Toronto Zoo
Divided into geographic regions, the zoo's 710 acres feature more than 5,000 animals in their natural environments. Visit the award-winning African Savanna, Great Barrier Reef, and the phenomenal Gorilla Rainforest. Combined with the Eurasia outdoor exhibits, home to the Prezwalski foals, Snow leopard and Siberian tiger cubs, and the Zellers Discovery Zone with its Kids Zoo, Splash Island and Waterside Theatre, the zoo will have animal lovers and kids fascinated for hours.
tzwebmaster@torontozoo.ca
www.torontozoo.com
St. Lawrence Market
Food & Wine magazine rates this foodie emporium as one of the world's 25 best food markets. Crammed with vendors selling fresh locally grown produce, the finest cuts of AAA Angus Glen beef, spicy sausages and daily baked bagels, it's impossible to leave the historic venue without sampling some of the culinary delights.
market@stlawrencemarket.com
www.stlawrencemarket.com
CN Tower
In 1995 the American Society of Civil Engineers pegged the CN Tower as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Since then the tower's held the moniker "the world tallest free standing structure" until it was recently surpassed. Visitors continue to marvel at the spectacular engineering marvel which just added its newest extreme attraction, the Edge Walk. This thrilling adrenaline booster has you outfitted, helmeted and harnessed as you walk the roof's outer circumference. Dare to try it!sales@cntower.ca Toronto IslandsA cluster of islands at the foot of Toronto's Yonge Street is where locals and visitors retreat for some respite and to catch magnificent city skyline views. Regularly scheduled ferry rides get you to Centre Island or Ward Island in a breezy 10 minutes. Discover boat rentals, bike paths, beaches alongside a children's amusement park and petting zoo.
info@centreisland.ca
http://torontoisland.org
www.centreisland.ca
Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) or the ExCanada's largest annual community event is this annual city summer farewell party. For over XX hundred years, crowds converge at the historic Exhibition grounds for some last minute fun, eats and jaw-dropping experiences whether it's a concert, roller coaster ride, or the staple foods ie corndog on a stick, candy apples and cotton candy. The final two days ends with audiences marvelling at pilot acrobatics during the annual Air Show.
info@TheEx.com
www.theex.com
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
A recent architectural face lift of Canada's largest museum by acclaimed architect Daniel Libeskind has made the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal facade one of the most talked about buildings in this metropolis. With over 6 million objects in the vast collection, 16 are considered iconic pieces. Among them the Haida totem poles, the painting The Death of General Wolfe, and a rare granite piece The Bust of Cleopatra VII.Contact email on website.
www.rom.on.ca
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
From its humble beginnings in the 1900s, the Art Gallery of Ontario has transformed into a leading art museum in North America thanks partly to generous philanthropists like publishing tycoon, the late Kenneth Thomson, who bequeathed over 1400 works, the largest individual donation in Canadian history. Besides housing the world's largest permanent exhibition of Henry Moore sculptures, acclaimed architect Frank Gehry also put his signature style on the venue's latest renovation, which has indeed added to the landmark's cachet. The AGO has over 80,000 works with some dating as early as 100 A.D. in its permanent holdings and premieres temporary exhibitions year-round.
www.ago.net
Ontario Science Centre
No doubt the allure of the hit TV show "The Big Bang Theory" has raised visitor attendance to Toronto's iconic science institution. Ever since opening its doors in 1967, the landmark attracts busloads of students, science buffs, and families to the interactive exhibits on permanent display, the ginormous IMAX theatre, and the fascinating temporary exhibitions such as Leonardo da Vinci's Workshop, The Titanic, and BodyWorks.Contact.
Centre@OntarioScienceCentre.ca
www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
Canada's Wonderland
Look no further than Canada's Wonderland, Toronto's permanent theme park which offers a variety of event and entertainment options for families. Experience the thrill of its roller coasters, the water parks and scheduled shows.Contact email on website
www.canadaswonderland.com
The Hockey Hall of Fame
Toronto's Shrine to hockey is where you'll find the inseparable Stanley Cup when it's not touring the nation during the post-NHL playoffs. Rare hockey memorabilia is meshed with interactive exhibits ideal for NHL wannabes and anybody else with a penchant for Canada's national sport.
info@hhof.com
www.hhof.com
The Eaton Centre
Shopaholics rule at the iconic downtown shopping plaza, the city's only one pegged as a tourist attraction. Be sure to see the famous Michael Snow Flying Geese art installation looming high above shopper's heads by the Queen Street entrance. With over 230 stores and food courts in between, it's easy to spend a full day there.
tecguestservices@ca
dillacfairview.com
www.torontoeatoncentre.com
The Distillery District
Red bricked lanes flow through the alleyways to this National Historic Site that once housed the world's biggest whisky empire. Now the district of over 40 buildings is home to some of the city's most vibrant art galleries, artisanal boutiques and innovative eateries not to mention the city's newest theatre troupe, the Soulpepper Theatre Company, which calls the Young Centre for the Performing Arts its mainstage. Visitors arrive regularly for the free seasonal outdoor festivals, a farmers' market and other crowd pleaser's.
inquiries@thedistillery.ca
www.thedistillerydistrict.com
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Canada's first duo-purpose venue which opened in 2006 to great fanfare houses the venerable Canadian Opera Company and the historic National Ballet of Canada. Music and dance is regularly scheduled year-round. Free lunch time concerts and tours of the breathtaking facility, a story glass facade structured designed by local architect Jack Diamond are regularly scheduled.tickets@coc.ca
www.fourseasonscentre.ca
Roy Thomson Hall
This dish-shaped concert hall is where audiences come to watch the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir perform as well as special concerts performed by renowned singers, and other world-class performers.
reachus@rth-mh.com
www.roythomson.com
Massey Hall
This premiere concert hall has staged legendary performers since first opening in the late 1800s. One of the few remaining historic venues remaining in the city, the acoustics remain among the best places to hear Pink, Jewel, and Diana Krall, recent performers who have graced its stage.
reachus@rth-mh.com
www.masseyhall.com
Canon Theatre
A beautifully restored Thomas Lamb designed theatre, this historic property has been reincarnated several times since first opening in 1920. Among the biggest revamps was during Livent Garth Drabinsky's reign who resurrected this theatre with the longest running Broadway show to stage in Toronto, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The 2,250-seat venue has staged productions Billy Elliott, The Musical; We Will Rock You and other Broadway hits.
www.mirvish.com/theatres/canontheatre
Royal Alexandra Theatre
The oldest continuously running theatre in North America shines with major productions such as Les Miserables, Rent, and Mamma Mia!. The theatre is one of four gems from Mirvish Productions, the city's theatre dynasty helmed by local philanthropist David Mirvish.
www.mirvish.com/theatres/royalalexandratheatre
Princess of Wales Theatre
A sparkling gem of a theatre named for the late Princess Diana, The Princess of Wales is the ambitious project conceived by father and son team, Ed and David Mirvish, and remains Canada's first privately owned and financed theatre built since 1907. Besides the block buster productions to hit the main stage, the venue is known for the ambitious private art collection gracing the walls.
www.mirvish.com/theatres/princessofwalestheatre
Panasonic Theatre
This last Mirvish acquisition is a smaller 701-seat venue but remains a popular location near the hubs of tony Yorkville, and the Gay Village attracting theatre lovers. Recent shows: Forever Plaid and The Blue Man Group.
www.mirvish.com/theatres/panasonictheatre
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
When this venerable venue opened its doors to much fanfare in the swinging sixties then known as the O'Keefe Centre, Camelot starring Richard Burton, Robert Goulet and Julie Andrews was the inaugural production that set the course. The famous landmark has recently undergone a major renovation and continues to dazzle audiences with big productions at Canada's largest soft-seat theatre.
info@sonycentre.ca
www.sonycentre.ca
Air Canada Centre
Home to two sport franchises: the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs and the NBA Toronto Raptors, this venue also packs in massive concerts from the biggest recording artists around like Cher, Lady Gaga, Sting and U2.Contact email on website.
www.theaircanadacentre.com
Bata Shoe Museum
Hundreds of shoes are on display in renowned local architect Raymond Moriyama's classic shoe-box designed building. Shoe dynasty legend, Sonja Bata from the Bata Shoe Empire, collected hundreds of footwear with some rare finds dating back 4,500 years. The fruits of her passion are now unveiled in this extraordinary permanent exhibition with changing exhibitions scheduled throughout the year. Highlights include National Ballet of Canada's former prima ballerina Karen Kain's ballet shoe, John Lennon's Beatle boot, Terry Fox's running shoe and intriguing examples of Medieval
footwearmembership@batashoemuseum.caw
www.batashoemuseum.ca
guestoffice@tiff.net
http://tiff.net/tiffbelllightbox
Fort York
This national historic site was the town's garrison but was burned down by the Yankees in 1813. While most of the buildings part of a public museum have been rebuilt (seven original ones remain), the spirit of early Canada is very much alive through re-enactments and demonstrations. In preparation for the bicentennial celebrations in 2012, Fort York is undergoing some big changes with a proposed $16-million Visitor Centre.
fortyork@toronto.ca
www.fortyork.ca