'True' Toronto locations to visit, according to a tour guide and CBC listeners
City saw 14 million overnight visitors last year, according to Tourism Toronto
According to Tourism Toronto, visitors are flocking to this city in record numbers. And last year, international and domestic tourists spent $7 billion in town.
But where should a tourist go after they've finished with taking a selfie at the CN Tower?
- Record number of visitors expected in 2016, Tourism Toronto says
- Canadian dollar, gas prices will help boost travel this year: Conference Board
For more on what this city offers the rest of the world, CBC'sMetro Morning dropped in on a tour guide taking a group around Toronto.
"There's actually a lot of stuff I didn't know [about Toronto] until I started working here," says Greg, a ticketing agent and tour guide for one of City Sightseeing's omnipresent double-decker buses.
"My personal favourite spot is the Art Gallery of Ontario just because I myself rather enjoy art," he says. "But my favourite place to show people is definitely our Distillery District."
"I've never met anyone who had a bad time there. Everyone loves the shopping, loves the art, loves the atmosphere," he adds.
"The Distillery District is definitely my number one recommendation for tourists, for sure."
Greg also encourages visitors to explore Toronto's many "ethnic enclaves" such as Koreatown.
But hebelieves the city's main draw is its historical sites, praisingToronto'spenchant for preservingits history.
"The thing I'm personally proud of about our city is our Heritage Trust Act, our law that protects our historical sites," he says.
"I love that our city is trying to hold on to just these facets of history without trying to build over them or even just demolish them in general, so I love being able to share the fact that we are holding on to our history here in Toronto."
Listeners weigh in on 'true' Toronto spots
Metro Morning also asked its listeners on Twitter where they would take a tourist to show them the "true" Toronto. Here are a few of their picks:
@metromorning I love walking around Old Toronto and imagining how it may have been 150 years ago
—@aronharris
@metromorning Scarborough bluffs and then the village of Birch Cliff for jaw dropping beauty and then retroness
—@Brain_Chain
@metromorning Eglinton & Oakwood - check out the Caribbean markets, shops & restaurants.
—@beautifulzion1
@metromorning buy a day pass and ride the queen street car end to end, hopping on and off as you go...so many great neighbourhoods
—@benmpeebles
@metromorning the islands, High park and Roncesvalles!
—@iheartscout
@metromorning Kensington Market & Toronto Island!
—@el_jay_jr
@metromorning Montreal.
—@drivandalism