When you are discussing travel plans, and a location you might visit that is worth using up those precious vacation days on, you might want to take a look at our nearest neighbor.
Canada is a beautiful and varied country comprised of charming, small towns, thriving, modern cities, hustling and bustling towns and vast expanses of mountains, meadows, and forests. The country is a melting pot of cultures and peoples, and you'll never run out of things to do in Toronto.
One of Canada’s prize locations is Toronto, the capital city of Ontario. Toronto, also known as “The Queen City,” has a population of nearly 3 million residents and covers over 243 square miles of land. It is located on the east side of a neck of land between Lake Huron and Lake Ontario. Toronto is a waterfront city but is filled with hills and canyons as well, making it as beautiful as it is diverse. It is a stone’s throw from the famous Niagara Falls.
The hub of business and finance, as well as culture and the arts, this city is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Like it’s mother country, Toronto is a conglomeration of over 200 ethnicities, with over 160 languages being spoken. No wonder so many people plan vacations to this amazing place filled with adventures for every taste.
Take a look at these ten fun things to do in Toronto. We have listed locations and where available, pricing for these attractions.
10 Fun Things To Do In Toronto
Edgewalk at the Canadian National Tower
301 Front Street West
$28.80 for adults, $20.40 for kids over 12
Free - 3 years and younger
This attraction takes one to two hours
This marvel of engineering is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, and no wonder. The Canadian National Tower tops out at a breathtaking 1,815 feet tall. Visitors take an elevator ride to the top and can choose from vantage points at three different levels.
The Glass Floor room is not for sissies because you can see everything far, far below you. Higher yet is the LookOut Level containing a 360-degree rotating restaurant, where if you buy a meal, your admission fee to the level is waived.
The SkyPod offers one of the highest public observation towers in the world, but that is not all because the truly brave can participate in the EdgeWalk. This hands-free experience finds you tethered to the outside of the upper observation deck and allows you to walk around the outside of the building on a five-foot ledge. The walk will cost you an additional $174 but includes a video, photos and the scare of a lifetime.
St. Lawrence Market
93 Front Street East
No admission charges but you must bring some spending cash
Allow one to two hours
One of the things to do in Toronto is for you to set some time aside on a Saturday for this delightful market, as that is the day it is converted into a flea market, and vendors from all over come to sell fabulous antiques, handmade jewelry, and amazing local foods. Located in the historic Old Town district, this marketplace has been enjoyed by tens of thousands since its founding in the 17th century.
Ontario Science Center
770 Don Mills Road
$17.20 for adults; $12.50 for kids 13-17
Kids 3-12 are $10.20; Free to 2 and under
Allow half a day to make a dent, all day to feel satisfied
Engage all of your senses in this popular museum that is more of an exciting learning experience than a gallery. See what you will look like as you age, enjoy some time among the stars at the planetarium show, and touch a tornado at the Living Earth experience.
When you arrive, ask about special exhibits or programs going on. You may have an unexpected IMAX presentation or a demonstration on electricity to look forward to.
Tour Casa Loma Castle
1 Austin Terrace
$21.20 for adults; $17.20 for kids 14-17;
Kids 4-13 are $13.30; Free under three years
With a shortage of castles in the United States, so many people include Casa Loma Castle in their things to do in Toronto. Imagine what it would be like to have a horse stable, a wine cellar, and a huge garden complete with fountains and sculptures. There is even a secret 800-foot-long passageway from the house to the stables that you are allowed to traverse. Check out the gift shop and grab a snack or lunch at one of the cafes before you head to your next destination.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
288 Bremner Boulevard
Express Anytime Tickets are $35 for adults;
$24.25 youth 6-13, $12 ages 3-5 and $24.25 for seniors
These tickets are good for one year
Many other promotional price packages to choose from
Check for times and availability
Allow 2 to 3 hours
Visiting the water scenery is also one of the things to do in Toronto. The s features several gallery halls showcasing shoreline creatures, dangerous lagoons, Canadian waters, rainbow reefs and six others specialty areas.
Also, if this is your thing and you want to immerse yourself, you could sign up for one of fourteen different programs such as stingray experiences, sleep with the sharks, photography classes, discovery dives and aquatic adventurers.
If your little one is having a birthday during your stay in Toronto, you can even schedule a birthday party at the aquarium.
Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum
30 Yonge Street
$14.90 for adults; $10.20 for kids 4-13; Free under three years
Allow a couple of hours for this one
Ok, let’s give the guys a break and let them enjoy the interesting and educational Hockey Hall of Fame. With eleven professional and semi-professional ice hockey teams in Toronto alone, there is much to see.
Even if you're not a hockey fan, you should not miss this in your things to do in Toronto. View Terry Sawchuk’s goalie gear or Max Bentley’s stick. From tournaments from around the world, you will see a collection of over 1,000 pucks. Also, you can see how much of the 65,000 square feet of hockey trivia you know.
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens Park
$15.70 for adults; $12.10 for kids over 12; Free 3 years and younger
Plan on two hours here
History buffs will thrive on the exhibits at the Royal Ontario Museum. With over six million artifacts, you can see wondrous things including selections from dinosaur bones to Chinese temple art and the indigenous people of Canada gallery. Ancient Roman sculptures also line the walls.
Not just for Brainiac types, this museum has much to offer children as well with a hands-on gallery. This tactile experience comes alive as children can feel the fur of a fox, the jaws of a shark or find out for themselves that snakes are not slimy.
While you are checking out the jaw of a tyrannosaurus rex, your little ones can dig for dinosaur bones in the CIBC Discovery Gallery. If you have kids or a kid at heart, this is one of the things to do in Toronto.
Toronto Bicycle Tours
275 Dundas Street West
Prices vary
Plan on at least half a day, but don’t be surprised if you don’t want it to end that soon
Since the city of Toronto is such mixed bag of culture, beauty and tourism, Toronto bicycle tours offer a variety of outings including the Heart of Downtown, Island Tours, Petals and Pedals Bike Tours, Around the City Tours and more. The tours are for any riding level and even include helmets, water, and snacks.
These tours are led by locals who know, and more importantly, love the city of Toronto. They know it top to bottom and are eager to point out history and interesting facts all along the way.
You can also just rent a bicycle for yourself and explore the wonders of Toronto without a guide.
The Culinary Adventure Company
Call 877-317-4870
Starting prices given in the description
Times vary from 2.5 to 12 hours
What die-hard foodie would enjoy a vacation without tasting their way through the city? At the Culinary Adventure Company, you can enjoy a tour led by restaurant owners, professional chefs, and even food executives as they guide you to the food gems of Toronto. You can choose from a canoe paddle trip with a 5-course gourmet picnic ($125), enjoy wine tasting at local vineyards ($159), shuck fresh oysters, make your cheese or go in search of wild mushrooms.
Explore eleven different ethnic neighborhoods and meet bakers, growers, and chefs, as you taste their wares ($81). There is a Sunday Brunch tour ($94), and several more to whet your appetite. You should never miss the food experience in your things to do in Toronto.
Centerville Theme Park
Centre Island
For adults, all-day passes are $35.35 each
A family pass (must include one adult) is $114 for the first four passes and $28.50 for each additional
Plan on a full day
This day starts with stunning scenery as you ferry over to Centre Island and Centerville Theme park. It offers a family-friendly experience with more than 600 acres of parkland, 30 rides to choose from, souvenirs and of course, lots of great food.
Food, scenery, exploration, education, and enjoyment of all kinds abound in Toronto. It may be a metropolitan paradise, but with this list of exciting things to do in Toronto, it’s a place where everyday people can have fun every day.
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