Attractions

First, the good news: Toronto has amazing sights that appeal to travelers of all stripes. The bad news? No matter how long your stay, you won't be able to fit everything in. Toronto is a sprawling city, and while downtown and midtown boast most of the best attractions, some wonderful sights are in less accessible areas. Travelers will be able to enjoy the newly renovated and expanded Art Gallery of Ontario. Other prime Toronto Attractions, such as the Royal Ontario Museum, the Gardiner Museum, and the Ontario Science Centre have already completed their renovations and are completely open to visitors again.

Keep in mind that many Toronto attractions could take up an entire day. The Ontario Science Centre, Harbourfront, and Paramount Canada's Wonderland all come to mind. That's not even mentioning the parks, the arts scene, or the shopping possibilities. My best advice is to relax and bring a good pair of walking shoes. The best way to appreciate Toronto is on foot.

A Real Deal -- You can save a lot of money visiting Toronto's attractions by purchasing a Toronto CityPass. See the Royal Ontario Museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Ontario Science Centre, the CN Tower, Casa Loma, and the Toronto Zoo for C$65 (£33) for adults, and C$44 (£22) for kids from 4 to 12. Each booklet of tickets is valid for 9 days from the time the first one is used. You can buy the package at any of the six attractions listed above or online at www.citypass.com.

A Tiny Gem of a Gallery -- The Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), located steps away from the AGO, has its own gallery. Called the OCAD Professional Gallery, it was launched in 2007 to explore the connections between art and design. So far the tiny 111-square-meter (1,200-square-foot) space has shown work by Canadian Karim Rashid (famous for his stylish housewares and table accessories) among others. Located at 100 McCaul Street, the gallery is open from Wednesday to Friday 1pm to 7pm, and on weekends from noon to 6pm. There is no admission fee. For more information, call tel. 416/977-6000 or visit www.ocad.ca.

Where to Eat When You're Going to . . .

In my experience, one of the most difficult things about travel is coordinating where you want to go with where you want to eat. All too often you find yourself at a great museum, only to realize that the great restaurant you wanted to try out is on the other side of town. To make your planning easier, here are some of Toronto's top attractions and the excellent restaurants that are nearby.

• Art Gallery of Ontario: Head over to Chinatown for Sang Ho (536 Dundas St. W.), Happy Seven (358 Spadina Ave.), or Lee Garden (331 Spadina Ave.). Or if you want French cuisine, the best nearby is at Bodega (30 Baldwin St.).
• CN Tower and the Rogers Centre: If you're put off by the stratospheric prices at 360, the CN Tower's restaurant (C$115/£58 for the steak-and-lobster main course), try walking north a few blocks. Elegant Brassaii (461 King St. W.) is expensive but won't break the bank, Il Fornello (214 King St. W.) offers moderately priced pizza and pasta, and Penelope (225 King St. W.) serves affordable yet yummy Greek cuisine.
• Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts: Before you take in an opera or a ballet, you can dine at Tundra, just across the street in the Toronto Hilton (145 Richmond St. W.). If you're in a bohemian mood, try the Queen Mother Cafe (208 Queen St. W.).
• The Sony Centre and the Hockey Hall of Fame: You're in luck here, because the stellar Biff's (4 Front St. E.) is just across the street. You're also right by Le Papillon (16 Church St.), Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar (9 Church St.), and Young Thailand (81 Church St.) -- three well-priced places that serve impressive food.
• Ontario Science Centre: While people who work at the OSC love to point out that it's in the geographic center of Toronto, it's Nowheresville as far as food is concerned. But if you head west to Yonge Street, you'll be spoiled for choice. If you went to the OSC, presumably you have kids in tow, so Grano (2035 Yonge St.) would be an excellent choice. Other good bets include Hannah's Kitchen (tel. 416/481-2828; 2221 Yonge St.; www.hannahskitchen), which is open only on weekdays, or Amore Trattoria (2425 Yonge St.), open 7 days a week.
• Royal Ontario Museum: The ROM has lost its stellar restaurant to ongoing renovations, but fortunately, the elegant Annona (in the Park Hyatt, 4 Avenue Rd.) is just across the street. Nearby Yorkville is full of great spots, including Jacques Bistro du Parc (126A Cumberland St.). Head just a few blocks west past Spadina, and you'll find a wide selection of moderately priced spots, such as Serra (378 Bloor St. W.) and Nataraj (394 Bloor St. W.).