travel to toronto

TOP FIVE THINGS TO DO IN TORONTO

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A View Of CN Tower

From great weather and vibrant surroundings to highly artistic culture and friendly locals, the Great White North is sure to impress you in every way. As the most populous city in Canada, Toronto displays an eclectic mix of culture. It is home to a few Chinatowns, a Little Italy, a Greek Town, a Little Portugal, and a Korea town.

So, a vacation in Toronto means you get to experience diverse culture under one roof. Open wide spaces, landscapes, museums, parks, global eats and historical buildings offer a wide range of things to do. If you are still confused then here is a list of top 5 things to do in Toronto:

Take A Tour Of The Famous CN Tower

The CN Tower is the one of the most significant buildings in the world standing tall at 1,815 feet and 5 inches. Apart from being the center of Toronto tourism, this iconic building also serves as the telecommunications hub of the state. CN Tower attracts nearly 2 million visitors every year who enjoy breathtaking views from the four level viewing areas of this tower. It also houses a café and a famous eatery from where visitors can see 360-degree view of the city.

Splash Some Cash At Yorkville

If you are dying to splash some cash then there are several reasons to do so at the Bloor-Yorkville, where you can find high end shops and award winning restaurants. This place offers you a unique blend of modernity and historic charm. This is the most popular and fashionable neighborhood in Toronto where you can find luxury hotels, world class galleries, plush eateries, designer boutiques, and much more to explore.

Casa Loma – The Heritage Landmark

When you are in Toronto, you must plan a visit to Casa Loma, which is a much celebrated landmark in the city. This beautiful heritage building is also used as an event space as it presents that ideal backdrop for many important occasions. The Liberty Entertainment Group is planning to preserve this historical building and make improvements to it by adding more facilities for school events and cultural programs.

Explore The Downtown Area

The downtown area is worth exploring as the streets that surround the heart of Toronto is always bustling with life and activities. You will find headquarters of many Canadian companies in this area and also several accommodation options. There are several hotels, restaurants and high end shops at the downtown area. Numerous high-rise condominiums have recently sprung up to accommodate the influx of people wanting to make the downtown their home.

A Date With The Royal Ontario Museum

When you want to get your historical fix with the city, you must visit the Royal Ontario Museum which stands tall as the pride of Toronto. The museum initially was divided into five separate museums that came to be recognized together as a single historical museum in 1968. When you visit Toronto, don’t miss a date with this heritage building that will give you an insight into the history and culture of this diverse country.

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.

EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF TRAVEL AND LEISURE IN TORONTO LIKE A CELEBRITY

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View From Above Of Yorkville District In Downtown Toronto

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Toronto is at times referred to a Hollywood North and with good reason. It is a part of Canada that has some unique spots that can make you feel like you are a movie celebrity. It is a city that is an embodiment of some of the prominent places in America such as New York, Boston, and Chicago.

Being a city that has four seasons in which to film, it probably the reason that it plays host to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and even held every September that gets high press coverage and celebrities and businessmen alike.If you are thinking of visiting Toronto, this time round try and do it like an A-lister by walking the walk of the movie makers. Just keep in mind that this is not a thing that Torontonians do; they are never wowed easily when in the presence of a film celebrity.

THE TIFF HUB

Visit around the time when the city hosts the TIFF Bell Light Box that is a mix of panel discussions, interviews, premieres, and screenings held in a state of the art space. Within the same area, a lavish O&B Canteen and an upscale bar and dining section called Luma. The two restaurants are pack with customers ranging from actors, directors, onlookers, and industry type getting a something to bite. The Montecito is close by and it also takes a good number of VIP bookings. It is a favorite joint owned by Ivan Reitman and run by Chef Jonathan Waxman. Montecito serves a California-style cuisine made from fresh market products. Some of the movie celebrities are known to have dined there include Denzel Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Jennifer Garner among others.

Another famous restaurant just round the corner is Momofuku Toronto. It is a sleek joint owned by David Chang that has independent eateries. Momofuku has served its fair share of A-listers including Felicity Jones and Liam Neeson. The Ritz-Carlton is yet another spot frequented by celebs and it is reported that Olivia Wilde, Alexander Skarsgard, and Ryan Gosling had hung their hats there.

YORKVILLE

If you seek to shop like an A-lister, then Yorkville is the place to head. It is an upscale neighborhood popular to many Hollywood royalties. It is the perfect place to go do a bit of high-end shopping and a chance to bump into movie celebs as you stroll along Bloor Street. It is home to Chef Daniel Boulud’s Four Season Hotel’s dbar that has hosted many celebrities such as Bruce Springsteen and Woody Harrelson. It is a one of a kind space that has an enormous dining patio and 20ft windows that stretch from the floor to the ceiling.

The One Restaurant located at Hazelton Hotel is a popular eatery for many celebs including Jennifer Aniston and Bono, and some celebs also option to stay at the hotel when in Toronto. The Parisian Style Bistro La Societé is yet another glamorous place that has seen the likes of Michael Kors, and Amy Adams possibly come to enjoy a French bubbly and the duck confit.

DOWNTOWN CORE

Eateries in other parts of the city are often a choice for those celebs that do not like the limelight and prefer staying under the radar. One such spot is Buca on King and Portland that has seen celebs such as Penelope Cruz and Jason Priestly. The Vibe is yet another joint located in at Soho House; a members-only restaurant frequented by the likes of Colin Firth and Jenner Lawrence.

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.

RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM OF CANADA IS NOW A PART OF THE TORONTO CITYPASS PROGRAM

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RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM IN TORONTO CANADA

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Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, will as from the 1st of March 2016, be a part of the Toronto City Pass program. The Aquarium is located next to Toronto’s iconic building the CN Tower. The Toronto City Pass program is the best way to see and enjoy Toronto’s top attractions at discounted prices.

Travelers use the City Pass ticket booklets to the access to top attractions in various choice destinations at discounted prices that are half the total admission costs. The Toronto City Pass booklets will, in 2016, include and prepaid admission to The Royal Ontario Museum, The CN Tower, The Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Casa Loma, and travelers have an additional choice between the Ontario Science Center and last but not least Toronto Zoo.

The Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada opened its doors to visitors in 2013. It is an interactive attraction sitting on a 12.541 square meters and is the center of aquatic showcase that offers underwater adventure. It is the largest indoor aquarium in Canada and home to 16,000 marine animals.

The aquarium has the largest collection of sharks in North America as well as bamboo shark touch pools, stingray pools, and live dive shows. Guests get to experience underwater life as they move in the Dangerous Lagoon, glass tunnel that wades its way through planet jellies (where five jelly species are highlight by backlit color changing displays). The guests move along the sidewalk as they view moray eels, different fish species, green sea turtles, and swimming sharks.

The Toronto City Pass program will have a discounted offer as from the 1st of March where travelers will have 43% of the total admission costs attached to the attractions on each 2016 Toronto City Pass ticket booklet. The prices as of 1st of March will be $72 CAD for adults (which was previously $216 CAD). Children aged 4 to 12 years will pay $46 CAD (which was previously $86 CAD). The Toronto City Pass ticket booklets are available at all the participating attractions and can be bought online, each booklet being valid for nine days starting on the first day of its use.

City Pass ticket booklets and admission cards have, for the over 19years, been the premier products that offer travelers the chance to visit top attractions in different destinations while being big on savings. The booklets and admission cards, which have a customer recommendation rating that currently stands at 97%, are available for Dallas, Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, Ney York City, Southern California, Atlanta, Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, and Houston.

With the Toronto City Pass booklets have entry instructions for each attraction that will see travelers skip many of the ticket lines. Travelers can visit the different attractions in a destination in any order they wish. However, the booklets validity will only last for nine days starting on the first day it of its use. Each ticket to an attraction is considered invalid after it is torn out from the booklet.