Travel Guides > Toronto, ON, CA

Toronto Travel

Located on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is Canada's largest and southernmost city. With a population of nearly five million, this city is indeed the fifth largest in North America and one of the easiest to reach, being within a 90 minute airplane ride from more than sixty percent of the population of the United States.

Besides convenience, however, what makes Toronto an exciting vacation destination is its excellent attractions, museums, special events, natural beauty, and friendly and polite Canadian people. You'll want to be sure to schedule several days in this expansive city so that you can see everything on your must-do list.

Make your first stop the CN Tower, where you'll get a bird's eye view of the entire city. This 1,815 foot tower is the most popular and recognizable landmark in Toronto, with approximately 2 million people visiting each year. There are three observation decks here, including the highest public deck in the world. Dare to walk on the glass floor at 1,122 feet, said to be strong enough to hold many elephants!

It's the mission of the wonderful Royal Ontario Museum to "collect and exhibit the cultural and natural history of Canada and the world." The museum's permanent collection consists of more than five million different objects.

The Ontario Science Centre is sure to be a hit with the kids. There are 10 exhibition halls and more than 600 exhibits at this favorite tourist attraction, encompassing such subjects as sports, communications, living earth, space and the human body. There are tons of hands-on activities here, too.

Toronto even has its own castle, the Casa Loma which was built by wealthy Canadian financier Henry Pellatt and completed in 1914 to a tune of $3.5 million dollars. The castle is full of beautiful artwork, both national and international, and visitors may explore its underground passageways or climb to the turret to view the beautiful gardens that surround the castle.

The whole family will enjoy a visit to Ontario Place, a cultural, leisure, and entertainment complex that's situated on three man-made islands along the waterfront of Lake Ontario. First opened in 1971, this park features four themed areas with dozens of rides and attractions, and there's plenty of room for concerts and special events as well.

Paramount Canada's Wonderland is also a favorite place for families to visit. This excellent amusement park offers great thrill rides, a special area, and a fun water park.

Toronto's Harbourfront is a beautiful area full of wonderful things to do. Visit the Nautical Centre, rent a boat for a lake cruise, enjoy winter skating at the outdoor ice rink, visit the Power Plant public art gallery, take in a play at the World Stage, shop at the International Marketplace, or dine on international cuisine at the World Café.