| Since my European visitors are quite sporty I figured | | | | over to Centre Island where there is a restaurant next |
| that renting a bicycle would be the perfect way of | | | | to the ferry dock, unfortunately it was closed. So we |
| exploring the city. So to join them on their first guided | | | | cycled back to the Centerville amusement park area |
| bicycle tour I grabbed my bike and the 5 of us headed | | | | where there was a beautiful restaurant with a |
| off to the subway station to go to Bicycle Solutions | | | | gorgeous outdoor patio right next to a tranquil |
| near Parliament and Carlton Streets. Getting outfitted | | | | waterway and we had a well-deserved rest., admiring |
| with a bike didn't take long and the cost was pretty | | | | the huge white geese that came up to us to request |
| reasonable at $70.00 for a whole week. Now all 5 of | | | | some food.After taking the ferry back to the mainland |
| us had a bicycle.Our tour began in Cabbagetown, one | | | | we followed the Martin Goodman Trail east along the |
| of Toronto's historic districts. We first explored | | | | Eastern Beaches and had a peak at Ashbridges Bay |
| Riverdale Farm which is composed of a historic farm | | | | and the little peninsula right next to it, one of the most |
| house, a number of stables and several corrals holding | | | | scenic and tranquil spots in Toronto. We then headed |
| a variety of farm animals. This miniature zoo allows | | | | home on the trail past the Kew Gardens Tennis Club, |
| city kids to get to know farm animals up close. We | | | | the hockey/ lacrosse arena and the lawnbowling |
| then headed to the entrance of Toronto's Necropolis. | | | | facilities and my European guests commented on how |
| Established in 1850, the Toronto Necropolis is one of | | | | surprised they were that so much of Toronto's |
| Toronto's oldest and most historic cemeteries. Its | | | | waterfront is publicly accessible and not fenced off as |
| picturesque location, collection of sculpture and | | | | private property as is the case with so many |
| Victorian buildings also make it one of the most | | | | European waterfront locations.A gourmet dinner |
| beautiful cemeteries in the city.Riding through the gritty | | | | capped off a beautiful day of exploration, allowing us |
| Regent Park neighbourhood on Parliament we made a | | | | to rest up for the next day to explore the CN Tower, |
| left to head over to the Distillery District - Toronto's | | | | just in time before the remnants of Hurricane Katrina |
| newest entertainment district. Founded in 1832 by | | | | were scheduled to come into town. On Tuesday I |
| Brother-in-law William Gooderham and James Worts, | | | | joined my guests only for a half day since I had to do |
| the Gooderham and Worts Distillery eventually | | | | some work in the afternoon and we took the subway |
| became the largest distillery in the British Empire. Set | | | | in to explore the CN Tower. There were absolutely no |
| on 13 acres in downtown Toronto, the forty plus | | | | lineups on Tuesday, which was great, since the |
| buildings constitute the largest and best preserved | | | | Sunday before we had noticed hundreds of people |
| collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North | | | | lining up to get up the famous tower.We enjoyed the |
| America.The Distillery is now a pedestrian-only village | | | | quick 58 second elevator ride that whisked us up to |
| entirely dedicated to arts, culture and entertainment. | | | | the restaurant level in 58 seconds and we started to |
| Internationally acclaimed galleries, artists' studios and | | | | take in the panorama. Toronto's most famous, most |
| workshops, restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as live | | | | visible landmark, the CN Tower is the world's tallest |
| music, all form part of this new landmark cultural | | | | building. Built in 1976, the tower measures 553 metres in |
| centre. In addition to the history, arts and culture, The | | | | height. From its Look Out Level it offers a stunning |
| Distillery has been the location for over 800 film and | | | | view of the city, especially at sunset. Daring visitors |
| television productions in the past decade, including | | | | can test their courage by taking a walk across the |
| Chicago, X-Men, Against The Ropes and The | | | | Glass Floor 113 stories above the ground, or travel |
| Hurricane, making The Distillery District the most | | | | higher up the tower to the Sky Pod another 33 |
| popular film location in Canada.Of course we had to | | | | storeys above ground.We only went as far as the |
| stop at the Mill Street Brewery, one of Toronto's fine | | | | Look Out area and went one level down to |
| micro-breweries. My Austrian visitors are great beer | | | | experience the Glass Floor. I stepped on the Glass |
| lovers and I have been working on giving them a wide | | | | Floor very very briefly, the feeling of standing on a |
| variety of samples of Canadian beers, and we added | | | | clear surface 113 floors above ground level was just a |
| the Mill Street brand to our tasting tour.From the | | | | little too much and made me a little squeamish. All of |
| Distillery District we headed south to Lakeshore | | | | us really enjoyed the view from the tower, even |
| Boulevard where we cycled west past Harbourfront, | | | | though it was a little hazy, but it really gave us a great |
| an area that holds high-priced condos right next to the | | | | overview of the city. What amazed my visitors was |
| waterfront, where highlights include speciality shops at | | | | that Toronto looks so amazingly green from above, |
| Queens Quay Terminal, art, theatre and cultural | | | | and they had commented several times how unusual it |
| facilities at Harbourfront Centre and a terrific lakeside | | | | is to see such a huge metropolis that has so many |
| walking trail. Cruises of the harbour and ferry services | | | | green zones, parks and ravines, something that |
| run from here.Our bike tour continued west by the | | | | definitely enhances the quality of life in Toronto.After |
| water on the Martin Goodman Trail, past Ontario Place | | | | having taking in the city, we zipped back down in the |
| and the CNE - Canadian National Exhibition, which was | | | | glass-enclosed elevators and took a walk over to the |
| in full swing with its rides and amusement activities. We | | | | Steam Whistle Brewery, located at the former John |
| enjoyed the lake-front ride and were fascinated by the | | | | St. Roundhouse, a Canadian Pacific Rail steam |
| Toronto Hippo Bus that was cruising on the water | | | | locomotive repair facility that was built in 1929. We had |
| inside a harbour basin.Our turnaround point for the tour | | | | to wait about 15 minutes for the facility to open and |
| came at Sunnyside Pavillion, a historic bathing pavillion | | | | admired the beautifully renovated industrial architecture. |
| dating back to a time when the lakeshore was home | | | | Once inside we got a free taste of Toronto's premium |
| to a large amusement park. We sat down and had | | | | pilsner. I am not a beer drinker myself, so I quenched |
| some refreshing drinks right next to a sandy beach on | | | | my hunger with a fresh pretzel, while my Austrian |
| Lake Ontario. Rejuvenated we started our ride back | | | | visitors savoured their samples.After the visit to the |
| and stopped off at a hot dog stand just outside the | | | | brewery I had to head back to my office, but my |
| Princess Gates of the Canadian National Exhition | | | | visitors continued with a visit to the St. Lawrence |
| Grounds. My European visitors were fascinated by the | | | | Market and a brief stop at the Eaton Centre. When |
| hot dog stands, particularly about the fact that you | | | | they arrived back at our place, I could tell they had |
| could scoop all sorts of salads and condiments like | | | | spent another great day exploring Toronto.Susanne |
| sauerkraut, hot peppers and even corn onto the | | | | Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and |
| sausages, and we simply had to stop and sample | | | | Transitions( Travel and Transitions deals with |
| some road-side cuisine.After heading back through | | | | unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, |
| Harbourfront we took the ferry over to Hanlan's Point | | | | real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers |
| with our bicycles and started exploring the Toronto | | | | and travel experts, insights and reflections, |
| Islands on two wheels. We were all astounded by the | | | | cross-cultural issues, contests and many other |
| serenity of the surroundings, truly an oasis of green | | | | features. You will also find stories about life and the |
| right in front of busy downtown Toronto. We cycled all | | | | transitions that we face as we go through our own |
| the way from the west to the east side where we | | | | personal life-long journeys.Submit your own travel |
| had another fabulous view of the cityscape from an | | | | stories in our first travel story contest( and have a |
| old abandoned pier.Of course all this working out would | | | | chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the |
| necessitate a little refreshment break and we cycled | | | | Amazon River. |