|
Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal amusement park in Toronto, Ontario and owned by the Province of Ontario. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of Exhibition Place, it is approximately 4 km west of downtown Toronto. Opened on May 22, 1971, it consists of three artificially constructed, landscaped islands. Attractions are spread throughout the park, as well as walking trails and food and drink concessions.
Toronto is a city rich in history; yet, it is also a city that never grows old. Canada's most cosmopolitan city is the cultural heart of south central Ontario and of English-speaking Canada.
One of the greatest benefits of living in or visiting Toronto is its location. From the United States, it is just a 90-minute drive along the Queen Elizabeth Way. Weather-wise, the location is ideal. Toronto is situated on beautiful Lake Ontario. A walk along the waterfront leads to beaches, marinas, boating facilities, parkland, bike trails, and tennis courts. The lake's influence keeps the winters in Toronto from being severe.
The heart of the city is adorned with millions of plants and trees. It is also filled with galleries, museums, restaurants, music halls, theaters and sports facilities. Toronto is the economic capital of Canada, with all major banks and most corporations headquartered there as well as a Stock Exchange. The city has been called the Hollywood of the North because of the number of movies and television shows that are filmed within it. The retail sector is enormous, with major shopping centers, both in malls and in every neighborhood.
Recreation is never hard to find in Toronto. There are miles of paths for hiking and bicycle riding, easy access to golf, tennis and swimming in summer and to skiing and ice skating in winter. There are over 2,000 public parks and gardens as well as secluded woodland nature reserves to explore.
Toronto's 2.4 million residents welcome 22 million visitors each year. Families are
honored guests with many hotels providing special services for guests with children, including separate child-sized registration desks, separate recreation areas and pools just for families and playrooms and games for families with children. There is even an entire museum designed just for children. The Toronto Zoo, Paramount Canada's Wonderland Amusement Park, Children's Village, and Wild Water Kingdom are popular family attractions.
Toronto is a favorite convention city and gathering place. Toronto's streets are safe, the air is clean, and the water is safe to drink. The city is strikingly cosmopolitan and vital in every aspect. In recent years, the United Nations named Toronto as the most ethnically diverse city in the world. Its residents have come to Canada from 170 different countries and speak more than 100 different languages and dialects. Within Toronto, the visitor will pass through neighborhoods that are Italian Asian, Greek, Portuguese, Jewish, Polish, West Indian and Pakistani. Toronto has welcomed its immigrants and the vitality with which they have infused the culture, religion, customs and cuisine of the city.
The Toronto Eaton Centre is more than just a shopping centre. It is an architectural model for shopping malls around the country. Built in 1979, and given a new facade in 1999, it is the third largest mall in Canada and is recognized as one of the city's most popular attractions. The 3 million square foot building with its over 300 stores and services extends along the west side of Yonge Street all the way from Queen Street to Dundas Street (with subway stops directly entering and exiting it at each end). The Eaton Centre, and in fact the whole metropolitan area, are easily accessible by public transportation. The city's PATH system connects miles of downtown buildings by a unique underground walkway lined with attractive shops and restaurants.
|
|
