I was lucky enough to spend a month in Toronto this year and I absolutely loved it. I had visited before and honestly wasn’t sold on the place, but I came to realise I was just in the wrong areas. I don’t want this to happen to you, I want you to make the most of your stay, so here are my recommendations of what you should be spending your time and money on.
- CN Tower
Can you really go to Toronto and not go up the CN Tower? The CN Tower can be seen for miles and is Toronto’s most famous landmark. From the top of the tower you see great views of the city, the Toronto islands and the island airport. I will say it ain’t cheap, going to the top will set you back 35$ CAD. There is a small restaurant at the top of the tower where you can grab a bite to eat, but if you wanna be really fancy the main restaurant is the floor above. It slowly rotates so you will have seen a 360 degree view of the city by the end of your meal. For the adventurous people out there you are able to do an ‘Edge Walk’ on the top of the tower. I amn’t even going to attempt to explain it, the picture below should do the explaining for me.
- Steam Whistle Brewery
Although I am not a huge beer fan I totally loved this place. At only $13 for the tour, you really get a real bang for your buck as throughout the tour you are given 2/3 free drinks. Yes, you heard me, FREE ALCOHOL! So it is cheaper than going to a pub! The tour lasts around 30 mins which was the perfect length. I visited the brewery on the weekend so the factory wasn’t running but we still got to see all of the machines. However, if possible I would try to go midweek when the place is operating so you can see everything in action.
- Harbour front
On a nice day the harbour front is a gorgeous place for a walk, there is usually quite a lot going on down there on the weekends. There are seating areas and little beaches looking out onto Lake Ontario where you can get your tan onnnnn. At harbour front you can get a boat over to the Toronto Islands where you can rent bikes and canoes, it is also a great picnic destination with loads of seating areas and apparently there are BBQs that can be used by the public
- St. Lawrence market
The St. Lawrence Market claims to be ‘one of the world’s great food markets’, and honestly based on what I saw I would back that claim up. This amazing old market brings together some of Toronto’s freshest foods all sold from individual stalls. Some of the stalls you will find at the market include a Fruit & Veg Stall, a Juice Bar, a Butcher, Homemade pasta stall, a Cheese Stall and many many more. This place isn’t only for grocery shopping, many of the vendors are there to solely provide to the hungry shoppers. I have been told the St. Lawrence market is known for its Peameal Bacon Buns, so if you are in the area check them out.
- Kensington market
Another spot for the foodies, only this one is outdoor so check the weather before you go. This little area is FULL of loads of little restaurants with so many different types of food on offer you will be spoilt for choice. From what I could tell the restaurants were more for lunch or casual bites as they had minimal seating and a line up process. While you are in the area you should go into the big indoor craft market. This building is home to all the little ‘bits and bobs’ that made me want to buy Christmas presents for people in April …
- Queen Street West
In this funky area you will find loads of quaint coffee shops, boutiques and little restaurants. Perfect way to escape the rustle and bustle of Yonge Street. While you are there keep your eyes open for the street art/graffiti that covers most corners.
- Distillery District
I didn’t get a chance to get to The Distillery District, but I have only heard good things. Based in and around a distillery that was founded in 1832, the place perfectly combines the new with the old. Expect to find restaurants, retail shops, art galleries and much more.
I hope this article has been able to help anyone who plans on visiting Toronto. If you have any other suggestions that I may have left out or not had a chance to see feel free to comment below.
Thanks for reading,
The Girl on the Go xx
