Toronto downtown

A walk by some of the highlights of downtown Toronto. I was walking quickly and not taking in many of the highlights so adjust your time accordingly. There is plenty to see and do and if you are easily distracted this trip could take all day! There are many ways to vary this to accommodate your needs and I have suggested a few below but overall it is a nice walk on sidewalks, very few hills, the only real worry is traffic and there is plenty of that. Parking is at a premium but the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is very safe and very good in providing busses, street cars and subway lines to help you get around this large city and somewhere near the suggested start point.

My start and finish was on Yonge Street (the main north south street of the city... and the country!). Just north of where I started is the Yonge / Dundas square and there is often something going on there (you may want to meet there or check it out before or after your walk). The first highlight is the Eaton Center (named after the famous Canadian retailer Timothy Eaton). An award winning sculpture is just inside the doors off of Queen Street and this is a great spot to leave serious shoppers. Head west on Queen Street and within a couple hundred meters you will see both the old and new City Halls with a concourse/park area for people to gather and play.

Continue west on Queen Street to University Avenue, my suggested path takes you south (left on University Ave). The provincial legislature is 1.3 km in the opposite direction (north) on University, for the ambitious or those with political/historical interests a visit to Queens Park is recommended. In a couple of blocks turn right (west) on King Street and view Roy Thomson Hall as well as a few other theatres. Walk along the Canadian Walk of Fame and check the plaques dedicated to your favourite Canadian stars (similar to Grauman's walkway in Hollywood).

Turn left on Blue Jays Way (a.k.a. Peter Street) and you will approach the Rogers Center (home of the Blue Jays, Toronto's major league baseball team). Swing around the building and look way up at the CN Tower (was once the tallest free standing structure in the world). A trip up the tower gives you an amazing view of the city. Now heading east, walk past Ripley's Aquarium, Steam Whistle Brewery (come on... keep walking) the convention center and turn right (south) on Lower Simcoe Street and head down to the water front. View the harbour front, the Toronto Islands and on a sunny day thousands of people.

Looping back east and away from the water front, turn right onto Queens Quay and then left onto Bay Street. Head past the Air Canada Center (home to the Maple Leafs and Raptors, Toronto's hockey and basketball teams). Continue north and you will see Union Station to your left (trains and subway) and 'GO' to your right (regional busses).

Turn right on Front Street and left on Yonge. The Hockey Hall of Fame is on one corner (was originally a bank) and the Sony Center for Performing Arts on another. Head north on Yonge and you will be back at the Eaton Center where you started. As an urban walk this can be done forwards or backwards and you are encouraged to make adjustments to suit your needs. Lots to see and do, enjoy!