Toronto is the largest city in Canada, and is home to many world class shops, cafes and attractions.   

Last weekend, my husband and I drove to Toronto to visit this world class city for a short, 36 hours.

We used a free hotel night from hotels.com to book a stay at the Westin Harbour Castle, overlooking the Toronto Harbour and Toronto Islands.

From the waterfront, we walked North into the downtown business district and over to Chinatown.  En route, we discovered the underground PATH pedestrian walkways that connect many of the downtown buildings together, and is comprised of shops, eateries and charming markets.  I really enjoyed visiting the Hudson’s Bay Food court.

My husband Jeff LOVES burgers, and we stumbled upon the tasty Toronto chain The Burger’s Priest.  To. Die. For.   They also have a secret menu! 

Once we reached Chinatown, we walked around the shops filled with ginger, tea, and everyday wares.

Next up, we found ourselves standing on the tallest observation tower in the Western Hemisphere.  The CN tower, built in 1976, is 553 meters high.  It held the record for “world’s tallest free-standing structure” and “world’s tallest tower” for 34 years. 

It was a chilly day, but the views from the outside deck made the bone-chilling winds worth it.

The next morning, we visited the St. Lawrence Market, a massive, bustling daily  farmers market that features over 100 vendors.

I was delighted to find several stalls selling Pasteis de Nata, Portuguese custard tarts that are famous in Lisbon.  Toronto hosts a large Portuese population.

We snacked on St. Urbain’s Montreal style sesame seed bagels and shared a hot plate of Pasta Mia’s tortellini.

I enjoyed wandering throughout the market and taking in the sights.  European jams and chocolate, fresh butters and cheeses, as every type of meat imaginable can be found in Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market.

Finally, to wrap up the short trip, we visited the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Here, at the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Stanley Cup remains on display, along with hundreds of other trophies, champions rings, jerseys and memorabilia.   Jeff was in awe!

We can’t wait to visit Toronto again soon.   The warmer months would be perfect for visiting Toronto.  I’d like to come back and visit the Toronto Islands, Casa Loma, outdoor festivals and more!

Have you visited Toronto? What was your favorite memory?  List in the comments below.