Toronto

Peter Ustinov once described Toronto as "New York run by the Swiss," which is an unusual way of saying the city has a lot going for it—from shopping for anything and everything, to dining that can feature a different international cuisine every meal, to the many events, festivals and activities that rarely leave a moment for rest. It's no wonder that so many Michigan residents consider Toronto their favorite weekend getaway destination. Our Special Collection provides resources to help plan a visit.

Travel Guides & Maps

Ethnic Toronto by Robert J. Kasher (1997): This Passport Guide is especially helpful to Toronto visitors hoping to catch more than a passing glimpse of the city's rich and culturally diverse neighborhoods. Its 1997 publication date shouldn't deter anyone from using it as a starting point for explorations of "Afro-Caribbean Toronto," "Indian and South Asian Toronto," "Latin Toronto," "Jewish Toronto" and 11 more faces and cultures of the city.

Fodor's Toronto (2008) and Frommer's Toronto (2008): These popular guidebooks include standard shopping, dining and accommodations suggestions along with maps and many other features.

Time Out Toronto (2005): Expert local writers spotlight Toronto's world-class restaurants, shops and more, and delve into the city's thriving arts scene. Look for tips on scoring tickets and spotting faces at the prestigious International Film Festival.

Top Ten Toronto (2005): An Eyewitness guide that covers what it considers the top ten in a variety of categories—theatres, shopping destinations, restaurants, even the top ten within specific sites such as views from the CN Tower or exhibits at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Toronto Fun Places by Nathalie Prezeau (2001): This is a family-focused guide to more than 300 outings in and around Metropolitan Toronto.

Toronto Insight Fleximap (2005-2006): Find your way to the Beaches, High Park, the Distillery District, the Zoo, plus many other neighborhoods and attractions. This laminated map includes indexes, points of interest, along with facts for the visitor.

Toronto: The Unknown City by Howard Akler and Sarah Hood (2003): This publication looks beyond the popular tourist attractions to many of "the lesser-known spaces and stories."

Toronto's 25 Best (2006) and Around Toronto With Kids (2001): Both of these are Fodor's publications, with one offering highlights of the city in general, and the other focusing on interests of kids (and parents with kids).

Just a Few of the Top Attractions

A Taste of the World: Get an insider's view of neighborhoods and parts of the city often overlooked by travelers. "A Taste" offers walks and bicycle tours of Chinatown, Kensington Market, Yorkville and other distinctive locations, plus literary detective and ghost walks. Founder and primary guide, Shirley Lum, describes herself as "a passionate foodie."

Casa Loma: Located within the city, Casa Loma is one of the most famous "castles" in Canada. It features 98 rooms, plus gardens, much of which can be viewed by visitors. It's been open to the public since 1937.

CN Tower: From its base to the top, the tower stretches 1,815 feet and five inches, making it the world's tallest building and free standing structure. It was built in 1976. The tower's website includes an events schedule.

Distillery District: A national historic site, the district bills itself as "the largest and best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America." Look for lots of restaurants and galleries, plus a host of special events each season.

Hockey Hall of Fame: No "puckhead" would think of visiting Toronto without making a pilgramage to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Ontario Science Center: This was one of the first science centers to offer hands-on exhibits that have become so popular with children. Its website features information about current exhibits.

Rogers Centre SkyDome: The website for the home of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team—the stadium with the retractable dome—offers a virtual tour, including a 360-degree spin around the facility.

Royal Ontario Museum: The ROM website features a calendar of events with links to more detailed information about each activity, exhibit or performance.

Toronto Entertainment District: Encompassing eight square blocks in the heart of downtown and featuring facilities like the Royal Alexandra Theatre, the district grew from warehouse row to a locale known for its "diverse and often varied entertainment options."

Toronto Zoo: The Toronto Zoo currently has more than 5,000 animals representing over 450 species. One of the neat features of its website is "Meet the Animals," a listing by world geographic regions of all animal species at the zoo, plus photos of some animals.

Events and Activities

Toronto Parks & Recreation: Toronto has a wealth of public parks, including the well-known Toronto Island and Kew Gardens parks. This page includes maps and other useful information. Check the link for Discovery Walks through various parts of town; you can download free brochures. Also, don't miss PATH, the guide to miles and miles of underground shopping, services and entertainment.

Toronto Life: This arts and entertainment publication is readily available to visitors to Toronto. Its website that offers an excellent calendar of activities. Search by the range of dates that you plan to be in town.

Tourism Toronto's Calendar of Events: Search for events and activities for the week or month when you'll be visiting the city.

Visiting Toronto: The official website of the City of Toronto offers extensive information for visitors. For example, you can obtain a pdf map of Toronto's downtown subterranean walkways. Or revisit "Moose in the City," a 2000 promotion that featured 326 creatively decorated moose sculptures spread throughout the town. What will they think of next? Whatever it is, it's sure to be announced here.

Where Toronto: This is the online version of the 150-plus page magazine that you'll find waiting for you in many Toronto hotel rooms. Thanks to the Internet, though, now you can plan a few of your tourist excursions, shopping trips and dining adventures before you arrive in the city.

Transportation

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC): For travelers staying a few days in Toronto, a best-buy is the Day Pass allowing virtually unlimited access to subways, buses and streetcars running throughout the city. The TTC website offers information not only about its routes and fares, but also about the city in general. You can even click on "TTC Subway Musicians Auditions" to find out how the street performers playing underground are selected.

Nuts and Bolts Information

Taxes and Tax Refunds for Visitors: For years, you could see the long lines at duty free shops at the border, with visitors claiming refunds for Canada's Goods and Services Tax (GST). But no more; the rebate program was discontinued on April 1, 2007. This page from the province of Ontario summarizes the taxes that apply to visitors to Canada.

Universal Currency Converter: Vacationing in Toronto used to be a bargain thanks to currency conversion rates, but is less so today. This website can tell you how the U.S. dollar compares to the Canadian "Loonie."

WeatherDesk: Okay, so what's the real temperature (the temperature back here in the U.S.) when you hear that it's 24 degrees in Toronto? Assuming that 24-degree reading is in Celsius, it's 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a good website to visit if you're trying to figure out what clothes to pack for a trip to Toronto.

This Special Collection last updated on May 24, 2008.