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Toronto evolved from a lakeside settlement, but its growth was sporadic and often unplanned, resulting in a cityscape that can strike the visitor as a random mix of the run-down and the new. This apparent disarray, combined with the city's muggy summers, means that, rather than walking the streets, most newcomers to Toronto spend their time hopping from sight to sight on the efficient public transport system. Indeed, there's no doubt that if you've only got a day or two to spare this is the way to get a grip on the city. On the other hand, if you've the time to get below the surface, the best thing to do is stroll through Downtown Toronto , and the logical place to start is the CN Tower, from where you can take in the lie of the land for kilometres around. Nearby Union Station, hub of the city's public transport system, lies on the edge of the business district, whose striking skyscrapers march up Yonge as far as Queen Street, where they give way to the main shopping area, revolving around the enormous Eaton Centre. To the west of this commercial zone lie Chinatown and the Art Gallery of Ontario, while to the northwest, along University Avenue is the most obviously English-influenced area of town around Queen's Park, incorporating the Ontario Parliament building, the University of Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum. Moving on to the northern periphery of central Toronto, the key attractions are the intriguing Bata Shoe Museum and a pair of contrasting Victorian mansions - grandiose Casa Loma and genteel Spadina House. Spare time also for Old Fort York to the west of downtown and the redeveloped Harbourfront south of Union Station, which offers flashy shops, the Power Plant Gallery of modern art, and the jetty from here ferries make the short hop over to the Toronto Islands.
Your Tip for Downtown Toronto
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