Toronto: A City That Surprised Me
This August I spent a few days in Toronto as part of a trip that also took me to upstate New York and Niagara Falls. Canada's largest city is often overlooked in favor of its neighbors to the south, but it deserves a spot on your list. It's clean, diverse, walkable, and full of great food.
My first impression: what a lovely city. It has a great vibe, and the people were genuinely friendly everywhere we went.
Dinner at the top: the CN Tower
The CN Tower is the city's signature landmark, and the best way to experience it is with a reservation at 360 Restaurant. The dining room slowly revolves, so the entire skyline and Lake Ontario pass by over the course of your meal. Your dinner reservation also includes tower admission, which makes it a smart way to combine the two.
My tip: book well in advance, especially for sunset seatings.
Take me out to the ballgame
Catching a Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre is a fun way to feel the city's energy. The stadium sits right downtown, steps from the CN Tower, and on a nice day the retractable roof opens to the sky.
Our Yankees won, which made it even better. The food selection was great, and the stadium even has a quiet room for when the crowd noise gets to be too much, a thoughtful touch I haven't seen everywhere.
Toronto Island
A short ferry ride from downtown brings you to a completely different pace: beaches, bike paths, gardens, and one of the best views of the skyline. It's an easy half-day escape.
We took the main ferry over and a water taxi back, and the water taxi was by far the better option. The ferry was very crowded and took more than twice as long. If you can, take a water taxi both ways. Either way, the view of the city skyline from the water is amazing.
Something unexpected: Storm Crow Manor
For a playful night out, Storm Crow Manor is a themed bar and restaurant inside a Victorian mansion, packed with fantasy and sci-fi touches and creative cocktails. It's quirky, memorable, and very Toronto.
The atmosphere was awesome, the service was great, and the drinks were out of this world. It's a must for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Good to know
A valid passport is required to enter Canada
The downtown core is very walkable, and transit is easy to use
Summer and early fall offer the best weather for exploring
Toronto pairs perfectly with a day or two at Niagara Falls, roughly a 90-minute drive away
The bottom line
Toronto is a great choice for a long weekend or as part of a bigger Canada or Niagara trip. If it's been on your someday list, let's plan it.
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