Toronto, Canada: Shiny, Happy, People, Eh?

[Shirley Rushing]

Toronto, Canada: Shiny, Happy, People, Eh?
The Manhattan of Canada, Toronto comes complete with Broadway-sized theaters, gourmet cuisine, shopping with a discount, and a melting pot of locals wishing you "come back again, eh?"

One phrase worth knowing: "Eh" is the Canadian equivalent to the Valley girl's "like." Translated "eh" can mean, "right," "ok," "isn't it?"

Editor's favorite watering hole: El Convento Rico is considered Toronto's most mixed bar, and it welcomes people of all sexes and orientations to a place where no one cares who or what you are. Don't miss the drag show, which can even be interactive on a good night.

Chill-out spot: Rent a bike, grab your fishing rod, or take a picnic to Grenadier Pond, a picturesque place inside High Park. Stop by the nearby teahouse to warm up with a cup of organic green tea.

Get out of dodge: Elora Gorge in the Grand River Valley is a natural wonder made of limestone cut out by water action. It's 22 meters high with riverside trails and scenic overlooks surrounding it. Join the outdoorsy way of Canadian life by fly-fishing, swimming, and kayaking with the locals.

Local Secret: Real Canucks with a daredevil itch flee to the Toronto School of Circus Art for trapeze lessons. Luckily, the ceilings are 40-feet high, so you'll have plenty of space to fly.

Local tipple: Canada and beer go hand and hand, but not just any beer will do in Toronto. Locals sling back a few Creemore Springs Lagers while they shoot the breeze.

Where to blow a paycheck: Formerly a hippie enclave, Bloor-Yorkville is now strictly for platinum card holders. Window shop at boutiques of international renown in the Holt-Renfrew Centre, get a taste of Canadian clothiers that include Wenches & Rogues and Roots, Canada's answer to the Gap, selling a large selection of emblemed casual clothes and leather goods.


Editor's Toronto Picks

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