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thebestintoronto · 5 years

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THE ULTIMATE 48 HOUR TORONTO ITINERARY

After so many years of travelling, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to put together a 48 hour Toronto itinerary. It’s where I was born and it’s where I live, work and play so you think it would be easy to put together a list where to go in Toronto, right? Well, it is and it isn’t. Toronto is a world-class city but for me when I return from a trip, I just want to relax and slowly try to get back into the groove of the daily grind. But as a travel blogger who creates short trips, mini-breaks, and weekend getaway itineraries, I’m sort of obligated to create an itinerary for Toronto.

I GOT HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE.

HERE’S MY 48 HOUR TORONTO ITINERARY

All that said, I live in a very big city so I decided to stick with the downtown Toronto attractions instead of things to do near Toronto. Some are Toronto tourist spots while others are hidden gems that only a local like me would know about.

In addition, our national airline Air Canada is allowing you to hook up a stopover for up to 7 days in Toronto on your way to Europe or Asia. Sweet! You can bookmark this itinerary for when you get here. Hell, I’ll even welcome you at the airport with open arms.

WHERE TO STAY IN TORONTO

Fairmont Royal York Hotel

Fairmont’s historic ballroom is legendary and the hotel itself is a city icon. Its spacious rooms feature floral accents and include designer bath toiletries and robes. It has a skylit indoor pool, 5 on-site dining options, its across the street from Union Station with shuttle bus to both airports.

Thompson Toronto

The Hotel has a rooftop pool and bar with views of the city and CN Towers – I could pretty much stop there. But, it has designer linens and bath amenities. Fully stocked minibars, 24-hour concierge, on-site valet and a 10-minute walk from the bars and restaurants of King West.

Hyatt Regency Toronto

Located in the entertainment district in the centre of Toronto – trust me there is no better place to be. It’s a modern hotel with flat-screen TVs and Apple docking stations, on-site sauna, outdoor pool and it’s King Street Social Kitchen and Lounge serves regional cuisine

DAY 1

BALDWIN STEPS

The first stop is Casa Loma but in order to get up the hill, we need to use the Baldwin Steps, which are a public outdoor staircase that dates back to the 19th century. They are named after a former landowner of the area, the Baldwin family, which included Robert Baldwin, a former premier of Ontario.

CASA LOMA

This 98-room castle was commissioned by Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, a Canadian soldier, and investor who founded the Toronto Electric Light Company in 1883. Sir Henry Mill Pellatt ordered Toronto native and architect E. J. Lennox to design Casa Loma. The 3.5 million dollar castle began construction in 1911 and was finally completed by 1914. Today Casa Loma is used as a filming location, a museum, as a venue for weddings. It is also one of Toronto’s most popular landmarks.

ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM (R.O.M.)

The Royal Ontario Museum is one of the largest museums in North America and the largest museum in Canada. The ROM is highly regarded as a “preeminent field research institute and an international leader in new and original findings in biodiversity, paleontology, earth sciences, the visual arts, material culture, and archaeology”.

PHILOSOPHERS WALK (*HIDDEN GEM)

The Philosophers Walk is a scenic footpath located in the St George campus of the University of Toronto. It runs north-south along what was once a natural water called Taddle Creek, which was buried during the industrial age and now flows underwater.

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO (CAMPUS)

The University of Toronto was originally founded in 1827 as King’s College and as the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada. The university is comprised of twelve colleges. The University of Toronto also has two satellite campuses located in Scarborough and Mississauga.

BALDWIN STREET, RESTAURANTS (*HIDDEN GEM)

Yes, you might have guessed it’s the same Baldwin family who owned the land that the steps used to get to Casa Loma are built on. This small Toronto enclave is located in Toronto’s Grange Park neighbourhood. Baldwin Village is famous for its small shops and restaurants like, Shawarma and Falafel Place, Chardise, Sid’s Deli, and many other favourited restaurants of Toronto.

KENSINGTON MARKET

Kensington Market is Toronto’s self-proclaimed “most vibrant and diverse neighbourhood”. This bustling Toronto neighbourhood serves as a fine indicator of Toronto’s multicultural diversity. No establishment in Kensington Market is the same. Vendors, shops, and restaurants of all sorts of ethnicities make up the melting pot that is Toronto’s “most vibrant and diverse neighbourhood”.

ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO (AGO)

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is home to over 90,000 different artworks and is lauded as one of North America’s most distinguished art museums. This massive museum carried works of art that range from the Renaissance to contemporary pieces of art. Aside from being an astonishing physical museum, AGO also has launched its social media website called Collection X, which grants users access to a digital art forum that is opened to artists and art lovers.

GRANGE PARK

Right beside the AGO is OCAD U (The Ontario College of Art and Design University) and right behind that is Grange Park which happens to my local park.

Many-a-blog-post was conceived in this park!

There are two large sculptures by world-famous sculpture, Henry Moore and 14 nature related, inscribed granite paving stones from famous Canadian authors.

QUEEN STREET WEST

Named “the second coolest neighborhood in the world” by Vogue magazine, Queen Street West is downtown Toronto’s most celebrated (fashion) district. Queen Street West is a hip, urban strip that extends for two kilometres (1.25 miles) between Bathurst and Gladstone and is comprised of some of the city’s most trendy boutiques, art galleries, bars, and restaurants.

GRAFFITI ALLEY (*HIDDEN GEM)

Just south of Queen Street West is one of Toronto’s most surprisingly artistic accomplishments: Graffiti Alley. Graffiti Alley stretches for approximately one kilometre (.6 miles) and is teeming with urban art that is (legally) painted each summer by an artistic troupe called Style in Progress. If you’re looking to explore Toronto in hopes of finding a hidden gem that reflects the urban, artistic capabilities of the city, then Graffiti Alley is that and more. Read more about Graffiti Alley from my post: Toronto’s Graffiti And Street Art

KING STREET WEST | KING WEST VILLAGE

King West Village is one of Toronto’s fastest growing communities. With waves of young professionals moving into the neighbourhood, Kings West Village has experienced a boost in its economy and social scene. Aside from the rapidly changing demographic of the neighbourhood, King West Village is well-known for its landmarks, 19th-century buildings, and iconic brownstones.

ROGERS CENTRE (A.K.A. THE SKYDOME)

Opened in June 1989 and originally named the SkyDome, Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose indoor stadium that holds some of Toronto’s wonderfully exciting venues. Notably, the Rogers Centre is home to the Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) and has served as the venue for an array of different events: sporting events, concerts, auto shows, circuses, Disney on Ice, and much more.

Architecturally, the stadium is well-known for being the first stadium to have a fully retractable motorized roof, having an annexed 348-room hotel attached, and is also the last dual sporting major-league stadiums in North American (MLB and NFL).

TORONTO RAILWAY MUSEUM

The Toronto Railway Museum, a mainstay attraction of downtown Toronto located in Roundhouse Park, is “dedicated to preserving the physical legacy, history, and experience of rail transportation in Toronto and Ontario.” The museum has lots to offer, such as a railway simulator, in-depth historical displays, and interactive displays. Be sure to check out the gift shop and go on a Miniature Train ride before you leave!

CN TOWER | 360 RESTAURANT

Often viewed as the pride and joy of Toronto, The CN Tower is a spectacular architectural and engineering feat that captures the livelihood of the city. This national icon and landmark are well-known for its (cost-efficient) state-of-the-art LED lighting system, as well as recently being on the cover of Drake’s critically-acclaimed album “Views”. Aside from its stature as a culture and urban icon, the CN Tower is home to the revolving 360 The Restaurant. This world-class restaurant is managed by Executive Chef John Morris and General Manager of Restaurants and Events Cameron Dryburgh, who helms the culinary team at the award-winning restaurant.

DAY 2

THE BEST 48 HOUR TORONTO ITINERARY

DISTILLERY DISTRICT

Despite its name, Toronto’s Distillery District is known for being “Canada’s premier arts, culture and entertainment destination”. The district gets its name from the 47 buildings that were formally known as the Gooderham & Worts Distillery. Since 2003, the Distillery District has been offering locals and visitors a “hip, cool dynamic” that is comparable to New York City’s SoHo or Chelsea. Be sure to check out the Distillery District’s unique shops, galleries, studios, restaurants, cafes, theatres, and more!

ST. LAWRENCE MARKET

The St. Lawrence Market is an encompassing, nostalgic shopping destination in Toronto. The market is made up of three main buildings that each provides their own unique services and products: The South Market, the North Market and St. Lawrence Hall. The South Market is known for having vendors that sell fresh produce, meat, fish, grains, baked goods, dairy products, as well as non-food items. The second floor of the South Market, home to the Market Gallery, serves as an exhibition space for City of Toronto’s Cultural Services. The North Market is well-known for its Saturday Farmers’ Market, Sunday antique dealers, rental spaces. St. Lawrence Hall is comprised of various retailers on the ground floor, city offices on the second floor, and auxiliary rooms for special events on the third floor.

GOODERHAM BUILDING

Toronto’s Gooderham Building, also known as the Flatiron Building, is one of the city’s historical landmarks. Located in Toronto’s Financial District, the Gooderham Building was completed in 1892 as a premature model of its current architectural state. Now, the building serves as not only an office building but as a historical landmark that adds to Toronto’s pizzazz.

CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. JAMES

Opened on June 19, 1853, the Cathedral Church of St. James stands as one of the largest Toronto-built buildings. The Cathedral was constructed with the intention of replicating Gothic Revival architecture. The cathedral is well-known for its 92.9 meters (305 foot) tower and pointed spire.

YONGE-DUNDAS SQUARE

Yonge-Dundas Square is Toronto’s equivalent of New York City’s Times Square. This bustling, vibrant square experiences fluxes of tourists and locals who relish in the square’s open space and eccentric ambiance. Yonge-Dundas Square’s myriad of LCD displays brings a one-of-a-kind luminescence to Toronto and capture’s the city’s animated downtown vibe

EATON CENTRE

Located in downtown Toronto, the Eaton Centre is Toronto’s only mega shopping centre. This massive shopping centre is home to over 230 national and international retailers, as well as offering patrons tons of dining and entertainment options.

OLD CITY HALL

Old City Hall is just one of four city halls to be constructed in Toronto. The building boasts a Romanesque style of architecture, as well as a distinguishable clock tower. Since 1984, Old City Hall has been designated as a National Historic Site of Toronto.

TORONTO CITY HALL | TORONTO SIGN

Toronto City Hall, also known as New City Hall, serves as the home of Toronto’s municipal government. Despite its round base, Toronto City Hall is comprised of two towers that are curved in, and stand at varying heights. Toronto City Hall’s courtyard, Nathan Phillips Square, serves as the primary host of various festivals and events in Toronto.

YONGE ST.

Centered around Yonge-Dundas Square is Yonge Street. As is typical of the streets of downtown Toronto, Yonge Street is lined with heaps of restaurants, bars, and shops. Yonge Street is one of Toronto’s main streets, it is the longest street in the world and divides the city between East & West.

HOCKEY HALL OF FAME

In the typical Canadian fashion, Toronto is home to the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHoF). The Hockey Hall of Fame building was established in 1943 and is located on Yonge Street. The HHoF houses 15 various exhibit areas that cover 60,000 square feet. Visitors of the HHoF can view trophy displays, memorabilia, and player equipment worn during special games. The Hockey Hall of Fame also has an interactive display called “Be a Player” that allows patrons to use shoot real pukes against a simulated legendary goaltender, Ed Belfour.

HARBOURFRONT | HARBOUR CENTRE

The Harbourfront Centre is nonprofit cultural organizations that put together events and activities to enrichen and enhance downtown Toronto. Located at 235 Queens Quay West, on Toronto’s waterfront, the Harbourfront Centre is a must visit destination for all those looking to enjoy the cultural diversity and creativity of Toronto, right on the water.

AMSTERDAM BREWHOUSE

Located in the Harbourfront, Amsterdam BrewHouse specializes in offering patrons craft beers and delicious eats. Amsterdam BrewHouse’s ideal location makes it the perfect place to enjoy local craft beers, delicious local foods, and a lakeside view of Lake Ontario.

Visit my post called The Best Harbourfront Restaurant in Toronto to find out more about this awesome place!

Also, while at the Amsterdam BrewHouse I got to hang out with a good friend of mine and fellow travel blogger Danielle from the Thought Card. She’s a pro at cost effective travel so if you’re curious about budgeting a trip to Toronto she wrote a great post called Toronto Budget: How Much Does A Trip To Toronto Cost?

The post “ THE ULTIMATE 48 HOUR TORONTO ITINERARY “ was first seen on Rudderless Travel by Christopher Rudder

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lindyhunt · 6 years

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17 Asian Shopping Sites You’ve Never Heard of that Are About to Be Your New Go-Tos

Tired of seeing people on the street wearing the same dress as you? We don’t blame you. With everyone gravitating toward the mainstream shops, it’s kind of hard to stand out from the crowd. So if you’re in need of some new pieces to freshen up your wardrobe game, here’s a solution: look to the east.

With innovative products and cult beauty trends consistently rising to the surface and a culture thriving on constantly changing trends, are you even surprised some of the top e-tailers hail from across the Pacific? Even A-listers like Taylor Swift understand the power of the east, so it would be an understatement to say Asia is on the rise in the fast fashion department. Unfortunately, Asian-made products don’t have the greatest reputation with many companies, due to a history of ripping off designs straight from the runway. However, many of today’s online retailers are turning the tables and looking to change the way customers see products stamped with the words “Made in China.”

Between the e-commerce sites that are only available in foreign languages and online retailers that don’t have international shipping, trying to stock up on your favourite Asian products can be quite the mission. Sure, there’s always Amazon and your local Asian shopping centre (hello, Pacific Mall!). But with the former not curated and the latter inconvenient to dash to for last minute needs, it’s just not ideal. So to help make your online shopping experience a little easier and a lot more affordable, we scoured the sites and compiled a list of the best destinations for all things Asian, from beauty one-stop-shops to cool fashion sites that could give Zara a run for its money.

1/17

Asian shopping sites

Oeey Dewy

It looks like we’ve found your new fave place to stock up on all your K-beauty needs. Enter: Oeey Dewy. The Vancouver-based online boutique is the latest in a crop of Asian beauty sites to launch on Canadian soil. Aside from a well-curated collection of the coolest and cutest products from Korea, Japan and other parts of Asia, its millennial pink packaging is just so on point. Glossier, watch out.

2/17

Asian shopping sites

Pomelo

Pomelo’s site is super user-friendly. Asian shopping sites can get really busy, and although that’s part of their charm, sometimes you just want to be able to find something quickly and easily. Make sure to check out their stunning look books for inspiration.

3/17

Asian shopping sites

Take Good Care

Calling all K-beauty enthusiasts in Canada. This ones for you. Based in Toronto, Take Good Care is a newly-launched e-commerce that carries a well-curated collection of innovative Korean skincare products.

4/17

Asian shopping sites

Stylenanda

Launched in 2004, Stylenanda has quickly become one of South Korea’s leading online fashion sources. Favoured by the cool kids and K-Pop stars, the e-tailer is your one-stop shop all things cool, from up-to-minute fashion pieces to cosmetic must-haves from in-house brand 3 Concept Eyes. Its blog-worthy photos also make for pinning destination.

5/17

Asian shopping sites

SokoGlam

Founded by South Korean beauty expert Charlotte Cho, SokoGlam is a go-to for your fave Korean brands (think TonyMoly, Etude House, Iope all on one site), as well as tips and tricks via its K-Log. A K-beauty newbie? Fear not because SokoGlam offers a 10-step skincare kit to help kick-start your new beauty routine.

6/17

Asian shopping sites

mixxmix

This site features a bunch of cool, edgier pieces. That’s probably why their clothing is often spotted on K-Pop stars. The prices can lean on the higher side, but you know you’re getting great quality and super helpful customer service.

7/17

Asian shopping sites

Front Row Shop

Inspired by the It girls of the front row, Front Row Shop is a Shanghai-based shopping site that references your favourite runway looks without looking like it’s been ripped off. Think of it like Asia’s Zara but way cooler, dare we say.

8/17

Asian shopping sites

Durumi

Founded in 2010 by Chris Kim, Durumi has recently expanded its Queen Street West boutique into online territory. From dainty jewellery to on-trend clothing pieces, your Korean fashion needs are just one click away. FYI, there’s free shipping for orders of $70 or more!

9/17

Asian shopping sites

chuu

This brand is known for its cute packaging and colourful Instagram page. Along with a large selection of girly clothes, chuu has also recently branched into beauty products.

10/17

Asian shopping sites

Glow Recipe

Started by two friends (and skincare fanatics) Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, Glow Recipe is your destination for a well-curated collection of natural, gentle beauty products.

11/17

Asian shopping sites

YesStyle

Launched by leading online retailer YesAsia, in 2006, it branched out into the fashion industry and came up with Hong-Kong based e-tailer, YesStyle. Head on over to the e-tailer to find all your Asian needs (we’re talking bags, heels, dresses, home decor and everything in between) at low prices. And since long distance shipping can be a pain, thanks to its “Ready to Ship” feature, you can specifically shop for products that are ready to send out within 24 hours. #score

12/17

Asian shopping sites

Dahong

Dahong, a Seoul-based e-commerce site is a rising favourite, thanks to it’s lookbook-esque photos. While Dahong has all your fashion necessities, it’s the swim shop that really grabs our attention. With over hundreds of colourful bikinis, beach cover-ups and accessories to choose from, you’re bound to find something you like.

13/17

Asian shopping sites

Peach & Lily

Founded by K-beauty guru Alicia Yoon, Peach and Lily is another beauty destination for top products that hail from Korea and Japan. Aside from carrying popular brands like Clio and Cremorlab , its blog is also a great place to ask anything about everything to do with Korean beauty regimens.

14/17

Asian shopping sites

Momokorea

Don’t let this giant e-commerce site intimidate you. While the web design may not be the easiest on the eyes, Momokorea features a lot of the top Korean (and international!) brands including SJYP and Beyond Closet.

But that’s not even the best part. If you stumble onto a Korean shopping site that doesn’t ship to your country, you can send the product details and URL to Momokorea (aka the middleman) and they’ll ship it for you.

15/17

Asian shopping sites

OK DGG

OK DGG may be a mouthful to say, but it’s the ultimate marketplace for all things Korean. Looking for a wider variety of cosmetics? Check. Want some merchandise to satisfy your inner K-Pop fan? Check. Want a chic carryon bag for your dog? OKDGG has got that for you too. But we’re particularly partial to the couple and family section of the site. You know, for those who are into the whole couple look thing.

16/17

Asian shopping sites

Aland

Similar to Stylenanda, Aland is one of the go-to fashion boutiques for the SoKo trendsetters. Known for housing many young Korean (and ultra cool) designer brands, you can find the multi-brand company in more than a handful of locations in Seoul. It’s become such a high demand that it has recently made its way to Hong Kong to cater to its Chinese shopping fans. Don’t live in Asia? No problem. Shop its endless cool inventory from the comfort of your own home.

17/17

Asian shopping sites

Beauteque

Setting itself apart from the aforementioned Asian beauty sites, Beauteque not only has a massive collection of skincare, haircare, nail care, makeup, and beauty tools available, it also offers two monthly subscription packages – the BB Bag for your skincare and makeup need and Mask Maven for sheet mask lovers. It’s the perfect way to introduce Asian beauty to newbies.

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