Over the last 175 years, Toronto has grown from being an unassuming municipality to a thriving city whose accomplishments have caught the attention of the international public.
Does the beat of Toronto's nightlife pulse with the same intensity as New York City? No, and Hollywood North has a long way to go before it matches the A-list stature of Hollywood Hills.
But there is something about this city that is unmatched by any other city in North America. It is a hot-spot for innovation, a destination for adventure, a living lesson in culture. It is indeed Toronto the Good.
Here are our picks for Toronto's top five adventures:
Restaurants
There's a reason why renowned chefs Mark McEwan, Jamie Kennedy, Marc Thuet and Susur Lee have chosen to champion their talents in Toronto.
The city boasts some of North America's finest kitchens. From the best in traditional Italian cuisine to successful ventures in new age diets, there is a restaurant to satisfy every discriminating palate in the city.
The city's thriving multicultural communities mean that every region in the world is represented by a menu of exotic choices. Not to be left out, Toronto's health and social-conscious population have a wide array of selected cuisine to choose from. Vegetarian, organic and even raw-food diets are an expanding, successful and exciting component of the city's food industry.
Toronto's Winterlicious and Summerlicious festivals are a sign the city clearly recognizes its culinary talent. During a short time in the summer and winter, the public is invited to sample the fare in the city's finest restaurants at a reasonable price.
Neighbourhoods
Toronto has long been known as the City of Neighbourhoods, boasting more than 100 distinct communities throughout the municipality.
The neighbourhoods have been created naturally over time to cater to new immigrants and groups with like-minded cultural and social interests.
Chinatown, Greektown, Little Italy, Little Portugal, Roncesvalles Village and several other communities make visitors feel like they are touring another country. Local shops and restaurants pay homage to cultural peculiarities, street signs are written in a foreign tongue and the local residents speak to each other in none of Toronto's official languages.
Then there are neighbourhoods like West Queen West, Kensington Market, the Annex, Cabbagetown and the Beaches that are also known for their unique contributions to Toronto's social and cultural environment.
Walking tours of these neighbourhoods are often organized in the spring and summer to show off the city's knack for innovation when it comes to fashion, architecture, art, public space and heritage preservation.
Architecture
Love it or hate it, Toronto is home to some of the most talked-about buildings in the world. In the last 10 years, architecture has become a favourite debate among Torontonians and the city has become a favourite playground for adventurous architects hungry to experiment.
Perhaps one of the most controversial buildings in Toronto is the Ontario College of Art and Design, an avant-garde concept that has everyone stopping in their tracks to take a second amused look. Hoisted on colourful, angled stilts, the school sits in a black-and-white speckled box four stories above the ground. It stands as a testament to the creativity and modern perspectives of OCAD students.
The city has also done an interesting job in creating a synergy between Toronto's past and its future. The Royal Ontario Museum is a fine example of this type of collaboration. In 2007, Daniel Libeskind redesigned the museum by building several giant "crystals" that jut out dramatically from the traditional brick and cobblestone building.
Environment
Toronto Mayor David Miller can be applauded for making the environment a priority issue at City Hall and in people's homes. He has said his goal is to make Toronto the greenest city in North America.
He launched a multi-million "clean and beautiful" campaign to position Toronto as a leader in environmental consciousness. The initiative created several litter pick-up projects and cleanups of neglected public spaces.
Garbage has continued to be a key target for Miller.
The city started conducting litter audits and created a waste-diversion team to work towards a 70-per-cent waste diversion rate by 2010.
Miller has also stepped in with a plan to ban plastic bags from grocery store retailers and has halted all sales of water bottles at City Hall and other civic centres.
However, Miller's environmental initiatives are far reaching.
He pushed for the installation of 2,000 energy-efficient traffic signal lights and backed a plan that would see water from Lake Ontario used to air condition buildings in the city's downtown core. Solar panels have been added to some public buildings and roof gardens have been created across the city to help with Toronto's overall environmental and economic health.
Miller's efforts were globally acknowledged when Vanity Fair profiled him in 2006 in their green issue.
Beaches/Island
Torontonians don't need to drive all the way to Muskoka to enjoy a quiet afternoon on the lake. Toronto's island is the perfect getaway spot for people who need a break from the city's hustle and bustle.
Centre Island and Ward's Island are a fantastic destination for families, as the area boasts a small amusement park and petting zoo, picnic grounds, restaurants and a beautiful beach that's safe for swimmers.
For the avid cycler and rollerblader, the area boasts wide boardwalks that stretch from one end of the island to the other. There's also a private nook on Hanlan's Point for nudists who want to enjoy one of only two-clothing optional beaches in Canada.
A number of festivals are also held on the island. The Dragon Boat Race, Wakestock Festival and Virgin Festival bring thousands of visitors to the island each year.
