TorontoThe most heavily populated city in
Canada,
Toronto is a vibrant, cosmopolitan, financial, commercial and cultural center with a rich multi-cultural heritage of more than 80 ethnic groups, speaking more than 100 languages. It has a lively stock exchange, soaring futuristic architecture, museums, art galleries, performing arts companies, fine restaurants, large shopping complexes, a waterfront and hundreds of parks.
The city is sited on the north shore of
Lake Ontario, and sports distinctive neighborhoods as well as the longest street in the world, Yonge Street, as its main
north-south artery. Toronto's main landmark is the
CN Tower, which is the world's tallest free-standing structure with glass-fronted elevators that rise 1,815ft (553m) to indoor and outdoor observation decks. The city also boasts the 'Skydome', which is a multi-purpose entertainment complex with a retractable roof, billed as the world's greatest entertainment center.
In the 17th century Toronto was a small French colony; then came the American Revolution which encouraged scores of families whose loyalties lay with the British to flee north. Many settled beside the lake establishing a town known as York, which slowly grew in importance as an administrative and manufacturing center. In 1834 the name was changed to Toronto, an Indian word meaning 'meeting place'. The new name proved worthy when about a century later the city's English character began to be buried beneath the conglomeration of cultures brought in by a massive tide of immigrants from all corners of the world. Old English pubs and Victorian and Edwardian architecture survive among the skyscrapers, but Toronto is today a lively and cosmopolitan city and Canada's commercial capital.
Getting Around: Public transport in Toronto is fast, safe and reliable consisting of an integrated system of subways, buses and streetcars that reach every part of the city, as well as a light rapid transit (LRT) line extending to the Harbourfront. The subway is easy to use, with only two major lines, and the buses and streetcar stations are next to every major stop, taking over where the subway leaves off. Fares are standard and a single fare will take you anywhere on a single trip; tokens can be used to avoid the hassle of having to pay with exact change. To freely change from one form of transport to another, get a transfer slip when and where paying for the fare. The subway operates from 6am to 1.30am, the buses and streetcars from about 5am to 12.30am (both start at 9am on Sundays), and the Blue Night Network services main street routes after 1.30am. The Request Stop Program allows women traveling alone late at night to get off the bus anywhere in between stops. Taxis are always available and ferries travel to the
Toronto Islands. Driving a hire car is not recommended due to traffic congestion and expensive parking.
Nightlife: Toronto has a very trendy nightlife offering bars, lounges, clubs and live music venues. Nightclubs By Neighbourhood is a fantastic guide to Toronto's nightly activities. The Spice Route Lounge is a great starting point, as are 2 Cats and C Lounge. Enjoy a Lost my Cherry Blossom cocktail at Marben or relax at the laid-back Czehoski. Another good spot is the Laugh Resort, which regularly hosts comedy shows. The Dizzy Gastro Sports Bar and Harbour Sports Grille are great places to catch that game, a cold beer and maybe a bite to eat.For the clubbers, Park Lane and Tryst Nightclub are excellent spots, while Ultra Supper Club won't be disappointing either. The junk art awnings and hub-cap décor of the Bovine Sex Club is worth witnessing, and the Fifth Social Club is a bit more upmarket. Live music can be enjoyed at the
Sopra Upper Lounge, the Opal Jazz Lounge and Live@Courthouse. The Big Bop is another live music venue, featuring alternative and indie music concerts.
Climate: The climate in Toronto is moderated by its proximity to the Great Lakes (in particular Lake Ontario). Summer tends to be hot and very humid, while winter is severe with heavy snowfall. The average maximum temperature in January is 28°F (-2 °C), while the average maximum temperature in July is 80°F (27°C). Rainfall tends to occur throughout the year, but summer, though the sunniest season, is also usually the wettest. Autumn is perhaps the best time to travel to Toronto, as temperatures are less extreme than summer or winter, with mild days and cool nights.
OttawaThe capital of Canada is sited on the south bank of the
Ottawa River, opposite the French-speaking city of Hull across the water in the neighboring province of
Quebec. Its main landmark is the 302ft (92m) high Peace Tower. The tower surmounts the imposing
Parliament Buildings, which stand in Gothic splendor at the junction of the
Ottawa, Rideau and
Gatineau rivers. Ottawa is a city of pomp and pageantry with a harmonious blend of French and English culture. The city has a network of waterways and canals that link it to Lake Ontario and
Georgian Bay. The historic
Rideau Canal is used for boating in summer, and for ice sculpting and skating in winter, by locals and visitors alike. Ottawa has numerous top class museums and galleries, and the
National Arts Center, which houses an opera company, theaters, studios and restaurants.
Getting Around: For sightseeing purposes most visitors to Ottawa enjoy exploring the compact downtown area on foot or bicycle. However the
OC Transpo company provides a top class integrated public transport system. Exact change is needed when boarding buses and streetcars, and sometimes at subway stations, but day passes and discount tokens can also be bought. A single adult day pass is $6. Taxis are freely available, but fairly expensive. Rates should be displayed in the taxi cab and the meter rate should be set at one at the start of a journey.
Climate: Ottawa has a vast range of temperatures between summer and winter, and is subject to unpredictable weather conditions. Winters are generally snowy and icy; statistically Ottawa is the second coldest capital city in the world after
Ulaanbaatar in
Mongolia. Temperatures in winter can drop as low as -25°C (-13°F) at night, but averages are misleading because days can be much warmer. Ice storms can occur. Summer weather in Ottawa is warm and humid, with temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F) fairly often, sometimes as early as April and as late as October. Summers are usually short, though, and spring and autumn are unpredictable, with early or late snowfalls possible or even unseasonal heat waves.
Lake Superior and Thunder BayThe rugged, rocky north shore of
Lake Superior, the world's largest freshwater lake, provides
Ontario with an exciting tourist attraction where visitors can discover deep chasms, plunging waterfalls and towering granite cliffs carved by the ancient glaciers. There are untold numbers of lakes, rivers and forests in the region, which are an angler's paradise, a history buff's haven, an artist's inspiration and a delight for naturalists. The main center in the region is the city of
Thunder Bay, sited on the Trans-Canada Highway, in the heart of Native American country. This city is the western terminus for the
St Lawrence Seaway. At Thunder Bay the Sleeping Giant provincial park is a big drawcard, named for the shape of a rocky outcrop at the site that extends into Lake Superior.
