Toronto is the largest city in Canada. My parents first immigrated to Canada— in Toronto, and that is how I was born there. It is also our “New York City.” In case you didn’t know, Hollywood films and TV shows are often filmed in Toronto, as a setting for New York City on the screen. Filled with rich history, Toronto has a lot of things to offer.
Toronto used to be called York, and it was known as such from the late 1700s to the early 1800s, when it was renamed Toronto. It was during the time when it was called York, that a lot of the European architecture was built. It is nice to see some of those, in an otherwise mostly modern-looking city. One of the unique things about Toronto today, is that it is the only city in North America that operates a fully-fledged streetcar (tram) network, as it was originally created; something you mostly see in European cities. If you don’t know what that is, look it up.
Since I’m a local, there are way too many places that I like to see, but I will highlight six points of interest, that have been my favorite to visit over and over again.
Yorkville (neighborhood)
Yorkville is one of Toronto’s most affluent and stylish neighborhoods. Known for its luxurious shops running along Bloor Street and Yonge Street, a.k.a. “Mink Mile”, this area is essentially “Toronto’s Fifth Avenue.” It’s sort of the Upper East Side of Toronto. The various 5-star hotels are known to host many Hollywood celebrities, especially during the annual Toronto International Film Festival. I personally enjoy taking a walk in the neighborhood’s charming streets that feature older homes with Victorian architecture. There is something so peaceful, when you just walk a few blocks back into the neighborhoods.
The Royal Ontario Museum (The ROM)
Another place I love is The Royal Ontario Museum; also located in the Yorkville neighborhood. Known as the ROM, it is one of the largest museums in North America, and is our equivalent of The Met in NYC. The ROM takes you through several civilizations, my favorites being showcasing the Greek and Egyptian artifacts; as well as some of the natural history--- which feature different animals and dinosaurs. I also love the Samuel European Galleries, which showcase European period rooms from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. This way you can get an idea of how a room looked in that specific time period.
Osgoode Hall
The other place I love is Osgoode Hall. It is a lovely surprise in the midst of the busy Financial District. It was built in the early 1800s, to house the headquarters of legal education and the legal profession in Ontario. Essentially, it is a central hub for lawyers and law education; which still operates today. It is also Ontario’s first law school. I really appreciate the stunning Great Library room. It feels like you’ve stepped into a building in Europe. The exterior is designed in the Palladian architecture style, which borrows from Ancient Roman and Greek elements of design. This is so classic, and as a result will never go out of style. It is also free to tour!
Casa Loma
Another cool spot to visit is Casa Loma, Toronto’s very own castle. Casa Loma means “hill house” in Spanish. Built in the early 1900s as the largest private residence at the time, Casa Loma has grand halls, secret passageways, and beautiful gardens with a waterfall. My favorite part is visiting all the furnished rooms, just like it would have looked like in the past. It feels like a European castle got brought over to Canada. You can check out the towers, and there is a large underground tunnel that leads to the amazing stables where they used to keep their horses. A fun fact about Casa Loma is that it is a popular place for Hollywood filming, for example X-Men used this castle extensively. Casa Loma is definitely one you don’t want to miss.
Ontario Legislative Building
Located in Queen’s Park, the Ontario Legislative Building is the seat of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. This means that this is where the laws of Ontario are made. This building was created in the 1800s, and I really like the interiors. The center of the building has this huge winding wooden Grand Staircase. It has a green carpet rolled out on the stairs and the wood has a lot of carving details. The walls are flanked with many large paintings. For some reason I think of the show Downton Abbey when I see these stairs. It is really impressive. You can take a free tour and learn about Ontario’s political history and even visit when the legislature is in session.
Fairmont Royal York
Located in the heart of Downtown Toronto, the Royal York is an impressive historic luxury hotel. With its European architecture and flair for class, the Royal York is definitely one you don’t want to miss. Countless of presidents, celebrities and members of the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth, have all stayed here. It opened in 1929, and it has a beautiful lobby, ballrooms, and amazing restaurants. I was able to stay in one of the newly renovated Fairmont Gold rooms. The hotel had gone through extensive renovations that was completed in 2019, which include the Fairmont Gold rooms and lounge in the upper floors.
Toronto has many more fun things to see. Whether you want to walk the chic streets of Yorkville, or see the historical grandeur of places like Osgoode Hall and Casa Loma, or simply wander through museums and pretty parks – there is something for everyone. ||
P.S. 5 Honorable Location Mentions:
1. Union Station (our version of Grand Central Station in NYC)
2. St. Lawrence Market (largest food market)
3. The Distillery District (1800s pedestrian-only area; Toronto Christmas Market held here)
4. Harbourfront
5. The CN Tower
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