A Journey with My Mum Revealed Toronto’s Hidden Side

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The globe has much to gain from
Toronto
Vibrant, lively, and full of an eclectic culinary landscape, it has always been recognized as one of the friendliest cities in the world.

Nearly half of the almost-three-million people living here were born outside the country, and it seems like everyone has connections all over the world. In this place, immigrants aren’t called immigrants – they’re just ‘
newcomers
’.

At one point, many years back, my mother was among them.

Not long after coming into the world
UK
, my grandparents took her to
Canada
In pursuit of a more promising future. My grandfather worked as a steelworker, which led them to move to Hamilton, Ontario, known as the “Steel City,” approximately one hour away from Toronto.

Although my mother’s early life was not filled with only happiness, she recalls their 13 years there with great affection.

She mentions her childhood in a land filled with immigrants and cheerful people; she would ski to school during winter months and pour maple syrup over snow to create taffy.

She has not come back since they relocated, and I have always desired to enjoy this mixture of cultures, foods, and beliefs alongside her.

Here is everything we experienced and accomplished (along with the total expenses), from both a newcomer’s perspective and someone making a highly anticipated comeback.

Toronto: All You Should Be Aware Of

Toronto is the capital city of Ontario, a central-eastern province in Canada, and the nation’s largest population center. You can fly directly from London — we traveled from
Heathrow
with
British Airways
– which lasts approximately eight hours.

Toronto boasts remarkable diversity. Areas such as Little Italy, Little Tibet, Koreatown, and Little Portugal can be found within its borders, with over 160 different languages being spoken across the city.

I was informed that spring is the ideal season to come, with temperatures reaching into the upper teens. However, this did not happen; we faced continuous rainfall from the moment we arrived, which continued for the first two days of our journey.

Nevertheless, unfazed and equipped with waterproof jackets, we set out to explore.

Activities in Toronto

I enjoy being ready, and prior to our trip, I thoroughly explored Google Maps, saving locations we wanted to visit during our six-day stay in ‘The Six’.

This is the moniker popularized by Drake—it references the city’s initial phone number prefixes (416 and 647) along with the six previous local governments that merged to create modern-day Toronto in 1998.

If we had remained for six weeks, I’m uncertain whether we could have handled it.

Remaining in the city center (which I suggest), at the
Hilton Hotel
we had a strong foundation from which to investigate this mostly pedestrian-friendly city in all directions.

It took us 20 minutes to walk to the CN Tower (a famous symbol of Toronto), and only 15 minutes to reach the Art Gallery of Ontario, where we began our visit. Entry costs around $30 (£16 approximately), and it’s definitely worthwhile.

The structure, created by architect Frank Gehry, is magnificent and contains an impressive assortment.

We visited Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room and viewed pieces created by Indigenous artists, as well as gained insight into the Group of Seven, a group of seven painters renowned throughout Canada for their portrayals of natural landscapes and unique artistic approach.

Mom commented on how pleasant it was to avoid seeing numerous artworks depicting kings and aristocrats, and instead witness nature and culture taking center stage.

A different museum that made a strong impact was Little Canada ($36/£19.50).

This location functions as a multi-level museum situated within a mall, showcasing Canada through the art of model railways. Though it may not seem appealing at first, I can assure you, it truly is.

It’s inspired by Miniatur Wunderland (my favorite spot to visit)
Hamburg
Germany), along with vibrant lighting, animated figures, and plenty to see, might keep you entertained for hours.

Regarding traditional experiences, I’d recommend reserving a spot on a guided walk.

We went with a local guide named Nick, who skillfully led us around the various neighborhoods, showing us attractions such as the waterfront area, Canada’s Walk of Fame (featuring the tiles of celebrities who have been taken off), and Rogers Centre (familiar to baseball enthusiasts).

Nick also assisted us in navigating Toronto’s PATH system, an extensive 30km subterranean corridor connecting various buildings to help you reach your destination (especially important during severe Canadian winters).

It even boasts a
Banksy
.

What to try in Toronto

Our guided walk concluded at St Lawrence Market, a
food market
featuring more than 120 sellers offering a combination of fresh products and ready-to-go dishes.

Although I’d really like to have tasted the peameal bacon sandwich (a classic dish in Toronto) from
Carousel Bakery
The marketplace was completely crowded, so after a brief glance, we hurried away.

The late
Anthony Bourdain
spoke highly of it, so I’ll have to trust what he says.

However, we were able to try some different Canadian specialties: poutine (a dish of gravy and cheese curds served over fries), a butter tart (think of an extremely sweet pastry with a creamy center), and pancakes drizzled with maple syrup.

My favorite dish was prepared by
The Haam
a dining spot offering an exceptional blend of Japanese-influenced Mexican cuisine.

We combined elote (Mexican grilled corn topped with a creamy, fiery sauce) with chipotle karaage (deep-fried chicken), along with gyoza served alongside avocado rolls.

The dish represented all that I had discovered about Canada, and how remarkably varied the nation is.
.

Our guide Nick shared information about a newly closed eatery named Hungary Thai, offering dishes from both Hungarian and Thai cuisines. This was only possible in Toronto.

It may seem somewhat unusual for British people to go to Canada for an afternoon tea, but one notable experience was provided by The Hilton’s menu at their restaurant,
Frenchy
.

It was the finest one yet; the cucumber fingers and cacio e pepe sandwiches were truly outstanding.

Christine, our charming server, presented a box containing various teas for us to sniff, and being someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, I didn’t feel left out at all with my non-alcoholic beverage, which featured elderflower and lemon ice cream.

Best places to live in Toronto

The downtown area is among the top choices for accommodation during a visit to Toronto, and it’s home to many well-known establishments.

The Hilton met all of our requirements exactly. Our deluxe double queen room (priced from around $412 CAD / £224) offered an amazing view, and the hotel featured two swimming pools, a fitness center, and a beautifully designed bar and dining area, which helped us feel better after landing tired and famished.

For individuals with a larger budget, The Ritz-Carlton and Shangri-La are located nearby, while those seeking more affordable options will find numerous hostels within close proximity to the downtown area.

We managed to pack many activities into our six-day stay in the city, walking constantly, as well as touring Hamilton and the home where mom was raised.

It still seems as though we have only begun to explore this incredible city that offers an embrace-like greeting.

Currently, more than at any time before: other cultural mixtures, pay attention.

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