Grab a basket at Toronto’s farmers’ market
With its seasonal, market-specific stalls selling herbs, local cheeses, kimchi, dacquoise and pastries, this annual event in Canada’s largest city feels more than a little like the Bronx Christmas Bazaar, but with greater variety. Even if you can’t find what you’re looking for — the options are ever changing — a one-stop shop for virtually anything local is hard to beat.
Story continues below
Visit one of these vegan bakeries
The lovely Jane Street store, Five O’Clock Coffee is a homely but focused place with nearly everything on the menu — pastries, breads, salads, pastries, coffee, roasts, cakes, cake pops and anything else you could want, roasted by the owners themselves. Every single signature pastry on the menu is vegan. Baking is done at a slower pace, and you’ll probably end up drinking a house latte or pour-over coffee as opposed to buying a shot of espresso or a drip cup. (5 OTB)
Give the gift of something delicious to try in Toronto
The fine folks at Hello Toronto are indeed in the gourmet test kitchen, so you know your gift will be absolutely delicious and filling (not to mention, delicious and filling!). (helloyoftoronto.com)
Check out Toronto’s very own dollhouse building season
Etsy is an endless tube of creative options for those who live and work in Toronto — such as this beautiful dollhouse and aprons. (etsy.com/shop/Etsy/ShortySarah)
Shop a wool sweater from the Canada Woolmark Company
The company uses Canadian sheep as primary material, and is proud to have won both in 2013 and 2016 for Global Woolmark Awards in the Fine Wool category. (woolmarkcompany.com)
Join the Toronto Blue Jays for a baseball day out
Don’t have tickets to Blue Jays games? Check out the package to experience the different packages at this very cool ballpark in downtown Toronto. It’s also home to the Ford Centre for the Arts and a few other organizations: The Shaw Centre for the Performing Arts, Royal Conservatory of Music, Scotiabank Dance Centre, and many more.
Toronto’s craft beer movement is thriving
Because its natural climate does not deliver severe cold, there’s not much cold in Toronto, but there are plenty of brewers making beer, and a growing number of restaurants offering an experience in the city’s brewing industry. (visittoronto.com)
Go to a ribbon-cutting ceremony
While for some time, building Toronto’s skyline was impossible thanks to the construction environment, these days, we’re beginning to see a new art and architecture style in the city. Some of the biggest new buildings include the Shangri-La, the glass and steel roof-less condo in The Bloor Street and James Robertson Hall with its floor-to-ceiling glass facade on Queen Street West. Other notable buildings include Harbourfront Centre, the Fox & Fowles House and Toronto Reference Library, and the Canadian War Museum.
Visit the Toronto Zoo
An almost one-acre space of beautiful animals and beautiful gardens as the centerpiece of the country’s largest urban zoo, this truly is a bucket-list experience that shouldn’t be missed.