Impromptu Toronto (Enjoying Toronto in the moment)

TORONTO

It can be done.....an impromptu visit to Toronto with no planning and that's what makes it so adventurous and spontaneous. Twice in less than a year my boyfriend and I have arrived in Toronto with no lodging reservations and limited data on our phones. We almost ran out of gasoline too. Fortunately a kind woman delivering mail in Cabbagetown directed us to a station. My boyfriend and I love Toronto because it's such an exciting international city with diverse neighborhoods, outstanding public transportation, amazing restaurants, unlimited shopping, and culture galore.You too can enjoy all the wondrous things that Toronto has to offer at your own pace. Impromptu Toronto is a unique way to enjoy Toronto by the moment. Trust your instincts, grab a Toronto map, and don't hesitate to ask the locals for directions and recommendations.

                                                                    Enjoying Toronto's Harbour

T O R O N T O
Parking in Toronto is an adventure in itself. It's not easy to find a parking and parking can get expensive. However most hotels in Toronto offer parking to their guests. Other options to get to the heart of Toronto are by VIA Rail train or taking a subway or a bus from hotels outside of downtown Toronto.The Toronto Transit Commission operates the city buses, street cars, and the subway. This is the best way to get around Toronto besides bicycling or walking. Fares are $3.25 per ride, $12.50 for a day pass and $43.75 for a weekly pass. You can also purchase a $9.00 ticket or token that's good for three rides which comes out to $3.00 per ride.


Toronto Transit Commission website:
www.ttc.ca/

It's amazing how things sometimes work out when you trust the universe. During both our visits to Toronto we somehow made our way to the Whole Foods Market on Bayview Avenue  It's a wonderful Whole Foods Market with lots of healthy and tasty prepared foods. There's free parking, the staff is terrific and there's WIFI. After filling up on pizza and salads at Whole Foods Market I used the WIFI and was able to find an affordable rate at Montecassino Hotel in North York. Couldn't resist checking out the ever so adorable homes of Cabbagetown and snapping some photo's.Why is it called Cabbagetown? Back in the late 1840's the poor Irish immigrants who moved to this neighborhood in Toronto were so poor that they grew cabbage on their front lawns.

Impromptu Toronto: One Day of exploring:

We got off the subway at the Saint George station and had a short visit at Royal Ontario Museum www.rom.ca.Afterwards strolled past the upscale shops on Bloor-Yorkville and went inside the legendary Tiffany before heading to Greektown on Danforth to immerse in Greek culture. Enjoyed a piece of baklava and a Greek coffee in Greektown than took the bus to Gerrard Street to experience the Gerrard India Bazzar. Here you can smell incense, shop for Indian products, see some rickshaws, and eat delicious authentic Indian food with exotic spices. After being transported to India for a couple of hours it was off to the famous Yonge Street to do some shopping. The Eaton Centre is a shopping paradise. Stopped at Booster Juice for the ultimate smoothie and then walked over to the harbour to view the Toronto Islands in the distance. Spent a few minutes in the lobby of the stunning Westin Hotel. Walked over to Dundas and then took the bus to Spadina and explored Chinatown and Kensington Market. Kensington Market is one of the most laid back neighborhoods in Toronto and you'll find some unique shops and restaurants here. From Kensington Market we took the awesome streetcar on Spadina to the ever popular Annex and enjoyed our last couple of hours back on Bloor Street.

Hint: To escape the urban congestion head to Riverdale Farm. It's a 7.5 working farm with beautiful gardens and all kinds of animals.  riverdalefarmtoronto.ca
                                               
TORONTO is a fascinating city and what's even more fascinating is that half the people who live and work in Toronto are from other parts of the world. In this international city there's so much to see and do. There's no city quite like TORONTO.

                                                     Lots of "high class" shopping in Bloor-Yorkville

Things Not to Miss in Toronto:

Air Canada Centre/Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game
Cabbagetown
Chinatown                      
CN Tower
Eaton Centre
Distillery District
Greektown
Hockey Hall of Fame
Kensington Market
Lake Ontario
Royal Ontario Museum
St. Lawrence Market
Toronto City Hall
Toronto Islands

                                          Baklava in Greektown!

                              Authentic Indian Food on Gerrard Street

                           Amadeu's Restaurant; Kensington Market