Quebec City is one of my favourite places, not just in Canada but worldwide. It’s lovely cobblestone streets, soaring peaks and deep valleys, thick city walls, and the rushing St. Lawrence River all add to the majestic, yet quaint, ambiance that draws nearly 5 million tourists each year. Having now visited in both summer and…
The beauty of Toronto’s islands is well known to most locals, who have been taking advantage of the large green space for picnics, bike rides, sunbathing, and even music festivals. For tourists wanting a little escape from the concrete jungle, the islands offer serenity but also lots of entertainment options, particularly for families. Most of…
For many city dwellers the best way to access fresh local food is at one of the many Farmer’s Markets held each summer, with some held throughout the year. My personal favourite market in Toronto can be found at Artscape Wychwood Barns at 601 Christie St on Saturdays from 8AM to 12:30PM year round (10 minute walk from…
The luxury Ritz Carlton is one of several high end hotels which opened within the last five years in Toronto. Located at 181 Wellington Street West in the core financial and convention district, it’s a great option for both leisure and business travelers. Whether you are visiting Toronto or call this your home, don’t miss the…
Visitors to Toronto might be a little surprised to learn we have our very own castle in a city that’s relatively young, at just over 200 years old. Anyone that grew up here is already familiar with Casa Loma, the nearly 65,000 square foot 98 room mansion built by Sir Henry Pellatt in 1914 and located near Dupont Subway…
Porter, a small regional airline based out of Toronto’s Billy Bishop Island Airport, is a bit of a well-kept secret among East coast travelers. If you’re coming to this part of the world though, it can be a fantastic option for travelling between Toronto and NYC, Montreal, Quebec City, Boston, Chicago or many other destinations,…
Just one and a half hour’s drive from downtown Toronto, near Kitchener and Waterloo, lies Ontario’s Mennonite Country, complete with working farms, picturesque towns, Ontario’s last wooden covered bridge, and a huge market full of fresh food, antiques, and flea market finds. St. Jacobs Farmers’ & Flea Market is open Thursday and Saturday from 7am…
It seems like every post these days features yet another amazing Toronto summer festival – whether its sports or movies or neighbourhoods – we are a city that knows how to celebrate. Fortunately (or unfortunately), I LOVE them all! So here is another of my favourite summer activities that is cheap, fun and full of culture. The Fringe Festival features…
In case the Pan Am Games and the multitude of street and cultural festivals in Toronto weren’t keeping you busy enough this summer, may I suggest one more excellent way to spend your time in this city? The Open Roof Festival presents first run indie movies under the stars every Wednesday (including Canada Day) until…
Toronto has been gearing up for the 2015 Pan American Games for years, with new airport to downtown rapid transit, a revitalized Union Station and completion of gaps in the waterfront trail. Now it’s hard to believe we have less than 2 weeks to go before the official kick-off! Whether you are visiting Toronto especially for…
Toronto has seen a boom in luxury hotels in recent years, with the likes of the Ritz, Trump and Shangri-la hotels joining existing five star accommodations. With luxury hotels, come new luxury spas to entice locals and tourists alike. Located at 188 University Avenue, the 5th floor of the Shangri-la Hotel contains a 9,000 square foot…
I have already touted the value of visiting local festivals for travelers to really immerse themselves in the culture of a place. And when it comes to festivals, especially in the summer, Toronto seems to know no bounds! I can barely keep up with the multitude of street fests, food fests, cultural days, and music/arts…
After an extended absence from Toronto that included a week in New Orleans, I was so thrilled to return home and find out that a little piece of New Orleans opened up in my neighbourhood. Fat City Blues, located at 890 College St, has an excellent west-facing patio, which means lots of afternoon sun for…
One of the best ways to spend a sunny day in Toronto is exploring one of the many parks and green spaces. A favourite of many Torontonians, High Park lies in the city’s west end directly next to High Park subway station for easy access. The park is jam packed with activities including a swimming…
It’s hard to believe that over nearly 5 weeks, we covered 24 States *deep breath*: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan…plus, not to be forgotten, District of Columbia! We managed to…
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