto is home to the world’s tallest building, the CN Tower (at 553.33 m).

- One third of Canada's population is located within 160 km radius of Toronto.

- For the ignorant people who think that just because Toronto is in Canada, that it's cold as hell... Toronto is located at the same latitude as northern California (so remember that the next time it snows in California).

- Both the Roman Coliseum and St. Paul's Cathedral could fit comfortably inside the SkyDome.

- The Toronto Stock Exchange is North America's 3rd largest Stock Exchange by value traded

- Considered "Hollywood North" by the film industry, Toronto ranks third in North American TV and film production behind New York and Los Angeles.

- Tolerance is probably Toronto's greatest attribute. It has the largest gay population in Canada and Pride Week in Toronto is one of the three largest Pride events in the world, along with New York City and Sydney, Australia.

- Over 100 languages and dialects are spoken in Toronto.

- The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is North America's second largest public transit system.

- Toronto's underground city, PATH, holds the Guinness World Record for "Biggest Underground Shopping Complex" with over ten kilometres of underground, indoor pedestrian walkways linking hotels, shopping, dining and major attractions. So for those of you trying to escape the winter blues, you can catch a movie, have dinner, shop, etc. all without having to go above street level.

- The annual Toronto International Film Festival is second only to Cannes in terms of high-profile films, stars and market activity. If you're into celebrity watching, try the many restaurants around trendy Yorkville.

- The Caribana parade is the biggest single-day happening and largest Caribbean festival in North America. The Yonge street impromptu party that takes place every Caribana Friday is dope place to people watch. But don't try to be a hero because the party is notorious for violence.

- Toronto is the 5th-largest city in North America after Mexico City, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago