Thinking of making your travel goals come alive on one of Topdeck’s USA and Canada road trips, but not sure where to start? It’s a big continent, we get it. Lucky for you, we’ve recently been Toronto dreaming – and we think it’s about time you should be too. The largest city in Canada (and recently proclaimed ‘The Most Diverse City in the World’), Toronto is a vibrant mix of cultures, ethnicities and (most importantly) food! So, here are our top five things to do when checking out this bright and bustling Canadian city.
Visit a country within a city
Challenge: how many countries can you visit while staying in just one city? Well, you can certainly find out in Toronto! With so many different ethnicities making up this cosmopolitan city, you have the option to dive into a different way of life just by changing neighbourhoods. Tuck into the best Greek salad outside of Athens with a visit to Greektown, grab a tantalising curry after the game in Little India, or sample the best dim sum this side of Hong Kong in Toronto’s Chinatown. With neighborhoods like Little Italy, Little Poland, Little Portugal and Little Ethiopia to explore, culinary delights await you around every corner. Stretchy waistbands at the ready!
Hit new heights at the CN Tower
This is the main landmark of Toronto and is a must-see on any visit to the ‘6’ (Drake fans, anyone?). The CN Tower can be seen from practically anywhere in the city, and it was actually the world’s tallest free-standing structure for over 30 years – until Dubai came along, that is. If you’re afraid of heights you might want to skip the glass floor on the observation deck, ‘cos looking down over a kilometre can make even the strongest legs wobble! But if you’re a total adrenaline junkie, then why not try your hand (and feet) at the infamous Edge Walk. At 1,168 feet up, it’s the highest outdoor building walk in the world. Eeek!
Catch a game in the city of sports
Sports, sports and more sports – Toronto has the teams, no matter what time of year you’re visiting. If basketball is your thing, then watching the World Champion Toronto Raptors is an absolute must for all fans. Get to the stadium early and try out the Real Sports Bar attached to the stadium – it’s got the largest bar TV in North America (seriously). Never seen a live hockey game? Make sure you catch a Maple Leafs game while you’re here. If a jumbo hot dog and a cold beer is more your scene, a visit to the Skydome (aka Rogers Centre) is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon. With soccer, CFL and other major sporting teams all calling Toronto home, there’s bound to be a live game you can catch in person or watch at many amazing sports bars in the city.
Embrace the patio life
Fun fact: Toronto considers itself the home of the patio. Whether it’s in town or at a lakeside ‘cottage’ (hello, local lingo), everything revolves around getting outside when the weather is nice. Pick a neighbourhood, park yourself up on a patio and order some wings. While you’re here, why not give a Caesar a try? Think: Bloody Mary, but instead of plain tomato juice Canadians use clamato (clam and tomato juice… apparently it tastes better than it sounds!). This savoury tipple might just be the perfect accompaniment to one of Canada’s favourite national dishes: poutine. Think: fresh cut fries (or hot chips), smothered with delicious cheese curds and topped with gravy. Trust us, try it once and you will be hooked. *drools*
Take a trip to Niagara Falls
Although technically not in Toronto, Niagara Falls sits on the city’s doorstop – just an hour and a half’s drive away from the downtown core. Watch from Table Rock as 600,000 gallons of water cascade over the edge, creating a thunderous show of mist and rushing water – or head out beneath the impressive falls on a Maid of the Mist boat tour. This one’s definitely an experience to add (and then check off) your bucket list. We just hope you brought your raincoat! If you’re planning on hanging around, the town of Niagara has great restaurants, world-class views and a great entertainment district, so there’s plenty to keep you entertained after a day exploring around the falls.
If the Canadian take on a Bloody Mary doesn’t have you convinced yet, make sure you check out our three USA & Canada trips stopping in at T-dot in 2020!
