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Most of the 500,000 Italians who call Toronto home now live north of the city, but the pizzerias, and trattorias that remain on this once predominantly Italian strip of College St west of Bathurst St ensure it retains its flair. At night, music and patrons spill out of trendy bars and restaurants (see Little Italy).

This world-renowned refuge for migrating birds, especially waterfowl, has been recognized by the United Nations as a biosphere reserve. Formed over thousands of years by sand washed from Lake Erie’s shoreline, the 25-mile (40-km) sand spit has white sand beaches; the lake’s shallow depth ensures warm water throughout the swimming season. Spring and fall are excellent for bird-watching; miles of trails through dunes, forests, wetlands, and grasslands can be enjoyed year-round. Campsites are equipped with showers, laundry facilities, and electrical hook-up.

This theater presents excellent productions that are always a hit with children. The façade of the original building, built in 1881 as a stable for streetcar-pulling horses, can still be seen.

In a region known primarily for its white wines, this organic vineyard produces excellent reds. A tasting room is set amid huge production tanks.

Artifacts and photographs of Toronto’s history are exhibited in free, themed shows, in the old council chamber tucked on the second floor of the South Market. See the market from a different perspective, through the large window looking out onto the floor.

Located in Kleinburg, 18 miles (30 km) from downtown Toronto, this outstanding gallery features a stellar display of works by the seminal Group of Seven painters, their contemporaries such as Tom Thomson and Emily Carr, and the artists they inspired. The gallery also exhibits an impres- sive collection of First Nations and Inuit artists.

Kids’ menu features pizza and grilled-cheese sandwiches.

Friendly local hang-out with Middle Eastern and vegetarian dishes.

Locals love St. Urbain Bakery’s dense, chewy buns, in the South Market. The bagel-cooking method – boil then bake in a wood-fired oven – hails from French-Canadian city Montreal.