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High There Toronto!

Trusting the strength of a harness, you lean forward over the expanse of nothing but open air, 116 stories above Toronto. Groups can brave this new and heart-pounding way to view the capital of Ontario at one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, the CN Tower.

The most populated city in Canada claims so many top-notch attractions that visitors may have a difficult time knowing where to start. The city boasts an incredible history stretching back to precolonial times, as well as a modern and innovative present.

For some of the city’s most incredible views, architecture, history and culture, your group should at least start with these four must-see landmarks: the CN Tower, the Distillery District, Casa Loma and the Royal Ontario Museum.

 

Casa Loma

You might not expect to find yourself inside an Edwardian-era castle in the center of the fourth-most-populous city in North America. But Toronto’s Casa Loma invites you to relive the splendor of this Gothic Revival-style residence, which has become one of Toronto’s top attractions.

The 1914 castle wraps guests in five acres of gardens, forests and wildflowers for a peaceful backdrop that also allows views of the surrounding city.

“Casa Loma is a place you just have to experience,” said Somarriba. “It’s a great opportunity to capture a moment in time in the middle of Toronto.”

Canadian financier Henry Mill Pellatt lived up to the family motto of “Foremost, if I can” by constructing Casa Loma to stand out above Toronto with its striking architecture and hilltop location. Your group can explore the castle’s secret passageways, decorated suites, towers, stables and 800-foot-long tunnel.

The tunnel connects the house to the stables and the carriage house. The unusual path features an exhibit called “Toronto’s Dark Side,” which hearkens back to the darker days of Prohibition, the Depression, the city’s plague and the destructive 1904 fire.

Inside the carriage house, you can examine early-1900s automobiles at the site’s automotive exhibit.

 

 Distillery District

Once filled with abandoned structures and broken glass, the Victorian-era buildings from Toronto’s former distillery boom now contain a vibrant neighborhood filled with local boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and cafes. The District Distillery reopened to the public in 2003 with a focus on local products and preserving the red-brick distillery buildings of Gooderham and Worts.

“When you get in the Distillery District, it’s kind of like this magical place because they have kept the cobblestone streets and the facade of the original buildings,” said Somarriba. “It is a little escape from the hustle and bustle of the main city.”

In the 1870s, the Gooderham and Worts distillery produced almost half of Ontario’s total spirits. The 13-acre district remains a pedestrian-only area, so your group members can easily explore the National Historic Site on their own.

The district features the Mill Street Brewery, where your group members can sample a number of award-winning brews. Free art galleries and high-end shops also attract a number of international guests.

Your group can also catch a performance the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, which houses shows for the Soulpepper Theatre Company and the nearby George Brown College.