10 Things to do in Toronto during the GIC conference

Hello GIC conference attendees!

WELCOME to my hometown Toronto  -the world's most ethnically diverse city, where 50% of the population was not born in Canada ...a virtual United Nations!

Jean-Marc Hachey, founder MyWorldAbroad
Visit our GIC booth if you have any more questions about Toronto.

Here are 10 of my favorite things to suggest for visitors to do in Toronto - an eclectic and curated list for the discerning traveller.

1)     Tour of the Harbour or Visit the Islands – Toronto is unique with the Toronto Islands, which are largely sand dunes, just to the south of the downtown core in Lake Ontario.  The islands provide a great break from the city and include a unique community as well as beaches.  Given the size of Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes, it is like being at the ocean.  Vast, with waves and winds. Take a 45 minute ferry ride for only $7.00: It can be very nice to take the ferry in the evening to Ward’s Island and stay aboard as it tours along the island coastline calling at Hanlan’s Point before returning to the mainland. NOTE: this 45 minute tour (-Wards Island, -Hanlan's-Point, -Toronto-ferry terminal) is only available from 6 pm until 9:30 pm, and features great views of the downtown core and harbor).  It can be a great outing on a warm evening.  Or take the ferry to Ward’s Island to walk around the community and have a meal any time of day.  The Islands have seven beaches, and the water is pristine for swimming. There is even a clothing-optional beach at Hanlan’s Point, next to a family-oriented beach that is several kilometers long. See Toronto Island & Ferries.

2)     Toronto Ripley’s Aquarium – The newest attraction Toronto is the Ripley’s Aquarium – an amazing experience and state of the art.  See sharks, jelly fish and walk through a long tunnel that is completely submerged in the fish tank.  Really worth a visit, but it is pricey - $30.  But worth it.  Spend a few hours.  Open from 9 am to 10 pm daily and it is possible get timed tickets to avoid the line. See Ripley's Aquarium.

3)     Luminato Festival June 6-15:  – A cutting edge performing arts festival, running from June 6 to 15 in downtown Toronto.  Many world premieres and everything from music to talks to dance to film to theatre to magic to lectures.  Some events are free.  See Luminato.

4)     Go to a Restaurant – Every kind of cuisine is found in Toronto, often in some surprising places.  Some great nearby areas (10-15 minute walking distance from the University of Toronto) including:  Kensington Market for bohemian and Mexican food (College and Spadina), Little Korea (west of Bloor and Bathurst), Little Italy (College and Bathurst), China Town (Dundas and Spadina). Other nearby areas ($10 cab fare) for great eating are:  the Distillery district for more upscale dining in an historic location, the West End:  Ossington and Queen West for some of the trendiest dining, the Danforth for Greek food (east of Danforth and Broadview), and Little India (Gerrard and Coxwell).  But the bottom line is that you can find any kind of cuisine in Toronto owing to the large multi-ethnic communities with traditional and experimental dining almost anywhere. See Toronto’s 25 Hottest Restaurants. 

5)     Go to the Theatre – Toronto has amazing live theatrical offering – from small and experimental to major touring shows.  Plays and musicals often start in Toronto only to find their ultimate success on the New York stage.  The Lion King is playing to June 15, but also consider off the beaten path plays such as Deathtrap, Angels in America and about 20 other offerings. See Toronto's Must See Plays. Also, consider the Shaw Festival and the Stratford Festival, both a short drive from Toronto and considered to be among the best summer theatre in beautiful small towns.  

6)     Go to a Museum, there are some big institutions, but also some small ones that are worth seeing and all of them are near to the conference.  Toronto has many great museums covering many different bases:  The Royal Ontario Museum that covers both history as well as natural history, The Art Gallery of Ontario that has a great collection of the Group of 7 and Canadian Art.  But don’t forget the Gardiner Ceramic Museum, the Bata Shoe Museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Design Exchange or historic Fort York (and see another take on which country won the War of 1812). See Toronto’s best museums.

7)     Shop in Yorkville – Toronto’s Yorkville area is nearby and has all of the high-end retail available anywhere.  It is also a pleasant walk from the conference facility and has parks and restaurants and other amenities.  But in Toronto, there are shopping areas in most areas, among these Queen West is best for more cutting edge and small stores – King Street West for interior design and décor as well as the Toronto Eaton Centre which has all of the stores indoor.   See Toronto Guides to Shopping

8)     Visit Ontario’s Parliament Building (Queen’s Park) – Nearby to the Conference site is Queen’s Park, the Ontario Parliament Building and seat of the provincial government.  Take a tour to learn about how government works in Canada and in Ontario and learn why Queen Elizabeth II is also Queen of Canada.  The Queen’s representative has a Suite of offices in the building that you can tour and they are worth seeing.  Ontario will also be holding a Provincial Election on Thursday June 12 so you can learn a little about Ontario politics. See Coming to Queen's Park.

9)     Rent a Bike Share bicycle:  You can rent a bicycle for $7 for a 24-hour period in half hour installments.  It’s a great way to get around Toronto and it is less expensive than taking a taxi.  Bike stands are everywhere in the downtown core. See Bike Share Toronto.

10)  Take in a movie at TIFF – Toronto hosts the largest international film festival in the world each September (Toronto International Film Festival –TIFF).  As a result, Toronto is a real movie town, both for productions and for cinema lovers. The headquarters of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is a great place to take in a movie and there is always an exhibit on related to cinema.  TIFF is also located in the busy theatre, sporting facility and club district and there is always a lot to see and do. See TIFF

ENJOY Toronto!