Toronto - Come See for Yourself what the Whole World is Talking About

Hi All! Clark Daugherty from Dreams Ahoy Travel here again to talk a bit about another great location for LGBT Friendly Travel! Our Neighbors to the North, Toronto!!! Toronto is well known for unparalleled hospitality, creativity, vibrancy, progressive spirit, openness and freedom of expression, it is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Toronto was ranked as one of the ‘Best Places to Go’ by Condé Nast Traveler and as a top international travel destination by Travel and Leisure Magazine. It is also home to Canada’s largest gay community. Toronto’s unique pulse, panache and progressive spirit attract people from every country, making it one  of the world’s most multicultural cities with an amazing selection of accommodations, restaurants, fashion, entertainment, culture, arts, shopping, attractions, events, festivals, neighborhoods and architecture. 

Energy, Passion and Opportunity – Welcome to The Village!

Nestled in the downtown core, at the intersection of Church and Wellesley Streets, is The Gay Village, or “The Village” as the locals call it. The Village is packed with cafés, restaurants, gay-oriented shops, services and a wide array of hot bars and sizzling nightspots filled with hot boys and hot girls. Hot spots include Woody’s and Sailor, Crews and Tangos (it is well known for some of the best drag shows in the city), Fly, Pegasus, Zipperz/Cellblock, Black Eagle (geared towards leather/denim lovers and bears), CHURCH on Church and O’Grady’s on Church. The Village Home to one of the largest annual Gay Pride celebrations in the world. 

Progressive, With a Decidedly Countercultural Bent - West Village

LGBT nightlife in Toronto stretches far beyond the Village. “Are they or aren’t they?” is irrelevant as you party with open-minded, mixed crowds at bars throughout the city. You’ll find an edginess and funkiness in West Village and a rich mix of populations, gay and straight, young and old. More of an attitude than an identity – it’s new and radical with a thriving underground gay scene. Hot Spots include the Gladstone Hotel, Wrongbar, The Beaver, Bovine Sex Club (don’t let the name throw you off), El Convento Rico and The Henhouse (for the ladies). 

Culture - Bravo Toronto!

Toronto ranks as one of the top cities in the world to experience arts and culture. Galleries, museums, theatres, festivals and cultural wonders abound. Toronto features hundreds of cultural attractions, exhibits and contemporary Canadian works that just can’t be found anywhere else. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, the world’s longest running and largest queer theatre promotes LGBT Canadian culture. Opera and ballet at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and great theatre and entertainment venues in the Entertainment District are all just within a few blocks.

Toronto International Film Festival

Stars and celebrities descend on the city with their entourages as the Toronto International Film Festival takes over Toronto each year for 10 days in September. It is the most successful public film festival in the world amd is comprised of world premieres, galas, associated schmoozes and parties packed with the who’s who of international cinema. 

Food... Fabulous Food and Drink

Toronto’s food scene is one of the best in Canada. You have a multitude of choices from upscale gourmet to home-cooked comfort foods from nearly every corner of the globe. Experience Toronto’s diversity on a plate. Boasting over 9,000 restaurants, Toronto’s culinary options are pretty unlimited. Talking about fabulous food, Toronto is also home to St. Lawrence Market, ranked as the number 1 market in the world by National Geographic. 

Shopping

Toronto’s shopping experience is amazing. The retail world includes over 21,000 specialty shops, boutiques and department stores whose diversity boggles the mind. From expansive malls to intimate kiosks, designer outlets to high-end haute couture, every neighborhood bursts with one-of-a-kind shopping. While many areas embrace luxury, the shopping district of Yorkville – with nearby Holt Renfrew and the chic shops of Hazelton Lanes – is the quintessential home of style and design, including fashion stalwarts Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Hermès, Tiffany and Chanel. 

Just Down the Road… Fabulous Day Trip Options

If you want to explore more of Canada outside Toronto, you can extend your visit for a day or two and enjoy some fabulous day-trip options just a short drive from the city featuring Niagara Falls, Ontario’s “wine country” (with over 120 wineries), picturesque villages, theatre festivals and casinos. 

As always, feel free to contact me at clark.daugherty@cruiseplanners.com for more info. Or call me anytime at 609-556-9066. HAPPY TRAVELS!!! Next stop MONTREAL!!!