I’ve traveled to 80 countries, and Toronto is one of the best cities for a quick getaway.
By plane, it’s only about two hours from major US cities like New York, DC, and Chicago. Even if you’re coming from LA, the flight is less than five hours.
Furthermore, after recent expansions, over 50 countries are now included on Canada’s visa-exempt travelers list, making it increasingly easy for international tourists to visit.
I was skeptical of its allure at first, but after my friend threw her bachelorette party there, I was sold. It was one of the best girls’ trips I’d ever been on — and I’ve taken plenty to hot spots like Cabo and Las Vegas.
It can be hard to narrow down the most important places to visit on a short vacation, but here’s everything I’d do and skip in Toronto.
Seeing the city from above is worth it.
The CN Tower is a popular Toronto attraction. Although some may write it off as a tourist trap, I actually found it really cool.
The views of the city from the main observation deck (114 stories high) were stunning, but you can go even higher and see the city from 147 floors up.
My favorite part of the experience was doing the EdgeWalk. The harnessed, hands-free walk around the external part of the building was thrilling — and a great photo opportunity.
Carve out time to explore the museums.
Toronto is teeming with interesting museums.
The Royal Ontario Museum is an excellent place to start if you want to learn about the city’s history, and the Art Gallery of Ontario is a must for art lovers.
My favorite museum, however, was the Bata Shoe Museum. It houses footwear of the past, present, and future. Even if you’re not a shoe fanatic, seeing how footwear has evolved is interesting.
Casa Loma, a Gothic Revival-style mansion, is also a unique place to spend an afternoon. It was constructed in 1914 and is now a historic house and landmark of the city.
Niagara Falls is spectacular — especially from above.
Niagara Falls is a mesmerizing natural wonder — and luckily, the Canadian side of it is just a short drive from Toronto. It definitely deserves a full day, but it’s worth it if you have that much time to spare.
I recommend renting or hiring a car and visiting The Tunnel at the Niagara Falls power station to learn more about how hydropower is generated.
Then, if you’re feeling daring, I loved taking a helicopter tour for the most stunning views and photos. To truly round out the trip, the tour landed at Two Sisters Vineyards for lunch and wine tastings.
The Fitzroy is a stunning place to shop.
One of the highlights of the bachelorette weekend was visiting The Fitzroy dress-rental services.
Guests can try on items in-store or do a virtual fitting and rent clothing and accessories for a day, night, or weekend. The experience was definitely more fun and less stressful than shopping in a department store.
There was a wide range of sizes and styles, and we were able to rent formal gowns to wear to an opera.
On the other hand, skip flying into the larger airport.
Although Toronto Pearson International is larger, Toronto Island Airport is much more convenient. It’s located on an island less than 2 miles from the heart of downtown.
Passengers can take a 90-second ferry to the mainland or ride a moving walkway through a tunnel. Public transit, complimentary shuttle buses, and rideshare pickups are waiting on the mainland.
Pro tip: Porter, a low-cost Canadian airline, offers direct flights to Toronto Island Airport from a few US cities.
I don’t think tourists need to rent a car to see the best parts of the city.
Thanks to its pedestrian-friendly, grid-like layout, Toronto was a very walkable city. I highly recommend skipping rental cars and rideshares in favor of exploring the city on foot.
Two neighborhoods worth walking through are the Distillery District and Yorkville.
The Distillery District, largely made up of 19th-century whiskey distillery buildings, is a pedestrian-only area. Its cobblestone streets are lined with dozens of boutiques, cafés, and restaurants.
Yorkville, on the other hand, is where the city’s beautiful Four Seasons Hotel is located. It’s a chic neighborhood with lots of fine dining, high-end boutiques, and art galleries.
The post I’ve been to over 80 countries. My favorite city for a quick getaway is only a short flight from some major US airports. appeared first on Business Insider.
