Toronto's waterfront - one of North America's largest recreational waterfronts - provides a scenic backdrop for many popular and entertaining attractions including Harbourfront, Ontario Place, Rogers Centre, the CN Tower, and the Toronto Islands. It's also the setting of many big events including the Celebrate Toronto Street Festival, Caribana, the Toronto International Film Festival, the Canadian National Exhibition and WinterCity.
Downtown Toronto offers museums and art galleries galore including The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) , Canada's largest museum and one of the top 10 in the world; the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Canada's oldest art gallery and home to more than 15,000 paintings; and the Ontario Science Centre, which entertains and educates 800,000 visitors a year.
At the northeast end of the city, Canada's largest zoo, the Toronto Zoo, features more than 5,000 animals in their natural environment. Just north of the City, Canada's largest theme park, Paramount Canada's Wonderland, features more than 160 attractions and 50 rides in a thrilling environment.
St. Lawrence Market Considered by Food and Wine magazine to be one of the world's 25 best food markets, the St. Lawrence Market is located in the heart of the historic Old Town Toronto neighbourhood at Jarvis and Front Streets.
The South Market houses more than 50 gourmet food vendors and over a dozen lunch counters. Upstairs, the Market Gallery shows archival art and photographs from the City's collection and the North Market is home to the 200 year old Saturday Farmers' Market and Sunday Antique Market.
Several celebration events are also held at the market throughout the year. Discover the market and surrounding area's past with local historians on walking tours filled with food sampling, a world of eccentric characters and amazing tales.
Department stores, exclusive shops, neighbourhood retailers and ethnic markets - Toronto has more than 20,000 stores catering to all fashions and tastes. Its premier shopping destination, the Eaton Centre, is a multi-levelled, glass-roofed galleria comprising more than 320 shops and restaurants, 17 cinemas, and a 400-room Marriott hotel.
Built in 1979, the Eaton Centre boasts $746 of sales per square foot of retail space - the highest in North America - and is the number one tourist attraction in Toronto with one million visitors a week. Modelled after the Galleria in Milan, Italy, the Eaton Centre was among the first major downtown shopping centres constructed in North America.
Toronto's most exclusive retail district is located in the Bloor/Yorkville area. International retailers offering high fashion designs, eclectic boutiques, fine crystal and china shops, art galleries, and superb restaurants are all available in the village-like atmosphere of Yorkville and Hazelton Lanes.
As the world's most ethnically diverse city, Toronto also has distinctive shopping districts and markets that offer a wide range of unique shopping experiences. These vibrant retail areas include Queen Street West, Kensington Market, St. Lawrence Market, five Chinatowns, Little Italy along St. Clair West, the Greek community along "The Danforth," Little Portugal at Dundas and Bathurst Streets, and Gerrard India Bazaar at Gerrard and Greenwood.
Air Canada Centre
Air Canada Centre is a state-of-the-art arena that is home to the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association and the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.
Rogers Centre (formerly Skydome)
Famous for its retractable roof, the Rogers Centre is home to the Toronto Argonauts football team and the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team, 1992 and 1993 World Series Champions.
CN Tower
Recently nominated one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the CN Tower features glass floor observation decks, a revolving restaurant, and a Simulator Theatre. It is Toronto's most recognizable landmark and as such, it receives almost two million visitors annually.
Canadian National Exhibition
For the past 120 years, the 18-day Canadian National Exhibition, which runs from mid-August until Labour Day weekend, has traditionally signified the end of summer to two million visitors from across Canada and throughout the world. The "Ex", as it is better known, is the largest annual exhibition of its kind anywhere.
Situated on the shores of Lake Ontario, the Ex is a 350-acre carnival of entertainment, rides, buildings, sports and agriculture. It is also the site of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair held each November.
Ontario Science Centre
The Ontario Science Centre offers interactive and multi-media exhibits with live demonstrations and exhibits on topics that include sports, space, the environment and the information highway. The Science Centre entertains and educates more than 800,000 visitors each year.
The Toronto Zoo
Divided into geographic regions, the zoo's 710 acres feature more than 5,000 animals in their natural environments. Its new Africa Savanna exhibit includes a 32-acre walking safari through the wild lands of East Africa.
Paramount Canada's Wonderland
Canada's largest theme park was built in 1980 on 300 acres of land just north of Toronto. It features more than 180 attractions and 50 thrilling rides, including Canada's only suspended roller coaster and the largest outdoor wave pool in the country.
Ontario Place
A 96-acre modernistic culture, leisure and entertainment parkland complex built on three human-made islands over the lake, Ontario Place features restaurants, a children's village, an outdoor amphitheatre, a water play area, mini-golf, the Rush River Raft Ride and many other attractions. The highlight of Ontario Place is the Cinesphere - a six-story curved screen capable of showing not only regular 35 and 70 millimetre films, but IMAX films as well.
Harbourfront
Like most big cities with a water's edge, Toronto's downtown waterfront has gradually been transformed into a lakeside people place. The heart of this revitalization is the award-winning Harbourfront Centre - the site of art galleries, theatres, craft boutiques restaurants, offices, hotels and marinas fronted by a waterside promenade.
Toronto islands
Only a 10-minute ferry ride from the foot of Yonge Street, the Toronto islands offer a panoramic view of the city skyline. Centre Island offers miles of parkland with beaches, barbecues and picnic tables, boat rentals, bicycle paths, a children's farm and even an amusement park.
Historic Fort York the location of the Battle of York during the War of 1812 is the 1793 birthplace of modern Toronto. It is home to Canada's largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings and is designated as a National Historic site. Open year-round, Historic Fort York offers seasonal guided tours, musket, drill and music demonstrations. Explore the fort, learn about its military history and celebrate Canada Day, Victoria Day, and Doors Open Toronto with friendly & knowledgeable staff.
Casa Loma CastleVisit Canada's Majestic Castle, Casa Loma and step back in time to a period of European elegance and splendour. The former home of Canadian financier Sir Henry Pellatt, Canada's foremost castle is complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and beautiful 5-acre estate gardens (open May through October). A self-guided digital audio tour in 8 languages (English, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin and Korean) is available.
The Bata Shoe Museum
Discover the treasures of North America's unique shoe museum. 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. Artifacts on exhibit range from Chinese bound foot shoes and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut crushing clogs and glamourous platforms. Over 4,500 years of history and a collection of 20th century celebrity shoes are reflected in the semi-permanent exhibition.
Royal Ontario Museum
The ROM is one of the world's largest museums with diverse collections of world cultures and natural history as by the international research that supports them.
Other Museums to Visit:
Black Creek Pioneer Village, Canadian Broadcast Company Museum, Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum: Hamilton Airport,
Colborne Lodge, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA, Design Exchange, The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art,
Gibson House, Mackenzie House, Montgomery's Inn, Oral History Museum, Textile Museum of Canada, Museum of Television (MZTV,
Redpath Sugar Museum, Scarborough Historical Museum, Spadina Museum: Historic House & Gardens, Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum & Art Centre, Toronto Aerospace Museum, Toronto Police Services Museum and Discovery Centre and York Museum.
The Waterfront Trail has been an instrumental part of Lake Ontario’s regeneration. Along it you will find a 900 km celebration of nature and culture - where peaceful countryside, small towns and big cities are linked in bringing Lake Ontario to this province's residents and visitors, alike. Enjoy it for a day. Or make it a summer-long adventure.
Other parks & trails in Toronto:
Allen Gardens, The Don Valley Brick Works, Downsview Park, The Guild, Kortright Centre for Conservation, Rouge River Watershed, Oak Ridges Trail & Bruce Trail Association.
Art Gallery of Ontario
Hosting international exhibitions
Other Galleries:
Art Gallery of York University, Assembly Hall, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, Corkin Shopland Gallery, Etobicoke Civic Centre Gallery, Franklin Carmichael, Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography, J M Barnicke Gallery: Hart House, Market Gallery, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Mercer Union, Neilson Park Creative Centre, The Power Plant: contemporary art gallery, Ryerson Gallery, Scarborough Civic Centre Gallery, Slate Art Gallery Guide, York Civic Centre Gallery, YYZ Artists' Outlet & Zion Church.
This is just a taste of what TORONTO has to offer......
TEENAGER SUMMER PROGRAM IN TORONTO:
E-mail: info@teenagersabroad.com
Tel: NORTH AMERICA: 1 800 219 9924
or WORLDWIDE: +1 416 925 2112
