Aquarium

Gorgeous Ripley's Aquarium is situated right next to the CN Tower and boasts a huge variety of incredible marine life — spend time with an octopus, meet stingrays, experience a kelp forest, watch sharks swim above as you stroll through a glass tunnel and so much more! One of my favourite places to visit.

Brickworks

In the heart of the Don Valley, a brick-making facility opened in 1889 because exposed clay deposits were abundant in this area — many of the city's landmarks were built using bricks made from Don Valley clay. In 2010, the abandoned factories and the green space surrounding them were turned into a community hub and Evergreen Brick Works was born.

CN Tower

Completed in 1976, this iconic Toronto communications tower was built by Canadian National Railway (CN). It was the world's tallest free-standing structure for over 30 years (until it was surpassed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2007). It is still considered to be the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere.

Dome

I still remember when the Rogers Centre was built in 1989; back then it was called the SkyDome. It was the first stadium with a retractable roof in the world - a point of pride for Torontonians. It is still the home of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.

eaton centre

Ask any true Torontonian what their favourite mall is and many, including me, will say the Eaton Centre. Named after the now-closed Eaton’s department store, the Eaton Centre houses hundreds of stores and a flock of fibreglass geese made by a Toronto artist in 1979.

fort york

Built in 1793 as a harbour defence to protect Toronto (then called the Town of York) from invading American forces, especially during the War of 1812.

Garden

Allan Gardens is a lovely network of greenhouse conservatories in the heart of the city. It is overflowing with lush foliage, blossoms, and cacti; there are even turtle and koi ponds to marvel at. It is the perfect oasis anytime, but particularly during Toronto winters.

high park

One of the largest parks in Toronto, High Park was opened in 1876 when the land was donated to the city by John George Howard. It is known for its cherry blossoms (which were a gift from Japan in 1959), chipmunks, black oak savanna, gorgeous nature trails, and a huge off-leash dog area. I could go on and on; this is not only my favourite park but also one of my favourite places in Toronto!

Islands

Many Torontonians (including me) believe summer wouldn't be complete without at least one trip to the Toronto Islands (although most of us refer to it as “The Island,” it is technically a series of 15 little islands). A short ferry ride away from the city and you can be in another world: beautiful sandy beaches, an amusement park, a “haunted” lighthouse, incredible cottage-core residential areas, and gorgeous walking and bike trails.

junction triangle

An area in the west end of Toronto that is defined by 3 different sets of railway tracks. The “triangle” of land in the centre is mainly residential and forms a lovely neighbourhood I used to live in.

Kensington market

A favourite hangout for many Torontonians, this vibrant area is home to incredible vintage stores, multicultural markets and restaurants, and “The Green Car" - a living art project originally started to promote a more car-free existence. Kensington is closed to cars on select Sundays in the summer months for “Pedestrian Sundays.”

library

My tribute to the incredible public libraries in Toronto features the gorgeous facade of the Lillian H. Smith branch that was named after a librarian who founded children's programs in the city's libraries. Along with some pretty impressive architecture, this building houses special collections on the top floors.

Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum (or ROM) is one of the largest museums in Canada and features art, antiquities, natural science specimens, an expansive children's area, special exhibits and, of course, dinosaurs.

nathan phillips square

This outdoor space in front of Toronto’s New City Hall hosts public events, festivals, and art exhibits. Three “Freedom Arches,” which were added in 1989, rise above the reflecting pool, which is converted into a skating rink in the winter months.

OCAD U

Ontario College of Art and Design, the largest art and design school in Canada, is known for the iconic architectural design of its addition that opened in 2004. Every year the university hosts GradEx - a massive campus-wide exhibit of art projects by the graduating students that is always on my must-see list.

pride

The colourful and vibrant Church-Wellesley area, known as The Village, is the LGBTQ+ hub in Toronto. Rainbows are everywhere and, in my opinion, it is the best area to be in Toronto during Pride Month, especially on the last weekend in June when the massive Pride Parade happens and the party is epic!

queen elizabeth way

A 139 km highway that starts near Niagara/Fort Erie and the US border and ends at Toronto's Hwy. 427. Every Torontonian knows that one should always anticipate traffic, so red seemed like a fitting colour pop for this inky design. Brake lights expected!

riverdale farm

A little slice of rural farm life on the east side of the city. Established in the late 1800s, this was actually the site of Toronto's first zoo. As it expanded, the zoo moved to its current location and Riverdale Farm took over the site in 1978. There are so many adorable animals, including piglets, lambs, and rabbits.

streetcar

Toronto is known for its especially large and well-used streetcar transportation system. The streetcars themselves have changed a lot over the years, but their iconic link to the city remains constant.

trinity bellwoods

Locals know the lore of the white squirrel said to frequent these grounds, and whether or not the stories are true, many Torontonians think of this mystical urban albino rodent at the very mention of Trinity Bellwoods Park. There is even a nearby cafe and a statue that pay homage to it.

university

the University of Toronto’s St. George campus is filled with beautiful Romanesque and Gothic Revival architecture. I featured the Soldiers’ Tower — a memorial bell tower in Hart House Circle built in honour of students who served in the World Wars.

viaduct

 A truss arch bridge that extends Bloor Street over the lush Don Valley, where it turns into Danforth Avenue. The subway, which runs underneath, gets a spectacular view of the valley between Castle Frank and Broadview stations.

woodbine beach

Trips to the waterfront are a must for Torontonians as a reprieve from the city’s summer heat. This is one of the largest beaches in the city and has a boardwalk that is perfect for beach-side strolls.

The ex

The Canadian National Exhibition (or CNE) opens annually for the last 2 weeks of August and marks the coming of the end of summer to anyone who grew up in the city. Loads of rides, games, food, pavilions, and concerts are an excellent bookend to summer vacation.

yellow line

Also called Line 1 (or the Yonge-University line), the Yellow Line runs northbound and southbound through Toronto, and was the first stage of the now vast TTC subway system.

zoo

The Toronto Zoo houses over 3000 animals and is the largest zoo in Canada. It covers a vast geographic area and has indoor and outdoor exhibits. My personal favourite residents are the Golden Lion Tamarins; if you go, be sure to give them a visit.