Toronto

Dominating Toronto's skyline, the CN Tower is a marvel, a 553m communications spire standing over the city like a beacon. Queues can be long and tickets are expensive, but the wait and the cost are worth it. Three observation levels reveal unforgettable views – even Niagara Falls on a clear day! There are floor-to-ceiling windows, glass floors, and an 'EdgeWalk' for those with the backbone to walk around the perimeter of the main pod, with no fence and no windows, just you, tethered to a track. Higher than a bird!

Opened in 1845, St Lawrence Market has been part of the city's fabric for almost 175 years. It's a complex of three buildings – two market structures and St Lawrence Hall, a town hall turned commercial center. The main event is the South Market building, a foodies' paradise with more than 120 vendors selling fresh produce, meats, cheeses and all manner of prepared foods. Come here to poke around and to graze. Weekends bring the farmers and antique markets, both worth a stop.

One of the country's finest museums, the Art Gallery of Ontario has a wide collection ranging from 15th-century European art to contemporary American works. The highlight here, though, are the Canadian pieces, including landscapes by Tom Thompson and the Group of Seven, Inuit and other aboriginal sculptures and paintings, and of course the spectacular redesign of the building itself by renowned Canadian architect Frank Gehry. Daily tours, extended hours, free admission for anyone 25 and under, kid-friendly programming…it's tough to find a reason not to visit!

The heart of the Waterfront district is the Harbourfront Centre, a cultural megastar made up of 4 hectares of buildings and parks. Explore it and you'll discover galleries and open art studios (watch glass being blown!), theaters and outdoor concert spaces. In winter there's an ice rink for lakefront camel spins and Saturday night (ice) dance parties. Festivals are held here year-round, too, bringing the city together. Take a morning to walk around it – you're sure to find that it invites you to linger.

Wander through millions of specimens and artifacts in one of Canada's largest museums, the Royal Ontario. It's part natural-history museum, but several floors reveal that it's also a world-history, archaeology and art museum, all rolled into one. Expect to learn about everything from ice-age mammals and hardwood forests to Chinese temples and religious masks. There's also a 'discovery zone' where kids can handle skulls and pelts, and even touch (stuffed) wild animals. This is a remarkable place that keeps all visitors engaged. Free docent-led tours are offered daily.

Once the Gooderham and Worts distillery, the largest distillery in the British Empire, the Distillery District is now a fabulous collection of restaurants and coffee shops, art studios and galleries, performance spaces and specialty boutiques. The setting is a beautifully preserved Victorian industrial complex – red brick, cobblestone walkways and imposing buildings. Year-round the place is buzzing. In summer, live music and pop-up events fill the air. In winter, a festival of lights and a Christmas market lure people out from the warmth.

The mecca of Canada's national sport, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a spectacular labyrinthine museum in the Financial District. Inside, multimedia exhibits showcase the greats – icons and players of the game. Visitors walk through a recreated Montréal Canadiens' locker room, watch documentaries and movies, and even shoot pucks at video-projected NHL goalies. Don't miss the goalie-mask wall, with rows and rows of personalized face shields. Upstairs, in what was the 1885 Bank of Montreal building, is the beloved Stanley Cup.

At last count, Toronto had more than 7000 restaurants, a vast number that represents a phenomenal range of tastes, cultures and experiences. Explore, graze, experiment. Each neighborhood has its own trademark: the Financial and Entertainment Districts have fine dining and celebrity chefs, while Kensington Market and Chinatown are all about hole-in-the-wall eats and homegrown talent. Want a little of a lot all at once? Dining halls featuring a variety of cuisines and communal tables have popped up around town. Assembly Chef's Hall is a fine place to start.

Every neighborhood has a little: unexpected, irreverent, whimsical, sweet. It's street art, encompassing everything from graffiti to commissioned murals. Look around and you'll find examples hidden down forgotten streets in the Financial District, adorning brick walls in the Annex and the east end, and covering entire facades in the Village, Kensington Market and the west end. The most popular – and perhaps the most photographed – location is Grafitti Alley, a collection of myriad artists' works that spans three blocks just off Queen St W. Go ahead, take a selfie.

A quick ferry ride from the mainland brings you to the serene Toronto Islands, an archipelago of 15 islands with quiet neighborhoods, pleasant beaches, vehicle-free roads and lakefront paths – an unexpected treat in a city of almost six million people. Bike from beach to beach, explore the different islands (several are connected by bridge) and stop for a snack with a spectacular skyline view. Enjoy a day of leisure. Bikes can be rented on-island at Toronto Islands Bicycle Rental or brought from the mainland.