Day 1 You'll See:
Day 2 You'll See:
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Spend three whirlwind days exploring one of Canada's biggest and most bustling cities, Toronto. Your group will get to learn more about the local culture, enjoy fun recreational activities, and sightsee all along their journey.
Art Gallery of Ontario
A world-class art institution with over 90,000 works on display ranging from the 1st century to today, the Art Gallery of Ontario will be a true treat for your student group no matter what your trip focus is. Completed in 2004 by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Art Gallery of Ontario is among 'the most distinguished art museums in North America'. It holds one of the most significant collections of African Art within the continent, as well as the absolute largest Oceanic art and artifacts collection in all of Canada. Some of the biggest highlights throughout the gallery include Galleria Italia, an exquisite wood and glass feature that will certainly catch your eye, as well as 'The Massacre of the Innocents', a contemporary and cutting-edge collection you can't miss.
St. Lawrence Market
Strong coffee, gorgeous flowers, warm baked goods, fresh fruit, local handmade jewelry, fascinating antiques, freshly cut meats....whatever you are looking for, St. Lawrence Market probably has it! This sprawling marketplace has over 120 vendors regularly, the vast lineup including bakers, butchers, and artisans of every sort. Pride and passion are found within the South Building, you will find fresh fruit, veggies, meat, fish, grains, and dairy products all throughout the week, the products depending on what is in season and surplus at the time. The North Building holds the highly popular Saturday Farmer's Market, as well as the Sunday Antique Market.
High Park
High Park is the most popular public park in Toronto, a 399 acre mixed recreation and natural park setting chock full of sporting, cultural, and educational facilities. This is the largest public park in the city, as well as the most visited.
Here are some activities your group can take part in at High Park:
- Waterfront Trails
- Children's Playground
- High Park Zoo - See bison, llamas, and other local critters.
- Trackless Train - 30-minute scenic ride seasonally (April, September, October)
- Cherry Blossom Festivals
- Historic Hillside Gardens
- Picnic Areas
- Dog Park
- Greenhouses
- Water Recreation Sports
- Grenadier Pond
Casa Loma
This Gothic Revival style home is today a museum, landmark, and popular garden tour grounds, with regular tours and events throughout the year. Let's back up just a little bit and give a quick history lesson: Casa Loma was built between 1911 and 1914. It served as the residence of Sir Henry Mill Pellat, a local successful businessman who, as you can tell, was a huge fan of fine art and architecture. During a tour of 'Toronto's Majestic Castle', your group will be able to see all three floors, the lower level, gardens (seasonally), grounds, tunnels, garage, and stables. After your look around this grand 18th-century home filled with European elegance be sure to enjoy a meal at any of the three onsite eateries, from the light and tasty plates at Liberty Caffe or Terrace Grill to a nice sit-down dinner at the new BlueBlood Steakhouse.
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo holds over 5,000 animals representing 450 different species from many different ecosystems all over the world, from Canadian Cougars to Malayan Red-Tailed Rattlesnakes. The animals are held within tropical indoor settings or recreated outdoor natural settings, the zoo more than big enough to comfortably hold them all. The zoo is a total of 710 acres, making it one of the largest in the world. Within the 710 acres, you will find 7 different zoogeographic zones: Indo-Malaya, Africa, Americas, Australia, Eurasia, Canada, and Tundra Trek. See Canada's only giant panda cubs (be sure to go meet Jia Panpan), view the 5-acre polar bear refuge, or head to Australia's Great Barrier Reef exhibit to see over 100 species of fish.
Toronto Islands
Welcome to the Toronto Islands, otherwise known as Toronto Island Park, the best water-recreation-filled getaway spot in the city! The Toronto Island Park is actually made up of 15 islands total, each interconnected by various bridges and walking paths, the entire 5 kilometers walkable all the way from Hanlan's Point to Ward's Island. The Islands are in Lake Ontario, just a 13-minute ferry ride from downtown Toronto, accessible by the Jake Layton Ferry terminal near Queen's Quay. Once on the island(s), your group can take part in a plethora of fun beachside and island-exclusive activities such as swimming, biking, canoeing, kayaking, picnicking, hiking, or visiting any of the various attractions on the island.
CN Tower
Perhaps the most talked-about architectural feature in all of Toronto, measuring in at a whopping 553.3 meters high, is the CN Tower. This concrete communications and observation tower is located in downtown Toronto, undoubtedly providing the very best panoramic views of the city there is! Once your group is here you will take one of 6 glass-fronted elevators up to the Lookout Level, the ride only takes 58 seconds! Once on this floor, you will be able to enjoy the views out of the thermochromatic film glass windows, the lighting adjusting to improve energy efficiency and viewing. After you have looked around (literally), board the elevator on the LookOut Level to travel through the core of the Tower (33 additional stories higher) to SkyPod. This level features various exhibits covering subjects such as architecture and weather (what happens when it's really windy outside at the top of the tower?). You could also head just one level down from Lookout Level and find the Outdoor SkyTerrace, sitting at 342 meters high!
Toronto Harbor Tours
Toronto Harbour Tours are the perfect way to experience the lake and the city of Toronto in general, the company providing serious fun and education on the water! For 25 years now Toronto Harbour Tours have provided the area with live narrated sightseeing boat tours and private charters, the cruises providing the absolute best views of both ends of the spectrum in Toronto, from the soaring city skyscrapers to the tranquil Toronto Islands. The cruises take place between April and October and depart from Pier 6 each time. Depending on the weather, the boat will dock at Centre Island, a spot with a restaurant, petting zoo, and amusement park, and you can board the boat at your leisure. The sightseeing tours themselves are entertaining, insightful, and informative, typically lasting 1 hour.