I've always heard the stereotype that Canadians are all super nice — which is actually very true, but I never knew they were also pretty rad too. I recently ventured to Toronto for my first time, on what turned out to be a four-day action-packed adventure all around the city. From helicopter tours to walking the edge of a 1,815-foot building and canoe trips across Lake Ontario, I'd say I got the measure of the fourth largest city in North America in the best possible way.
The culture of Toronto is a unique blend of big city and smaller town; on the one hand, Toronto offers the luxuries of a larger city with the accessibility to pretty much anything you could need/want, while somehow still managing to maintain the atmosphere of an actual community. Different districts within Toronto stand out with their own unique attributes, but the city as a whole still has a cohesive feeling about it, from the food, drinks, art, and attractions to the people. Get yourself to the city ASAP, and don't even think about missing these activities while you're there.
1Try Indoor Skydiving at iFly
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
While actual skydiving has admittedly never been high on my bucket list, indoor skydiving totally was. The instructors at iFly Toronto were hilarious and helpful and put everyone at ease before we flew. By the end of the experience I was flying 30-plus feet up in the air without a second thought. I loved it so much that I'm hoping to visit more locations in the states — the company spans across the US, from LA, Austin, and San Francisco to Orlando and Chicago. I'm even inspired to consider doing the real thing now. Maybe.
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2Explore the Junction
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
The Junction District is one of Toronto's hidden gems. Tucked away from the busiest parts of the city, it boasts a rich art, live music, food, and shopping scene. Mjölk, found in the heart of the district, is an incredible lifestyle store that fuses the art and products of Scandinavia and Japan together seamlessly — it's a combination that just works. LATre and Gerhard Supply are hip stores that sell high-quality products unique to their brands. Need a shot of whiskey with your haircut? Rod, Gun & Barbers has got you covered — and for next to nothing.
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3Take a Helicopter Tour of the City
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
One of the best ways to get a unique perspective of any city is to see it from above. The Toronto Heli Tours are perfect for getting a full bird's-eye panoramic view of everything you're experiencing on the ground. Flying over the water is stunning, and the 10-minute flights are just long enough to take it all in without the tour feeling too long.
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4Take the Culinary Adventure Canoe Tour
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
One of my favorite activities while in the city was the Culinary Adventure Canoe Tour with amazing chef Kevin Durkee. My group worked up an appetite during our paddle over to the islands from Toronto — about a 30- to 40-minute trip that included a tour of the islands and bird sanctuaries in the area — and then we landed on Toronto Island Park.
While the chef worked his magic and put together my favorite meal of the whole trip (think the best picnic of your life, with fresh fruit, meats, cheeses, salads, bread, and homemade beet butter), we explored all the island had to offer. After a few ghost stories and a special dessert concoction that combined s'mores and the Canadian butter tart, we watched the sun set and paddled back to the city. The view of Toronto at night from the water was unforgettable.
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5Try Out Canadian Craft Beer
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
Nothing gets me more excited about a new city than trying its craft beer, and breweries like the Junction's Indie Ale House and the Distillery District's Mill Street Brewery give visitors a great taste (literally) of the town. Take a Toronto Beer and Chocolate Lover's tour of the Distillery, and try Izumi Sake Brewery and SOMA's incredible chocolate shots.
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6Take a Bike Tour of Toronto
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
A bike tour of Toronto is a great way to get an overview of the city, and on a nice day, it's the only way to go! You'll cover even more ground (and save some energy climbing hills) if you hop on an electric bike and ride the Don Valley Trail with Toronto Electric Bike Tours.
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7Visit Toronto Island Park
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
Just across Lake Ontario from Toronto are the Toronto Islands. The public land trust is home to a few hundred lucky residents (the waiting list for a house there is about 30 years), with several yacht clubs, the Toronto Island Park, and even a lighthouse ghost — or so the story goes. The main island has the Centreville Amusement Park, a farm and petting zoo, restaurants and cafes, and a pier on the beach. Visitors from the city can hop on a ferry, cruise across in a boat or on a Tiki taxi, or, if you're like me — jump in a canoe and paddle all the way over to the islands.
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8See the Graffiti Art
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
In some areas of Toronto, walking the streets of the city is like going through an art gallery. Some of the best graffiti art I saw was on buildings in the West Queen West, Kensington, and Junction districts, and there's even more all over the city!
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9Try Out Archery and Air Combat Simulations
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If you're a fan of paintball, laser tag, dodgeball, or any fun activity that requires a combination of healthy competition, strategy, and action, then Toronto's Archery District is perfect for you. It's not the kind of place you go target shooting (which is how I envisioned it) but instead the kind of place to bring a bunch of friends for a few rounds of combat archery. The interactive sport is a fun way to reenact your wildest Hunger Games survival scenarios — but in a safe environment (the arrow tips are foam).
If you ever wanted to know what it feels like to fly a fighter jet, then sit in the cockpit of the simulators at Toronto's Air Combat Zone.
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10Check Out the Distillery District
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
The historic Distillery District of Toronto is home to designer boutiques, breweries, cafes, artisan shops, and art galleries. The pedestrian-only village is centrally located, and there's always something fun happening in the area. Stop by Cluny Bistro for a bite to eat — the menu is so full of amazing modern French cuisine options you will not be able to choose just one thing, and the restaurant's decor is picturesque.
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11Walk the EdgeWalk
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
The CN Tower is the central focus of Toronto's skyline. Every time I looked up, I was reminded of the fact that (too) soon I would be up there walking along the edge of the tower — more than 1,100 feet, or 116 stories, in the air. The EdgeWalk was extremely exhilarating and offers views of the city and Lake Ontario that you can't get anywhere else. It's the world's highest full-circle hands-free walk, and I have to admit that hanging over the edge looking straight down was one of the coolest things I've ever done.
