Toronto is one of Canada’s largest and most multicultural cities. It’s a financial, IT and manufacturing hub with a lively art scene.
It’s also home to many of the country’s museums, galleries and cultural attractions. Among its best-known sites are the PATH, the CN Tower, and the Toronto Zoo.
The PATH
The PATH is a network of underground walkways in downtown Toronto that provides access to office towers, shopping, services and entertainment. It facilitates pedestrian linkages to public transit and accommodates more than 200,000 business-day commuters as well as tourists, visitors and residents.
It’s also a popular destination for pop-up markets, lunchtime concerts and other seasonal events. To help users navigate the lengthy underground system, directional signage uses a colour-coded system: red “P” points south, orange “A” west, blue “T” north and yellow “H” east.
To make the route easier to navigate, the FDBIA and the city collaborated to update wayfinding. New physical destination markers and downloadable maps provide clear instructions on how to get to specific places in the network.
The CN Tower
The CN Tower is Toronto’s most prominent landmark. The structure was built to address a serious problem faced by Toronto’s construction boom of the 1960s: radio and television transmission towers weren’t high enough to broadcast over new buildings.
The tower is composed of a main hexagonal hollow pillar of concrete containing the elevators, stairwells and power and plumbing connections. It also contains a broadcast antenna and two areas for visitors.
One of the most popular things to do at the CN Tower is ride the glass elevator up to either the LookOut or SkyPod levels. It’s an amazing experience and the vista at the top of the tower is truly breathtaking.
After you’ve done the ride, make sure to go for a walk on the EdgeWalk. This is one of the most exhilarating activities you can do and it’s a great way to see the city. It can be a bit nerve-wracking but it’s totally worth it!
The Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is a popular zoo in Toronto that is home to more than 5,000 animals from around the world. It covers an area of 287 hectares and is the third largest zoo in the world.
The zoo is divided into seven zoogeographic regions and has over 10 km of walking trails for visitors to explore. There are also animal feeding programs and shows.
Aside from a variety of exotic creatures, the zoo also houses endangered species, such as African penguins and Komodo dragons. These are a critical part of the zoo’s conservation efforts and education initiatives.
There is also an incredible Shark exhibit that allows visitors to get close and personal with these majestic creatures. This is a unique and engaging experience for everyone, so don’t miss it!
The Entertainment District
The Entertainment District is Toronto’s central hub of cultural and entertainment activity. The area features theatres, music halls and dance clubs. It also hosts concerts, sports and musicals.
Located primarily around King Street West between University Avenue and Spadina Avenue, this neighbourhood is home to many of the city’s major attractions. The area is well-served by public transportation including the subway and buses.
Sky-high condo and business towers are mixed in with low-rise retail and restaurant buildings. This juxtaposition of high and low creates a unique vibe in this neighbourhood.
This area also houses the Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre and other large sporting arenas. These arenas host both local and international sports teams, and thousands of people flock to the area for game nights throughout the year.
The area also offers families a variety of fun family activities, such as underwater tunnels at Ripley’s Aquarium and the CN Tower. The entertainment district also hosts live performances at Roy Thomson Hall and Princess of Wales Theatre, as well as the annual Toronto International Film Festival.