Toronto Travel Guide: Top 6 Things to Do in the 6ix
Exploring Toronto’s Diverse Streets
Toronto is a lot of fun. It’s one of the most multi-culturally diverse cities in the world — over half of Torontonians were born outside of Canada. It is vibrant and alive with interesting cultural events, festivals, shopping, art galleries, museums and a fantastic nightlife.
Want to make the most of your visit to this Canadian metropolis? Here are some of the best things to do in Toronto.
The Royal Ontario Museum
The ROM’s impressive collection contains over 6 million artifacts and specimens, divided between the National History Galleries and the World Culture Galleries. There’s a fascinating wealth of things to see here, from Korean art to dinosaur skeletons to Egyptian mummies and more.
You can even see some cedar crest poles carved by First Nations tribes in British Columbia. There are free museum tours daily where you can learn a little bit more about the history behind these fascinating artifacts. It’s one of the most fun things to do in Toronto with kids — they’ll especially love the dinosaur exhibit.
Edge Walk at the CN Tower
Looking for adventurous things to do in Toronto? This tops the list.
If you can face your fear of heights, you can have an unforgettable experience at one of the most iconic buildings in the Toronto skyline — the CN Tower. Can you handle the thrill of walking along the edge of one of the tallest buildings in the world?
You’ll be dressed up in a jumpsuit with a special harness and attached to the side of the building as you hang off, high above the city. You’ll be on the roof of the CN Tower restaurant, which means you will be 1,168 feet above the ground! It’s a thrilling experience you’ll never forget.
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The St. Lawrence Market
The St. Lawrence Market has been around for 208 years and many of the 120 vendors and artisans belong to families that have been selling and shopping here for several generations. There’s the South Market, where you can find fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and baked goods.
The North Market is where Ontario farmers bring fresh produce and antique dealers sell their treasures. There’s also a gallery that hosts local art exhibitions on the second floor.
The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
This amazing library is heaven for bibliophiles. It is home to the Rare and Special collections of the University of Toronto, containing approximately 700,000 volumes.
Some of the most notable items you can see here are an edition of Cicero’s “Book of Natural History” from 1551, numerous historic printings of Shakespeare’s works and collections of anatomical illustrations from the 1500s by famous artist Andreas Vesalius. This is one of the most unique things to do in Toronto.
The Art Gallery of Ontario
The AGO is one of the biggest art museums in North America, so if you are an art geek you can lose yourself within this enormous gallery for hours. The collection of works date from 100 AD to today and include some of the most famous names in art history, including Rodin, Degas, van Gogh, Magritte and Picasso.
It also features a superb display of art by Canadian artists and one of the world’s best collections of Inuit artwork. There’s so much to see and learn here that you won’t want to leave. Plus, if you visit during Toronto’s annual Nuit Blanche festival, the gallery will be open all night long and will host exciting events, along with many other galleries and museums throughout the city.
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Casa Loma
Can you imagine being so wealthy you build yourself a castle? Canadian financier Henry Pellatt made a fortune in the electric lighting industry in the late 1800s. He built this lavish, 98-room castle-style mansion having been fascinated with castles ever since visiting Europe as a teenager.
When the Canadian electricity market became publicly owned he lost his source of income and went in debt to the bank, having to sell everything he owned.
These days, his amazing and over the top castle is owned by the city and has become a museum and tourist attraction. Take some time to explore the three indoor bowling alleys, the never-completed swimming pool that is now filled with gravestones, the rifle range, the five acres of beautiful gardens and the tall towers with a fabulous view of the city.
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