Casa LomaCanada's own castle, Casa Loma, is today owned by the
City of Toronto and draws plenty of interest standing in medieval
splendour on its hilltop site. The castle was formerly the home of
Canadian financier, Sir Henry Pellatt, who engaged the noted
architect E J Lennox to help him realise a life-long dream of
building a castle. Construction started in 1911 and it took 300 men
nearly three years to complete the impressive Casa Loma. Inside
visitors can see the magnificent decorated suites, secret passages,
and 800ft (244m) long tunnel, while outside it is possible to
stroll through the beautiful five-acre estate gardens. Self-guided
audio tours are available and the castle is open every
day.CN TowerStanding 1,815ft (553m) high, Toronoto's landmark CN
Tower is the world's tallest building, a celebrated icon, an
important telecommunications hub and the centre of tourism in
Toronto. About two million people visit the tower each year to take
in the panoramic view and enjoy all its attractions. The tower was
built in 1976 by the company Canadian National, who undertook the
project simply to prove the strength of Canadian industry and solve
the city's communication problems. Since then tourist attractions
and facilities have been added, and the revitalised tower opened to
the public in 1998, proving a hit with locals and visitors alike.
The tower has four look out levels. At the first at 1,122ft (342m)
is an outdoor observation deck with a spectacular glass floor;
somewhat higher at the next level is an indoor observation deck and
the Horizon's café, offering light meals high in the sky; at the
1,150ft (351m) level is a revolving restaurant, which rotates once
every 72 minutes, allowing a stunning view of the city below while
dining on the award-winning fare; finally comes the top level, at a
dizzying 1,465ft (447m), known as the Sky Pod. At the top of the CN
Tower visitors stand on the world's highest public observation
deck. The tower is situated in the heart of Toronto's entertainment
district, on the north shore of Lake Ontario.Royal Ontario MuseumPride of place in this large and varied museum is held
by the golden mosaic ceiling inside the main entrance to the
building in Queen's Park, Toronto. The ceiling is adorned with
patterns and symbols representing cultures from around the world
throughout the ages, and is made from cut squares of imported
Venetian glass. The museum consists of three buildings housing
200,000 square feet (18,581 sq m) of galleries and exhibitions. The
more than 40 galleries showcase art, archaeology and science
exhibits. Among the most popular are dinosaurs, galleries of
Chinese Art, a bat cave, a gem and gold room, exhibits about
Ancient Egypt and Nubia, and the Samuel European
Galleries.Toronto ZooThe Toronto Zoo covers 710 acres (287 hectares) and is
divided into 'zoogeographic' regions. It features four major
tropical indoor pavilions and several smaller indoor viewing areas,
plus numerous outdoor exhibits with more than six miles (ten km) of
walking trails. The zoo houses more than 5,000 animals representing
more than 450 species; it draws more than 1,2 million visitors each
year. It is located north of Highway 401 and is easily accessible
by public transport.Niagara FallsStraddling the Canadian-United States border and sited
between the province of Ontario and the US state of New York, the
awesome Niagara Falls attracts about 12 million tourists a year. It
makes a spectacular day's outing from Toronto. The Niagara River
has been flowing for about 12,000 years but the eroded escarpment
over which the falls flow today is much older, having been formed
during the ice age. The river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and
shale to make it the second largest waterfall on earth, after the
Victoria Falls in southern Africa. Apart from appreciating the
mighty torrent of the falls itself, perhaps from a spray-filled
boat tour, there is plenty more to see and do on the Niagara
peninsula, including indulging in some wine-tasting at one of the
local wineries; visiting the exotic butterfly conservatory,
marvelling at the floral clock in the Niagara Parks Greenhouse; or
playing a round of golf on one of the 34 courses that dot the
peninsula.Distillery Historic DistrictThe brick-paved streets of the pedestrianised village
have been designated a National Heritage Site, containing the
finest collection of Victorian era industrial architecture in North
America. The historic Distillery District, spread across 13 acres
(5 hectares) in downtown Toronto, is a development dedicated
entirely to arts, culture and entertainment with its plethora of
art galleries, restaurants, bars and live music venues. Founded in
1832, the Gooderham and Worts Distillery became the largest
distillery in the British Empire until it ceased operations in 1990
after 153 years of production, and was opened in 2003 as the
pedestrian-only village it is today. It is also a popular film
location and its numerous festivals and special events attract
thousands of people every month.Museum of Contemporary Canadian ArtFormerly the Art Gallery of North York, the Museum of
Contemporary Canadian Art opened its doors in 1999 keen to display
modern Canadian art that addresses current Canadian narratives.
Situated in trendy downtown Toronto, Mocca boasts a collection of
400 artworks by 140 different Canadian artists, despite its small
size. With most works created since 1985, Mocca offers great
insight into contemporary Canadian society. A country once renowned
for its loose immigration laws, Canada is home to a mix of
cultures, which makes for a stimulating art world. Look out for
group exhibitions with international artists and the annual Mocca
Award in Contemporary Art.Toronto IslandsA chain of small Lake Ontario islands just offshore
from the city, the Toronto Islands were created from a series of
continually moving sandbars connected to the mainland by a frail
peninsula, which finally disintegrated after a major storm in 1858.
Only a short ferry ride from the mainland, the Toronto Islands
provide a peaceful green refuge from the hubbub of the city and
afford attractive panoramic views of downtown Toronto. Hire a bike
or relax on the beach, take the kids for a day at Centreville
Amusement Park or have a languid picnic in one of the many
designated leafy areas.Gardiner Museum of CeramicsHoused in an attractive building across from the Royal
Ontario Museum, the Gardiner Museum of Ceramics is one of the
city's finest examples of modernist architecture. Giving visitors a
glimpse into a universal art form that has spanned centuries, the
Gardiner Museum exhibits over 3,000 historical and contemporary
ceramic pieces. With earthenware of all different shapes and sizes
from the ancient Americas, China, Japan, the Italian Renaissance
and more, a tour through the museum will shape visitors'
understanding of the development of the ceramic process. On Friday
evenings visitors can try their hand at sculpting and wheel
throwing in the open clay studio or attend free films and
seminars.Kensington MarketA National Historic Site, Kensington Market embodies
Toronto's multicultural society. Founded in the early twentieth
century by eastern European Jewish immigrants and Italians, the
area was renowned for its open-air market, evocative of those found
in Europe. Home to immigrants from the Caribbean, China, East
Africa and Vietnam War veterans, Kensinton Market is an infusion of
world cultures, all of whom have left an imprint in the music,
shops and restaurants of the area. A hybrid of cheap eclectic
clothing retailers, fresh produce stores, cheese merchants,
fishmongers, cafés and general bric-a-brac stores, the Kensington
Market area offers a rambunctious downtown atmosphere. The most
prominent streets are Augusta Avenue and Kensington
Avenue.Harbourfront CentreWith an idyllic setting right beside the lake, the
Harbourfront Centre is the spiritual heart of the city where locals
gather on weekends for some gallery hopping, shopping, biking and
concerts. Used as an industrial docklands for decades the abandoned
warehouses and disintegrating factories have been transformed into
a treasured recreational and cultural public space. Stroll along
the waterside promenade, indulge in theatrical performances and
browse craft boutiques or head to Queen's Quay Centre for some
superb shopping. Year round events at this urban playground include
film, dance, theatre, music, children's events and marine
events.Hockey Hall of FameAny avid hockey fan must make a turn at Toronto's
Hockey Hall of Fame, an ode to hockey's greatest players and most
prized teams. A shrine to Canada's national sport, visitors can
learn about the history of the game through memorabilia from every
era, hockey artefacts from around the world, interactive exhibits
and images of great moments in hockey history. Marvel at Terry
Sawchuck's goalie gear, Newsy Lalonde's skates and the stick used
by Max Bentley. The Stanley Cup never fails to delight visitors and
most fun is had trying a hand at shooting or goalkeeping in the
interactive displays. You won't be disappointed.Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young PeopleThe largest theatre for young audiences in Canada, the
Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People is also a drama school,
creating theatre for the youth, by the youth. The productions put
on here aim to have a lasting emotional and educational impact on
the youth of today. Children will love watching performances
here.African Lion SafariChildren of all ages will love the African Lion Safari
where they can take a drive through the game reserve, cruise on the
'African Queen' boat, watch bird and animal performances,
experience and 'elephant round up', pet some baby goats, or even
enjoy the Misumu Bay Wet Play area.Ontario PlaceA fantastic day out for the kids and the family,
Ontario Place offers hours of action packed entertainment and some
exhilarating rides that kids of all ages will enjoy. Attractions at
Ontario Place include the 0 Generation Station, the Atom Blaster,
First Flight, Free Fall and Super Slide, to name a
few.Paramount Canada's WonderlandBoasting over 200 attractions and more than 65
exhilarating rides, Splash Works and a huge variety of roller
coasters, Paramount Canada's Wonderland is Canada's favourite theme
park. Kids will enjoy the fastest and biggest roller coaster, the
Behemoth as well as carousels, train rides and Canada's only flying
roller coaster, the Time Warp. This park is a must for a great day
out with the family.High ParkHigh Park is Toronto's largest park and features
sporting, cultural and educational facilities, gardens, playgrounds
and a zoo. A great place for a stroll or a family picnic, High Park
also features two children's playground, a communal swimming pool
which is manned by lifeguards, and plenty of open space to tire the
little ones out.
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