Actor Peter Ustinov is rumored to have once
said that Toronto is like "New York, as run by the Swiss." Indeed, this is a
big, beautiful and efficient city, one that has emerged from relative
obscurity over the past half century to become the center of culture,
commerce and communications in Canada.
That Toronto's star is ascendant is no surprise. With its colorful ethnic
mix, rich history and breathtaking architecture, Toronto offers non-stop
adventures for the willing tourist. To get a sense of how big, various and
magical Toronto is, the best place to start is the CN Tower, the tallest
free-standing structure in the world. From this vantage point, visitors get
a bird's-eye-view of the city's striking skyline and unique geography.
In addition to being an important cultural and commercial center, Toronto is
also a major multiethnic metropolis. The city's population numbers more than
4.5 million people, and its residents come from countries around the world
and from all manner of ethnic backgrounds. On any given day, and in most
quarters of the city, a hundred different languages can be heard on the
streets, from Hindi to Greek to French. This, perhaps, explains why former
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau once said that Canada is really more a mosaic
of cultures and languages than a melting pot.
Street signs in Toronto are mostly in English. Weekly and daily newspapers
are published in myriad languages, and the city hosts a successful
international film festival each September. It is also the second-largest
live-theater venue on the continent (after New York), and is home to a
popular baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays. Simply put, Toronto has
something for everyone.
Toronto's less well-traveled parts include the original Chinatown, laid out
west along Dundas Street and running all the way to "new" Chinatown, near
the Spadina Avenue/Dundas Street intersection. From here, it's just a short
walk to the colorful, European-style Kensington Market, which abounds in
fresh vegetables, poultry and meats. Toronto is also a city filled with
boutiques, restaurants, and cafes, and of course there are plenty of
shopping opportunities in the Underground City, an 11 km (7 mi) subterranean
walkway lined with eateries, shops, banks, medical offices and theaters.
An often overlooked gem of Toronto are the beach-fringed Toronto Islands.
These eight tree-lined islands - and more than a dozen smaller islets that
sit in Lake Ontario just off the city's downtown - offer a welcome touch of
greenery. They've been attracting visitors since 1833, especially during the
summer months when the more than 550 acres of parkland are most
irresistible. From here, you'll have spectacular views of Toronto's skyline,
especially as the setting sun turns the city's skyscrapers to gold, silver,
and bronze. If all this isn't enough, and you want something quirkier, come
in January for the annual ice canoe race, when five-man/woman teams haul
canoes across the ice floes off Harbourfront Centre.
