Travelling of Toronto

Toronto

Introduction

Toronto is a city in southern Ontario, Canada, and is the capital of Ontario. Toronto is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, and is the largest city in Canada and the fifth largest city in North America. 

As of the 2006 Canadian census, the city's population is 2,503,281. The Greater Toronto Area (GTA), which includes many of the cities and towns surrounding Toronto had a population of 5,555,912 at the 2006 Canadian Census.

Neighbourhoods

Like many large cities, Toronto is a very diverse place. Many of the charms of Toronto lie in the numerous ethnic neighborhood. From the hippies in Kensington Market, the college scene around the Annex, great food in Little Italy or the Greek area of the Danforth or finding great bargains in Chinatown.

CN Tower

The CN Tower was record holder for being the world's tallest free-standing structure for more than 30 years. However, in September of 2007 the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emriates snatched the record when they added the floor to take the tower above 555 m on its way to being over 800 meters tall (finished in 2010, 828 meters high). 

However, at 553 metres (1815 feet), the CN Tower is still one of the tallest structures in the world, and offers visitors the opportunity to see much of Toronto and Southern Ontario from a unique vantage point - really high up in the air. Visitors can see the view from the observation deck at 342 metres/1122 feet, or pay a little extra to visit the sky pod at 447 metres/1465 feet. On clear days, visitors can see the mist coming off Niagara Falls. Those feeling brave can stand on a glass floor. Open 7 days a week from 9am until 10pm, tickets range from $19 to $32, depending on the attractions you want to see.

Sports, Stadiums and Arenas

Toronto offers the chance to see live major league sports like Blue Jays Baseball at the Rogers Center (formerly Skydome), Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey or Basketball's Raptors at the Air Canada Center, Argos of the Canadian Football league, also at the Rogers Center, The Rock of the National Lacrosse League and the FC of Major League Soccer both at BMO Field. You can also visit the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is near Union Station and is the permanent home of the Stanley Cup. All the sports complexes are conveniently located downtown.

Museums and Art Galleries

Toronto has a number of museums. The largest and probably most popular is the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), holding a diverse collection of artefacts related to world cultures and natural history. With more than six million items in over 40 galleries, the ROM has something for everyone. 

Located across the street from the ROM is the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Arts. Located at 111 Queen's Park by the Museum subway stop, the Gardiner is open Monday - Thursday from 10am until 6pm, Friday from 10am until 9pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 5pm. Admission is $12 for Adults, $8 Seniors (65+), $6 Students (full-time, with ID) and Free Children 12 and under if accompanied by an adult. The museum also hosts a "free Friday" on the first Friday of every month with special events. Guided tours are available at the museum at 2pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

A unique-to-Canada museum is the Bata Shoe Museum at 327 Bloor St. West (subway: St. George). Over 10,000 shoes are housed in architect Raymond Moriyama's award-winning four-storey structure. The Museum celebrates the style and function of footwear in four impressive galleries. Artefacts on exhibit range from Chinese bound foot shoes and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut crushing clogs and glamorous platforms. Adult admission is $12, $10 for seniors and $6 for students, with children rates at $4. The Shoe Museum is open from 10 AM until 5 PM, with extended hours and free admission on Thursday nights from 5 PM until 8 PM.

The Art Gallery Ontario (AGO) houses more than 5000 artworks in 110 galleries, including works by Canadian artists such as the Group of Seven and Henry Moore. It recently underwent massive (CAD$276 million) renovations under the supervision of Architect Frank Gehry.

Weather

Winter (December through March) is cold, with temperatures between 0 °C and -10 °C on average, though temperatures can drop much colder some days. There is generally some snow, with an average of 6 cm of ground cover during the winter months.

Beginning at the end of March, the spring season sees temperatures climbing (average temperatures during April is 6 °C, May is 12 °C and June is 17 °C), though temperatures can vary wildly from day to day. Snow is still possible even into May, though is very infrequent and often does not stay on the ground. Rain is possible during this period.

In summer, the weather turns warm, and the humidity can get quite bad, especially in July and August. Average temperatures are in the high 20s ºC, with some days climbing over 30 °C. Early autumn (September and early October) is usually quite pleasant, with temperatures around 20 °C, many days of sun and low humidity. Temperatures start to drop in late October, and temperatures can vary quite drastically from day to day during this period, spaning from 0 °C to 15 °C.