Toronto On a Budget
The Toronto Skyline
Toronto's climate is humid continental. There are four distinct seasons with warm and humid summers and cold and snowy winters. Spring and early summer can remain cool because of the lake breeze off of Lake Ontario. Temperatures in the winter months drop below freezing and snow can fall anytime between November and mid April. The summer temperatures are usually around 35 degrees Fahrenheit with temperatures in the 80s not uncommon. Summer is usually the wettest season but precipitation is still spread throughout the year.
Sights
There are any number of sights throughout Toronto. Some of the most popular include museums, architectural buildings and parks. Popular museums and art galleries include the Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, Bata Shoe Museum, Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, the Toronto Aerospace Museum, and Ontario Science Centre. Other landmarks around the city include Rogers Centre, the Toronto Zoo, the Toronto City Hall, Black Creek Pioneer Village, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Spadina House, Casa Loma, and CN Tower.Neighborhoods
Toronto is divided into six of districts. Old Toronto includes the city's downtown area, West End, East End, Midtown, and the Islands. This area is the urban core of the city and Yonge Street runs through the middle.Etobicoke is an industrial and residential area with suburban homes. It's where you'll find the Sherway Gardens, Woodbine Racetrack, and St. George's Golf Course.
York is an ethnically diverse area and was originally a separate city. East York was also a former autonomous borough. North York is where you'll find Parc Downsview Park, which is the Canada's first national urban park as well as Downsview Airport and North York Performing Arts Centre.
Scarborough feels like an old suburb of Toronto with interesting character. It is also the greenest part of the city.
Activities
Toronto is a great place to simply walk around. Head to Chinatown or wander one of the popular nearby islands. Also try to take in a show as theater is very popular here. Comedy shows are also a great way to pass some time and can make for a wonderful night outing.Food and Dining
Toronto has an excellent restaurant scene with many top rated restaurants as well as plenty of unique and delicious dives. The city's diverse population means that it has an endless supply of ethnic restaurants with options from almost anywhere around the world. There are also many ethnic grocery stores where you can buy products that are hard to find outside of such a large and diverse city.There are also many farmer's markets around the city. Although several operate year around, most are seasonal and are open from May to October. Two of the largest markets are St. Lawrence Market and Riverdale Farm. Others are found at City Hall, East York Civic Centre, Etobicoke Civic Centre, North York Civic Centre, and Scarborough Civic Centre.
Transportation
Despite its large size, Toronto is relatively easy to navigate with a public transit system. Even so, it is likely easier and faster to drive if you have access to a car. The major exception to this is during rush hour when traffic can be frustratingly congested. Also make note that, while there are no shortage of parking garages, they are usually quite expensive. Public transit is easily the cheapest way to travel throughout the city. The system is also one of the most popularly used systems in North America, next to Mexico City and New York City. The system includes a subway system, a rapid transit line, streetcars and buses. If you're traveling during rush hour, it is best to avoid the buses or streetcars, unless you are on a route where the streetcar has its own dedicated lane. Because of the dense traffic, don't be surprised if you find yourself waiting for half an hour for a streetcar, only to have four reach you at the same time.Related:
Looking for a party hostel in Montreal or Vancouver?
Traveling alone to Toronto or Montreal?
