Toronto

Casa Loma is the only full-sized castle in North America. Formerly the home of Canadian financier, Sir Henry Pellatt, it is a wonderland of secret passageways, and elaborately decorated rooms.Pallet used his immense personal fortune to build the chateau, though financial troubles meant he could not sustain it. Today, the City of Toronto owns the castle and welcomes guests in daily. All in all, visitors enjoy touring the authentically furnished rooms and splendid gardens, and appreciating stunning views of Toronto from one of the castle's towers.

Address : 1 Austin Terrace

Website : casaloma.ca/

Telephone : +1 416 923 1171

Transport : From Dupont station, walk to Spadina Ave and Davenport Rd, then climb the Baldwin Steps to the castle.

Opening times : Open daily, from 9.30am to 5pm

Admission : C$30 (adults), C$20 (children aged 4 - 13). Other concessions are available.

Standing 1,815ft (553m) high, Toronto's CN Tower was the world's tallest building until 2007. Today, it remains a renowned architectural masterpiece, and is perhaps Canada's most celebrated icon.One of the tower's top attractions is the award-wining 360 Restaurant. It offers guests breath-taking, revolving views of the city, and dishes created with the finest Canadian ingredients. Another drawcard is EdgeWalk. At 1168ft (356m) above ground, it is the world's highest 'hands-free' external walk and must for all thrill seekers.

Address : 301 Front Street West

Website : www.cntower.ca

Telephone : (416) 868 6937

Transport : Take the subway to Union Station. Then take a short walk west along Front Street.

Opening times : Open daily 9am to 10:30pm

Admission : General Admission: C$38 (adults), C$28 (children aged 4 - 12).

The Distillery Historic District is a much-loved centre for arts, culture, food and entertainment in Toronto. Said to contain the finest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America, it is indeed a worthy national historic site.The district had its beginnings 1832 and eventually became the largest distillery in the British Empire. It assumed its current role as an arts and culture centre during the 1990s, doubling as one of Canada's most popular film locations. As of 2003, it has been a pedestrian-only village dedicated to the arts. Anyone visiting Toronto should explore the district's many art galleries, artisan boutiques, specialty retail stores and restaurants. Also, festivals and special events often take place.

Website : www.thedistillerydistrict.com

Housed in an award-winning piece of architecture, the Gardiner Museum of Ceramics showcases a craft that has existed for centuries. With earthenware of all different shapes and sizes from the ancient Americas, China, Japan, the Italian Renaissance and more, a tour through the museum will shape visitors' understanding of the ceramic process, and its place in world history. The museum hosts drop-in classes on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and is home to 'Toronto's Best Gift Shop', Vogue.

Address : 111 Queens Park

Website : www.gardinermuseum.on.ca

Telephone : +1 416 586 8080

Opening times : Monday to Thursday from 10am to 6pm; Friday from 10am to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm

Admission : C$15 (adults); free for children under 18 years. Other concessions available.

The Harbourfront Centre remains at the heart what's current and creative in Toronto. The innovative not-for-profit cultural organisation has been around for more than 40 years, and specialises in creating events and activities that wake up and entertain a diverse public. Locals gather at the centre's distinctive waterfront venues for some weekend gallery hopping, shopping, biking and concerts. Visitors enjoy strolling along the promenade, indulging in theatrical performances and browsing craft boutiques. Or, they head to Queen's Quay Centre for some superb shopping. Year-round features at this urban playground include film, dance, theatre, music, children's and marine events.

Address : 235 Queens Way

Website : www.harbourfrontcentre.com

Avid hockey fans should visit Toronto's Hockey Hall of Fame. Within this shrine to Canada's national sport, visitors can learn about the history of the game through memorabilia from every era, hockey artefacts from around the world, themed exhibits, multimedia stations and images of great moments in hockey history. Iconic players' goalie gear, skates and sticks are also on display. Visitors usually relish having hands-on access to the Stanley Cup, and trying out state-of-the-art games that challenge shooting and goalkeeping skills.

Address : 30 Yonge Street, Brookfield Place

Website : www.hhof.com

Telephone : +1 416 360 7765

Opening times : Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm. Saturday, 9.30am-6pm. Sunday, 10.30am-5pm.

Admission : C$18 (adults), C$12 (youths aged 4 - 13), free for children under 3. Other concessions are available.

Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park is one of Ontario's most popular tourist attractions. Just 45 minutes east of Toronto, the park is home to a diverse collection of mammals, such as wolves, skunks, lemurs and chimpanzees. That said, its collection of big cats makes the park truly special.When it opened in 1985, the park's purpose was primarily recreational. These days, it has taken on a more pronounced environmental-education role. The park's chief enterprises include housing rare and endangered cats, and running a variety of fun, kid-friendly programs. The goal is to educate visitors about the dire need to protect snow leopards, Siberian tigers, and the other magnificent animals on display.Visitors should strive to catch the park's Feeding Tour, which occurs at 1.30pm daily.

Address : 3667 Concession Road 6, Orono

Website : www.junglecatworld.com

Telephone : +1 905 983 5016

Opening times : Open daily, from 10am-5pm

Admission : October to April, C$17 (adults), C$12 (teens and seniors), C$8.50 (children). May to October, C$20 (adults), C$15 (teens and seniors), C$10 (children)

Kensington Market embodies Toronto's multicultural society. Since the 1960s, immigrants from Eastern Europe to China and the Caribbean have injected their customs into the market, creating an area that is a model of open-mindedness. Today, this national historic site remains one of Toronto's oldest, most diverse and liveliest neighbourhoods. Essentially, it's an eclectic mix of cafes, restaurants, vintage stores, bars and speciality food shops where nobody's really foreign. Visitors enjoy getting lost here for hours.

Address : Area bordered by Spadina Avenue, Dundas Street, Bathurst Street and College Street

Website : www.kensington-market.ca

Transport : The market is served by streetcar stops College, Spadina and Dundas

Opening times : Open seven days a week. Most opening hours are from 11am to 7pm, although fresh produce stalls usually open earlier, and restaurants usually close later

The Museum of Contemporary Art, Toronto Canada (MOCA) looks to exhibit, research, collect and promote innovative art by Canadian and international artists whose works tackle the most relevant issues of our times. Formerly the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, the institution has been praised for its incisive, artist-centric approach to programming, and its friendly visitor experience.MOCA is very much a hub for creative exchange, and is definitely worth a visit.

Address : 158 Sterling Rd

Website : museumofcontemporaryart.ca/

Telephone : +1 416 530 2500

Opening times : Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, from 10am-5pm. Open Friday from 10am-9pm. Closed on Tuesdays.

Admission : Adults, C$10. Under 18, free.

Straddling the Canadian-United States border between Ontario and New York, the awesome Niagara Falls attracts millions of tourists every year. The visit makes for a spectacular day trip from Toronto.Indeed, there is plenty of action on the Niagara peninsula. Apart from appreciating one of the tallest waterfalls in the world (perhaps from a spray-filled boat tour), visitors can enjoy wine-tasting, skydiving, and spectacular helicopter rides above the thundering falls.

Website : www.niagaraparks.com

Opening times : Different attractions have different opening hours and seasons. Check website for details

Admission : Admission tickets vary depending on which attractions are visited. See website for details

The Royale Ontario Museum treats visitors to displays of art, culture and nature from around the globe and across the ages. It ranks as one of North America's premier cultural institutions, and is Canada's largest and most comprehensive museum.Its 40 gallery and exhibition spaces house 13 million artworks, cultural objects and natural history specimens, including dinosaurs, galleries of Chinese art, a bat cave, a gem and gold room, exhibits about Ancient Egypt and Nubia, and the Samuel European Galleries. Visitors will not be disappointed.

Address : 100 Queens Park

Website : www.rom.on.ca

Telephone : +1 416 586 5682

Transport : Museum subway station, or Avenue bus #5 from Eglington station

Opening times : Open daily, from 10am to 5.30pm

Admission : General Admission: C$20 (adults), C$14 (children aged 4 - 14). Other concessions are available.

The Toronto Islands are only a short ferry ride from the mainland, and provide a peaceful green refuge from the hubbub of the city. Whether alone or with company, visitors can enjoy a world of tree-filled picnic spots, car-free streets, quaint old cottages and beachfront attractions.Three major islands - Centre, Ward's and Algonquin - make up Toronto Island. Paths, bridges and boardwalks connect all of them. Also, short walks or bike rides separate visitors from four sandy beaches named Centre Island Beach, Gibraltar Point Beach, Hanlan's Point Beach and Ward's Island Beach.Centre Island is normally a hit with kids, who relish its huge picnic areas, bike paths and maze. It even has an amusement park, a petting zoo and picturesque swan boats for younger children..

Address : Toronto Island Ferry Docks, foot of Bay Street and Queens Quay

Website : www.toronto.ca/parks/island/

Transport : The Toronto Island Ferry operates daily from 9am to 10pm, and leaves every 30 minutes. It travels to Hanlans Point, Centre Island and Wards Island

The Toronto Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the world, with more than six miles (10km) of walking trails spread over 700 acres. Over 5000 animals representing over 450 species call it home.Visitors will enjoy touring the zoo's seven geographic regions and encountering animals that are native to them. Favourites include hippos, lemurs, otters, gorillas, bears, Giant Pandas, snow leopards, lions, penguins and cheetahs.All told, award-winning exhibits await the entire family, as do many seasonal activities. The zoo's interactive wildlife experience is especially popular with kids.

Address : Meadowvale Road, Scarborough

Website : www.torontozoo.com

Telephone : +1 416 392 5900

Transport : Rouge Hill GO Train station, #86A Scarborough bus route or #85 Sheppard East bus route

Opening times : Open daily, from 9.30am to 4.30pm

Admission : May to October: C$29 (adults), C$19 (kids aged 3 - 12). November to April: C$23 (adults), C$14 (kids aged 3 - 12). Other concessions are available