Spring in Toronto: Our highlights
Toronto in early May is a beautiful city of contrasts. From a damp grey start to the day, to blazing sunshine by the afternoon, the city is welcoming and vibrant. Here are a few ideas of what to see and do during a 5-day city break.
1. The Toronto Islands
A short ferry ride from the harbour, the islands are an incredibly picturesque place to spend a day. You can read my thoughts on the islands in this post.
2. Day trip to Niagara Falls
It is every bit as stunning as you think it will be and definitely worth a day trip. Read about our trip.
3. Catch a sports game
The city is sports mad, and the atmosphere when one of their teams is playing is just incredible. We were lucky enough to experience the city during basketball playoffs, as well as going to a Blue Jays game. To an outsider, the city seems united in their support and love for sport. Top tip - booking your tickets before you go is really easy.
4. Wander around the city’s neighbourhoods
The neighbourhoods each have a distinct character to them. You could be walking down a street and within a few blocks, you will see and sense a shift in the vibe - often a contrast to the area you've just been in. From the boho, arty feel of Kensington Market, through Chinatown, to the hip feel of the Distillery district, there is something for everyone.
5. The CN Tower
At 553.33m high, it was the tallest building for over three decades. We went up to both the lookout level (346m), as well as the Sky Pod, which is an incredible 447m above the city! The views as you imagine are fantastic from both levels and we were lucky to go on a really clear day, so you could just about make out Niagara Falls. Lake Ontario does seem more like an ocean from up here, and you can get a sense of how sprawling the city is. It's funny how the skyscrapers that surround the nearby area can throw out your perspective - you almost don't realise how high up you are.
Food & drink
Places we loved included:
Bannock for a Sunday brunch. Super friendly service with a casual cafe feel. The portions were huge!
Fran's Restaurant - a proper diner that's absolutely perfect for breakfast. Big breakfasts, waffles, pancakes - it's all delicious.
Terroni - a very buzzy Italian with fabulous pizza and pasta.
St Lawrence Market has loads of lovely foodie stores and stalls inside. We had been waiting to try a peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery and it definitely didn't disappoint.
Amsterdam Brewhouse - a small brewery that was said to be one of Toronto's first craft beer brands. It has a fantastic location right on the harbour.
Toronto is a gorgeous, friendly city - a place we can't wait to go back to!