GUIDE TO TORONTO

Take a ferry to the beautiful Toronto Islands where you can enjoy stunning views of the city’s skyline

Toronto holidays will take you to the state of Ontario in Canada. It lies at Lake Ontario which borders the New York state. Toronto is known as the cultural, entertainment, business and financial capital of Canada.

It is the most important city in Canada and holds the seats to the Ontario government. Around 13,000 years ago, the ice glaciers here melted. They measured over 1km thick! It was over 1000 years later that people and animals migrated to this area. The first Europeans didn’t arrive here until the 17th Century.

The city was named the City of Toronto on 6th March 1834, celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. To celebrate, they set up an outdoor stage in Nathan Phillips Square where live music was performed and people enjoyed ice-skating. By the mid 19th Century, Toronto became a British Colonial City. It is now home to more than 80 ethnic communities.

To retrace the City’s colourful history, there are over 50 history and culture museums and children are offered the chance to visit summer school where they can learn about the history. The Royal Ontario Museum is the largest in Canada. There are also many art galleries, the oldest being the Art Gallery of Ontario which is home to over 15,000 paintings. You will see local artists painting on the sidewalk too.

If shopping is your thing, visit the exclusive shopping district, the Bloor/Yorkville area. It is home to a vast selection of designer shops and boutiques. Eaton Centre is the largest indoor mall with over 20,000 shops and stalls. There are antique markets and the weekly farmers market which is over 200 years old.

Holidays in Toronto allow you to enjoy the magnificent harbour front which is a hive of activity, attracting over 12 million visitors every year. There are bustling boutiques which sell locally crafted gifts along the waters edge, unique souvenirs to take home. From the harbour, you can take a ferry to the beautiful Toronto Islands where you can enjoy stunning views of the city’s skyline. The Centre Island is the largest, home to a picnic area, children’s farm and even an amusement park! It makes an ideal day out for the whole family but don’t forget your camera

Toronto attracts all types of holidaymakers with its festivals and events...

Toronto is home to over 32,000 hotel rooms so you never have to be stuck for somewhere to stay. The majority offer Room Only though a few do provide a breakfast. There are so many restaurants in the city, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Whether it’s China Town, Little Italy or the Greek district you visit, there are so many mouth-watering options to tempt you!

It is often thought that Toronto is cold all year round when in fact it has the mildest climate in Canada. Summer temperatures are up to 25 `C and the only month that goes below freezing is January. It rarely snows more than 4” so although skiing is popular here, it isn’t as good as in other Canadian resorts. The Ski Mountains are about a 1 hour drive from the city or you can catch the Go By bus. Ski clubs are a good way of meeting new people and they tend to enjoy cross country or Nordic skiing in preference to downhill skiing. This is a lot cheaper and provides a good all over body workout.

Getting around the city is so easy with many transport options. The tramway is ideal for short distances when shopping, though the metro is used for longer journeys. There’s even a London style bus for sightseeing! The bus stops off at all the main tourist attractions such as Toronto Zoo, home to more than 5000 animals. Canada’s Wonderland is the largest theme park in Canada, with over 200 attractions and 65 rides, it suits holidaymakers of all ages. The city centre has many stunning parks to stroll through at leisure and make sure you keep a look out for the famous black squirrels.