5 Great Reasons to Visit Toronto

Some say that the more exotic and further away a place is, the more it becomes a great vacation destination. But I beg to disagree. Not all vacation destinations include a ten-hour flight and another hour’s drive. In fact, a perfect travel destination that has a world-class festivals, farm to table food, islands and beaches is just next door, in Toronto, Canada. As a former Torontonian (yup, I grew up there), I can attest to the fact that there are very few cities more interesting that Toronto.

In case you don’t know much about Toronto, here’s a primer: Toronto is home to almost three million people, making it one of the most populous cities in North America, and the biggest in Canada. It’s also home to the CN Tower, which is the third tallest tower in the world. Literally half (ok, well, almost!) of the famous people you think are American are actually from Toronto. The Toronto Film Festival is one of the top film festivals in the world, and tons of blockbuster movies are filmed in Toronto. It’s on Lake Ontario, which basically looks like the ocean. There’s an island across from downtown that has an airport (I always fly Porter – it’s an hour and 20 minute flight from NYC) and lots of biking trails (in fact, no cars are allowed). There are tons of things to do!

So, if you happen to want to spend a long weekend in Toronto, where do you start your awesome getaway? Here are my top suggestions for a fun long weekend in Toronto:

Stay at the Windsor Arms Hotel

All great vacations start with great accommodations. And one of our favorite hotels in North America is Toronto’s Windsor Arms Hotel. Located in Toronto’s posh Yorkville area (think: Madison Avenue), with great shopping and restaurants nearby, this 28-room boutique hotel is no more than a 15 minute cab ride to any downtown attraction.

Upon check-in, we were greeted by the jovial Kevin, who gave us our room key in a super-soft crest-embossed leather wallet (which I now use to hold business cards); it became clear that every detail had been considered.

The decor at The Windsor Arms reminds us of a cross between the opulent luxury of Washington DC’s The Jefferson Hotel (especially the suites), and the dark decadence of NYC’s Gramercy Park Hotel (the hallways in the Windsor Arms are dark and feature edgy photography). Everything about the room and the hotel seems well thought out and modern, with old-world luxurious charm. Even the elevators have gorgeous glass-covered faux-bookcases in them.

Imagine your own suite with a classically luxurious European ambiance, an extra-large bathroom, a living room, and luxurious furnishings. Every room in the hotel has a butler’s pantry, where you can stuff your laundry, shoes to get shined or service trays so the hotel staff can take them without entering your suite. How droll! With an in-ceiling multi-room stereo system set on classical, we didn’t even end up using the iPod docking station, but we appreciated that it was there. We were, however, tempted to use the guitar in our room, but thought better of it, lest it annoy any of our neighbors.

Truth be told, if we could’ve afforded the time, we probably wouldn’t have left our suite all week. Eat, lounge, bubble bath, naps, repeat (sigh). Oh, and for those of us with fur babies, it’s worth noting that The Windsor Arms is also pet-friendly, so we can bring along Fifi and Fido.

One of the things that make the Windsor Arms special is their uber-cozy restaurant, The Living Room, which is open from 7am to 2am. I especially enjoyed having my Sunday brunch there. My favorite picks? Quinoa with root vegetables, chickpea puree, and cornflake crusted challah french toast with caramel banana and apples. I also had a lot of their green zing juice, which is made of kale, cucumber, celery, green apple and lemon.

The Windsor Arms’ other restaurant, Courtyard Cafe, offers a fancier ($65 per person) Sunday brunch in their well-lit and striking room that has two-story-tall vaulted ceilings, velvet drapery and plush booths.

If you’re in the mood for a drink, The Living Room features over 60 local craft drafts and beers, and a premium international wine selection which is the proud recipient of the Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator for five consecutive years. If you want to learn, the chef hosts interactive “clean cooking” classes, and the hotel offers health and wellness seminars. If you’re kosher, they even have a special 100% kosher room for you. Like I said, they’ve thought of everything.

Checked in? Spend an afternoon chilling in the spa!

After a hearty breakfast, we recommend you check out the spa, which is located on the 4th and 5th floors. Their pool is heated to a comfortably warm temperature, and because they use bromine salt instead of chlorine, the water feels deliciously silky.

Do some laps, then grab your robe and dry off on their rooftop outdoor terrace before taking some time to relax in the sauna. While traditional saunas aren’t as beneficial as IR saunas, it’s still a great place to relax and open up your pores before your session in the Healing Salt Cave, which uses the same pink salt found in Poland and the Himalayan mountains.

The first salt cave was set up 150 years ago after Dr Feliks Boczkowski, a Polish physician, noted that local salt miners didn’t suffer from lung diseases. A natural grotto was carved out within the Wieliczka mines themselves, 400 feet underground. It became popular with those suffering respiratory disease, and is still in use today.

There is a hypnotic sound of gently trickling water coming from a wall covered in salt rocks and branches, with salty water running down it. A good six feet high, it features an artfully-arranged fan of salt-encrusted twigs inside a giant wooden display case. Salt room owners say salt can help skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema and a range of respiratory ailments, including colds, asthma, allergies and bronchitis — but I’ll let you be the judge.

After relaxing in the Salt Cave for 45-minutes, why not follow it with a salt scrub? Their Aromatherapy Salt Glow treatment combines a luxurious blend of sea salts, organic grape seed oil and essential oils, and leaves your body nourished and smooth. You could also follow that with their “sculpted” spray-tan treatment, which will make you look tan and in shape. Just make sure to do the treatments in this order, as you’ll have to wait 6-8 hours before showering after getting the spray tan.

Follow it up with a delicious spa snack on the terrace (but make sure to put your order in about 45 minutes in advance), before meeting your friends for tea downstairs in one of the tea rooms. Now that’s what I call a perfect afternoon!

Tea at the Windsor Arms is a true delight

Each of the four decadent tea rooms has their own feel, from glam purple and white, to an eclectic red, blue and gold room, to a pristine all-cream room, and an English study theme.

Teas come with the typical high-end high-tea spread of delicious mini sandwiches, scones, and desserts. My favorite tea is the “Once Upon a Time” tea, which tastes like mint chocolate. How awesome is that?

Once you’re settled, here’s where to go next:

Visit the Neighborhoods

Toronto is known for having very authentic neighborhoods. For example, Toronto houses the largest population of Italians outside of Italy. Added to that is the fact that over 50% of the population of the city is first generation immigrant. That makes for a very, very authentic Little Italy neighborhood along College Street. Same goes for the Greek area on Danforth, Chinatown on Dundas West, and many others.

But the many ethnic sections of the city aren’t the only neighborhoods that are famous in Toronto. Here are a few of our favorite can’t-miss leisure-focused neighborhoods:

Bargain Hunt in the Kensington Market

Declared as a National Historic Site of Canada, the Kensington Market is not just your ordinary neighborhood market. It’s more than a collage of different shops. It’s a multicultural neighborhood where you might end up wanting to people watch more than shop. I love looking at the outdoor art and buying artisanal cheeses and spices in this market.

Grab an Artisanal Beer (or two) in the Distillery District

Toronto’s Distillery District is the place to go to spend a couple of hours gallery-hopping or shopping at the area’s creative and high-end shops. This historic district is known for being 100% cobblestone streets with brick buildings. Once you’ve had your fill, settle in at one of the many rustic bars or restaurants in the area. As the name suggests, it’s the best place in the city to find artisanal beers (and as any beer lover knows, Canada is the birthplace of many of the best beer breweries).

Be a Beach Bum for a Day

Yes, Toronto has beaches! It may not be as exotic and pristine white as those Caribbean or Asian beaches, but for the city people who need a quick break from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, this is summer heaven. The Beach, or “Beaches” as many locals call it, is a charming, laid-back neighbourhood with a relaxed small-town vibe. In fact, the Beach looks and feels more like a lakeside resort town than a big city. Just 15 minutes east of downtown Toronto along Queen Street (you can take a streetcar there), the area has two main attractions: the beach and Queen Street, with its eclectic mix of shops, sidewalk cafés, pubs and restaurants. If you are sporty and would not mind a busy beach, go to Woodbine. But if you want a quieter one, go to Kew. But if you’re looking for something serene, then Balmy is for you. Oh, and if you want to go nude, Hanlan’s point allows for this.

Sail the Toronto Seas

If lounging on the sand and sunbathing is too dull for you and you would like to be where the action is, then go sailing. But then you’ll probably say you don’t own a sailboat — at least not one moored in Toronto. But neither do I! Luckily, my brother who lives in Toronto has a sailboat.

So what options do people without sailboats have? Join sailing clubs, of course. One of Toronto’s best kept secrets is the Toronto Island Sailing Club. If you plan on visiting Toronto often, then look into becoming a member, which will grant you access to their clubhouse, and allow you to sail any boat from their fleet (with a few sailing lessons, of course).

Don’t want to bother with membership? Take a water taxi over to Toronto Island, where you can rent a bike to travel around the island looking at the unique homes. There are several waterfront restaurants on the island in case you get hungry.

Experience a Festival

I think Toronto is the only city in the world who loves to celebrate festivals. They have a festival for everything. From beaches international jazz festival to a festival celebrating ribs, yes, beef ribs, you’ve got it all here. Just be sure to check the dates of when they celebrate the festivals, for example, these festivals were supposed to be held in July – BIG on Bloor, Chinatown, Habari Africa Festival, Toronto Burlesque Festivals, but for some reason, they were moved to August. This website has all of the festival schedules down to a T.

While we were in Toronto, a foodie festival called Summerlicious was going on. We got tickets to attend a Summerlicious culinary event (and take a tour) at Casa Loma. It was set up like a wedding, with a giant glamorous tent, a live band and about twenty chefs cooking everything from wild Bison sliders to waffles with Ontario maple syrup. All for $35 per person. After eating, we toured the castle and the expansive gardens.

Nosh on Farm-to-Table Delicacies

And even if there isn’t a food-related festival going on at the time you’re visiting, Toronto is a haven for foodies who enjoy eating farm to table food. Here are a few of my favorites:

Farmhouse Tavern

They describe their place as a little bit country and a lot of rock and roll. As blogTO described in their review, “With a clear attention to detail, the interior is decked out in a farmstead theme. Cow skulls, vintage news clippings, rusted-out license plates, and mismatched tableware tastefully decorate the tavern room. The Farmhouse brings the quiet pace of the countryside to the Junction Triangle, an area otherwise marked by large warehouses, rail lines, and old inner-city industrial relics.”

Café Belong

Lunch at this café is some of the best farm to table food I’ve ever had. Located at the Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto’s lush Don Valley, Cafe Belong has an industrial-modern rustic interior with lots of windows, and offers quick-serve grab & go, table service dining and weekend brunch. My favorite here is their spring into the woods salad, made of mushrooms, onions, asparagus, cheese, and cider vinaigrette.

Globe Bistro

With a stylist roof deck and a slogan that says, “Think Global. Eat Local,” this place is one of the most posh farm to table restaurants in Toronto. I like that they describe their daily soup, served during dinner, as composed with the bounty of Ontario.

Who would’ve thought Toronto has all these hidden gems? So the next time you’re looking for a vacation destination, look no further, it’s just right next door.