Winter Wonderful
Enjoy thrills despite winter’s chills by exploring indoor and outdoor attractions all over the city. Suggested time: 2 days
Day 1
Morning
Have a hot breakfast and dress warmly for a day of winter bliss and inspiring adventures.
Skating at Nathan Phillips Square
Toronto celebrates the winter actively with a public skating rink right outside of its city hall. From late November to late March (weather permitting of course) you can glide, slide and twirl to your heart’s content. Forgot to pack your skates? You can rent a pair.
Location:
The northwest corner of Queen and Bay streets
Hours:
Rink guards are on duty at Nathan Phillips Square from 9:00 am – 10:00 pm daily
Getting there:
By car: Take the Gardiner Expressway to the York St./Bay St. exit towards Yonge St. Head to the ramp for Bay St. North, then take the York St. ramp. Turn left onto University Ave. at Front St., still heading north. Turn right a Queen St. and head west to Bay St. Parking is available beneath Nathan Phillips Square.
By TTC: Exit at Queen subway station and walk west two blocks to Bay St.
Additional skating locations
- Harbourfront, Mel Lastman Square and Albert Campbell Square: call Access Toronto at 416-338-0338 for more details
- The Mississauga Civic Centre: call 905-896-5000 for availability
- Markham’s Civic Centre Lake and Toogood Pond in Unionville: call 905-415-7535 for both rinks’ availabilities
Afternoon
Little India
In Little India's festival-like atmosphere, you’ll find restaurants and grocers offering tempting tastes and shops that specialize in traditional clothing like saris and brightly-coloured scarves. Gerrard India Bazaar is the heart of this neighbourhood and is the largest South Asian marketplace in North America.
Location:
Gerrard St., around Coxwell Ave., Greenwood Ave. and Main St.
Getting there:
By car: For directions and a map, click here
By TTC: Exit at Coxwell subway station, then take the Coxwell streetcar southbound to Gerrard St. E. and walk west.
Evening
Famous PEOPLE Players
An evening at Famous PEOPLE Players’ Dine and Dream Theatre begins with a sumptuous three-course meal followed by a breathtaking performance by Canada’s internationally renowned black light theatre company.
Location:
110 Sudbury St. (north off King St., east of Dufferin St.
Hours:
Shows run Tuesday to Saturday. Call 416-532-1137 to confirm availability
Matinee performances:
Doors open at 11:30 am, Lunch served at noon, Show starts at 1:00 pm, dessert served after the show
Evening performances:
Doors open at 6:00 pm, Dinner served at 7:00, Show starts at 8:00, dessert served after the show
Getting there:
By car: For directions and a map, click here
By TTC: Exit at St. Patrick subway station and take the King streetcar west to Sudbury St. Follow Sudbury St. (northwest) to the theatre.
Day 2
Morning
Eat a hearty breakfast and prepare for a day filled with national treasures, Canadian firsts and great shopping.
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
From the art within its walls to the surrounding landscape, the McMichael is the perfect gallery for an introduction to Canada’s art, its peoples, their cultures and their history. Renowned for its devotion to collecting and exhibiting only Canadian art, the McMichael’s permanent collection consists of almost 6,000 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and First Nations, Inuit and other artists who have made a contribution to Canada’s artistic heritage.
Location:
10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg
(Islington Ave. north of Major Mackenzie Dr. on the east side, 35 km/22 miles north of downtown Toronto)
Hours:
10:00 am – 4:00 pm, seven days a week. Closed Christmas Day.
Getting there:
By car: Click here for a map and directions. Parking is available on site for $5.
Afternoon
Vaughan Mills
At 1.2 million-square-feet in size, and with more than 200 shops and services, Vaughan Mills is a destination where shopping and entertainment combine to create a truly unique experience. Vaughan Mills is home to a number of Canadian firsts, including:
- Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Canada
- Hudson’s Bay Company’s new Designer Depot
- the largest Tommy Hilfiger Outlet in the world
- Lucky Strike Lanes in Canada
- NASCAR® SpeedPark™ – an interactive entertainment facility that bridges the gap between family amusement venues and the professional NASCAR® racing circuit
Take a refreshing break at Vaughan Mill’s Roadside Picnic Food Court or one of many tempting sit down restaurants in and around the mall.
Location:
1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Vaughan
(Hwy 400 and Rutherford Rd., approx. 32 km/20 miles north of downtown Toronto)
Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 9 pm; Sunday, 11 am – 7 pm.
Getting there:
By car: Click here for a map and directions