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By Cindy Hatcher Adjust font size:
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() (Cooking Light As the largest Canadian city -- and fifth largest in North America -- Toronto is nestled along Lake Ontario and boasts a varied culinary scene that includes the rich flavors of more than 90 ethnic groups. There's also plenty of green space to explore by foot, bike or boat. Our laid-back three-day itinerary offers ample time to tour and taste this "world within a city." Day one: Downtown to downstreamA rectangular grid system makes Toronto a supremely walkable city. Take advantage of this and begin your visit by wandering around the vivid streets of downtown, which brushes the northwest shore of Lake Ontario. Start your stroll along the food-filled aisles of St. Lawrence Market (416-392-7219, http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/ Hop a ferry at the foot of Bay Street to one of Toronto's three outlying islands on Lake Ontario. Originally a peninsula and part of the city's sprawling coastline, an 1858 storm separated the land, creating islands that have since become a popular weekend retreat. Centreville is the largest of these interconnected, pedestrian-only zones, but those in the know head for the more sheltered Ward's Island. Here, the beaches, gardens and scenic trails are free of crowds. Rent a set of wheels from Toronto Island Bicycle Rentals (416-203-0009) to tour the island. When you're finished exploring, take the ferry back to the mainland dock at the Harbourfront Centre (416-973-4000, http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/ For an evening out on the town, head to the Distillery Historic District (416-364-1177, http://www.thedistillerydistrict.com/ Day two: Shoes to viewsAfter breakfast (and before crowds arrive), take a 10-minute cab ride uptown to a top Toronto attraction, the Casa Loma (416-923-1171, http://www.casaloma.org/ Continue your cultural journey several blocks south at the Royal Ontario Museum (416-586-8000, http://www.rom.on.ca/ Just a few blocks down the street, spend a playful hour at the Bata Shoe Museum (416-979-7799, http://www.batashoemuseum.com/ Dinner is an indulgence at the elegant and contemporary Senses restaurant (open Tuesday through Saturday; 416-935-0400, http://www.senses.ca/ After dinner, stroll to the CN Tower (416-868-6937, http://www.cntower.ca/ Day three: Around the world, around the tableWhile you'll find a diverse mix of cuisines throughout the city, there are several neighborhoods where immigrant groups have settled. A culinary walking tour through three of them can easily fill an entire day. Begin in Little Italy, a blossoming area that runs along College Street. More than 400,000 Italian immigrants now call Toronto home, and this thriving area has a vibrant atmosphere. Try the grilled vegetable omelette with rosemary home-fried potatoes at Bar Italia (416-535-3621, http://www.bar-italia.ca/ The eastern edge of downtown is home to a large Greek population. Known as the Danforth, certain streets are rich with the wafting aroma of garlic. A mid-August visit would coincide with the three-day Taste of the Danforth street festival (416-469-5634, http://www.tasteofthedanforth.com/ Not far away, Chinatown is an ideal spot for early evening dim sum (small plates of Cantonese fare brought to your table via carts full of various selections). Lai Wah Heen (416-977-9899, http://www.metropolitan.com/lwh/ Sip-and-see side tripA 90-minute detour to the nearby Niagara Peninsula is well worth your time. The grapes here yield a bounty of icewine, a sweet nectar produced from frozen grapes plucked fresh from the vine. The Niagara Grape and Wine Festival in late September offers special tastings and seminars. To plot your path through this food-friendly region via car or bicycle, visit the Wine Council of Ontario at http://www.winesofontario.org/ Try a FREE TRIAL issue of Cooking Light - CLICK HERE! ![]() A trip up in Toronto's CN Tower on a clear afternoon affords a view all the way to the mists of Niagara Falls. WHERE TO STAYThe sleek, contemporary design of the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel (from $385 Canadian; 416-599-8800, http://www.metropolitan.com/soho) offers both luxury and location. Sink into the lavish linens in this boutique hotel convenient to shopping and theater districts. Those who enjoy historical settings will want to check in to the Royal York Hotel (from $179 Canadian; 800-441-1414, http://www.fairmont.com/royalyork). When it opened in 1929, the hotel was the tallest building in the British Empire. Its recently renovated rooms offer comfort and Old World style. SPECIAL REPORT![]() ![]() Quick Job Search |