A look at Toronto in mid-winter.

When I say "winter drawers on", I really do mean winter drawers on. If you're crazy enough to visit Toronto in December, then you need to think carefully about what to pack.

Thermal undies are a must, as are two or three layers of lightweight clothing, good boots, and a warm coat or jacket and an ear-covering hat.

Those are the essentials. Now let's get down to business. What to do and see in Toronto? The following are some of my favourite places and they are great for younger visitors.

Toronto exists at two levels, above ground and below ground - cold holiday or warm holiday.

Starting from the bottom up there's the Eaton Centre and the Underground. This vast shopping complex is linked to an underground network of walkways and shopping malls. This subterranean world is protected from the extremities of the weather and offers everything from hotels to healthcare, dog parlours to dentists.

But then again, who wants to spend their holiday underground? If you're brave enough to step outside in temperatures well below freezing, and you must be, or you wouldn't be in Toronto in December, then there is so much more to see and do.

Every visitor must see the CN Tower, said to be the world's tallest free-standing telecommunications tower.
At first glance I could not see what all the fuss was about. This very tall concrete tower has little to endear it architecturally but, in fact, is Toronto's prime attraction.

Once inside, an external glass-fronted elevator speeds skyward at over six metres per second taking 58 seconds to reach a height of 346 metres. Indoor and outdoor Look Out galleries provide stunning views of Toronto and surrounding area. On a clear day you can see for nearly 75 miles straight across to Niagara Falls and Buffalo, U.S.A. This is probably Toronto's most spectacular landmark.

Down one level at 342 metres is the Glass Floor. Covering an area of about 250 square feet it is strong enough to take the weight of fourteen large hippos.

For an extra charge you can take a second elevator up another 100 metres to the Sky Pod. The viewing gallery is small and confined with similar views to the lower Look Out.

The Tower also features a revolving restaurant, a nightclub, a souvenir shop, and a café, in addition to many exhibitions and displays.

Coming back to earth, take a tour of the SkyDome, just a few minutes walk away. A massive sports stadium and entertainment facility, with over 50,000 seats, it is used for just about any sporting activity, concerts, exhibitions and trade shows.

The stadium is home to Toronto's famous Blue Jays; baseball's 1992 and 1993 World Series Champions, as well as the Toronto Argonauts football team.

SkyDome has the world's first fully retractable roof covering an area of over eight acres. Taking twenty minutes to open or close it moves at a rate of 21 metres per minute.

To give you an idea of its size a 31-storey building would fit comfortably inside the closed dome. Alternatively, eight 747s could sit on the playing field with room to spare!

It is not an attractive building by any stretch of the imagination. Some effort has been made to cheer up its external appearance with the addition of grotesque stone cartoon characters created by artist Michael Snow.

Daily tours start with a 15-minute film about the building of the stadium. The walking tour then shows you one of the box suites, views from the stands and press section, as well as one of the team locker and shower rooms.

If it's history you want then Casa Loma is the place for you. Although one of the most famous 'historical' sites in the city it is not, in truth, very old. Casa Loma, built in 1911, is a romantic 98-room mansion, in the style of a medieval castle. Some might call it a neo-gothic monstrosity. I found it intriguing with its Elizabethan-style chimneys, Rhineland turrets, battlements, gardens, terraces, tunnels and secret passageways.

The enclosed Scottish Tower is a photographer's dream, offering the highest views from the castle. The West Tower, open to the elements, presents a magnificent panorama of Downtown Toronto.

If you'd like more history then visit Black Creek Pioneer Village, a19th-century Victorian village. Time stands still in the thirtyfive restored buildings, some of which have been moved from their original sites brick by brick in order to preserve them. This is a hands-on experience for adults and children alike. Pioneers skills are displayed and visitors encouraged to participate.

Then step from the past back to the futuristic Nathan Phillips Square, the heart and soul of Toronto. This is the place to be on New Year's Eve. A massive stage is erected and thousands flock to see the year click by and be entertained by well-known pop groups.

The main feature of the Square is a man-made lake that freezes over to provide a skating rink. Torontonians can be seen hurrying from their offices to take a lunchtime break on the ice. For visitors, skates can be hired for a modest fee.

The surrounding walkway plays host to Toronto's annual ice carving competition. The ice carvings are life size and will remain standing until they melt away, usually several days, or even weeks after New Year.

So, for that winter week in Toronto wrap up warm, get your skates on and have a great time.




Information:

CN Tower - 310 Front Street West. Tel: (416) 868 6937 www.cntower.ca
Open: Daily Jan-April 9am-10pm, May-Dec 8am-11pm.
Total Tower Experience: $29.99
Look Out & Glass Floor only: Adult $15.99, Seniors $13.99, Children $10.99
Subway: Union Station, walk through SkyWalk
Fully accessible to wheelchair users

SkyDome - 1 Blue Jays Way.
Tours: CDN$12.50Tel: (416) 341 2770 for details www.skydome.ca
Subway: Union Station
Fully accessible to wheelchair users

Casa Loma - 1 Austin Terrace at: Spadina Rd. situated two blocks north of Subway: Dupont Tel: (416) 923-1171 www.casaloma.org
Daily 9:30am-5pm Last admittance 4pm. CLOSED December 25 and
January 1
Admission: Adults (18-59) $10; Seniors (60+) $6.50; Youth (14-17) $6.50; Children (4-13) $6; Children 3 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.
Self Guided Tours
Disabled access is generally good but access to the secret staircases is not possible in a wheelchair.

GARDENS Open May-Oct. - not wheelchair accessible

Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway,at Jane Street and Steeples Avenue
Subway: Finch then Bus #60 B, D or E
Admission: $9 adults; $7 seniors and students; $5 children (5 to 14 ) Children four and under - No charge
Seasonal times apply - Tel: (416) 736 1733. Special Events Tel: (416) 661 6600.
www.trca.on.ca/bcpv.html

There are 35 restored buildings to explore of which 12 are accessible to wheelchair users. Check on arrival which buildings are accessible as adaptations are in progress.

Getting Around Toronto:
Subway - Toronto Transit System - TTC - operates Mon-Sat 6am-1.30am, Sun 9am-1.30am Tel: (416) 393 4000. The following stations are wheelchair accessible:

Kipling, St Clair West, Downsview, Spadina, Kennedy, Union, Bathurst, St George, Queen, Scarborough Town Centre

System is supplemented by buses. There are some 'kneeling'
buses which are accessible. For local transit information Tel: (416) 393 4636

Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced.