DK Travel : Toronto : signals1's Toronto guide

signals1's Toronto guide

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Getting Around Toronto

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A Downtown Walk

Morning

Start the day at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art (see Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art), taking 90 minutes to peruse the permanent collections and visiting exhibit. On your way out, pop into the gift shop to have a look at the unique crafts.

Head north to Bloor St and turn left, walking a half block to the iron gates of Philosophers’ Walk, beside the ROM (see Royal Ontario Museum). Take this charming footpath, which follows the course of the now buried Taddle Creek, exiting at Hoskin St in the heart of the University of Toronto campus. Wander south to the Late Gothic Revival Hart House, lunching at Gallery Grill on food that matches the impressive surroundings.

Afternoon

After lunch, poke around the stately common rooms and library of Hart House, noting the paintings throughout. Check out Canadian art at Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, too.

From Hart House turn right toward University College and some of the most historic buildings on campus. Stop by the Laidlaw Wing to visit the University of Toronto Art Centre . Just to the south, on King’s College Circle, is the 1906 Convocation Hall, with its Ionic-column-supported dome. Peek inside if the doors are unlocked.

From here, it’s only a couple of blocks’ stroll south and west to Chinatown. Indulge in a feast at Lee Garden (331 Spadina Ave).

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City Hall

When first opened in 1965, the result of an international design competition won by Finnish architect Viljo Revell, this building was highly controversial. The two curving towers caused an uproar and possibly even led to the then mayor losing an election. The building has since become a prized landmark of the city, and the central plaza, Nathan Phillips Square, an animated symbol of civic life – a place for political demonstrations, winter ice skating, a summer farmers’ market, outdoor concerts, and celebrations. Inside are murals and other fabulous artworks (see City Hall).

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Eaton Centre

While it might seem strange that a shopping center is the city’s most popular tourist attraction – according to the numbers, at any rate – this retail complex is simply a popular place to shop, meet, hang out, and people-watch. (Crowds of boisterous teenagers attest to this fact.) Its massive size – more than 300 stores – ensures that you can find practically anything you would want to buy here. Numerous restaurants, fast-food counters, and specialty treat shops round out the bill (see Eaton Centre).

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Kensington Market

This funky neighborhood, in a small pocket west of Spadina, is the heart of multicultural Toronto – a place where vendors from almost every corner of the globe have set up shop. Spilling out into the narrow sidewalks are stores selling an array of fruits, vegetables, and bulk dry goods, while music blasts from open doors and loudspeakers. Pedestrians jostle with cyclists and traffic moves at a snail’s pace, everyone vying for their inch of street space, particularly on Saturdays when the area is at its liveliest best. Leave the car behind and wander through the streets, soaking up the atmosphere, perhaps checking out the price of live lobster at a fish vendor’s or browsing through trinkets and secondhand clothes in the many eclectic stores at the south end of Kensington Avenue (see Kensington Market).

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An Art Walk

Morning

Start at Commerce Court North (see Commerce Court North) to admire the stunning lobby. Walk west to Bay St and the TD Centre, noting the Wall and Chairs sculpture in the plaza (see Wall and Chairs) and Joe Fafard’s life-sized bronze cows lounging on the lawn behind 77 King St W.

Just around the corner at 234 Bay St is the Design Exchange (see Design Exchange). Explore it for an hour before enjoying a pan-Asian lunch at Kubo DX, on the first floor.

Afternoon

Zigzag your way to Simcoe Park, on Front St west of Wellington, and the luminous Anish Kapoor sculpture. A monument beside it honors city founders. Continue west along Front, past the CBC at No. 250, noting the Glenn Gould sculpture, in memory of the eccentric pianist. You’ll soon come to Sky-Dome, and The Audience, Michael Snow’s larger-than-life fans (see The Audience).

Turn left on Spadina Ave; crossing the bridge, look to your left to see Eldon Garnet’s memorial commemorating Chinese laborers who helped build Canada’s railroad. It’s five minutes to the lake and, just west on Queens Quay, Toronto Music Garden, in bloom spring to fall. Wander this oasis for an hour, then walk 15 minutes east to York Quay Centre to watch artisans at work and stroll the Photo Passage.

End the day with a steak dinner at Harbour Sixty (60 Harbour St), in the opulent former Harbour Commission building.

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Toronto on a Budget

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Shopping Tips

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The Annex

Leafy residential sidestreets and lively cafés, ethnic restaurants, pubs, and shops along Bloor Street make for a great stroll (see The Annex).

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360 restaurant at CN Tower

Have lunch at the top of the world's tallest building. It revolves 360 degrees whilst you eat, but don't worry as you won't feel as though you're moving!. The view is fantastic as is the food.

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