Explore the Sophisticated Style of Toronto - Canada's Most Populous City!

Image courtesy of photographer Alen Palander.



It seems these days you can’t turn on the news without hearing about Toronto, but all that attention-getting has been more about the city’s controversial mayor than the city itself. Perhaps it’s time to remind everyone about what makes Canada’s most populous city such a fascinating place.

Toronto has a sophisticated style all its own. With more than half the population born in another country, Toronto’s evolving into one of the most ethnically diverse places in the world. This translates into some lively neighbourhoods such as Little Italy, Greektown and Chinatown that remain wonderfully distinct, as well as exciting festivals, world-class shopping and entertainment, and a stellar culinary scene.

Lakeside skyscrapers, new establishments and luxury hotel developments have been transforming the city skyline. Properties like Shangri-La, Trump Towers, Four Seasons and Thomson Hotel not only provide visitors with a lavish place to stay but also A-list dining options and rooftop patios with stunning views. 


Pulsating with life, Toronto’s entertainment rivals that of any cosmopolitan capital with chic lounges, local pubs and nightclubs. Art connoisseurs can enjoy the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario designed by Toronto-born Frank Gehry. The city’s theatre district is the third largest in the world, after London’s West End and New York City’s Broadway. Take in the opera or ballet at the Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts, or catch a sports game at the Air Canada Centre and the Rogers Centre.
 

Toronto has something to suit every palate. Visit the city’s famed food haven, Kensington Market, filled with an eclectic mix of food, fashion and much more. Stroll the cobblestoned streets of the Distillery District, once the largest distillery in the British Empire it now features theW region’s best-preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture and provides a charming backdrop for the local one-of-a- kind design stores, art galleries and restaurants. For those who appreciate the finer things in life, head to Bloor-Yorkville filled with designer boutiques, antique shops, galleries and some of the cities most famed restaurants. 

Image courtesy of photographer Alen Palander.

Toronto is also the country’s artistic centre and host to the annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Pride, Taste of the Danforth, Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana) and the Toronto Jazz Festival that draw in celebrities and tourists from around the globe.

It may be an urban oasis but Toronto is filled with intimate neighbourhoods, beautiful green spaces, parks and a tranquil waterfront. Enjoy the shores of the lake, the beaches, High Park, the Harbourfront Centre and the Toronto islands for walking, cycling, rollerblading, jogging, picnicking or relaxing. Children can enjoy the Ripley’s Aquarium, the Science Centre, the Toronto Zoo and the Centreville Amusement Park on Centre Island. 

The best place to take in the city skyline is from the Toronto Harbour. It’s the perfect setting for a stroll or to test your photography skills while enjoying a spectacular sunset.

With a huge range of attractions, events, restaurants and shops there’s always something to explore in Toronto.

Images courtesy of photographer Alen Palander

Look for the print addition of this article in Whatever Vaughan Magazine.