Downtown, Toronto

Few cities have a skyline to rival Toronto's - particularly impressive given a bird's eye view and even more striking when seen from the offshore islands which encircle the harbor. The tallest skyscrapers, mostly financed through investment by banks and insurance companies, cluster together in the old city center, constantly augmented by new ultra-modern structures sheathed in aluminum, eloxal and glass. The 553 m / 1815 ft high CN Tower completed in 1976 points skywards like a gigantic antenna, with at its foot the huge arched canopy of the 1989 Skydome (the roof of which can be opened in fine weather).

Bloor Street and the surrounding area is known for it's fashion stores, dining, and night life.

The Toronto International Air Show takes place at the beginning of September. The show features flying teams and individuals from around the world.

The Marine Museum of Upper Canada in the surviving part of the old Stanley Barracks is an interesting source of information about navigation on the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence River.

Toronto's huge main railway station belonging to the Canadian National Railway Company was opened in 1927 by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII). Today it stands as a reminder of the vigor of the Canadian economy in the 1920s when vast quantities of rail freight in the form of wheat, timber, cellulose and non-ferrous metals passed through Toronto. Passenger traffic, especially holidaymakers traveling by rail, also provided important business until well into the 1950s. Nowadays the station is the terminus for fast inter-city trains from Montréal, Ottawa and New York (via Niagara Falls), as well as express services to the Canadian West and northern Ontario. Union Station is also the hub of a local fast transport system serving Toronto and its suburbs.The declining importance of rail transport in the Toronto area forced the Canadian National Railway Company to find new uses for its growing stock of surplus property. Today the tallest television tower in the world is just one of the buildings which have been erected on what was formerly railway land. A new amusement and shopping area with restaurants has recently opened.

Running north-south along the west side of the CBD parallel to Yonge Street, University Avenue passes through Toronto's university quarter and the district which houses Ontario's provincial parliament.In addition to a great many government buildings the Avenue is also the site of several scientific institutions and clinics. North of Queen's Park are a number of important museums.

In 2001, Toronto organizations sponsored local artists to decorate cast fiberglass moose which then graced the streets of the city. While these mooses have been auctioned off and most have disappeared into private collections, some of these statues are to be found in unlikely places. Keep your eyes open.

The Customs and Excise Building on Toronto's Front Street, right next to Union Station, was built in 1920. The building still acts as a customs building as well as being a post office.

The O'Connor Art Gallery in Toronto features works in a range of medium by national and international artists. The gallery offers ten exhibits a year in its 4,000 sq ft facility.

St Michael's Cathedral in Toronto dates to the mid 19th Century. The design of the building is based on that of England's York Minster. The cathedral is also home to the St Michael's Boys Choir School.

The Harbourfront Antique Market in Toronto features over 100 antiques dealers and is the largest antique market in Canada.

The Toronto Queen's Park Area in Downtown Toronto is home to Queen's Park and the nearby University of Toronto.

Opened in 1999, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art in Toronto, exhibits and promotes contemporary Canadian art and artists. The gallery only exhibits works from 1985 and beyond.