Just five
years after the lush Canadian lot was discovered in 1615 by
French explorer Etienne Brule, the French trading post Fort
Toronto was established, attracting legions of explorers and
traders. Named "Gathering Place" by Native
Americans, modern Toronto is an ethnically diverse city renown
for its international flavor.
Toronto is the capital city of Ontario and is now Canada’s largest city.
The metropolis is strikingly
cosmopolitan and has become a financial, industrial and
cultural epicenter during its rapid growth. With an
unmistakable skyline, marked by the CN
Tower (the
largest freestanding structure in the world) and the white cupola
of the SkyDome, Toronto is
becoming one of the world's more recognizable cities.
In
addition to the aesthetic endowments of downtown, Toronto is made up
of eclectic neighborhoods, including the second
largest Chinatown in North America (Toronto actually has three
Chinatowns, the most notable one is off Dundas, Bay and
Spadina Streets). Visitors will be astounded at the countless
markets, restaurants and herbalist stores that make up this
unique village. Other interesting neighborhoods include
Koreatown, Roncesvalles, Corso Italia, Rosedale and the unique
Underground City.
Also
scattered
throughout Toronto are assorted shops, malls, antique
galleries, museums, playgrounds, parks, gardens, and
fantastic Victorian-Romanesque Parliament buildings, all
guarded by a dozen or so stoic statues of prominent
Torontonians.
Most major attractions in Toronto, both
historical and modern, are within walking distance from
downtown. Some of the notable exceptions are Toronto
Islands, the Toronto Zoo and
Black Creek Pioneer Village. If you don't want to talk too
much, take the Rapid Transit Line
that runs throughout the city. Toronto's public transportation
is readily available and fairly
easy to use.
Toronto has
an inviting shopping
district downtown, stretching from Yonge
Street west to University Avenue and from King Street north to
College Street. A lot of upscale shopping is done on Bloor
Street. You might also want to visit the Toronto Eaton
Center, a four-level high, two-block long shopping complex
that provides more than 300 shops, 65 restaurants and a
17-theater movie complex.
The newly
renovated Harboufront Centre is the hub of Toronto’s
maritime community and has not only added to the city’s
cultural diversity, but also boosted its recreational
amenities.
Some
of Toronto's best restaurants and bars are located near Queen Street and Adelaide Street (west).
It's easy to plan a night out on the town in Toronto, just
read our dining and
nightlife sections for details.
The
international flavor of the city combined with its exciting
culture and nightlife was probably the inspiration for writer/actor Peter
Ustinov's famous quote “Toronto is New York
run by the Swiss.” Take a bite out of Toronto.
