10 Places in Toronto to Visit with Your Family for the Summer
Places of Interest in Toronto
As the Summer approaches, it is time to plan for that great vacation. Well here is my suggestion, come see Toronto, Canada. Toronto is a mutlicultural metropolitan city in Canada. It is home to over 2.7 million people. Toronto is considered the cultural, entertainment and financial capital of Canada. The Pearson International Airport is within close proximity to downtown Toronto.
The city offers a variety of activities, whether you are visiting alone or with the family. Your choice of fine dining, hotel accommodation for any budget, site seeing tours of the city, golf courses, night life,and casino. You can also catch a game of baseball with The Toronto Blue Jays, and football with The Toronto Argonauts at the Rogers Centre; basketball with The Toronto Raptors, and hockey with The Toronto Maple Leaf at the Air Canada Centre, or soccer with the Toronto Football Club at the BMO Field. You will not have a dull moment exploring all the city has to offer.
Toronto has a world class public transist system of streetcars, buses, subway trains and taxi, so no need to stress about getting around the city. I suggest getting the Toronto City Pass which provides access to five places of interest in Toronto (4 of which I recommend below). You may also purchase a Day Pass for travel on the TTC throughout the city. The Day Pass allows 2 adults and up to 4 children to travel for multiple trips within a day and cost less than 2 adults round trip. http://www.ttc.ca/
While in Toronto, I suggest that you and your family visit:
1. The CN Tower
Located in the heart of Downtown Toronto between the Rogers Centre and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Front Street, just north of Bremner Blvd. Near the top of the tower, a 24 sq. metre glass floor allows visitors to watch the streets under their feet.
The CN Tower is the world's tallest tower as well as Canada's most recognizable icon. At a height of 553.33m (1,815 ft., 5 inches), the tower is the centre of tourism in Toronto. http://www.cntower.ca/
2. Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Located at 100 Queen’s Park with easy access by The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC ) subway. The Royal Ontario Museum is located in the downtown Toronto. The ROM is among the world’s leading museums of natural history, and of world cultures. http://www.rom.on.ca/
3. The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
Located at 317 Dundas Street, Dundas & McCaul Street with easy access by public transit. AGO – an international landmark and Canada’s newest cultural destination. Displaying more than 4,000 artworks in 110 galleries. http://www.ago.net/
4. The Ontario Science Centre
Located at 770 Don Mills Road at Don Mills & Eglinton Avenue. The Ontario Science Centre can be accessed by public transit. Their mission "To delight, inform and challenge visitors through engaging and thought-provoking experiences in science and technology." It is fun and educational for all members of the family. http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/
5. The Toronto Zoo
Located in the beautiful Rouge Valley on 710 acres of land with over 5,000 animals. The Main Entrance is located on Meadowvale Road, Scarborough. Access by public transit available. They are known for their interactive education and conservation. You may visit the Toronto Zoo at http://www.torontozoo.com/
6. Paramount Canada's Wonderland
This is an amusement park and is located at 9740 Jane Street, Maple, about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto. Access by public transit is also available. For the kid in you, Canada's Wonderland offers the most amazing roller coasters and other funfilled rides and games. http://www.canadaswonderland.com/
7. Ontario Place
Ontario Place is an internationally acclaimed cultural, leisure and entertainment parkland located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The complex extends throughout three man-made islands along the Lake Ontario waterfront. In 2011 the amusement park was closed and is slated for further development. However the marina, the Molson Amphitheatre, Echo Beach, the Atlantis entertainment venue and parking remain open. You can enjoy several world class artists in concerts as well as night life at the venu. http://www.ontarioplace.com/
8. CentreVille Amusement Park
Centreville Amusement Park is nestled in over 600 acres of parkland just across the harbour from the city. With over 30 rides and attractions and more than 14 food outlets, there's something for everyone at Centreville.
The Toronto Ferry Docks is located at the foot of Bay Street and Queens Quay, just West of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, will take you to and from the Centre Island. http://www.centreisland.ca/
9. Black Creek Pioneer Village
Located at 5 Shoreham Drive at Jane Street & Steels Avenue. Black Creek is a working village, typical of those established in south central Ontario between the 1790s and the 1860s. http://www.blackcreek.ca/
10. The Beaches/ Scarborough Bluffs
A relaxing oasis close to the city with a small town atmosphere. The Beaches is situated just east of downtown Toronto. It's a favorite place to roller blade, bike or just take a relaxing stroll along the boardwalk that winds along Lake Ontario. You can also browse the many boutiques and eateries that line Queen St East.
The Scarborough Bluffs stretch for about 14km along the Lake Ontario shore, from the Eastern Beaches of Toronto in the west, to West Hill in the east. At their highest at Cliffside, the bluffs rise 65m (211ft) above the water. At the Bellamy Ravine, they rise about 60m, and at Guildwood, the height drops to 50m.
The bluffs have been formed primarily by erosion of the packed clay soil. In some places, such as the western end of Bluffers Park, the erosion has shaped the clay into interesting shapes. http://www.toronto.ca/waterfront/tour/scarborough_bluffs.htm