• Toronto Day 6: Niagara Falls and Nathan Phillips Square

    Toronto Day 6: Niagara Falls and Nathan Phillips Square

    Save the best for the last! This day is my fiancรฉ’s 40th birthday. I decided to get a private tour of Niagra Falls instead of DIY-ing it myself. Niagara Falls is about 2 hours away from Toronto, and with this weather, it would have been a painful experience for us to do all the commute and transfers just to see the falls. I figured it was more convenient to just pay a little bit more for a private tour where all we have to do is relax while we are being driven around the area, and most importantly, we are being guided through the history of the place. Our first stop is Niagara On The Lake. It is often called “The Prettiest Town in Canada”…

  • Toronto Day 4: Winter Village at the Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market

    Toronto Day 4: Winter Village at the Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market

    I thought I was completely prepared for my trip. It was only on the third day that I realized I badly needed a moisturizer. I had no idea that the cold weather could dry my skin so badly! I noticed bumps on my skin and my lips began to crack. I quickly realized that it was because of the chilly, dry breeze. As someone who has never lived in a winter climate, I didn’t know this could happen. Fortunately, I was able to purchase Mugwort Essence and Cream from the brand “I’m From” at Sukoshi Mart in Eaton Centre. After using it for just one night, my skin felt hydrated and refreshed. I appreciated that it didn’t leave a sticky feeling like some other moisturizers…

  • Toronto Day 3: Casa Loma and The Cameron House

    Toronto Day 3: Casa Loma and The Cameron House

    Today we are scheduled to visit Casa Loma, a historic castle known for its stunning architecture and beautiful gardens. It is located in Austin Terrace, and the closest subway station is Dupont on the University Line. As usual, from our Vrbo, we took a street car from King St to King Station. It takes about 5-10 minutes to walk from Dupont to Casa Loma. You won’t get lost as the castle’s towers are visible from afar. Casa Loma is included in the CityPass, so we didn’t have to queue when we arrived. Casa Loma was built by Sir Henry Pellatt in the early 1900s. This historic castle is known for its unique Gothic Revival architecture and well-preserved interiors, providing a glimpse into the past. Inside,…

  • Toronto Day 2: Royal Ontario Museum and Eaton Centre

    Toronto Day 2: Royal Ontario Museum and Eaton Centre

    Today’s itinerary is more relaxed than Day 1. I had initially planned for a busy day, but we decided to take it easy. As usual, we ordered Jollibee for breakfast and headed straight to the first on our list — the Royal Ontario Museum. It is easy to commute here since the museum is just right as you exit the University Line – Museum Station. To get to the subway, we took a bus. It was raining and extra cold – but nothing could stop us! The Royal Ontario Museum is so huge. I can’t remember the last time I went to a museum, so I am amazed by their art collection. Apart from Canadian pieces, they also have European, Asian, Asia-Pacific, Middle Eastern, and…

  • Toronto Day 1: Arrival, Jollibee, Kimโ€™s Convenience, and CN Tower

    Toronto Day 1: Arrival, Jollibee, Kimโ€™s Convenience, and CN Tower

    Please read until the end, as I will summarize all the tips I have for you if you plan to travel to Toronto for the first time! We arrived in Toronto at midnight, and it was freezing even though it wasn’t winter yet. We flew with United Airlines, and the flight was good. I was surprised that the airport was more relaxed at that hour. I expected shops to be open and people coming and going, but it had some downtime. Because of the time of year, it was less busy than other airports I’ve been to in the past couple of years. If you’re a first-time visitor to Toronto, choose a hotel downtown like we did. Similar to most big cities, everything is accessible…