Ontario - Lake Simcoe & Toronto

[giradman]

Boat Tour - Toronto Islands

Our narrated boat tour headed to the Toronto Islands (see quotes) - we saw just a western portion of the islands (as shown on the aerial map) - the views were beautiful, both leaving and returning to the harbour area - the images show several maps and others my own or from the web - there is a small community of people living on the car-free islands - kids are schooled in the younger grades but the older children ferry to the mainland for their education. The weather was perfect and the air had a slight but delightful chill - easy to understand the popularity of the place as a retreat and recreational area. Dave

The Toronto Islands (formerly known as Island of Hiawatha and also known as Menecing, meaning "On the Island" in the Ojibwa language) are a chain of small islands in Lake Ontario, south of mainland Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the only group of islands in the western part of Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands are located just offshore from the city centre, and provide shelter for Toronto Harbour. The islands are home to parkland, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, several yacht clubs, Centreville Amusement Park, and Hanlan's Beach. The island community is considered to be the largest urban car-free community in North America, although some service vehicles are permitted. Access to the Islands is by ferry, including the City of Toronto ferries operating from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street, or by water taxis. (Source)

The island is a popular recreation destination.There is a public bicycle sharing station operated by Bike Share Toronto at Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and bicycles and quadracycles can be rented at Centre Island. Canoes, kayaks and paddle boats can also be rented on the island. The main beach is along the south shore and the beach on the west shore is clothing-optional. There is ample park land suitable for picnicking which is popular, several playgrounds, and several gardens. Due to flooding of many areas of the Islands, much of the park was closed in 2017, and the Centreville amusement park did not reopen for the 2017 season. In early July, a report by the City of Toronto indicated that parts of the Island Park might reopen by July 31, 2017, but that other parts would remain closed, including sections of Centre Island. (Source)

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[giradman]

AGO - Art Gallery of Ontario

After our boat tour, we took a cab to Chinatown for a 'dim sum' lunch at a BUSY restaurant on Dundas Street, just over 2 blocks from the Art Gallery of Ontario, and also near the Patrick Station subway stop for a short trip back to our hotel (see map). The AGO is one of the top art museums in North America and another must visit (see quotes below); the breadth and depth of the collection is amazing. The museum is the second most visited in the city (behind the Royal Ontario Museum - an upcoming post). The pics below are all from the web - one of my favorite exhibits was the Henry Moore Sculpture Room - highly recommended. Dave

P.S. through July, a special retrospective exhibit of the pioneering American painter Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) is showing at the museum and is worth seeing (there is an admission fee) - we enjoyed (see third quote).

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is an art museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its collection includes more than 80,000 works spanning the first century to the present day. The gallery has 45,000 square metres (480,000 sq ft) of physical space, making it one of the largest galleries in North America. Significant collections include the largest collection of Canadian art, an expansive body of works from the Renaissance and the Baroque eras, European art, African and Oceanic art, and a modern and contemporary collection. The photography collection is a large part of the collection, as well as an extensive drawing and prints collection. The museum contains many significant sculptures, such as in the Henry Moore sculpture centre, and represents other forms of art like historic objects, miniatures, frames, books and medieval illuminations, film and video art, graphic art, installations, architecture, and ship models. During the AGO's history, it has hosted and organized some of the world's most renowned and significant exhibitions, and continues to do so, to this day. (Source)

Since 1974, the gallery has seen four major expansions and renovations, and continues to add spaces. The most recent are the Weston Family Learning Centre, and the David Milne Research Centre. Both projects were designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects. Earlier major renovations were designed by noted architects John C. Parkin (1977), Barton Myers and KPMB Architects (1993), and most recently, Frank Gehry (2008). In addition to display galleries, the structure houses an extensive library, student spaces, gallery workshop space, artist-in-residence, a high-end restaurant, café, espresso bar, research centre, theatre and lecture hall, Gehry-designed gift shop, and an event space called the Baillie Court, which occupies the entirety of the third floor. The Art Gallery of Ontario is the second most visited art museum in Toronto after the Royal Ontario Museum in 2014. (Source)

Career-spanning retrospective to make its only North American stop in Toronto - the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is set to present a major retrospective of pioneering American painter Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986), featuring over 100 works of art by one the 20th century’s most successful and influential modernists. The exhibition will examine O’Keeffe’s entire career, charting the progression of her practice from her early abstract experiments to her late work, in addition to her trajectory west, and her profound influence and legacy. Organized by Tate Modern in collaboration with the AGO and the Bank Austria Kunstforum, Vienna, Georgia O’Keeffe will make its only North American stop in Toronto running from April 22 to July 30, 2017. (Source)

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[scifan57]

AGO - Art Gallery of Ontario

After our boat tour, we took a cab to Chinatown for a 'dim sum' lunch at a BUSY restaurant on Dundas Street, just over 2 blocks from the Art Gallery of Ontario, and also near the Patrick Station subway stop for a short trip back to our hotel (see map). The AGO is one of the top art museums in North America and another must visit (see quotes below); the breadth and depth of the collection is amazing. The museum is the second most visited in the city (behind the Royal Ontario Museum - an upcoming post). The pics below are all from the web - one of my favorite exhibits was the Henry Moore Sculpture Room - highly recommended. Dave

P.S. through July, a special retrospective exhibit of the pioneering American painter Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) is showing at the museum and is worth seeing (there is an admission fee) - we enjoyed (see third quote).






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The Art Gallery of Ontario was one museum I didn’t see when I was in Toronto. Thanks for posting the pictures.

 

[giradman]

The Art Gallery of Ontario was one museum I didn’t see when I was in Toronto. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Thanks - the AGO is worth a visit when you return to Toronto - interestingly, our local Reynolda House Museum is opening a Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit in August, which we will attend - of course, not the same one but likely will be quite good in the centennial year celebration of the house. Dave
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[giradman]

Niagara Falls Day Trip - Introduction

On our second full day, we did a day trip to Niagara Falls w/ an excellent guide in a van and about a dozen in the group with several stops along the way. This was our third visit to the Niagara area over a period of 48 years (WOW - every 16 years or so!). From Toronto, the trip to the Niagara Peninsula is about one and a half to two hours, depending on the traffic, which was quite congested near the city.

The Niagara Peninsula lies between Lakes Ontario & Erie (see quotes & maps), and are connected by the north flowing Niagara River, which is the boundary between Canada and the United States, specifically New York State; the river is about 56 km in length or 35 miles. Our day's itinerary is shown on the first map and included an optional helicopter ride over the falls for us (more later). Out first stop was Niagara-on-the-Lake, which was the first capital of Upper Canada (i.e. Ontario), followed by a wine tasting, and then a drive down the beautiful Niagara Parkway (which parallels the river) - these will be discussed in upcoming posts. Dave

The Niagara Peninsula is the portion of Southern Ontario, Canada, lying between the south shore of Lake Ontario and the north shore of Lake Erie. Technically an isthmus rather than a peninsula,[1] it stretches from the Niagara River in the east to Hamilton, Ontario, in the west. The population of the peninsula is roughly 1,000,000 people. The region directly across the Niagara River and Lake Erie in New York State is known as the Niagara Frontier. The broader Buffalo Niagara Regionincludes the Niagara Peninsula, the Niagara Frontier, and the city of Buffalo, New York. (Source)

The area was originally inhabited by a First Nations people called the "Neutrals", so named for their practice of trading goods such as flint arrowhead blanks with both of the feuding regional powers, the Wyandot and Iroquois. The Neutrals were wiped out by the Iroquois c. 1650 as the latter sought to expand their fur-trapping territory as part of the Beaver Wars. From this point until the arrival of United Empire Loyalists following the American War of Independence, the region was only sporadically inhabited, as the Iroquois did not establish permanent settlements in the area. The Niagara Peninsula then became one of the first areas settled in Upper Canada by British Loyalists in the late 18th century. The capital of the new colony was established with the founding of Niagara-on-the-Lake, then called Newark. Many English and Irish immigrants settled in the peninsula, but by the 1800s, Italian and German immigrants populated the peninsula and were followed by others. (Source)

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[giradman]

Niagara-on-the-Lake - First Stop

Niagara-on-the-Lake was an important historic Upper Canada town - the first capital and the site of Fort George (facing Fort Niagara in the United States during the War of 1812); now, a beautiful quaint 'village' popular as a retirement locale - the buildings and houses harken back to another time - the main street has shops, restaurants, and places to stay, including the Prince of Wales Hotel; flowers are abundant and well maintained - carriage rides are available (which Susan would have loved, but the stop was just an hour - we had a coffee & pastry) - also did the short walk to the town's beach on Lake Ontario - Fort Niagara in New York State is seen across the Niagara River. Pics below show these attractions - I'd enjoyed spending a few nights in the area. Dave

Niagara-on-the-Lake (2016 population 17,511) is a Canadian town in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region of the southern part of the province of Ontario. It is across the Niagara River from Youngstown, New York, US. It is the only town in Canada that has a Lord Mayor. The town, now including two former villages, St. David's and Queenston, was significant during the War of 1812 and even earlier, when it was the first capital of Upper Canada (now the province of Ontario). Today, the town, with its quaint colonial-style buildings, is a popular tourist destination that includes the Shaw Festival, Fort George, wineries and an outlet mall on the highway. Niagara-on-the-Lake is among the best places to retire in Ontario. According to this source, Niagara region has the second-highest percentage of seniors in Ontario. (Source)

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[giradman]

Niagara Wine Country - Reif Estate Winery

After leaving Niagara-on-the-Lake, our next stop was the Reif Estate Winery for a wine tasting. Southern Ontario and the Niagara Peninsula are Canada's largest wine growing regions followed by British Columbia (see the 2011 production chart below). An extraordinary number of grapes, fruits, et al ingredients are used to make wine - grapes include many Vitis vinifera varietals and French-American hybrids - also, the types of wines made are broad - still & sparkling wines and ice wine, a specialty of the region.

During my week in Ontario, I probably sampled at least a half dozen locally made products, all good - our wine tasting included a dry Riesling, a red blend, and a Vidal ice wine. More information in the quotes below - the Niagara area is also known for fruit production which are also used to make fermented beverages (see third quote) - Susan and I visit a LOT of North Carolina wineries and 'fruit wines' are often her favorite to taste - we missed out in Ontario - if we return, next time will include an all day wine tour!

Pics below complement the comments above - one of the wineries that I know well over the years for its dessert ice wines (especially using Riesling & Vidal) is Inniskillin (which was right down the Niagara Parkway from Reif Estate) - on our last trip to Canada (Quebec), I brought back several bottles. Dave

Ontario wine is Canadian wine produced in the province of Ontario that is certified by VQA Ontario. Wines made from 100% Ontario grapes can qualify for classification under Ontario's appellation system, the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA), and must be certified by the provincial wine authority to use the descriptor "Ontario wine" and other regulated labelling terms. VQA regulates production standards including grape varietals, wine-making techniques employed, and other requirements and ensures label integrity for consumers. This has raised some issues with certain wineries that do not meet the VQA standard or are not eligible because they use Ontario grown winter-hardy hybrid grapes that are not recognized by VQA despite lobbying attempts to update their list of acceptable grape varieties. (Source)

There are three official growing regions in the province recognized and regulated by the VQA. The Niagara Peninsula, with the most area under vine and a series of recognized sub-appellations, is Canada's largest wine growing region and is blessed by a unique micro-climate facilitated by the interaction of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. In the Niagara Peninsula there are ten sub-appellations which each have unique growing conditions suited to different grape varieties. They are: Niagara River, Niagara Lakeshore, Four Mile Creek, St David's Bench, Creek Shores, Lincoln Lakeshore, Short Hills Bench, Twenty Mile Bench, Beamsville Bench, and Vinemount Ridge. In addition, two regional appellations have been created: Niagara Escarpment for the bench area west of St Catharines (Short Hills Bench, Twenty Mile Bench, Beamsville Bench) and Niagara-on-the-Lake for the four sub-appellations east of St Catharines. The north shore of Lake Erie is more southerly and receives many growing degree days, although Lake Erie freezes over in the winter. The Lake Erie North Shore appellation contains one sub-appellation, the South Islands, which includes Canada's southernmost vineyards on Pelee Island, for Canada's largest estate winery, Pelee Island Winery. In addition Prince Edward County was created as a new growing region in 2007. Some see the future of wine in "the county" in premium wines produced from Pinot noir and Chardonnay. (Source)

Ontario is also home to wineries specializing in fruit wine. These wines are outside the scope of the VQA, but Fruit Wines of Canada has developed the Quality Certified (QC) mark to identify quality Canadian fruit wine that is not made from grapes. Ontario-grown fruits used to make these wines include (but are not limited to) apple, apricot, black currant, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, elderberry, gooseberry, huckleberry, haskap, nectarine, peach, pear, plum, red currant, raspberry, saskatoon berry, and strawberry. Some fruit wineries carry other products that are not made from fruit, including wines made from rhubarb, maple syrup, and honey. Occasionally fruit wines are combined with grape wine, mead, or other fruit wines to produce unique flavour combinations. In some cases, these wines can include other ingredients such as chocolate (e.g. in cherry or blueberry wines) or spices (e.g. in apple wines). (Source)

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[giradman]

Niagara Parkway - Brock Memorial, Floral Clock, Hydroelectric Power, & Helicopter Ride

After our wine tasting, we headed down the Niagara Parkway to the Falls, with a number of attractions along the way. We passed the Brock Memorial dedicated to the British Major General killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights early in the War of 1812, when the Americans attempted to gain a foothold in Canada but failed (first quote below). The next brief stop was at the Floral Clock - check link for details & pics.

In the Niagara area, three of the most important economic sources are tourism, hydroelectric power production, and the wine/fruit industry. While traveling on the parkway toward the falls, the hydroelectric power plants/dams/electric cabling were impressive - of course, both Canada and the United States benefit by sharing this river border - just a few pics below, including one of the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant in New York State.

Before arriving in Niagara Falls, we were dropped off at the helicopter site for our optional ride - the last three pics show the helicopter that carried us up the Niagara Gorge and over the American and Canadian Falls - the first is my own of the copter taking off & the others are from the web, same company. This was our third helicopter tour (other two over the Grand Canyon & the Juneau Ice Field) and I must say that this 'flying machine' was spacious and quiet (did not need ear muffs - wonderful ride) - just lasted 12 minutes but were thrilled (see second quote describing the helicopter). Dave

The Battle of Queenston Heights was the first major battle in the War of 1812 and resulted in a British victory. It took place on 13 October 1812, near Queenston, Upper Canada (the present-day province of Ontario). It was fought between United States regulars and New York militia forces led by Major General Stephen Van Rensselaer, and British regulars, York and Lincoln militia and Mohawk warriors led by Major General Isaac Brock, and Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe, who took command when Brock was killed. The battle was fought as the result of an American attempt to establish a foothold on the Canadian side of the Niagara River before campaigning ended with the onset of winter. This decisive battle was the culmination of a poorly managed American offensive and may be most historically significant for the loss of the British commander. (Source)

The Airbus H130 is a single engine light helicopter which seats one pilot and up to seven passengers. This modern helicopter, one of the most popular single engine helicopters in the world, started flying tours at Niagara Helicopters in June 2015. Its composite main rotor blades and enclosed tail rotor are driven by the powerful Turbomeca Arriel 2D turboshaft engine. This engine is capable of lifting over 5500 pounds cruises at speeds over 200 km per hour. The Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) allows the pilot to monitor helicopter systems and power requirements at a glance, thus reducing pilot workload. Upon boarding, passengers will notice a spacious cabin, comfortable theater-style seating, and large windows offering panoramic views. On board air conditioning keeps the cabin comfortable, and a vibration control system ensures a smooth ride. The Airbus H130 is also the quietest helicopter on the market in its category, due in a large part to its enclosed tail rotor and automatic variable pitch main rotor. (Source)

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[scifan57]

Niagara Parkway - Brock Memorial, Floral Clock, Hydroelectric Power, & Helicopter Ride

After our wine tasting, we headed down the Niagara Parkway to the Falls, with a number of attractions along the way. We passed the Brock Memorial dedicated to the British Major General killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights early in the War of 1812, when the Americans attempted to gain a foothold in Canada but failed (first quote below). The next brief stop was at the Floral Clock - check link for details & pics.

In the Niagara area, three of the most important economic sources are tourism, hydroelectric power production, and the wine/fruit industry. While traveling on the parkway toward the falls, the hydroelectric power plants/dams/electric cabling were impressive - of course, both Canada and the United States benefit by sharing this river border - just a few pics below, including one of the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant in New York State.

Before arriving in Niagara Falls, we were dropped off at the helicopter site for our optional ride - the last three pics show the helicopter that carried us up the Niagara Gorge and over the American and Canadian Falls - the first is my own of the copter taking off & the others are from the web, same company. This was our third helicopter tour (other two over the Grand Canyon & the Juneau Ice Field) and I must say that this 'flying machine' was spacious and quiet (did not need ear muffs - wonderful ride) - just lasted 12 minutes but were thrilled (see second quote describing the helicopter). Dave




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Another excellent travel story. Keep them coming.

 

[giradman]

Another excellent travel story. Keep them coming.

Thanks SciFan.. - one more post about Niagara Falls - then to our last full day in Toronto - Dave

 

[giradman]

Niagara Falls - Final Goal of the Day Trip!

After our helicopter ride, we were picked up by the van and driven to Niagara Falls for our boat ride into the mist! Since our last visit and just recently, the names of the boats have changed - traditionally, the Maid of the Mist ran from both the American & Canadian sides, but a contract dispute split the service and the Canadian company now runs the Hornblower boats which we took - our third ride over 48 years pass the American Falls and into the glorious mist of the Horseshoe Falls - still exciting. As I recall on our first visit, we wore reusable yellow rain coats & hats - last two trips w/ plastic ponchos.

Except for the first three, all of the pics below are my own - still a thrill to ride into that mist of the Canadian Falls and yes we got wet, even staying on the bottom level! The trip back to Toronto took 2 hours (horrible traffic congestion coming into the city - a problem that needs to be addressed, as in many large cities) - a LONG day, i.e. pickup at 8:30 AM and return at 6 PM. But, I regret not having a few extra days - would certainly sign up for a Niagara wine tour (saw several vans for that purpose) - next posts will be on our last full day. Dave

Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between the province of Ontario and the state of New York. They form the southern end of the Niagara Gorge. From largest to smallest, the three waterfalls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe Falls lies on the border of the United States and Canada with the American Falls entirely on the American side, separated by Goat Island. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also on the American side, separated from the other waterfalls by Luna Island. The international boundary line was originally drawn through Horseshoe Falls in 1819, but the boundary has long been in dispute due to natural erosion and construction. (Source)

Located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world that has a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m). Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by flow rate. Niagara Falls was formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high, Niagara Falls is very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m3) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost four million cubic feet (110,000 m3) on average. Niagara Falls is famed both for its beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Balancing recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge since the 19th century. (Source)

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[giradman]

Fort York National Historic Site - Beginning of Our Third Full Day

For our third and last full day in Toronto, we started by taking a cab to the Fort York National Historic Site (first two quotes below), then another cab to the St. Lawrence Market, and finally after lunch, the subway to the Royal Ontario Museum (the latter two in follow-up posts).

Fort York and the small town of York (just east of the fort), the capital of Upper Canada at the opening of the War of 1812, were the start of the modern city of Toronto. The fort is a National Historic Site and contains a number of original and reconstructed buildings from the time of the war. A Visitor's Centre opened in 2014 and has an excellent multi-screen video presentation along w/ an exhibit area.

The Battle of York occurred on April 27, 1813 and was an American victory (see last two quotes below), despite heavy losses due to intentional explosion of the fort's powder magazine - the American leader Zebulon Pike was killed (Pikes Peak in Colorado is named after him) - he was only 34 years old. The Americans were rather destructive, burning a number of governmental buildings - in August 1814, the British retaliated by burning Washington, D.C.

Plenty of pics, a mixture of mine and ones from the web - the Battles of 1812 around the Canadian-American border were numerous, a part of this war likely better remembered by Canadians, I suspect. Dave

Fort York is a historic site of military fortifications and related buildings on the west side of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The fort was built by the British Army and Canadian militia troops in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, to defend the settlement and the new capital of the Upper Canada region from the threat of a military attack, principally from the newly independent United States. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1923. The City of Toronto designated the site, along with the nearby Fort York Armoury, as a Heritage Conservation District in 1985. (Source)

In 1793, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe authorized a garrison on the present site of Fort York, just west of the mouth of Garrison Creek on the north western shore of Lake Ontario. Simcoe recognized Toronto was an ideal site for settlement and defence because of its natural harbour and relative longer distance from the United States. Fort York guards the western (at the time of construction, the only) entrance to the bay. Simcoe had decided to make Toronto (which he renamed York) the capital of Upper Canada, and the government, the first parliament buildings and the town were established one and a half miles east of the fort (near the foot of the present Parliament Street). (Source)

The Battle of York was fought on April 27, 1813, in York (present-day Toronto), the capital of the province of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario), during the Anglo-American War of 1812. An American force supported by a naval flotilla landed on the lake shore to the west and advanced against the town, which was defended by an outnumbered force of regulars, militia and Ojibway natives under the overall command of Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. (Source)

Sheaffe's forces were defeated and Sheaffe retreated with his surviving regulars to Kingston, abandoning the militia and civilians. The Americans captured the fort, town and dockyard. They themselves suffered heavy casualties, including force leader Brigadier General Zebulon Pike and others killed when the retreating British blew up the fort's magazine. The American forces subsequently carried out several acts of arson and looting in the town before withdrawing. Though the Americans won a clear victory, it did not have decisive strategic results as York was a less important objective in military terms than Kingston, where the British armed vessels on Lake Ontario were based. (Source)

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[giradman]

St. Lawrence Market

The St. Lawrence Market is located in the Old Town neighborhood and a recommended attraction in the guide books - being 'foodies', we love to visit BIG CITY markets - two that come to mind are Pike Place Market in Seattle and Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia - the Toronto equivalent will NOT disappoint - all pics below from web - meats, seafood, veggies, caviar, and SO much more - we were hoping to lunch at Buster's Sea Cove but the line was long and all tables filled; found a little Near Eastern/Persian restaurant near the market and had a tasty meal.

We were less that three blocks from the King Street subway station, so an easy walk and train up to the Museum stop for an afternoon visit to the Royal Ontario Museum - Dave

St. Lawrence Market is a major public market in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at Front St. East and Jarvis St in the Old Town district of Toronto. There are three buildings in the complex, each having a different purpose. St. Lawrence Market North, on the north side of Front St, hosts weekly farmer's markets and antique markets. A public market has been held on the north building site since 1803. Several buildings have housed the building, the most recent built in 1968. St. Lawrence Market South, on the south side of Front St, is open daily, hosting food stalls, restaurants and the St. Lawrence Market Gallery. The South building dates to 1845, and has been rebuilt twice, and still incorporates a section of its original building which was used as Toronto City Hall from 1845. St. Lawrence Hall is an event and office building on King at Jarvis, built in 1850. (Source)

St. Lawrence Market was named the world's best food market by National Geographic in April 2012. Starting in 2015, the North building has shut to allow for redevelopment. While the North site is redeveloped, its market functions have moved to south of the South building in a temporary building. (Source)

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[giradman]

ROM - Royal Ontario Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum is the most popular attraction in Toronto and is a multifaceted presentation with diverse collections of world culture and natural history, as is evident from the quotes below. We spent just three hours in the afternoon and were selective in our viewing - reminds me of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, which I've visited numerous times - on my last visit there, I concentrated on the furniture rooms and the musical instruments. The ROM is a MUST visit that deserves frequent visits, which I would certainly do if closer to me.

Pics below are all from the web and obviously limited and selective - might need a hundred or more to really show the magnitude of this museum's numerous collections. Dave

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a museum of art, world culture and natural history in Toronto, Canada. It is one of the largest museums in North America, the largest in Canada, and attracts more than one million visitors every year, the second most for a Canadian art museum after the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The museum is north of Queen's Park, in the University of Toronto district, with its main entrance on Bloor Street West. The Museum subway station of the Toronto Transit Commission is named after the ROM, and since 2008, it is decorated to resemble the institution's collection. Established on 16 April 1912 and opened on 19 March 1914, the museum has maintained close relations with the University of Toronto throughout its history, often sharing expertise and resources.

With more than six million items and forty galleries, the museum's diverse collections of world culture and natural history contribute to its international reputation. The museum contains notable collections of dinosaurs, minerals and meteorites, Near Eastern and African art, Art of East Asia, European history, and Canadian history. It houses the world's largest collection of fossils from the Burgess Shale with more than 150,000 specimens. The museum also contains an extensive collection of design and fine arts, including clothing, interior, and product design, especially Art Deco.

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[scifan57]

St. Lawrence Market

The St. Lawrence Market is located in the Old Town neighborhood and a recommended attraction in the guide books - being 'foodies', we love to visit BIG CITY markets - two that come to mind are Pike Place Market in Seattle and Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia - the Toronto equivalent will NOT disappoint - all pics below from web - meats, seafood, veggies, caviar, and SO much more - we were hoping to lunch at Buster's Sea Cove but the line was long and all tables filled; found a little Near Eastern/Persian restaurant near the market and had a tasty meal.

We were less that three blocks from the King Street subway station, so an easy walk and train up to the Museum stop for an afternoon visit to the Royal Ontario Museum - Dave




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If you ever visit Ottawa, I recommend the Byward Market. It's within walking distance of Parliament hill.