A Quick Shot to Toronto

Toronto is a one-hour flight from New York and is very worthwhile to visit any time of the year. It is the capital of the province of Ontario and is a major city along Lake Ontario’s northwestern shore. It is the largest city in Canada and is a multicultural city. The population consists of people from all over the world.

Our favorite area of the city during our limited one-day visit is to go to the Distillery District. It is pedestrian-only and consists of reconfigured warehouse buildings set on cobblestone streets. There are quaint restaurants, bars, galleries, and boutiques located here. Our favorite restaurant for lunch is named the Mill Street Brew Pub, which serves organic beer and a varied selection of food. During the Christmas holiday, the Distillery District becomes a Winter Village, which we have experienced several times during past visits. It is comparable to the markets in European cities, with vendors set up in cabins selling local products, including food and drinks. During most of our trips, we stayed at the Sheraton Centre Hotel and took the #504A streetcar to the district. This form of public transportation costs $3.30, which can be paid for on the streetcar by tapping a debit or credit card.

Another unique part of the city is the PATH, Toronto’s downtown underground pedestrian walkway. It spans more than 27 kilometers (16 miles) consisting of restaurants, shopping, general services, and entertainment. It is the largest underground pedestrian walkway in North America. The PATH is wonderful in bad weather, especially for employees of the many office buildings. There are 20 parking garages, six subway stations, eight hotels (one in which we stayed), and Union Station, a railway terminal. Getting lost in the PATH is easy, but a map and the friendly Canadians eager to assist are very helpful.

One attraction we plan to do on our next visit is take a ferry to the Toronto Islands. The Jack Layton Ferry Terminal is located at Bay Street on Queen’s Quay, and the ferry takes about 15 minutes. There are no cars allowed on the islands; however, there are boardwalks and walking trails that connect the islands. Bicycles are permitted on the ferries, and bike rentals are available on the islands. There are many summer and winter activities located on these islands.

Commuting to downtown Toronto is a pleasure from Pearson Airport. The Union Pearson Express runs every 15 minutes and takes about 25 minutes to reach downtown Toronto. The adult price is $12.35 one way, and the senior rate for those aged 65 and older is $6.20 one way. Children under 12 years of age ride for free. The exchange rate remains excellent, especially if you are using US dollars. Currently, there is a 30% benefit to US dollars users in Canada.

For most of our trips to Toronto, we have stayed at the Sheraton Centre Hotel, located on the PATH Underground Walkway; it is an easy connection from the Pearson Express Airport Train. Even though this hotel is a large convention-type hotel, it offers an excellent indoor/outdoor pool for swimming any time of the year.  It also offers a wonderfully huge M Club on the 43rd floor of the hotel, giving you the best views of the city.