Toronto is known for its cultural and ethnic diversity at several universities and professional sports teams. Located close to the US border, Ontario’s capital city has a harbor in one of the Great Lakes of North America, Lake Ontario.
But the lake is not the only interesting place you’ll see if you’re going to visit Toronto after the pandemic. Here are some tourist spots you can drop by if you’ll travel to this Canadian city in the future.
CN Tower
The CN Tower is the most recognizable icon in Canada. It towers above downtown Toronto with a height of 1,815 feet (553.33 meters). Built by the Canadian National in 1976, the tower shows the strength of the industries in Canada. It held the record as the tallest freestanding structure globally for three decades before the Burj Khalifa surpassed it.
Visitors to the tower can take a glass elevator to the observation deck of the tower. The tower also has a restaurant that gives diners a 360-degree view of the city. They can even catch sight of the lights of Rochester, New York, on a clear night over the lake.
One trivia about the tower is that it’s struck by lightning around 75 times each year. But the tower’s design protects it from these strikes and comes out without any damage at all.
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Toronto Maple Leafs was established in 1917, and since then, Toronto became an ice hockey-loving city. With this, it’s only reasonable for the city to set up a museum dedicated to a sport in the blood of every resident of the city. Established in 1943, the Hockey Hall of Fame displays different items and paraphernalia related to the sport.
The Hockey Hall of Fame is a must-visit place for fans and non-fans of the sport. Aside from its displays, the Hockey Hall of Fame also has an interactive exhibit where visitors can see themselves playing the sport against professional hockey plays.
Additionally, it is home to the Stanley Cup or the championship trophy awarded to the National Hockey League winner every year. If you’re planning to watch a hockey game, you should wear a good winter jacket and Obermeyer ski pantsto ward off the cold.
Casa Loma
Casa Loma is among the most famous landmarks of Toronto. Built in 1914, Casa Loma was once the home of Sir Henry Pellat before the castle became a city’s property and became one of its heritage landmarks. Before the pandemic, the castle receives around 650,000 visitors every year. Around 250 private events are also held at the castle each year. Its unique design also makes it a preferred location for photoshoots, television shows, and movies.
Visitors can tour the ground of the castle and stroll around the place. It features gardens, secret passageways, a hunting lodge, and a library. It is also known as the only castle built in North America and has a Gothic-revival design.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Located in downtown Toronto, the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is one of the three aquariums of Ripley Entertainment. It’s home to tens of thousands of marine animals from hundreds of different species. The aquarium itself contains 1.25 million gallons (5.7 million liters) of water. The building features a special shielding to protect marine life from disturbances from the outside world.
Visitors can walk through an underwater viewing tunnel, which is the largest in North America. The marine life visitors can see includes stingrays, sharks, and other creatures of the sea. It has several galleries, including Canadian Waters, Ray Bay, Dangerous Lagoon, and Rainbow Reef. Before the pandemic, the aquarium used to hold dive shows at the place.
Distillery District
The Distillery District is a collection of 19th-century Victorian Industrial buildings that were once the home of the Gooderman & Worts whiskey distillery. It was originally established as a windmill in 1832 before it became the biggest distillery in the world.
This pedestrian-only tourist site takes visitors back in time and is among the most-visited spots in the city. Aside from its charming cobblestone streets and historic building, the Distillery District is also home to boutiques, eateries, and retail shops.
Musical, dance, and stage performances are also held at the place. But this has toned down for now due to the pandemic. The place also features art studios and galleries that will delight art lovers who visit the Distillery District. Additionally, the distillery also hosts arts and music festivals throughout the year.
The pandemic has compelled us to put off our travel plans for later. But when everything goes back to normal, you can consider taking a trip up north and take in the sights and sounds of Toronto.
