3 Typically Canadian Things to Do in Toronto that Won’t Make You Look Like a Tourist, eh?
“Wayne, please take off that Canucks jersey.” Bella admires the lovely view of Lake Ontario as she brushes her hair and Wayne sits on the bed tying his shoes. Bella is so happy they got a room when they decided to travel after the COVID ban was lifted.
“Did you know, when this hotel was built, it was the tallest building in Canada?” Wayne grunts, and stands up, ready to go. “Wayne. Please. Change your shirt.”
Wayne looks crestfallen. “But this is Canada. They call themselves Canucks.”
Bella smiles. “Yes, but the Canucks are the Vancouver hockey team. This is Toronto, home of the Maple Leafs. If you wear that downstairs they may not serve us breakfast.” Bella laughs. “We’ll certainly never get a cab.”
“Okay okay.” Wayne opens the closet and chooses a blue polo shirt. “Better?”
“Much better. You look so good in blue.” Bella picks up her purse. “Come on, I’m starving.”
“Hungry enough to eat a hog? That would be appropriate, this being Hogtown.” Wayne laughs.
Bella and Wayne arrived in Toronto yesterday, and after resting in their room and exploring the hotel’s restaurants are ready to explore the city as only they know how. “Did you bring my list? I spent a lot of time Googling interesting ideas.” Wayne pulls a folded piece of paper from his pocket. “Yes, Boss.”
“Then, let’s go, eh? I can’t wait to spend some Loonies.” Bella laughs.
“Ontario towns had been using the name to insult Toronto long before the city decided to claim the title for itself. ‘Our friend the hog,’ the Globe editorial headline from June 23, 1898 read. ‘In the smaller cities of the Province when a man wants to say nasty things about Toronto he calls it Hogtown.’ ‘The remark originally had no relation at all to our friend the hog, but was merely intended to convey an impression that the citizens of Toronto were porcine in their tendencies and had their forefeet in anything worth having,’ it said.” blogTO
Walking the Streets of Cabbagetown
After a delicious breakfast Bella and Wayne stand in front of the hotel looking at the map. “We can go up York street five blocks to Queen’s Street West, or go up Jarvis about the same distance to Cabbagetown. Either way, about forty minutes.” Bella looks at Wayne.
“If you want to buy anything, let’s do our walking first.” Wayne smiles.
“Agreed. We can take a bus or a tram back from Cabbagetown. We can have lunch, too.” Bella puts her map back in her bag.
“Good. I don’t want cabbage for lunch though. Maybe we can find a nice sushi place later.” Wayne smiles.
Bella laughs. “You’ve had such a hankering since we returned from our trip to Kyoto.” Bella nods. “Good. It’s healthier than all that meat you eat.”
“I still love meat. Oh. Now you’ve got me thinking about that steak I had when we were in Paris.”
After jumping on a tram for part of the journey north, the two explorers get off at Jarvis and Gerrard and head east. “Oh look, a No Frills market. I thought this was an upscale area?” Wayne points jokingly.
Bella has her nose against the window of a realtor’s office. “Don’t be snarky. Check out the house prices. A cool million on average. The original immigrants who held onto their properties are millionaires today.”
“Hard work and tenacity was always the key.” Wayne nods sagely.
Bella reaches over and lovingly pats Wayne’s growing paunch. “You seem to be working hard on something, Dear.” She laughs
“Hey!” Wayne pulls back. “That’s what they call a Molson muscle in these parts. My Canadian souvenir.” The two laugh and walk down the street admiring the Victorian houses and rich, green gardens.
“The Irish Potato Famine brought a huge influx of Irish immigrants to Toronto in the 1840s and 1850s. Most of the houses built south of Gerrard Street were small cottages, home to the workers in the many industries that were established along the river. Times were tough for many of these immigrants and to help provide food, residents would grow vegetables, including cabbages, in their front yards, resulting in the area’s nickname of Cabbagetown.” Cabbagetown Preservation Association
Visiting a Speakeasy on Queen’s Street West
Bella and Wayne make their way back from Cabbagetown via a streetcar and bus, ending up six blocks north of their hotel, and heading west. Queen’s Street west that is! Bella’s head is on a swivel at the books stores and clothing shops. Wayne enjoys the record stores and the junk shops. Both are having a great time.
The pair get to Spadina and Queen’s Street West. “Do you have my list? We’re looking for The Cloak Bar.” I think we have to turn left and go down two blocks.
Wayne hands Bella the piece of paper. “Why is the bar so special?”
Bella laughs, “Well remember that wine bar we went to in London? The one that used to be a brothel?” Wayne nods. “Well this one is like a speakeasy!”
“Speakeasies and brothels. We are a pair, eh?” Wayne laughs. “I’m starving. Do they have food?”
Bella nods. “You’ll love it. I had a peak at the menu on their website; Japanese Pancakes, Popcorn Chicken, Rodie Burger …”
“Rodie Burger, for sure! What’s to drink?”
“Ohhh!” Bella pretends to faint. “I wish I were younger. They have a cocktail made from bourbon, aperol, and red wine.”
As they reach the bar, they find it hidden away beneath the Marben Market on Wellington street. They knock on the door and slip inside. “Marv and Francine would have loved this!”
“All are welcome to dip their bill. Follow the rules and everything will be jake. In the event of a raid by the coppers, drink fast. If you have guests joining you, please allow us to greet them and bring them to your table – our door is kept locked for a reason.” The Cloak Bar
Wine o’Clock from Toronto to Niagara on the Lake
There are more than fifty wineries located within a short drive of Toronto. The closest being only thirty minutes from the hotel. The Vinoteca Winery for example, is located just north of the city and is so close you can see downtown Toronto.
Bella and Wayne get back to their hotel room late in the afternoon, exhausted but happy they didn’t miss the bus for the overnight winery tour. “You were smart to pack our bags before leaving this morning Bella.” Wayne compliments his wife.
The tour guide calls out their names. “Mr. and Mrs. MacGyver?” They raise their hands as they come running out of the lobby door. “Here we are!”
The tour guide smiles. “Oh good. We were about to leave.”
“Is the hotel far away?” Bella asks.
“Only about an hour. You’ll have plenty of time for wine tasting and dinner.”
“And the wineries?” Wayne pipes up after handing their overnight bags to the driver.
“We will spend all day tomorrow in Niagara on the Lake visiting the wineries. It’s a wonderful tour. We’ll be back here tomorrow, at about this time.”
“We’re not going to Niagara Falls are we? We heard this tour was off the beaten path.”
“Absolutely. No tourist traps. Just excellent, boutique wineries. We pride ourselves on it! Chocolate and cheese wine tastings, ice wines … some very exciting stuff!” The tour guide smiles. “Please get on board now, we don’t want to lose you!”
Wayne and Bella smile at each other. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about us.”
“Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to some of the oldest and most established wine producing vineyards in Canada. The wineries have been growing and producing world-class wines from vinifera varietals for more than four decades. The efforts of pioneer winemakers in this region were instrumental in propelling Canada onto the world’s wine stage and positioning Niagara-on-the-Lake as a premium wine growing region.” Wineries of Niagra on the Lake
Are You Ready to Travel to Toronto?
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