Many people assume that Toronto, with its bright lights and skyscrapers, is the capital city of Canada – but in fact, they would be wrong as it is only the capital of the province of Ontario. The national capital is Ottawa, another of Canada’s cultural and historical gems. But don’t let that put you off a visit to a city that is vibrant, colourful, culturally rich, and well-located within this stunning country. For anyone who loves the film industry, it is worth noting that Toronto hosts the film industry with the annual Toronto International Film Festival. This event is considered second only to the Cannes Film Festival and is seen as a launch pad for Hollywood, International and Canadian cinema.
As a tourist to a big new attraction, you are always keen to know the best activities and places to experience. I have listed below five attractions that I feel are a ‘must see’ and are accessible even for wheelchair users:
CN Tower
Officially the tallest building in the world, the tower stands prominently in the city’s skyline and cannot be easily missed. It is home to a rotating restaurant and offers spectacular 360-degree views across the city.
Its area is also a prestigious business address where many entrepreneurs start and register their businesses.
Despite it being evident in the skyline, finding the actual entrance can sometimes be challenging – particularly for those with buggies or wheelchairs. You have to go to the foot of John Street, on the south side of Front Street, where you will find a set of stairs that will take you to the tower’s entrance. This is the access point to the CN Tower and the Rogers Centre. For those needing wheelchair-access, there is a wide ramp and a set of glass doors that lead to an elevator and entrance to the tower.
Casa Loma
Casa Loma is a mansion of grand proportions set in 5 acres of grounds in the downtown region of the city. It was built in the early 20th century, as is famed for its majestic size and architecture and is often referred to as ‘Canada’s Castle’. It was initially the former estate of Sir Henry Mill Pellat, a Toronto financier and industrialist. Sir Henry used his fortune made through investment in some of the country’s big industries, to commission the services of EJ Lennox – a noted architect of the era – to design and build a ‘medieval castle’ on a hill overlooking the city. Today’s mansion is owned by the City of Toronto and run by the Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma.
The Eaton Centre
The Eaton Centre alongside the CN Tower is the city’s top attraction and draws the largest number of curious tourists. It is a shopping centre on a colossal scale covering several city blocks and boasting a region of 250 shops in a bright and airy atmosphere. Situated in the city’s downtown district, it features a glass vaulted ceiling with open and spacey multi-levels, which greatly influenced shopping mall design across Canada and North America. The Eaton Centre is located between Dundas and Queen Streets and Yonge and Bay.
The Distillery district
If you are in the downtown area of the city and have a few hours to spare, you should consider a visit to the Distillery district where you will not find a Macdonalds or Starbucks anywhere in sight. This is a pedestrial-only village set amongst unique heritage architecture and devoted to the promotion of the arts and culture. It has also played host to the film industry and has been a location for several movies including X-Men and Chicago, and also hosts the annual Distillery Blues Festival in June. The best area to head for if you enjoy immersion in a little historical atmosphere is the Gooderham & Worts Distillery which is one of 40 buildings that make up the largest and best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial architecture.
Niagara Falls tour
When visiting the city of Toronto, it would be a crime not to spend a little extra time and head out to Niagara Falls on an organised excursion – on either a day trip or a three day stop-over. The day trip is a bit cheaper but tends to be more tiring and packs a lot of activities into a relatively short space. However, it is still a fantastic experience and provides air-conditioned comfort en-route and a ride on the legendary Maid of the Mist boat – which you should be warned is not called ‘wet and wild’ for nothing!
Our guest author, Peter, is a travel writer and blogger working for Canadian Sky an Irish based travel company.
