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.
