Lauren Ober
The Citizen
When Americans travel abroad, especially in the post-9/11 world, they are often encouraged to pretend they're Canadian.
Everyone loves Canadians, or at least no one has any major beef with them.
But for Americans traveling to Canada, such a ruse isn't necessary. Not only is it difficult to tell an American from a Canadian just by sight, but there is little vitriolic animosity between the two countries. That makes Canada one of the more pleasant places for Americans to travel.
Toronto is the perfect city for a day trip from this area and is sure to give a booster dose of big-city life that lasts for a while. Whether by car or the new high-speed ferry, the 440-mile round-trip to Toronto is ambitious, but worthwhile.
Because it is so close, Toronto is a city that can be explored in stages or a series of day excursions. And though it's a major metropolitan area, thanks to the exchange rate with U.S. currency, it's a little cheaper.
DeAnna Taylor, owner of Auburn Travel, says Toronto is great for a short driving trip. In her experience, Toronto is one of the three most popular summer driving destinations, including Niagara Falls and the Adirondacks.
"Toronto is easily accessible by car, the theater is just as good as New York City and it's cheaper, the U.S. dollar is pretty strong compared to the Canadian dollar, the festivals are always popular and it's a great place for sports fans," said Taylor, who organizes hotel and theater packages as well as dinner and museum packages through her travel agency.
Before heading up to visit our neighbors to the north, there are some things to keep in mind. Because of homeland security concerns, many borders are tightening up and just a driver's license won't do. If you're taking the ferry over, you will be required to show a driver's license and either a passport or a birth certificate, lest you be hassled by customs officials.
The closer you get to the Canadian/American border, the more likely it is that both currencies will be accepted. But in Toronto, as would be expected, Canadian dollars are preferable. Many businesses accept U.S. currency, but the exchange rate offered by banks is much better. So save yourself the extra time and money and exchange your currency before you go.
The sheer size and bustle of Toronto can be overwhelming for the first-time visitor.
Your best bet for navigating the city easily is to ditch the car, assuming you drove, and make use of Toronto's excellent public transportation system. The Toronto Transit Commission operates buses, streetcars and subways that are clean, cheap and easy to use. The streetcars run 24 hours a day, the subway runs until 1 a.m. and the buses vary in schedule depending on where they run.
Your best bet for a day excursion is a TTC Day Pass for $7.75 CAN. The pass entitles you to unlimited travel on any TTC public transportation service.
Once you have your day pass, you're ready to start exploring. Toronto is known for its eclectic collection of true neighborhoods, from the expansive Chinatown to the trendy Yorkville to the 19th century charm of Old Town/St. Lawrence Market. Many are close enough so that you can explore a few in one day.
But if you've never been to Toronto, there are definitely some must-sees to hit before exploring the city in greater depth.
€ CN Tower: Rising 1,815 feet and five inches above the ground, the CN Tower, built for telecommunications purposes in the mid-1970s, is the world's tallest free-standing structure and one of the Canada's main tourist destinations. The tower, close to the SkyDome at Harbourfront, has four observation decks to choose from that can be accessed by six high-speed elevators that travel up the outside of the tower at 20 feet per second.
The Glass Floor Level, about 1,122 feet off the ground, is so named for its transparent floor. Ascending 1,465 feet above the ground, the Sky Pod observation dec is the highest gallery in the world.
The panoramic views are unparalleled, however, those who suffer from vertigo may not be too impressed by the engineering feat.
* Art Gallery of Ontario: If you're looking for a little culture, look no further than the Art Gallery of Ontario, one of the top art museums in North America. Highlights of the museum include the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre, featuring the largest public collection of Moore's work in the world. Visitors may climb in and around the British sculptors massive modern work "Two Forms," which sits just outside the museum.
In addition to a respectable collection of Canadian artists, the museum boasts an increasing number of masterworks from such giants as Rembrandt, Picasso and Matisse. Admission to the museum includes entrance to The Grange, a Gregorian-style house built in 1817.
* Royal Ontario Museum: Though you might have thought it was Alan Thicke, the Royal Ontario Museum has been touted "Canada's single greatest cultural asset." Clearly then, it's worth a visit. Though the natural history museum is undergoing major renovations slated to be completed by 2006, visitors can still explore the impressive collection of more than six million items.
The most popular exhibits tend to be the Evolution Gallery, celebrating Darwin's theories of evolution, and the Dinosaur Gallery, for obvious reasons. The museum also holds one of the most extensive collections of Asian art, including North America's premier exhibit on Korean works. Indigenous peoples of Canada and Canadian heritage are also well-represented in museum's collection. From enormous bugs to suits of armor to ancient Egyptian sarcophagi, the ROM has something for everybody.
If you have time and you want to hit the pavement and see Toronto from street-level, there are a number of neighborhoods that are worth a walk through. Kensington Market is one of the best European-style markets outside of Europe. Even if you're not on the prowl for anything in particular, it's worth it to experience all the sights and smells of the century-old market.
There you can find the most amazing collection of vintage clothing shops north of New York City. Ethnic food abounds and you can sample fare from Vietnam to Cuba. Saturday is the best day to hit up the market and the best day to scout the local residents. The market is bounded by Dundas Street, Spadina Avenue, Baldwin Street and Augusta Avenue
A short walk from the Kensington Market is Toronto's Chinatown, one of the largest in North America. Joining the scads of authentic Chinese restaurants in the area are markets and herbalists selling everything from plastic flip-flops to "red giant" mustard greens. The food markets are particularly impressive for the numerous varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs that are not easily found in your local super market.
The population of Chinatown is just over 100,000, so the streets can be a bit busy, especially on Sundays, when the area comes alive. Chinatown spans much of the area from Spadina Ave. from Queen Street to College Street, and running along Dundas Street as far as east as Bay Street.
If time permits, be sure to check out the Distillery Historic District, once the home of Gooderham-Worts Distillery, formerly the largest distillery in Canada. In 1993, it was restored to become a unique arts venue. With boutique art shops and restaurants, the Distillery District is good for an afternoon walk or an evening out. Visit www.thedistillerydistrict.com for more information.
While there is so much to do in Toronto that you'll never see it all in one trip, the good thing is that it's only a short drive or ferry ride away. There's no place closer to see a major league baseball or hockey game, or a big Broadway-style production. Plus it's the one foreign country where you won't stand out as an American.
When Americans travel abroad, especially in the post-9/11 world, they are often encouraged to pretend they're Canadian.
Everyone loves Canadians, or at least no one has any major beef with them.
But for Americans traveling to Canada, such a ruse isn't necessary. Not only is it difficult to tell an American from a Canadian just by sight, but there is little vitriolic animosity between the two countries. That makes Canada one of the more pleasant places for Americans to travel.
Toronto is the perfect city for a day trip from this area and is sure to give a booster dose of big-city life that lasts for a while. Whether by car or the new high-speed ferry, the 440-mile round-trip to Toronto is ambitious, but worthwhile.
Because it is so close, Toronto is a city that can be explored in stages or a series of day excursions. And though it's a major metropolitan area, thanks to the exchange rate with U.S. currency, it's a little cheaper.
DeAnna Taylor, owner of Auburn Travel, says Toronto is great for a short driving trip. In her experience, Toronto is one of the three most popular summer driving destinations, including Niagara Falls and the Adirondacks.
"Toronto is easily accessible by car, the theater is just as good as New York City and it's cheaper, the U.S. dollar is pretty strong compared to the Canadian dollar, the festivals are always popular and it's a great place for sports fans," said Taylor, who organizes hotel and theater packages as well as dinner and museum packages through her travel agency.
Before heading up to visit our neighbors to the north, there are some things to keep in mind. Because of homeland security concerns, many borders are tightening up and just a driver's license won't do. If you're taking the ferry over, you will be required to show a driver's license and either a passport or a birth certificate, lest you be hassled by customs officials.
The closer you get to the Canadian/American border, the more likely it is that both currencies will be accepted. But in Toronto, as would be expected, Canadian dollars are preferable. Many businesses accept U.S. currency, but the exchange rate offered by banks is much better. So save yourself the extra time and money and exchange your currency before you go.
The sheer size and bustle of Toronto can be overwhelming for the first-time visitor.
Your best bet for navigating the city easily is to ditch the car, assuming you drove, and make use of Toronto's excellent public transportation system. The Toronto Transit Commission operates buses, streetcars and subways that are clean, cheap and easy to use. The streetcars run 24 hours a day, the subway runs until 1 a.m. and the buses vary in schedule depending on where they run.
Your best bet for a day excursion is a TTC Day Pass for $7.75 CAN. The pass entitles you to unlimited travel on any TTC public transportation service.
Once you have your day pass, you're ready to start exploring. Toronto is known for its eclectic collection of true neighborhoods, from the expansive Chinatown to the trendy Yorkville to the 19th century charm of Old Town/St. Lawrence Market. Many are close enough so that you can explore a few in one day.
But if you've never been to Toronto, there are definitely some must-sees to hit before exploring the city in greater depth.
€ CN Tower: Rising 1,815 feet and five inches above the ground, the CN Tower, built for telecommunications purposes in the mid-1970s, is the world's tallest free-standing structure and one of the Canada's main tourist destinations. The tower, close to the SkyDome at Harbourfront, has four observation decks to choose from that can be accessed by six high-speed elevators that travel up the outside of the tower at 20 feet per second.
The Glass Floor Level, about 1,122 feet off the ground, is so named for its transparent floor. Ascending 1,465 feet above the ground, the Sky Pod observation dec is the highest gallery in the world.
The panoramic views are unparalleled, however, those who suffer from vertigo may not be too impressed by the engineering feat.
* Art Gallery of Ontario: If you're looking for a little culture, look no further than the Art Gallery of Ontario, one of the top art museums in North America. Highlights of the museum include the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre, featuring the largest public collection of Moore's work in the world. Visitors may climb in and around the British sculptors massive modern work "Two Forms," which sits just outside the museum.
In addition to a respectable collection of Canadian artists, the museum boasts an increasing number of masterworks from such giants as Rembrandt, Picasso and Matisse. Admission to the museum includes entrance to The Grange, a Gregorian-style house built in 1817.
* Royal Ontario Museum: Though you might have thought it was Alan Thicke, the Royal Ontario Museum has been touted "Canada's single greatest cultural asset." Clearly then, it's worth a visit. Though the natural history museum is undergoing major renovations slated to be completed by 2006, visitors can still explore the impressive collection of more than six million items.
The most popular exhibits tend to be the Evolution Gallery, celebrating Darwin's theories of evolution, and the Dinosaur Gallery, for obvious reasons. The museum also holds one of the most extensive collections of Asian art, including North America's premier exhibit on Korean works. Indigenous peoples of Canada and Canadian heritage are also well-represented in museum's collection. From enormous bugs to suits of armor to ancient Egyptian sarcophagi, the ROM has something for everybody.
If you have time and you want to hit the pavement and see Toronto from street-level, there are a number of neighborhoods that are worth a walk through. Kensington Market is one of the best European-style markets outside of Europe. Even if you're not on the prowl for anything in particular, it's worth it to experience all the sights and smells of the century-old market.
There you can find the most amazing collection of vintage clothing shops north of New York City. Ethnic food abounds and you can sample fare from Vietnam to Cuba. Saturday is the best day to hit up the market and the best day to scout the local residents. The market is bounded by Dundas Street, Spadina Avenue, Baldwin Street and Augusta Avenue
A short walk from the Kensington Market is Toronto's Chinatown, one of the largest in North America. Joining the scads of authentic Chinese restaurants in the area are markets and herbalists selling everything from plastic flip-flops to "red giant" mustard greens. The food markets are particularly impressive for the numerous varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs that are not easily found in your local super market.
The population of Chinatown is just over 100,000, so the streets can be a bit busy, especially on Sundays, when the area comes alive. Chinatown spans much of the area from Spadina Ave. from Queen Street to College Street, and running along Dundas Street as far as east as Bay Street.
If time permits, be sure to check out the Distillery Historic District, once the home of Gooderham-Worts Distillery, formerly the largest distillery in Canada. In 1993, it was restored to become a unique arts venue. With boutique art shops and restaurants, the Distillery District is good for an afternoon walk or an evening out. Visit www.thedistillerydistrict.com for more information.
While there is so much to do in Toronto that you'll never see it all in one trip, the good thing is that it's only a short drive or ferry ride away. There's no place closer to see a major league baseball or hockey game, or a big Broadway-style production. Plus it's the one foreign country where you won't stand out as an American.
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