While there is no doubt that the best Niagara Falls experience is to be had on the Canadian side, considering it is the site of one of the world’s most beautiful border crossings, you’d be remiss to visit without crossing to Niagara Falls, USA. Crossing …
Ahh island getaways – we all love them! But what if I told you that you could get away to the islands on your next trip to Toronto? The Toronto Islands are a collection of 15 small islands in Lake Ontario only a few minutes …
The Royal Ontario Museum features on most Toronto itineraries. While the city is filled with museums, this is the museum to check out if you’ve only got time for one. Affectionately referred to as the ROM, the Museum opened in 1914 and provides a multifaceted array of exhibits that run the spectrum of human civilisation and the natural world. With galleries spanning over 3 main levels (there’s actually 4 if you include the temporary exhibitions), the Royal Ontario Museum is the largest museum in Canada. Its instantly recognisable today, thanks to its modern Crystal structure, which bursts out from the entrance of the original building. Since its the most visited museum in the country, you may as well add to those numbers on your Toronto trip.
You could spend the better part of a day doing a comprehensive tour of the Royal Ontario Museum. I didn’t have enough time to do that when I was in the city. In this post, I’m hoping to give you an overview of the ROM’s permanent galleries so you can choose which parts you want to focus on during your visit.
First of all, be prepared for crowds when you visit the Royal Ontario Museum. I visited on a weekday afternoon in the middle of the summer holidays. It was also raining. Needless to say, the ROM was PACKED. While I wasn’t able to as I had dedicated my early morning hours to other attractions, I’d highly recommend getting to the Museum around opening time for the best odds of seeing it without too many crowds. If you do this, go to level two FIRST. Its where the dinosaurs are, and therefore thats where most people go.
Also, save time and book your tickets in advance. When I arrived, there was really long line for people wanting to purchase museum tickets. You can buy your tickets on the official website, but if you’re going to be in Toronto for a few days and checking out a number of the city’s attractions, buy the Toronto CityPass instead – it’ll save you money in the long run. For more details, visit the CityPass website. You’ll need to choose your day to visit the Museum beforehand if you use the CityPass, but you can do it moments before you go in.
With so much to see inside, I highly recommend taking a guided highlights tour. Running multiple times through the day, you’ll see some of the best parts of the museum, which will help you decide where you want to spend more time. They meet in the entrance hall. My tour started in the Canadian exhibit, went up to the dinosaurs and ended in the hall of ancient civilisations and my guide was really knowledgeable.
When you enter the Museum, you’ll pass through the main entrance on the first floor. The first thing you’ll see is the massive skeleton of a dinosaur. Its not a t-rex or a triceratops, or any other dinosaur you’ve heard of though. This gigantic behemoth was called the Futalognkosaurus. Yeah, that’s a mouthful, but there’s no doubting how impressive of a way seeing its skeleton is to start your journey through time. The huge herbivore is one of the largest dinosaurs ever found and lived in Argentina over 80 million years ago. Its notable for being found in a relatively complete fossil form. I didn’t know this before my visit, but most dinosaur fossils contain very few remaining bones, so scientists have to piece the rest together to create a realistic image of the dinosaur. Futalognkosaurus bucked that trend, with over 70% of the skeleton in tact on its discovery.
Beyond the entrance to the Museum, you’ll pass into the Currelly Gallery, which serves as a main hall. From here, you can head upstairs, but for now we’ll stay on the ground, where part of Museum’s World Culture focus comes into view.
One of my favourite galleries in the Royal Ontario Museum is the First Peoples Gallery. After all, being in Canada, I wanted to learn about its local history. The gallery contains over a thousand pieces of artwork and cultural heritage that gives you a real insight into the customs and heritage of the first Canadians. The objects on display here provide a wide ranging look at traditional First People life, including displays on travel, family life, spiritual beliefs and more. There’s totems and traditional wear and a whole lot more. One of my favourite displays in this section was the assortment of bark canoes that tribes used to traverse the waters of their sprawling homeland.
On the opposite side of the Currelly Gallery, you’ll be transported across the globe to East Asia, where the Museum focuses on Chinese (and to a less prominent degree Korean) culture. As someone that has always been fascinated by Chinese customs and history, this was another part of the Museum that I found really interesting. The Chinese collection covers almost 10,000 years of history and is actually ranked in the top ten collections of Chinese artefacts outside of China. The objects on display range from prehistoric times all the way to the Qing Dynasty of the 20th Century. Did you know that the Chinese were responsible for the development of paper, gunpowder, porcelain and even the compass? You will after visiting this gallery.
While the Korean collection is smaller, here you’ll learn how the Koreans were the first in the world to develop the woodblock text printing system and other aspects of their historical legacy.
There’s tons to see in these exhibits, but if I had to pick only one thing to see, it would easily be the spectacular reconstruction of the Imperial Palace Hall from Beijing’s Forbidden City. One day I’ll make it to the real thing!
When you go up to the ROM’s second floor, you’ll be leaving the realm of human history behind for a bit. The second floor is almost entirely dedicated to earth’s natural history, and the myriad of species that have lived on our planet over the course of time. While the Natural History Galleries can be broadly grouped together, there’s a number of distinct themes here, so we’ll continue our tour of the Royal Ontario Museum by breaking down the main ones.
The ROM’s Biodiversity Galleries explore life on earth, both today and from times long past. In this part of the Museum, there are tons of taxidermic specimens on display, covering different of animals from various parts of the planet. You’ll see a tiger, a polar bear, a rhino and everything else in between, while learning about the various adaptations that allow them to survive in the wild, and the important role they play in their ecosystems. The impact of humans on the environment is also a major theme in this part of the museum, as the information pulls no punches on the devastating impact human behaviour has had on numerous species, some of which have become endangered or extinct.
While technically a separate exhibit, the Gallery of Birds is adjacent to this section, and contains over a hundred species of birds displayed in full flight. Its one of Canada’s most comprehensive bird collections (I’m sensing a theme here at the Royal Ontario Museum).
One of my favourite parts of the Biodiversity displays though is the themed diorama of a Canadian woodland in the Fall, filled with local wildlife such as deers and bears.
Linked to the Biodiversity halls but deserving of its own mention is the Royal Ontario Museum Bat Cave. Sorry Bruce Wayne, its not your lair. The Bat Cave is an incredibly cool immersive exhibit where you’ll actually walk through a replicated version of St Clair Cave in Jamaica. The exhibit came about as a result of fieldwork carried out by ROM scientists in 2011 and is a really unique way of putting this habitat on display for all to see. The “cave” is filled with limestone formations, dim lighting and of course, the bats. Many of them. Don’t worry, they’re not real, but the cave contains over 800 models of bats (you think that’s a lot – the real thing contains over 50,000!). Whatever you do, don’t miss the Bat Cave on your tour of the Royal Ontario Museum.
This is the definitely the most crowded part of the Museum. These two halls focus on the massive species that ruled the earth in a time period millions of years ago. Those species were of course, the dinosaurs, and subsequently the megafauna (think mammoths, sabre-tooth tigers et al).
Everyone wants to see dinosaurs when they come to a natural history museum, so while its packed, you should definitely spend some time in their hall. If you thought the Futalognkosaurus in the lobby was huge, wait until you see the 27 metre long Barosaurus – one of only three fully assembled skeletons of this massive dinosaur in the entire world! You’ll also come across the usual suspects here – Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, Parasaurolophus and more. Unleash your inner palaeontologist as you inspect the fossils and replicas throughout one of the world’s most comprehensive dinosaur collections.
Following the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, the megafauna came into being. In this adjacent hall you’ll see some of these species. While you’ll recognise some right away (thank Ice Age for that kids), there’s others you may have never heard of, such as the appropriately named Torontocerous, a giant deer that called the Toronto area its home a very long time ago.
The Dawn of Life Gallery is one of the newer additions to the Natural History halls of the Royal Ontario Museum. Unlike many of the galleries that you can explore in any order you see fit, this one follows a distinct pathway, taking you through the epic journey of earth’s creation and the evolution of life over the course of more than 4 billion years. Its the first exhibit of its kind in North America, and my tour guide spoke very highly of its addition to the Museum.
While I didn’t have time to go through this gallery comprehensively, it really provides a detailed look through time. There’s animations, fossils and even hands-on exhibits where you can learn about Canada’s rich fossil paleontological history and the technologies used today to understand what came so many, many years before us.
There’s a few other galleries on the second floor of the Royal Ontario Museum that are worth a quick stop. Directly across from the Dawn of Life, you’ll find the Earth’s Treasures Hall, which is all about rocks, meteorites and beautiful gemstones spanning over 4.5 billion years of history. Among other samples, you’ll find a giant pure gold coin (worth a lot more than a Canadian dollar!) and the spectacular purple interior of an amethyst geode.
Rather strangely (and basically at odds with the rest of the floor’s theming), there’s also a small gallery of Toy Soldiers on this level. This exhibit hosts a collection of soldier figurines that were donated to the ROM back in 1991 by Henry NR Jackman, a former Lt Governor of Ontario.
The third floor of the Royal Ontario Museum picks back up right where the first floor left off – back to the history of human civilisation. There’s an extremely large collection on this level, spanning centuries across many regions of the globe. As you duck in and out of the various galleries, don’t miss the stunning Byzantine style mosaic over the ceiling of the Eaton Court entrance hall. Made from carefully crafted venetian glass, it contains symbols across cultures from all around the world.
I’ve grouped a number of the halls together here to refer to the highlight of the ROM’s third level. This area is made up of the Museum’s Egyptian, Roman and Greek collections (with a bit of Cyprus, Byzantium, Nubia and the Aegean mixed in). Of these sections, I found the Egyptian gallery to be the most fascinating. No matter how many times I see them, I can’t get enough of the Ancient Egyptian sarcophaguses and hieroglyphics. There’s even a full scale reconstruction of the 2nd century Tomb of Kitines that you can step inside. There’s over 5,000 years of history in this gallery alone.
When you’re finished learning about the Ancient Egyptian afterlife, spend some time with the Emperors of Ancient Rome. This gallery houses the largest Roman collection in Canada. You’ll see busts and sculptures of all the most prominent Romans and even see a collection of coins each bearing the image of a different ruler.
When you make your way to Ancient Greece, you’ll come across an impressive scale replica of the Acropolis in Athens, further depictions of deities, and of course, the classical Greek tapestry art (think the muses from Hercules).
With so many artefacts in these halls, I only barely scratched the surface on my visit.
The Middle East gallery takes you right to the cradle of human civilisation. At the meeting point of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, this is where ancient societies first flourished. In these halls, you’ll see relics from civilisations such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, Sumerians and more. One of the more notable displays here is the Lion facade from the Babylonian Palace of King Nebuchadnezzar II, creator of the legendary Tower of Babel.
Adjacent to this gallery is the section dedicated to the Indian subcontinent and its surroundings regions. With objects spanning across the South Asian region, here you’ll gain an insight into the origins of Buddhism as well as more contemporary art depictions. The gallery is especially significant due to Toronto’s significant South Asian population.
The ROM’s collection of objects from the Indigenous peoples of Africa, the Americas and Oceania is an excellent overview of the various cultural and spiritual lives of these different groups of people from distinctive regions of the world. Broken up into a number of sub-sections, you can see artefacts from civilisations ranging from the warriors of Mesoamerica, to the island tribes throughout Polynesia. Separate to all these historical objects and costumes is the centrepiece at the gallery’s entrance. The massive Straying Continents wall sculpture welcome guests into the gallery and was specifically created for the Museum by the Ghanaian artist El Anatsui. At 12 by 5 metres, its worth stopping to take this unique display in.
The Royal Ontario Museum also contains a renowned collection of European objects, icons, artwork and furnishings. Taking you on a time warp from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, in this gallery you’ll learn all about the innovations and developments that changed European lives throughout history. There’s lots of different sections in this gallery, but the one I enjoyed the most contained an assortment of rooms done up from different historical periods. It provided a way to visualise the everyday lives of different eras as civilisation flourished and progressed from humble beginnings.
With so much to see at the Royal Ontario Museum, there’s no way you’ll get to see everything on a single visit. The description I’ve given you should definitely seem overwhelming and you’ll feel rushed if you cram it all in. With that said, hopefully this post has given you an idea of what areas you’re most interested in. Focus on them on your visit, and you’ll get a lot out of your trip. If you’ve been to the ROM, let me know all about your favourite gallery or display.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is arguably the most touristy attraction in all of Toronto. Its immensely popular with visitors of all ages and gets really crowded during peak vacation season and school holidays. While your first reaction may be to write it off as a …
The CN Tower stands high above the city of Toronto. Its the defining feature of the city’s skyline, and it has even been recognised as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World (as named by the American Society of Civil Engineers). It used …
Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the capital of the province of Ontario. Its not the Canadian capital – that honour goes to Ottawa, but its definitely my favourite city in the entire country. Its situated on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, one of the five great lakes of North America, and traces its roots to being a trading post settlement from the 17th century. Today its a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. Its culturally diverse, prosperous and filled with exciting things for visitors to do. It may be Canada’s financial and commercial capital, but there’s also a lot of fun to be had in Toronto. In this post, I’m going to show you some of the best attractions to visit on a short trip to the city. I’ll also be giving you a few tips to help make things easy for you.
I spent time in Toronto in early July. That’s right around the best time to visit. Its the height of the Canadian summer, meaning you can expect sunny days and good vibes. It also means high prices and crowded attractions, but that tends to be the trade off when travelling. If you come to Toronto at this time of year, you’ll get daily temperature in the high 20s Celsius. Fall and Spring are also decent times to visit – cooler, but the city won’t be as packed.
In the winter (December to February), it can get quite cold and miserable. The days are short and its not unusual for temperatures to get below freezing during this time. While Toronto has a lot of indoor attractions, I feel like if you’ve got the flexibility, you should aim to come to Toronto in the warmer months.
Being the major city that it is, Toronto is extremely well connected to the world. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is the largest airport in Canada and is located around 27 kilometres north-west of Downtown Toronto. The two terminal airport receives flights from all over North America, as well as a range of international destinations further afield. Once you fly in, you can get into the heart of the city by taking the UP express train from the airport through to Union Station, which just so happens to be one of the grandest stations in all of North America. The train ride is around 25 minutes, with trains departing every 15 minutes. A one way ticket will cost you around $12.35 CAD.
The Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) is a much smaller airport on the Toronto Islands. If you’re arriving on a short domestic flight or from somewhere in the US north-east you might be able to fly in here, and take a brief ferry ride to get downtown.
Note that most countries require a visa or Electronic Transit Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. Being an Australian citizen, I was eligible for an eTA, which is valid for 5 years (or until you get a new passport) and costs $7.00 CAD. Apply at least a week in advance on the official website (the process is quite straightforward) if you are eligible. As always, make sure you check specific requirements for entry (including any covid related restrictions) well before your trip.
Toronto is really easy to get around. The city is on a grid system, so you never really need to worry about getting lost. Most of the major attractions are all clustered together downtown by the waterfront, making getting around on foot quite doable for much of your stay. I don’t think I used Uber at all while in Toronto – everything was so close.
While some attractions (I’m looking at you Casa Loma) are a bit further out, the city’s public transport system has you covered there. The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) operates a series of buses, trams and subway trains that can get you anywhere you want to go throughout the city. The subway in particular is highly efficient, with trains departing regularly. A day pass will set you back $12.50 CAD, but consider how often you’ll need to take public transport, a single ticket may work out cheaper if you’re a walker.
As a first time visitor to Toronto, you should aim to stay somewhere near the Entertainment and Financial districts of Downtown. Not only are these parts of the city a short walk to Lake Ontario (you may well have lake views from your hotel), but they’re also where all the quintessential Toronto attractions are located.
I’d be lying if I tried to tell you Toronto wasn’t an expensive city. With that said, you can find accommodation here to suit any budget. For a rough idea, you can expect to pay the following per night for a double room in high season:
On my recent trip to Toronto, I stayed at the One King West Hotel and it was AMAZING. It was definitely an upscale option, but its prime location, spacious rooms and great staff were worth every dollar. The restaurant and bar in the lobby were great (though if you’re in Toronto, you’re going to want to venture out to some of the excellent food spots in the surrounding neighbourhoods). The hotel’s towers offer stunning views of the city and the lake from your room. One King West offers all the luxuries of a modern hotel and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for an upper end experience.
The official currency of Canada is the Canadian Dollar. Credit cards are widely used and ATMs can be found everywhere in Toronto.
I highly recommend looking into the Toronto CityPass which will get you admission to a number of the attractions on this itinerary. If you plan on following this guide, you’ll save money by purchasing the CityPass rather than buying tickets for each participating attraction individually.
Toronto is an extremely safe city. I never felt uncomfortable at all while staying in and around the city. You should of course be aware of your surroundings in case of petty theft and pickpockets (like everywhere in the world), but you’re unlikely to face any problems during your stay.
As Canada’s largest city, there’s no way you’ll be able to see everything in Toronto in only two days. You will however be able to enjoy most of the city’s best attractions and also taste some great Canadian dishes. As mentioned above, getting from A to B in Toronto is extremely straightforward, so you should be able to follow this guide fairly easy. It definitely works best in the summer months though, when you’ll have longer daylight hours to fit everything in.
The first day of this itinerary is completely concentrated on the Downtown and waterfront districts of Toronto. You can do the whole of this day’s itinerary on foot (other than a ferry ride or two) and its a great way to see the most famous parts of the built up metropolis. Before you dive in though, head to your local Tim Hortons to start your day the way Canadians do.
Is there anything more Canadian than a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame? This impressive museum is housed inside the former Bank of Montreal building downtown and is a really fun and interactive showcase of Canada’s most popular sport. A dedicated NHL fan could spend the whole day here, reading every last plaque, watching each piece of footage and taking part in the interactive activities, but even someone that doesn’t follow the sport (like myself) will have a great time here for an hour or two.
Inside the Hockey Hall of Fame, there are countless exhibits focusing on individual players, teams and classic moments throughout the game’s history. One of the highlights is definitely the chance to see the actual Stanley Cup up close for an amazing photo opportunity. There’s lots of interactive stations throughout the experience as well – you’ll have the chance to take or defend shots at the goalposts, do virtual commentary with legendary announcers, and host a Sports Centre update (which is WAY harder than it looks!). There’s also an excellent 3D film included with your admission that takes you onto the ice alongside some of the greatest plays in the history of the game.
As lunch time hits, grab a bite to eat at St Lawrence Market. The market building is less than a ten minute walk east of the Hall of Fame, and along the way you’ll pass some really cool landmarks ranging from the Dog Fountain to Toronto’s own Flatiron Building. Once you arrive at St Lawrence Market, you’ll be at a public market that dates back over two centuries. Inside the massive building, there’s over 100 stalls and vendors selling all kinds of produce. There’s even an antiques market that opens on Sundays in another building nearby.
If you have more time, I recommend a food tour here at St Lawrence Market, so that you can taste a range of the very dishes available. If your inner foodie is overwhelmed with all the choices though, stop by the Carousel Bakery – its where you’ll find Toronto’s iconic pea-meal bacon sandwich.
After lunch, head down to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal on the waterfront, for an afternoon on the Toronto Islands. The walk takes about 15 minutes, and there’s regular ferries that head out to all three of the islands. The islands are all connected by land bridges, so it doesn’t really matter which one you get the boat to, but ideally you’d aim to start at Hanlan’s Point. Once you’re there, you can stroll along the beautiful landscape and beaches, enjoying the city views and making your way to the hub of island activity at Centre Island, then continuing on to quieter Ward’s Island.
I spent about 3 hours on the Toronto Islands. I wasn’t expecting much when I headed out, but it actually was one of my favourite things I did in Toronto. There’s a huge amount to do out here, and its really a great way to relax in nature. Centre Island is definitely where the action is, with its small amusement park, outdoor pop-up bars, petting zoos and hedge mazes, so I’d recommend spending the majority of your time there. Over on Hanlan’s Point, in addition to the beaches, you can check out the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse and even relax on a clothing-optional beach. The main reason to go to Ward’s Island is to stroll along the Lakeshore Avenue Boardwalk before heading back to the city.
Back in downtown Toronto, finish your first day in the city with its most iconic attraction. The CN Tower was constructed in the 1970s, and for a period of time held the distinction of being the world’s tallest man made structure. While it now no longer can claim that honour, it does stand at over 500 metres in height, and on a clear day you can see all the way to Niagara Falls from the tower’s observatory.
The CN Tower is a short walk from the waterfront, but make sure you book your entry ticket in advance. If you don’t have a pre-booked time, you’ll have to wait in a separate line, especially towards the end of the day when lots of people come to the tower for sunset. Once you’re up the super-fast elevator to the observatory, take it all in. The 360 degree views of the city are awe-inspiring. In addition to looking out across the city skyline, there’s a reinforced glass floor you can cross to see the ground way below, or you can even pay extra to head up to the SkyPod (though the views aren’t THAT much better so its not essential if you’re content with the main level).
Consider making a booking at the restaurant if you’re feeling like some fine dining and cocktails with a view. Otherwise there’s a basic cafe and bar in the main observatory. When you’re done with the tower, head back towards the waterfront for a night time stroll along the lake to finish up.
The places you’ll be headed on your second day in Toronto are a little more spread out, but its still fairly easy to get around. Our itinerary begins further north of the main downtown area, and its a bit too far to walk (unless you feel like an hour on foot to get started). Head to one of the many metro stations in the heart of the city and take the number 1 line to Dupont Station. The train ride will only take around 12 minutes, and once you arrive, you can walk a few blocks north until you hit the Baldwin Steps, ascending to Toronto’s very own castle.
Did you know there was an actual castle in Toronto? While Casa Loma may never have actually housed royalty, it remains a must see when visiting the city. The 98 room residence was built for Sir Henry Pellatt, one of the most influential Canadian industrialists. Construction was (mostly) completed in 1914 and cost over $3.5 million, however less than a decade later Pellatt was forced to abandon his castle as he couldn’t afford the upkeep. Casa Loma was sold and today functions as a museum, with its preserved halls welcoming guests looking to tour this residence of Canada’s social elite. The castle has also been used for filming in various movies such as X-Men and Chicago.
There’s plenty to see at Casa Loma. While exploring the grounds and rooms of the castle is fascinating enough, you’ll also get great views of downtown Toronto on the horizon from both castle towers. Admission to the castle also includes the Queen’s Own Rifles Museum on the third floor. Make sure you also pass through the tunnel to the stables a few blocks away, where you’ll see various vehicles from the time in the Automotive Museum and even take a walk through a Madame Tussaud like exhibit!
Allow at least 2 hours to see all of Casa Loma. Your admission includes a complimentary audio tour. I highly recommend following it, as you’ll learn all about its history and the story of Sir Henry Pellatt. After your tour, grab a quick bite at the on-site cafe before moving on.
After lunch, you’re off to Canada’s largest museum. The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is instantly recognisable due to its piercing “Crystal” design that was added to the exterior of the original building in 2007. Today the museum contains a collection of over six million fascinating objects across four floors and numerous exhibits. The various halls of the museum can be divided into two broad sections – World Cultures (displaying items from cultures across the world including art, religious artefacts and more), and Natural History (where you’ll find skeletons of extinct dinosaurs and collections from nature).
The ROM is a roughly half hour walk south from Casa Loma. Alternatively, you can get back on the same subway line you took in the morning and head back to Museum station (a 4 minute ride) which is just minutes away from the museum’s entrance. Once inside, spend at least two hours to get a cursory look at everything – if you want to go through comprehensively, you’d need to spend most of the day here. I recommend taking the free highlights tour before checking out some of the halls that interest you in more detail. One of my favourite exhibits was the highly immersive Bat Cave, which recreates the experience of walking through a Jamaican bat habitat.
Moving into the late afternoon, head back downtown before taking a walk some 20 minutes east to the Distillery District. This cobblestone lane zone is filled with old industrial structures that have been converted into restaurants, bars, galleries and studios. Spread out across 47 repurposed buildings, there’s countless options for dinner in the Distillery District, all while taking in the area’s original architecture, which dates back to its days as the whisky distillery of Gooderham & Worts.
While there’s so many options here, as a first timer you can’t go wrong with the Mill Street Brew Pub. They do INCREDIBLE poutine and they have delicious local beers on tap. If you’re after something different though, try Izumi Sake Brewery, the first sake brewery in North America. The Spirit of York Distillery is another popular option for gin, whisky and vodka drinkers. You should also spend a bit of time after dinner admiring the street art throughout the area. The Distillery District is full of good energy and I really liked this part of the city.
After dinner, its back to the base of the CN Tower to take a tour of the aquarium next door. The Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is a really modern aquarium, having only opened in 2013. The admission is definitely on the pricey side, but I really enjoyed the hour or so I spent in this super touristy attraction. The aquarium contains over 16,000 marine organisms and is broken up into different zones, each representing distinct aquatic environments. You’ll start with a tour through the local waters of the Ontario Lake Basin, before venturing through kelp forests, jellyfish pools, and of course, the Dangerous Lagoon shark tank. The latter is the aquarium’s most popular zone, with a travelator whisking you through the tank as sharks, stingrays and the like swim overhead.
The aquarium is extremely popular, especially for families with children. For this reason, it gets seriously packed during the day. That’s why I’ve recommended stopping by in the evening after dinner – you’ll have more time to see the fish without jostling for room in the crowds in front of each tank.
As you leave the aquarium, take a few photos of the lit up Rogers Centre (formerly the Toronto Skydome) nearby, before walking a few blocks through the heart of the city to Nathan Phillips Square. This public square in front of the City Hall building is an iconic spot to wrap up a night in Toronto. Its most famous for the lit up Toronto sign, so stand across the massive fountain pool and take your photos. Many will be doing the same, so people watch here before calling it a night.
While there’s much more to do in Toronto itself, if you have more than two days in the area, I’d recommend getting out of the city and making the trip to Niagara Falls. Its one of the natural wonders of the world, and is a really enjoyable experience that I’ll be posting about another time. If you’ve got enough time to do that while also spending more time in Toronto itself however, your options are limitless. One attraction I didn’t get to do (which is included in the CityPass) is the Toronto Zoo, which tends to attract favourable views. You could also check out the Art Gallery of Ontario, or one of the city’s many other galleries and museums.
There’s so much to do in Toronto. I hope this post has given you a starting point, particularly if you only have a short amount of time to spend in the city. Is there anywhere I’ve missed that you would recommend? If so, be sure to let me know! I loved my time in Toronto, and definitely will return in the future.
A trip to Vancouver wouldn’t be complete without spending some time in Stanley Park. Known for its natural beauty and ample greenery within walking distance of the city’s downtown, the people of Vancouver are blessed with this sprawling public space, and they know it! Make …
If you’re looking up places to visit in Vancouver, chances are the Capilano Suspension Bridge is showing up fairly high on that list. Its definitely one of the most popular things to do in the Vancouver area. Having visited Capilano during my recent trip to …
Grouse Mountain is a great place to visit for half a day when in Vancouver. In fact, it was my favourite attraction that I went to while in the city. Located just a short ride north from Vancouver’s centre, Grouse Mountain is one of the mountains that overlook the city from across the water. It was first visited by hikers in 1894, but today is a host to many outdoor attractions designed to educate, thrill and entertain visitors. I highly recommend checking out Grouse Mountain, and in this post I’ll be telling you about all the things you can get up to there. Importantly, this guide only covers Grouse Mountain in the summer months (during winter the mountain converts into a ski resort and is covered by blankets of snow).
If you’re able to do so, try to visit Grouse Mountain on a clear day when you’re in Vancouver. You’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the city and all the way to Victoria Island. If (like me), you have to visit on a cold and overcast day, you’ll still have a great time, but there won’t be any visibility on the mountain lookout. That said, I feel like the mist was quite atmospheric. Regardless of when you visit, pack a jumper/sweater – it gets quite cold up there (I visited at the start of July and there were still large patches of snow on the ground!).
Count on spending about half a day at Grouse Mountain – there’s a lot to see and do.
The Skyride Gondola is your ticket to the top of Grouse Mountain from the parking lot below. The only other way to get up to the mountain top is to take the arduous Grouse Grind walking track (not for the faint hearted). I, like most visitors to Grouse, took the Skyride. The large gondola starts operating at 8.45am daily and fits numerous guests inside. The gondola whisks you high above the forests of Douglas fir trees until you get to the top with great views (weather permitting) along the way. If you’re afraid of heights, you could stand in the middle and avoid looking out the windows, but really, what’s the fun in that? All up, the trip takes just over ten minutes until you arrive at the Peak Chalet station to properly begin your day.
If you really want to start your day with a thrill, you can pay extra ($35.00 CAD) and book the Skyride Surf Adventure. Instead of riding in the gondola chamber, you’ll be out on the open air platform on the roof. I didn’t do it, but you can find out more information HERE.
“They came to see the bears” – a line from the Grouse Mountain Lumberjack Show.
Look, there’s a lot to do on Grouse Mountain, but I’d be lying if I told you anything but the grizzly bears were the highlight of the day. Grouse Mountain is home to two resident grizzlies – Grinder and Coola – who have both called the Wildlife Refuge on Grouse Mountain their home since 2001. Both were found as cubs that had lost their mothers (Coola was an orphan due to a truck accident, while Grinder was found wandering alone and malnourished). As grizzlies do, they hibernate during the winter, but are found wandering around a large natural habitat during the warmer months of the year.
I really enjoyed looping around the habitat enclosure, watching and learning about the bears. There’s regular ranger talks held at the habitat where you’ll be able to ask questions and gain insight into their behaviour and traits. On that note, I have to give a shout out to park ranger Jade who spent a bit of time hanging around and chatting with me about the bears after the talk.
I definitely could have spent much longer watching the bears search for food, swim and interact with one another, but there’s more to see on the mountain.
The “World Famous Grouse Mountain Lumberjack Show” is a lot of fun. Filled with slapstick humour, the comedic show is performed by actual championship lumberjacks on a logging camp set. The premise sees two rival lumberjacks compete in a series of feats, ranging from tree climbing, axe throwing, and my personal favourite – the log roll. Add in an enthusiastic MC and its a recipe for a good time. All up, the show runs about thirty minutes, but it flies by with a large amount of audience participation. Make sure you check the show times (it generally runs three times a day, with the first show at 11.15am).
Your best chance of seeing native bird life up close and personal on Grouse Mountain is to stop by the Birds in Motion Show, which runs a few times throughout the day (check show listings, the first show generally starts around 12.45pm). Running for about half an hour, this demonstration is hosted by park rangers who bring out a series of birds, which take flight while the rangers talk about the various species and the ways in which they interact with the environment they live in. Its a really good show, and if you manage to get a spot by the rope barrier you’ll be able to see all the birds up close, including the Golden Eagle, the Peregrine Falcon and the Vulture.
Seeing the Falcon was especially impressive – its the fastest living animal in the world, and you’ll see just how quick it is when it spreads its wings!
Not enough birds for you? Once a day (at 10.45am), the Grouse Mountain rangers bring out some of the mountain’s owl residents. On the day of my visit, we only got to see Odin the Barred Owl, but they also have a Barn Owl, a Snowy Owl and a Great Horned Owl that make appearances when the weather permits (the snow owl’s feathers in particular are quite susceptible to the elements). Grouse Mountain’s owls were all hatched in captivity and are studied at the park’s ranger station. The ranger talks are a chance to see them up close and learn a few fun facts about these feathered friends.
What’s that? You’re not up high enough? In that case, take the chairlift for a 14 minute ride up to the very peak of Grouse Mountain. Towering above the main part of the park, at over 1,200 metres above sea level you can get the best views on the mountain. That’s assuming the weather lets you get there – as I’ve said, I visited Grouse Mountain on a day with extremely poor visibility, which meant the chairlift to the peak was closed. If you’re luckier than me, you should take the time to head up. While you’re up here, you can also go into the Eye of the Wind observatory, a 360 degree viewing area inside an actual wind turbine. Note that while the chairlift to the peak is included in your admission, visiting the Eye of the Wind involves paying an additional fee.
The attractions that are included in your admission to Grouse Mountain will probably keep you busy enough for a first time visitor, however there’s a number of extra things you can do for an additional fee. Most of these are adventure/thrill attractions such as a zipline and mountain ropes courses. You can also play disc golf on an 18 hole course for an extremely scenic game. If money is no object, you could even look into a helicopter ride around the mountain range. I didn’t do any of these, but if you’re looking to spend more time (and money) at Grouse Mountain, you should check the official website for more information.
We can’t leave without talking about food! You’re going to get hungry at some point while exploring Grouse Mountain. If you’re looking for a sit down meal, you can stop by the Altitudes Bistro or Rusty Rail BBQ, both of which offer panoramic views while you dine. If you’re just after a quick bite, there’s two quick service cafes up here – the Grizzly Lookout Cafe and Grouse Grind Coffee Bar. Also, don’t miss the Beaver Tail stand – these cinnamon flavoured pastries are a Canadian delicacy!
As you can see, there’s a lot to do on Grouse Mountain – definitely enough to dedicate at least half a day during a trip to Vancouver. If you’re looking for more to do when you’re finished, consider taking a trip to the nearby Capilano Suspension Bridge for more fun in nature. Have you been to Grouse Mountain or are you planning a trip? Let me know if you’ve been and what you enjoyed during your visit!
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