toronto travel

THE ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO (AGO), TORONTO’S RENOWNED ART MUSEUM

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The Outside Of The Art Gallery Of Ontario With Traffic Going Past

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The Art Gallery of Ontario is an Art Museum that is home to more than 80,000 art pieces that date from the first century. The museum is located in Dundas Street West Toronto, Ontario, Canada and sits on a 480,000 sq.ft. of space. It has the largest collection of Canadian art and various other works including African, European, and Oceanic Art. The pieces range from sculptures, drawings, and architecture to photographs and paintings.

AGO was founded at the start of the 20th Century (1900) by a group of artists and art lovers who were members of the Ontario Society of Artists. The museum was incorporated and in 1919 was named the Art Gallery of Toronto, but that was later changed to Art Gallery of Ontario 47 years later. It held its first formal exhibition in 1913, but its first galleries were opened for viewing in 1918.

AGO’S TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE YEARS

The art museum has undergone a journey of transformation with the aim of an expansion to add several galleries have taken place throughout the 20th century that saw the AGO resting on 413, 000 sq. ft. of space, as of 1993. In 2004, the museum embarked on yet another transformation project by architect Frank Gehry at the cost of $276 million.

The transformation, however, received some significant backlash as many pointed out that the museum would lose its meaning and become the architect’s signature building. Even so, Frank did justice to the museum but giving it a facelift that saw around 47% of new space created for art viewing. The transformation saw the inclusion of gift shops, and a restaurant at the front of the art museum.

THE MUSEUM FEATURES AND ATTRACTIONS

PERMANENT COLLECTION

The Art Gallery of Ontario collection of Canadian art documents works that depict the growth of the country’s heritage through the years. The collection includes pieces done by Cornellius Krieghoff, Tom Thomson, and Emily Carr among other artists. Besides the works done by Canadian artists, AGO also showcases pieces from other parts of the world such as Europe, Asia, and Africa.

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES

AGO is home to one of the principal art libraries in Canada and it, as well as the museum’s archives, are open to the public and with no admission fees. The library and archives are made up of a general collection of works of art, over 165,000 volumes of information on general art and the history of art, information that can also be used for academic research about art. The library also has various newspapers from American, European, and Canadian art journals.Part of the collection also includes rare books from different authors and artists that date back to the 17th century.

The archive and special collections are made up of various historical documents that date back to when the museum opened. The exceptional collection of works of art include works done by artists such as Jack Bush and other that are finds from artist-run galleries as well as art dealers and collectors.

THE MOST AMAZING TOURIST SPOTS IN THE CITY OF TORONTO

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Parents With Children Visiting Toronto Zoo, Largest Zoo In Canada

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Toronto, Ontario’s largest city and its capital, houses diverse tourist attractions from science centers and zoos to galleries and the famous CN Tower. The city can be easily traveled with a number of places within a walking distance from the city center. Enjoy the vibrancy of the city as you hop from one tourist spot to another. The major ones include:

ROGERS CENTER

This uniquely designed gigantic sports arena includes a sliding roof that can be opened when the weather is favorable. Rogers Center has the capacity to house thousands of spectators, who gather there to enjoy games like football and baseball as well as pop and rock concerts. Tourists can also have a glimpse of the entire facility through a guided tour.

TORONTO ZOO

This huge zoo, situated over the Red River, is home to several animals. The panda exhibit is one of the primary attractions. The zoo has innumerable sections, each representing a particular region on earth. You will find the North American section quite appealing with its impressive polarium, huge bison park and roomy grizzly bear enclosure. Other highlights of the zoo include the Great Barrier Reef and the African Savanna.

CN TOWER

This famous 553-meter landmark of Toronto cannot be missed by any chance. The structure is visible from almost all parts of Toronto. You can simply view the CN Tower from the ground level or visit an observation area for magnificent views of Lake Ontario and the city. The Sky Pod is the topmost area on the tower from where one can see the New York State and the Niagara Falls. Other attractions in this tower are the revolving 360 restaurant, the Outdoor Sky Terrace and the Glass Floor.

CITY HALL

The City Hall stands tall in the Nathan Philips Square, boasting of “The Archer”, Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture. Built in 1965, the hall has two high-rise arc-shaped blocks, one 27 storied and another 20 storied, along with a lower central building that has a flattened cupola at the top. A manmade pond lies is front, which is popularly used as a skating rink in winter.

ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTER

With a number of interesting exhibits that appeal to children, this family oriented center has a spot that overlooks the beautiful Don Valley. Visitors can have a brush with the latest developments in telecommunications, technology, space travel, physics, biology, optics and meteorology, all of which are wonderfully presented.

DISTILLERY DISTRICT

The Distillery District is actually a historic spot that has been revamped into a stylish shopping and entertainment district, which makes for an enjoyable visit during the daytime or in the evening. Here tourists will find a range of charming boutiques, restaurants, artists’ studios and galleries. The place also houses many performing arts schools and venues and hosts a number of entertainment shows. Apart from these, other significant places to visit are the St. Lawrence Market, the Casa Loma, the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the Eaton Center, the High Park and the Entertainment District. On the whole, the city offers a full package of entertainment and sightseeing.

STAYING AS A TOURIST IN TORONTO

You can comfortably stay in Toronto as there are a number of hotels situated in posh locations. If you are looking for luxury hotels, Delta Toronto, The Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton and Hilton are the right ones for you. Mid-range hotels include the likes of Novotel, the Radisson Admiral and the Holiday Inn Express. Again, for budget hotels, you may choose from The Saint James Hotel, the Comfort Inn City Center or the Super 8.

IT’S THE PERFECT TIME IN THE YEAR TO VISIT TORONTO

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Perfect Time To Visit Toronto

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Compared to America’s “The Big Apple”, Toronto is not as big but is as, if not more, majestic and the New York City. Being the fourth largest of Canada’s cities, Toronto is big on being a hub for what is hip and happening in Canada. It is a reputation that noted as the New York Times listed the town in its “52 Places to visit in 2016”; giving Toronto the seventh position on the list.

The city has caught up with the big players such as Montreal and Vancouver in terms of annual visitors. It had over 14.3 million visitors in 2014. Its demeanor that is less intimidating and noticeably friendlier than the other cities may be the reason it has caught the interest of travelers.

Summer is always the best time of the year to head on to Toronto. The sights and sounds are just to “die for”; a joy to experience. But then again, even when the cold weather comes knocking, the town still has plenty to offer, and you should plan to visit someday, soon. In regards to hospitality, Toronto has an array of hotels to choose from at affordable prices.

Many prefer the Chelsea Hotel because of its size and location. The hotel has 1,500 rooms to choose from and is located next to the Eaton Center shopping mall. The Center houses a lobby bar, two restaurants, a nightclub, shopping malls, and two pools (an outdoor and an indoor pool) as well as a kids’ indoor water park.

A walk in Distillery District is sure to be fun as you explore the different shops and took a stroll through Allen Gardens. Head down to the Carbon Bar for some mouthwatering barbecue-themed gourmet meal after having a day of some spectacular sightseeing. The bar is among the many trending eating joints in Toronto for both the locals and visitors.

With a full belly, head over to the Royal Alexandria Theatre to watch “Kinky Boot”, a dazzling upbeat musical whose casts included Alan Mingo among others who mostly were Canadian actors. The theater was constructed in 1907 and is among the many other architectural sights in Toronto that include museums and galleries.

However, the main structural attraction is the CN Tower, an 1815ft free standing structure and it’s the third tallest tower in the world. It was completed in 1976 and stands as one of the iconic parts of Toronto’s skyline. From its revolving gourmet restaurant, you can have a magnificent view of the Niagara Falls. Speaking of dining, the Bannock, Sassafras, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, and the Sultan’s Tent as jus some of the best eateries you will find in Toronto.

So, we can conclude that no visit to this upbeat town would be complete without visiting the falls. It is one thing to view the Niagara Falls from afar, atop the skyscrapers and another to be a few feet away from the freefalling water and hearing the raging sounds of the water as is blazing water sprays hits you. In a unique way, Toronto was a mix of cultural surprises, and you will enjoy every minute of your visit there.

Toronto – The New York City of Canada

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Toronto, the capital of Ontario, Canada is often compared with New York due to the similar city feel and is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. Toronto is the fourth largest city in North America and recently gained popularity amongst immigrants and tourists.

Toronto offers its visitors with a wide range of things to do and places to see from the Niagara Falls to witnessing the city’s popular music and dance shows. Some of them are briefed below:

  • Niagara Falls
    Niagara Falls, one of the World’s wonders is located at a 90 minute drive from the city. Witnessing 750,000 gallons of water a second of the Falls being hurtled down from the curved cliffs from the Table Rock site or standing barely a meter from the edge of Horseshoe Falls is a memorable sight. One can also take a helicopter ride and soar over the falls. The Niagara Falls are also located at the Canadian- United States border, the World’s longest international border.
  • CN Tower
    This 1815 foot tower is the World’s tallest tower from where one can view the city or walk on air on the Glass Floor and outdoor Sky Terrace.
  •  Hockey
    Canada’s national sport, Hockey and team, Toronto Maple Leafs can be viewed showcasing their talents in various outdoor ice rinks over the city including the popular, Nathan Philips Square.
  • Haunted Walk
    One can test their sense of fear with the Haunted Walk which offers spooky tales and gory facts from the earlier days.
  • Shopping
    Toronto has various popular shopping destinations such as the Toronto Eaton Centre which is jammed with shops, from high street brands to local designers, St. Lawrence Market offers fresh produce, books and antiques.Toronto also holds the One of a Kind Show, the largest consumer craft show in North America twice a year where domestic and handmade items a resold.
  • Eateries
    Toronto offers food from all over the world with various eateries available at Chinatown, Little India, Little Italy and many others such as the Hungary Thai for fusion cuisine. Toronto also holds Taste of the Danforth celebrations for commiserating Greek history with Greek ford every summer. Canadian favourite, poutine is also a dish to look forward to.
  • Be a Lumberjack
     One can learn howto throw an axe with the Backyard Axe Throwing League. Archery tag games are available at the ArcheryDistrict along with foam arrows, paintball, archery and dodge ball.
  • Dancing
    The Entertainment District draws over 30000 clubbers every Saturday night and is termed as one of the most concentrated party scenes in the world. The Hoxton and Uniun are two of the popular clubs.
  • Casa Loma Castle
     Casa Loma designed by prominent architect EJ Lennox for Sir Henry Pellat in 1914 is Toronto’s castle which has eloquent marble floors in the stables and lavish rooms.

Besides the above, Toronto also houses the famous Spadina Historic House and Gardens, financier James Austin’s lavish mansion, the Canadian Opera Company, Canada’s premiere ballet company, the National Ballet of Canada and Toronto’s popular theatre scenes which have termed the city ‘North Broadway’.

Toronto International Film Festival

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Toronto International Film Festival.

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The Toronto International Film Festival is touted to be one of the biggest and brightest film festivals on the earth. A number of well-known celebrities, actors, actresses, directors, editors, etc, grace the event.  The festival plays host to several world premieres, parties, schmoozes, etc. A number celebs and star-struck people attend the event annually. Therefore, if you are a cinema buff, then this event is for you. The added bonus is that you get to experience the amazing city of Toronto.

Things to See and Do

The festival boasts of many things to see and do. First there is the Toronto International Film Festival Light Box which is an exhibition of exquisite memorabilia from the collection of Andy Warhol, a celebrated actor. You can also check out the Toronto City Pass, which offers users the facility to save 40% when they visit monuments like CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, Ontario Science Center, etc. The Royal Ontario Museum is an exhibition of the objects excavated from the site of the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius. Pompeii, the Casa Loma is one of the top tourist attractions in Toronto. The Ontario Science Center is a tourist attraction for people of all ages. The CN Tower is a civil engineering marvel in Toronto.

Things to Eat and Drink

Toronto offers travellers a choice of different kinds of cuisines ranging from the vegetarian to the kosher variety. You will also see food trucks that vend meals on wheels. Toronto also hosts many beer joints along with fine dining. If you are a vegetarian, you need not fret for Toronto also has meatless eateries. Wine, cheese, and chocolate are considered three of life’s greatest pleasures and Toronto has them in abundance. Apart from all this, this city is also known for its restaurants with a scenic view.

Places to Stay

Toronto offers a traveler number of options to stay in the city. First, there are the budget hotels, then the bed and breakfast joints and finally the luxury hotels. There are special hotel packages for tourists visiting the place. Toronto has a number of staying options for all kinds of people depending on their budget. However, I would always recommend that you stay in a luxury hotel when you visit the place.

Events in the Festival

The festival boasts of theatre and movie shows of plays and movies, which have universal appeal. The event will also feature many exhibitions of artifacts and memorabilia from well-known celebrities. As if this is not enough, it will also have a collection of different cuisines, which will suit people of all colors and hues.

7 Reasons Why You Should Travel Alone

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Woman traveling

Traveling makes you a better person and that is probably one of the major reasons why we love it so much. But, often we prefer traveling to new places with someone because, for obvious reasons, it is better, more fun, safer and what not. But, we often forget that there is nothing like traveling alone. Traveling alone is an incredibly unique experience that everyone should try out once in their life.  Here is a list of 7 reasons why you should pack your bags and leave to discover yourself and the world alone:

  • Change

Traveling changes you. While traveling, you will come across millions of things and these encounters are bound to create an impact on you. These life changing expanders have the power to makes you so much better. It helps you in changing without having an obligation to change. Your perspective towards things undergoes a change and you see the world differently when you have traveled alone.

  • Liberating

Traveling alone can be completely liberating, which can give you a different kind of rush. It also gives you the freedom to find yourself and that is the ultimate goal in life, isn’t it? It helps you realize that sometimes the only company you need is yourself. It gives you a great sense of fulfillment and independence.

  • Confidence

When you do things that you have no knowledge of, it is bound to boost your confidence. When you don’t have any help with you, you gather the confidence to do it alone because, well, what other options are there? Traveling builds your self-esteem and confidence in a way that they become an imperative part of your personality.

  • Stress Buster

We all need a vacation every once in a while. In this hustle-bustle of life, we get so stressed that we forget that there is always an escape. A lot of times we even cancel plans because the people we want to go with are busy. But just imagine that whenever you want to travel, you can just pick up your bags and leave. You wouldn’t have to wait for anybody else to be stressed to have a little vacation for yourself. That itself sounds very appealing.

  • Find Yourself

We get lost in living up to the expectations of people, fulfilling our responsibilities and get engrossed in our busy lives. We lose ourselves a little each day. Taking a vacation alone will not only help you find and discover yourself, it will also help you reinvent yourself. You can become who you want and improvise on it.

  • Experience

It gives you so much of life experience. When you travel alone and have no assistance, you end up doing things yourself that you otherwise would not have. It teaches you so many things. You also get to learn about many places, people and how to live with yourself.

  • Perception

When you see and meet new people, it changes your point of view in so many ways that you might not even notice. It makes your perception a lot better. It gives you an edge over the others.