A weekend in Toronto….

“I have just arrived back from a 3 night trip to Toronto, hosted by Canada Specialist – First Class Holidays & also Air Canada.

The city is easily accessible from the airport with a direct train to Union Station in the city (called the UP Express). It takes approx. 25 mins and runs frequently. It gets you into the centre of the city at little expense and in the quickest time.

Toronto is a cosmopolitan city with a good mix of culture & modern style. It is home to over a 100 different cultures and because of this there are lots of different & diverse neighbourhoods like Chinatown,  Little Italy, Little Portugal, Greektown, Little India, Little Poland etc. The city also has miles of waterfront and also more ‘hipster areas’ filled with cafes, art exhibits and one of a kind independent shops.

One of our attraction visits was to one of the modern wonders of the world – the CN Tower. From there you get spectacular views of the city, the lake and Toronto islands with a 360 degree panoramic view, it’s a must!. Another great place to visit is Lawrence food market (a must for any foodie) and if you ever go this time of year during the festive period the city sets up a great Christmas Market in the Distillery area. It’s full of independent market stalls, festive drinks & lots of food stalls where you can Canadian specialities like poutine (a personal favourite of mine!).

If shopping is important to you then go no further than the CF Eaton Centre, a huge indoor Mall with shops from around the world and you can shop till you drop. It is also connected to famous department stores Saks Fifth Avenue and Hudson’s Bay. With all of these you could literally shop till you drop!

I would recommend the Hop on Hop Off bus around the city and do the full loop so you can see the sites & highlights of the city. It will help you decide where you want to go and see in more depth and give you your bearings.  It takes around 60 to 75 minutes, depending on traffic.  It’s also nice to go for a cocktail at the famous Fairmont Royal York hotel in their Library bar which is frequently visited by royalty, dignitaries and celebrities. It’s old fashioned elegance is a great place to stop for a night cap and people watch! We were lucky enough to stay at this iconic hotel for 2 nights during our stay.

A highlight of our trip was a day trip to see the famous Niagara Falls. This famous site is on everyone’s bucket list and is a sight to behold. It’s approx 90 mins to 2 hours drive outside of Toronto so easy to do in a day. I would recommend visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake. It has a colonial, quaint feel with lovely little shops, old buildings and horse drawn carriages on the streets. You feel like you’re in a movie set when walking around.

If you are looking for a city with a lively cultural scene, some the world’s greatest attractions, good shopping & a gateway to explore elsewhere in eastern Canada, then I can definitely recommend Toronto as a place for you!”

For more in depth information or if you are interested in going then please contact Hollie at the office on 01937 845678 or feel free to email on hollie@spa-travel.com