Canada's largest city rests on the northern shore of Lake Ontario. One of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, Toronto boasts a theatre scene rivaled only by London and New York, plus gourmet dining, international film and music festivals, and miles of beaches and boardwalk.
The area around large oval Queen's Park offers an array of political, cultural and intellectual treasures. South of the Park is the seat of the Ontario Provincial Legislature, and to the east and west is the University of Toronto's 160-acre main campus. Canada's largest museum, the Royal Ontario Museum, also resides here. Opened in 1912, the museum features more than 6 million items.
Running from Yonge Street east to Parliament Street and from King Street south to the lake, Old Toronto offers a vibrant mix of old and new. The '60s-era Hummingbird Centre, a performing-arts venue, is along the same stretch as converted late 19th- and early 20th-century warehouses. Among the area's eclectic attractions are the Hockey Hall of Fame, St. James Cathedral and St. Lawrence Market.
Once an unattractive and underpopulated part of the city, the Harbourfront is now a vistior-friendly area full of homes, shops and parks. The lakefront district also boasts some of the city's most colorful attractions: the world's tallest building, the CN Tower; a park codesigned by cellist Yo-Yo Ma called the Music Garden; the entertainment complex Ontario Place; and the scenic Toronto Islands.
Visit Toronto in the fall for sunny skies, brisk weather and hot travel deals. Toronto's many beautiful parks truly glow in autumn. You can catch the best snow in December, but steer clear of expensive holiday rates. And you may prefer to skip the crowds, rate hikes and blazing sun of summer.