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Sightseeing Activiteis in
Toronto

Get access to a
boat and visit the Islands, cruise by the beach or elsewhere.
It should come as no surprise that a
city as cosmopolitan as Toronto has a myriad of activities, both day
and night, to enjoy in addition to its pubs and clubs.
The Royal Ontario Museum on Bloor Street is one of North America's
finest museums. It traces the history of man through the history of
time. It has six million objects on display in 40 galleries. A good
tour takes about four hours. It doesn't seem nearly that time-consuming.
Free Fridays (4:30-9:30) and there's a bar as well.
Toronto's primary tourist attraction (trap?) is the CN Tower.
This is the giant needle protruding through the skyline. On a clear
day, one can view Niagara Falls. The view is as amazing as the structure,
but the glass-bottom floor makes those with a fear of heights a bit
uneasy.
Sports are big in Toronto. The city supports four major league franchises,
the NHL's Maple Leafs, the Blue Jays baseball team, the
NBA's Raptors Canadian Football League's Argonauts. (For
a little fun, quiz a Canadian on exactly what is an Argo. Hint: They
don't know,either!)
The
Jays and Argos play in SkyDome, (1 Blue Jays Way) an indoor-outdoor
facility with an interesting history. SkyDome has an enclosed hotel
with some rooms looking into the stadium in what is baseball's outfield.
The only catch is, the windows are not one-way. When SkyDome first opened,
a couple was caught making love during a game. A couple days later,
a man was caught masturbating in full view of the packed stands. An
intrepid reporter from Sports Illustrated tracked down the man
who said, quiet calmly, "I thought they were one-way windows. The
real scary part is about baseball excited him to the point of self-delight.
Tours of the stadium (not the rooms) are available (341-2770, or go
between gates 1-2).
The Maple Leafs and Raptors play at Air Canada Centre, the city's
newest sports complex. Concerts are also held there; Canada's own Tragically
Hip sells out in moments.
Ontario Place (Lake Shore Blvd., adjacent to Exhibition Park,
home of the Molson Indy) is another concert venue. The outdoor
Molson Amphitheater is ideal for summer shows ranging from AC/DC
to The Beach Boys. Ontario Place is also a large amusement park with
waterslides, rides, boat and canoe rentals.

The Molson Indy is about race cars, beautful women and parties.
Speaking of "the
Indy," visitors in mid-July would be missing something
big if they did not attend (tickets 872-INDY). This is THE event of
the summer for all of Ontario. The block party at John Street on Thursday
is one of the best parites of the year.
The Hockey Hall of Fame (Yonge and Front, 360-7765), allows
visitors to test their slapshot skills and attempt some play-by-play
and has enough memorabilia from Canada's favorite sport to keep the
enthusiast occupied for hours.
Toronto has an active downtown Theater District. Plays, dinner
shows and more are available to the theater fan. Phantom of the Opera
ran for 10 years at Pantages Theater (244 Victoria St. 364-4100).
A short ferry ride from the city is Toronto Island. This is
a great haven for running, picnicking or just spending a sunny afternoon.
There's a small dockside bar and several inlets to expore. There is
regular ferry service and water taxis.
And don't forget Toronto has a beach. To get there, take the
TTC down Queen Street. Be careful of the water, though; it's often polluted
and not suitable for swimming.
The city also has a massive waterfront walking/running/rollerblading
trail. From downtown, turn right and go along the water through parks
and open spaces. Depending on your energy level, go to or past Ontario
Place.
Worth a road trip: Just 90 minutes outside of town is spectacular Niagara
Falls. Admire the view or ride a boat right to it's base. Stay on
the Canadian side; it's much cleaner than across the U.S. border.
Toronto
Activities Information Guide
| Royal Ontario Museum |
100 Queen's Park |
(416) 586-5589. Web
site. |
| CN Tower |
301 West Front Street |
(416) 868-6937. Web
site. |
| Sky Dome |
1 Blue Jays Way |
(416) 341-1000. Web
site. |
| Air Canada Centre |
40 Bay Street |
(416) 815-5500. Web
site. |
| Maple Leafs |
Air Canada Centre
40 Bay Street |
(888) 764-4444 Web
site. |
| Blue Jays |
1 Blue Jays Way |
(416) 341-1000 Web
site. |
| Raptors |
Air Canada Centre
40 Bay Street |
(416) 366-3865. Web
site. |
| Argonauts |
1 Blue Jays Way |
(416) 545-1777. Web
site. |
| Molson Indy |
Exhibition Place, July |
(416) 872-INDY. Party
Guide and
Event web site. |
| Hockey Hall of Fame |
BCE Place
30 Yonge Street |
(416) 360-7765. Web
site. |
| Ontario Place |
959 Lakeshore Blvd. W |
(416) 314-9900. Web
site. |
| Niagara Falls |
U.S./Canada border |
(905) 356-7521 extension 5000. Web
site. |
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