A sequel to my previous blogpost on Where to Stay and 10 Favourite Food Spots!, here’s five cool things to see and do in Toronto. There is so many things to do that I needed to make my pick. From visiting tourist attractions, checking out artsy alleys, sampling different types of foods and checking out the local Crossfit scene here – my week was packed to the brim.
“Toronto has something for everyone all year long. Toronto’s most famous landmark, the CN tower is more than just an engineering wonder – it’s also an award-winning dining and entertainment destination. Welcoming over 40 million visitors annually, this bold, dynamic city offers superb attractions, music and events backed by the best convention and sports facilities in Canada.” – SeeTorontoNow
I wished I had more time in this city. Perhaps there’s always another reason to come back in the summer to enjoy the sun and autumn to experience the fall. It would have been nice to cycle around Downtown and along the waterfront – but it was chilly and I didn’t think I was geared enough to survive the wind.
5 Cool Things to See and Do in Toronto
1. Niagara Falls
If there’s ONE thing you need to see in Canada, hands down put Niagara falls on the top of your bucket list. It is about an hour and a half drive from the city but it’s worth the trip. I took in the scenic view of the Horseshoe Falls from the Table Rock site. There’s another option to head into the falls via the Journey Behind the Falls (extra charges) if you would like to stand next to the curtain of water. You could hear the sounds of gallons of water gushing down the curved cliff and if you’re lucky enough, you could catch a rainbow too. Evidently, the views from Canada side is prettier. Fun fact, this US-Canada border is the longest international border in the world!



From Niagara Falls, take a scenic drive in the direction towards Niagara-on-the-lake. This is a southern town of Ontario, located in the Niagara peninsula where the Niagara river meets Lake Ontario. It is best known for it’s well preserved 19th century village and colonial-like building. The charm it exudes makes you want to linger a little longer.


We had a late lunch in this small town. The mussels from PEI (Prince Edward Island) were fresh and so good. The server recommended the beef ragu fettuccine and it was lovely. Paired it with a beer flight of four different local brew and we ate to our heart’s content.



2. Canadian Winery
Ice wine flights! Sort of flight I’d be willing to take anytime, any day. I couldn’t recall when was the last time I’ve visited a winery with vineyards – so this was pretty exciting. Since it was late winter, the vineyards were pretty bare but nevertheless, a nice rare sight. We were at the brink of closing time, but made it to two wineries namely, Jackson-Triggs and Inniskillin.
Jackson-Triggs, Niagara Estate
They are known as Canada’s most awarded winery and have been named the “Best Canadian Winery” an unprecedented number of times in both international and domestic competitions. During the summer, the opened up the patio for patrons to enjoy wine and food in the sun. On top of that, they also host a number of wine tasting events and concert series. The meticulously tended vineyard features 3 classic varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling grown from the finest vinifera clones and rootstocks, custom grafted in France. We were lucky to have a wine sommelier introduced to us the ice wine flights offered on the menu board. Particularly loved the sparkling riesling and bought a bottle home!



Inniskillin, Niagara Estate
With wineries located at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Inniskillin is leading the way with their full collection of world renowned, award-winning table wines and Icewines crafted by progressive, artisanal winemakers. Here, we had two flights varying from the vidal icewine, riesling icewine and cabernet franc icewine to the recommended table wines from their reserve series.



3. Queen Street West & Graffiti Alley
Vogue magazine voted Queen Street West as one of the coolest neighbourhoods. It is a long stretch of street and most Torontonians can confidently say there’s a lot to explore along this street. From brunch cafes, bars, eateries and boutiques – this street has so much to offer. Adjacent to Queen Street West, you can find alleys adorned with hundreds of graffiti. Pick your favourires and have a photoshoot. Totally Instagram worthy!




4. Toronto City Hall & Waterfront
This iconic landmark is smacked in the city with the 3D sign “TORONTO”. It was late winter but the ice skating rink was still up and running. Many people were spending the day out with friends and family at the square. A little research on the subject told me that the building opened in 1965 and it was designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell and engineered by Hannskarl Bandel. However, the 3D TORONTO signage was erected at Nathan Philips Square in 2015, in conjunction with the Toronto 2015 Pan American games. I went there just for the pictures, really!

The weather wasn’t the very best, but thank God for LCBO. Well worth the mention! This retail outlet distributes and sell alcoholic beverages throughout Ontario. The selections they have is vast and it ranges from wines, crafted beers to hard liquor. I felt like a kid in a candy store – except my candies were alcoholic beverages. I particularly fell in love with the local craft beers section. They were so much creativity and labour of love in these crafted beers – you could even pick up a maple syrup craft beer or grapefruit flavoured wheat beer. Savage!

Take a stroll along the waterfront and take in the beautiful view of the city from a far. Spotted a flock of seagulls on the shore and I found them rather cute and fat. Apparently, they are deemed as pest by Torontonians. That was pretty hilarious, because I found them otherwise. It must be nice to spend the day in the park and cycle along the coast in the summer.


5. Kensington Market
Walking down the streets of Kensington Market is like taking a trip around the world with each step. There’s a hippie feeling for sure as I sashayed along the streets clad in a comfy turtle neck, leather jeans and sherling scarf. From bohemian stores, Cuban food stall, indie shops, antique boutiques, artsy spaces to bakeries, cafes, and hipster bars, many tourists and locals alike flocked to this multicultural neighboorhood for a jolly good time. I had the best cheese EVER from one of the cheese shops here. The soft, off-white Triple Cream Brie cheese with it’s velvety texture and creamy note was orgasmic! Voilà – match made in heaven when paired with the Muga Reserva red wine and some crackers.


There is still a lot I’ve yet to explore in this beautiful city. I didn’t really had the time to check out the Entertainment district and immerse myself in some culture and history, like visiting the Art Gallery or Royal Ontario Museum. Sweater weather makes you just wanna stay indoor and indulge in cheap awesome wine. There were not much outdoor adventures for me either during this trip. It would be great to catch a sport event, such as watching a hockey game and play-obsessed with the Toronto Maple Leafs! All that said, it leaves me another opportunity to make a visit to Toronto again. Till then Canada….Cheers XOXO