Toronto’s downtown core has an underground tunnel system that links over 50 buildings and office towers, five subway stations, six hotels, parking garages and major attractions in the city, all with underground passageways full of places to shop.
According to the Guinness World Records, PATH is the largest underground shopping complex linking 28 km (17 miles) with over 1,000 shops and services. Once a year, the PATH hosts the world’s largest underground sidewalk sale. The underground system also provides a great haven from the elements, with heating in winter and air conditioning in summer.
I love taking the PATH in the cold, winter months, where I can walk without a coat for miles at a time. I must admit, it can be a bit confusing getting around, but that’s all part of the fun.
Wandering around, not really knowing where I’m going on a lazy day, browsing shops, sitting in a café, it’s all great fun when the weather outside is dreadful.
To help you get around easier, each letter in the PATH is a different colour and represents a
direction: P is red and represents south, orange, A, directs pedestrians to the west, blue, T, directs them to the north, and the H is yellow and points to the east.

www.toronto.ca/path/pdf/path_brochure.pdf

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Looking to see Toronto through the eyes of a local? Sign up for a free visit to one of Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods, led by a friendly greeter who shows you a different perspective of the city.
Toronto Greeters are not professional tour guides, but volunteers who love their city and want to share with visitors the special places that mean something to them. Visitors can select one of over 50 neighbourhoods that they would like to discover in-depth, or they can select one of 14 themed visits, exploring public art, architecture, music, and the waterfront. If you don’t know what to select, you can opt for “Greeter’s Choice” and be surprised.
Want to know where to go for the best shoe shopping? Where to stand to get the best shot of the CN Tower? Where the best walking trails are? Seeing a neighbourhood through the eyes of a local allows you to learn things you wouldn’t pick up on your own or read in a guide book.
This service is offered year-round to individuals, families, and groups of up to 6 people. Visits are offered in over 30 languages, including Arabic, Farsi, Marathi and Tagalog.
How to sign up: Fill out the online form, located on the City of Toronto website, at least one week before arriving: https://wx.toronto.ca/inter/city/tap.nsf/VisAppl?OpenForm.
Visitors are matched with greeters, based on language, age, interests, and neighbourhood. E-
mails are exchanged in advance to ensure the volunteer understands what the visitor is hoping to learn from the experience.

www.toronto.ca/tapto

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

If you decide at the last minute to attend one of Toronto’s many performances, then check out
T.O.TIX, Toronto’s central ticketing outlet, which offers half-price and discounted tickets on the day of performance.
Full price and discount advance tickets are available for theatre, dance, opera, music, comedy, sporting events, and more. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00 to 6:30pm. Discount tickets go off sale between 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm. Matinees are sold the day
before the performance.
T.O.TIX is owned by TAPA, a not-for-profit organization representing over 180 theatre, dance, comedy and music companies in the city. T.O.TIX primarily raises revenue for TAPA and TAPA member companies by selling same-day discount, week-of discount and full-price advance tickets, for shows in and outside of Toronto.

www.totix.ca
Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas Street East
Toronto, M5B 2R8
+1 416 536 6468 x 40
(located across the street from the Eaton Centre)
Closest subway station: Dundas
Google map: bit.ly/sXfpU2

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Honest Ed’s is more than just a store – it’s a Toronto landmark that locals have shopped in at least once and where tourists must visit before they leave the city.
It is named after its founder, Ed Mirvish, who opened the store in 1948 and ran operations until his death in 2007. Running the length of an entire block, this building can be seen several metres away: the exterior is covered with thousands of huge red and yellow signs lit up like a theatre marquee, advertising the name of the store. There are also several slogans covering the exterior, with puns such as, “Our prices are for the birds – they’re cheap, cheap.”
The 160,000 square foot place sells all sorts of kitsch, as well as low-priced goods ranging from clothing, kitchenware, hardware, toys, furniture and appliances, grocery and pharmaceutical items.
The walls of the very modest interior are crammed with autographed photos of personalities such as Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Lauren Bacall, and many others. There are also posters and photos from old film and stage productions from theatres that Mirvish owned in Toronto and London.
Once you’re done looking and buying, the surrounding neighbourhood, called Mirvish Village, has unique boutiques, book stores, antique shops, cafes, and restaurants.

honesteds.sites.toronto.com/
581 Bloor Street West, Toronto, M6G 1K3
+1 416 537 1574
Nearest subway: Bathurst station
Google map: bit.ly/rYMHWq

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Opened in 2000, this microbrewery produces a premium pilsner lager with only four natural ingredients: spring water, malted barley, hops and yeast – all GMO-free.
Located in the historic John Street Roundhouse, just south of the CN Tower, the building was built in 1929 and functioned as a Canadian Pacific Rail steam locomotive repair facility. Tours with tastings are offered seven days a week, where you can learn how pilsner is made,
the history of the building, the green initiatives taken by Steam Whistle, and much more. A 45 minute tour costs $10 per person. Reservations are accepted Monday to Thursday, and are on a first-come basis on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Reservations can be made at josh@steamwhistle.ca
Some of Steam Whistle’s more recent awards include: Canada’s Most Admired Corporate
Cultures, Canada’s Greenest Employers, and Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies.

www.steamwhistle.ca
255 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto, M5V 3M9
+1 416 416 362 2337
Nearest subway: Union station
Google map: bit.ly/vPEwtI

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is a breathtaking glass building that hosts
performances from the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada. Besides the repertoire of great productions, there is also a free concert series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre.
From September to June, concerts take place most Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon, and some Wednesdays at noon or 5:30pm. Because of limited seating, admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Although the programming is not geared toward young children, everyone is welcome to attend a concert. Genres range from vocal, piano, jazz, chamber music, world music, and a dance series.

www.coc.ca/PerformancesAndTickets/FreeConcertSeries.aspx
145 Queen Street West (near University Avenue)
+ 1 416 363 8231
Google map: bit.ly/q4GthM

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The Gardiner Museum is the only museum in Canada devoted exclusively to ceramic arts. Since its $20 million makeover in 2006, the museum is a great example of modernist architecture. Spread over three floors, the permanent collection of over 3,000 pieces cover several millennia. Items include ceramics from Ancient American works, Chinese and Japanese porcelain, Dutch Delft pottery, Maiolica from the Italian Renaissance, and Canadian and international contemporary collections. Free guided tours with admission are offered every day at 2pm. You can also catch the exhibits for free every Friday night, from 4pm to 9pm.
Upcoming exhibits include The Tsar’s Cabinet, October 13, 2011 to January 8, 2013, featuring a selection of imperial Russian porcelain and decorative arts, most of which were specifically designed for and used by the tsars and members of the Russian imperial family.
Complementing these exhibits, the museum offers clay classes for adults and children; Family Sundays, from 1pm to 4pm, the Gardiner Café, with a lunch menu.

www.gardinermuseum.on.ca
111 Queen’s Park, Toronto
+ 1 416 586 8080
Google map: bit.ly/o1zHCp

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Also known as “The Ex”, Canada’s largest fair takes place this year from August 19th to
September 5th at the Exhibition grounds. This is a bittersweet time of year for most Torontonians, who are sad the summer is drawing to a close but excited to attend this annual tradition which wraps up on Labour Day weekend.
The grounds are on a 192-acre site, and with such a variety of entertainment and events to
choose from, there really is something for everyone. Besides the large carnival midway with rides, games and food, there is also a smaller children’s midway. Some of this year’s events include aerial acrobatics and ice skating, a human cannonball, a sand sculpting competition, daily Mardi-Gras parades, hypnotists, music concerts and garden shows. The international air show takes place on the last three days of the fair.
Animal lovers can watch horse shows and competitions, as well as dog and cat shows. There is also a working farm, which gives city kids an idea of what it’s like to live on a farm. Animals range from the common cow to the exotic alpaca.
The casino has 84 gaming tables including Blackjack and Texas Hold’em Poker area with 24 tables.
The Ex is a shopper’s mecca, with over five shopping pavilions to choose from featuring
Canadian arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry and leather goods, furniture, appliances and home décor, international handicrafts, a warehouse outlet with specially discounted products from major Canadian retailers, and an outdoor market.
And it wouldn’t be a carnival without fast food. Besides the usual carnival fare of candy apples, cotton candy and pizza, the Food Building includes artery-clogging food like deep-fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, deep fried coca cola, deep fried butter, and for the first time this year, the donut cheeseburger: a ground beef patty with cheese sandwiched between two glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Getting here: There are several ways to get to the CNE via public transportation: from Union subway station, take the 509 Streetcar westbound; from Bathurst subway station, take the 511 streetcar; and from Dufferin subway station, take the 29 Dufferin bus southbound.

www.theex.com
210 Princes' Boulevard, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Canada
+1 416 393 6300
Google map: bit.ly/mXDeqt

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Here’s an opportunity to enjoy Shakespeare al fresco.
The romantic comedy, The Winter's Tale, is this year's performance at Dream in High Park. This annual summer event has been adapted for both adults and children.
Located at the High Park Theatre, an amphitheatre with seating carved right into the hillside, the stage is surrounded by lush trees and is the perfect setting to experience Shakespeare.
Performances run from the end of June until the beginning of September, Tuesdays through Sundays. Gates open at 6pm, with the performance starting at 8pm. The entry fee is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested minimum donation of $20. There is no fee for children under 14.
Food and beverages are allowed on the site: you can bring your own or purchase from a nearby concession or the Grenadier Café. Public washrooms are also available.
Performances take place weather permitting.
I like to get there early, enjoy a midday picnic, and after taking in the performance, walking through the park and gazing at the stars.
High Park is Toronto's largest public park, with several hiking trails, tennis courts, a lakefront, a dog park, a zoo, playgrounds, and gardens.

Getting there: Take the subway to High Park station, walk east to High Park Avenue and Bloor Street. Enter the park from Bloor Street, follow the road to the Grenadier Café, where you will find signage to the amphitheatre.

www.canadianstage.com/dream
1873 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6R 2Z3, Canada
+1 416 368 3110
Google map: bit.ly/qDEvYq
* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This artisan’s market showcases the works of local artists, with items ranging from crafts,
handmade jewelry, paintings, photography, one-of-a-kind clothing and even baked goods.
Over 20 exhibitors are set up in this collective space, which is a great venue for emerging artists to sell their work and for others to purchase unique items.
Toronto’s only year-round artisan market is located in Leslieville, one of the city’s hippest places to eat, drink, and shop.
It is located on Queen Street East and Caroline Avenue, just a 10-minute ride from the Queen Street subway station. Take the streetcar east to Caroline Avenue.

www.artsmarket.ca
1114 Queen Street East, M4M 1K7
+1 647 997 7616
Google map: bit.ly/qlZyuS

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands, located a mere 15-minutes ferry ride from the city centre.
I love taking the ferry over on a hot summer day; the wind blowing in my face; the gentle rocking motion of the waves, the sounds of the birds, and the view of the islands in the distance, all offer a wonderful respite form the city. The islands are a great getaway.
The main island is home to the Centreville Amusement Park and a petting zoo. With over 600 acres of parkland, there are various rides and attractions for families with children. Also on Centre Island is the Franklin Children’s Garden, based on stories by Franklin the Turtle, it is an interactive garden where kids can participate in gardening and storytelling.
I like to head over to Ward’s and Algonquin Islands, where there are about 250 residential homes, all very different from each other. From the Victorian to the eclectic, with sizes ranging from estates to toolsheds, some of the homes are conservative, while others boast pink shutters with purple trim, brightly coloured doors, one even has flowers sprouting out of a toilet bowl on the front lawn.
And there’s Hanlan’s Point Beach, well-known to nudists in Toronto, where clothing is optional.
All of these islands are connected to the mainland by several ferry services.
Once on the islands, you can rent a bicycle or a canoe, take a leisurely walk through the
gardens, or even have a picnic.

www.toronto.ca/parks/island/index.htm
Via Ferrydocks at 9 Queen’s Quay West
+ 1 416 397 2626
Google map: bit.ly/oT2iiI

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The CN Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in the Western hemisphere, standing at 1,815 feet.
This communications and observation tower, located in downtown Toronto, is a familiar icon of the city’s skyline. Its name refers to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower.
In 1995, the CN Tower was declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Taking the glass floor paneled elevator up to one of the observation decks is an exciting
experience in itself. It takes about 1 minute to reach the Look Out Level at 1,135 feet.
Other observation levels include the Glass Floor Level, at about 1,120 feet, which allows you to see straight down to street level. Brave children can sometimes be seen jumping on the glass floor, while those with less nerve remain on the sidelines. Also on this level is the Outdoor Observation Deck, where you can get a bird’s eye view of the city. The Sky Pod level is one of the world's highest public observation galleries, at an elevation of 1,465 feet. In June 2007, the tower installed 1,330 super-bright LED lights inside the elevator shafts, which shoot upwards to light the tower from dusk until 2am. The tower changes its lighting scheme on holidays and to commemorate major events.
If you want to be pushed to your limits, literally, the CN Tower opened EdgeWalk on August 1, 2011, where thrill-seekers attached to a safety harness can walk full circle and hands-free around the 5-foot ledge encircling the main pod of the tower, at 1,168 feet.

www.cntower.ca
301 Front Street West, Toronto, ON
+1 416 868 6937
Google map: bit.ly/okKTb1

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The Harbourfront Centre is a non-profit cultural organization that hosts over 4,000 events each year relating to literature, music, film, craft fairs, theatre and dance performances for adults and children. The 10-acre site houses galleries, performance spaces, craft studios, gardens, and a long stretch of boardwalk along the water’s edge where you can watch busker performances or shop at their International Market place. Free outdoor concerts are held every weekend throughout the summer and in winter there is a free open-air ice rink. Harbourfront Centre is located in the heart of Toronto's downtown waterfront. All events and programs are offered at reasonable prices and most are completely free of charge. A series of large, cultural festivals are held every weekend in the summer; some of them are the Fortune Cooking Food Festival, August 12 – 14, the Hot & Spicy Food Festival, September 2 – 5, the Vegetarian Food Fair, September 10 – 11, and the Caribbean Tales Film Festival, September 1 – 17.
Seasonal events include the Ice Canoe Race in late January, Celebrating Black History Month in February, a jazz festival in June, Canada Day celebrations in July, the Authors' Festival and Harvest Festival in October, and Mexican Day of the Dead in November.
The Toronto Music Garden, designed in association with Yo-Yo Ma, offers free concerts most Thursdays at 7pm and Sundays at 4pm. The Garden design was inspired by the first suite of Johan Sebastian Bach's Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, and each movement corresponds to a different section of the Garden.
New this year, Harbourfront hosts an all-ages dance party with live bands, social dance clubs, DJs and instructors, where every Thursday night you can learn about dance trends from around the world.

www.harbourfrontcentre.com
235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON
+1 416 973 4000
Google map: bit.ly/rc0QJT

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Built in 1892 to house the head office of the Gooderham and Worts distilling company, the Flatiron was the first building of it’s kind constructed in North America. Known for its distinct narrow, wedge shape where Wellington Street merges with Front Street to form a triangular intersection, the building is an historic site. It has a mural on its back wall, making it appear to have more windows than it does. The Flatiron is still being used as an office building and there is a small pub in the basement with a large patio around the south side of the building. Beyond the pub, the building is open for viewing from Monday to Fridays from 9AM to 5PM.

49 Wellington Street East (near Front Street)
+1 416 703 1100
Google map: bit.ly/nbkpED

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

If you’re looking to find a place to wind down, The Esplanade is filled with restaurants and pubs. One of my favourites is Bier Markt. With over 100 brands of beer from over 24 countries, this Belgian brasserie has the perfect menu that pairs food and beer. And depending on what time of year you’re visiting, you will experience a “culinary feastivul,” ranging from fondue in February, shellfish in May, Oktoberfest in October and wild game in November.

www.thebiermarkt.com
58 The Esplanade, ON M5E 1R2
+1 416 862 7575
Google map: bit.ly/qwC8lI

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Stop for a lunchtime sandwich at Mustachio, known throughout the city for its famous Italian-style sandwiches: generous portions of veal drenched in tomato sauce and parmiggiano reggiano, with layers of crispy, breaded and fried eggplant, fried onions and roasted peppers on warm foccacia bread. Mustachio also offers pasta dishes, soup and salads.

South Market, Lower Level B34
93 Front Street East
+1 416 367 VEAL (8325)
Google map: bit.ly/o8uT3m

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Domino’s has an excellent selection of bulk goods. I like wandering in here, checking out the tightly packed aisles of nuts and dried fruit, candies, baking supplies, olive oils, spices, grains, imported teas and freshly ground coffee, ethnic foods and those hard to get items such as fregola sarda and black chick peas from Italy and dried lavender for baking. Dominos also stocks a very impressive collection of imported chocolates. My favourite: Pocket Coffee, individually-wrapped dark chocolate pralines that contain Italian liquid espresso in the centre.

South Market, Lower Level B8 / B17
93 Front Street East
+ 1 416 366 2178
Google map: bit.ly/o8uT3m

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

If you need something for your kitchen, Sam can get it for you. This small shop is stuffed to the gills with an enormous collection of cookie cutters, mixing bowls, specialty pots and pans, mandolins and other gadgets, virtually anything and everything your heart desires.

St. Lawrence Market, Upper Level 29
93 Front Street East
+ 1 416 603 1649
Google map: bit.ly/o8uT3m

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Scheffler’s Deli & Cheese has one of the largest selections of antipastos and appetizers in the market: stuffed peppers, olives, tomatoes and grape leaves; marinated olives, wild mushrooms, homemade pestos and dips. The deli selection is enormous, with one of the largest varieties of prosciutto in the city. Here’s an idea: grab some bread from any of the bakeries in the Market, and fill it with cheese and prosciutto from Scheffler’s – a great snack any time of day. And, just when you think you’ve seen everything the shop has to offer, you get to the cash register and admire the display of rare and hard-to-find chocolates, at reasonable prices to boot.

St. Lawrence Market, Upper Level 7
93 Front Street East
+1 416 364 2806
Google map: bit.ly/o8uT3m

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Kenny and Daniel know their cheese, and they always provide great recommendations. Whether you want soft cheese, hard cheese, mild cheese, or the beautiful runny, stinky stuff, these guys are very knowledgeable and they always make me look good: my guests always rave about my cheese platters. Even if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you can sample to your heart’s content and learn something new. The shop specializes in farmhouse cheese from Quebec and Europe.

www.chrischeesemongers.com
South Market, Upper Level 40, 93 Front Street East
+1 416 368 5273
Google map: bit.ly/o8uT3m

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends