Lorena Magallanes

If you’re like me, you often have friends and family visiting from around the world. As soon as I’m faced with the news of their visit, the panic starts to set in. What is there to do in Toronto that won’t send them into a catatonic bore?

When you live in a city, you tend to forget all the incredible things it has to offer. Even Toronto, an urban metropolis, has an array of activities and sites that will leave your friends and family awe-struck. Here is a list of my favourite spots to visit:

CN Tower
That looming tower over the heart of Toronto is one of the city’s most renowned features. It stretches more than 550m into the sky above Toronto’s downtown which gives individuals the most spectacular view of the city after the long trek to the needle. After filling your friends and family with envy at the sight of the city, you can treat them to a scrumptious dinner at 360, the restaurant found in the CN Tower, which not only provides incredible food but also offers a magnificent revolving view of Toronto at around 351m above the city.

High Park
Nestled deep in Toronto’s downtown area, High Park is Toronto’s best kept secret. It might not be New York’s central park, but its charm will draw you in. Spanning almost 400 acres, it is home to not only a stunning variety of plant life, but also to sporting facilities, cultural facilities, recreational facilities and a zoo. There’s a little something for everyone at High Park.

The Beaches
Toronto doesn’t have to be just a buzzing metropolis. Introduce your friends and family to the quieter side of Toronto; take them down to the beaches. A walk down the promenade on a summer day is the perfect way to escape the business of the city. The beaches offers a small-town experience filled with incredible architecture and a range of small family-owned business and boutiques that provide an experience you just can’t find downtown.

Distillery District
Another great district that everyone visiting Toronto should explore, is the Distillery District. Filled with the greatest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture, the Distillery District is an aesthetic paradise (as well as a shopper’s!). The Distillery District is home to numerous cafés, restaurants, and designer boutiques housed within heritage buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts Distillery. It is the hub of Toronto’s art and cultural events!

Yonge-Dundas Square
Yonge-Dundas square sports a Times Square-esque ambience. While not as busy as its New York counterpart, it serves as a meeting space for Toronto’s menagerie of cultures. From the fabulous to the fanatics, you’ll experience all that Toronto has to offer. Throughout the year, free cultural events are held in the square so there is never a dull moment to be had. At night, the square is lit up by a variety of flashing billboards and bright lights. If you want your guests to experience a little downtown craziness, this is the place to go.

If all else fails, eat! Toronto is home to a mecca of culinary artists. Take your friends or family out to some of the many great restaurants that are found around Toronto. Nobody has ever been disappointed by good food.

What are your favourite things to do in Toronto with visiting friends and family? Let me know at @LorenaRomano!