Toronto
Our Friendly Neighbor to the North
I have had the opportunity to visit three Canadian cities so far, each different and enjoyable in their own way.
Montreal
An absolutely insane food scene.
One of my all-time favorite dining experiences happened there at Au Pied de Cochon. Rich, indulgent, unapologetic French-Canadian cuisine. The kind of meal where halfway through you start wondering if your cardiologist can somehow sense the amount of foie gras you are throwing back. And don’t get me started on the poutines.
Vancouver
An incredibly beautiful city.
Mountains.
Water.
Forests.
Basically Mother Nature showing off.
As an added bonus, they filmed one of my guilty pleasure television shows, Supernatural, there. Which means every few blocks I found myself wondering if Dean and Sam Winchester had fought a demon in that particular alley.
Toronto
Great overall vibe.
Great food.
Great sports town.
And perhaps the friendliest collection of people I’ve ever encountered.
Like... almost suspiciously friendly.
The stereotype of Canadians being nice?
Toronto somehow exceeds it.
This article is about Toronto.
We’ll get to the others soon enough.
Toronto sits on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario and serves as Canada’s largest city. Originally settled as the town of York in the late 1700s, it became Toronto in 1834 and has grown into one of the most multicultural cities on the planet.
Over half of Toronto’s residents were born outside of Canada.
And honestly, you can feel it.
Walk a few blocks and you’ll hear different languages, smell different cuisines, and experience cultures from every corner of the world.
The city feels simultaneously Canadian and international.
It’s big without feeling overwhelming.
Busy without feeling frantic.
And unlike several major North American cities I could name, people actually seem happy to be there.
Getting There
First things first.
I appreciate the fact that Toronto’s airport abbreviation is YYZ.
That just sounds cool.
“Where are you headed?”
“YYZ.”
Instantly sounds more interesting than saying Toronto.
Rush thought so too.
For you heathens those unfamiliar, the legendary Canadian rock band even named an instrumental song after the airport code.
Only Canada could turn an airport abbreviation into a progressive rock classic.
If you have Global Entry or NEXUS, your entry and exit experience becomes significantly easier.
Particularly NEXUS if you travel to Canada with any regularity.
Trust me on this one.
Future you will be grateful.
Getting Downtown
Toronto has obviously studied Atlanta traffic and decided it looked like a fantastic idea.
The airport isn’t particularly far from downtown, yet somehow the drive can easily turn into a 45-minute to one-hour adventure.
For that reason, I strongly recommend the UP Express train.
It’s fast.
It’s clean.
It costs roughly $9 CAD.
And it gets you downtown far quicker than sitting in traffic wondering if you’ve somehow become part of the road infrastructure.
If you’re traveling with a carry-on and a roller bag, it’s absolutely the way to go.
Where I Like To Stay
I generally gravitate toward two areas.
Eaton Centre
Think of Eaton Centre as Toronto’s version of Times Square.
Except cleaner.
Less chaotic.
And significantly fewer people dressed as cartoon characters demanding money for photos.
No cowboy in his underwear playing guitar.
No aspiring rapper trying to hand you his latest mixtape.
Just shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and plenty of people watching.
The Eaton Centre itself is one of the largest shopping destinations in Canada and serves as a central hub for downtown activity.
Nearby you’ll find Nathan Phillips Square, home to the iconic TORONTO sign.
You know the one.
The sign EVERYONE takes pictures with.
Yes, I took the picture too.
We’re all tourists eventually.
Old Town
If Eaton Centre represents modern Toronto, Old Town represents the city’s roots.
This is my favorite area.
Historic brick buildings.
Cobblestone streets.
Old warehouses converted into restaurants and shops.
It feels like the city slowing down just enough to remind you where it came from.
It’s incredibly walkable and has just enough character to make you wander around with no real destination in mind.
Which is usually when travel gets interesting anyway.
St. Lawrence Market
If you’re staying in Old Town, one destination is mandatory.
St. Lawrence Market.
The market has existed in some form for over 200 years and has become one of Toronto’s most beloved gathering places.
But let’s be honest, you’re here for the sandwich.
Specifically, the peameal bacon sandwich.
Peameal bacon is a uniquely Canadian creation made from pork loin that is cured, rolled in cornmeal, and sliced thick before being grilled.
Think of it as Canadian bacon’s cooler older brother.
The result is salty, juicy, smoky, and simple.
No fancy toppings.
Just a great sandwich that has been making people happy for generations.
My kind of food.
Berczy Park
A short walk away you’ll find Berczy Park.
Which features one of the more entertaining fountains I’ve stumbled across during my travels.
The fountain contains dozens of cast-iron dogs all facing inward toward a giant bone.
Every single dog is staring at the prize.
Honestly, if you’ve ever owned a dog, the scene feels incredibly realistic.
There is also one cat hidden among them.
Naturally.
The CN Tower
From Old Town you’re also within walking distance of one of Toronto’s most recognizable landmarks.
The CN Tower.
When it opened in 1976, it was the tallest free-standing structure in the world.
For over 30 years it held that title.
Standing over 1,800 feet tall, it remains one of the defining features of Toronto’s skyline.
It’s one of those attractions where the elevator ride alone feels like an event.
The views are incredible.
The glass floor is terrifying. ← Do NOT attempt if you are afraid of heights. I am not but I did see a few souls leave bodies temporarily.
Baseball and Unresolved Trauma
If you’re a baseball fan, I highly recommend catching a game at Rogers Centre.
Fantastic facility.
Great atmosphere.
Wonderful experience.
That said, I may or may not have considered tearing down Toronto’s 1992 World Series banner.
Purely for historical accuracy purposes, of course.
For those that may have forgotten, the Blue Jays defeated my beloved Atlanta Braves that year.
I’m not saying I’m still bitter.
I’m simply saying I noticed the banner immediately.
Final Thoughts
The more I travel, the more I appreciate cities that know exactly what they are (see Philadelphia).
Toronto doesn’t try too hard.
It doesn’t need to.
It’s welcoming.
Comfortable.
Diverse.
Friendly.
There is still so much more of this city that I need to experience.
More neighborhoods.
More restaurants.
More stories to create.
Which is usually the sign of a place worth revisiting.
If you ever get the opportunity to visit Toronto, go.
Walk the city.
And spend a few days with our friendly neighbors to the north.
Just don’t ask them about the 1992 World Series.
-Ed
Another great read! Thank you, Ed.
Sounds fabulous and like we need a concert visit sometime soon, friend! 😍