December’s here, and in a few short weeks, Centennial College students will be off for their winter break. There’s a lot you can do during that time, but if you have the chance, it’s the perfect time to see Toronto’s sights and take part in winter events. If you’re new to Toronto, you can get to know the city. And if you’re local, maybe you haven’t gone out on the town the last couple winters (understandably), and are looking to get reacquainted with the city. Either way, between the holiday food, company and gifts, be sure to go out and see what the city has to offer as it’s good for the mind, body and soul. There’s too much going on this winter to list it all, but here’s a few ideas about where you could go once you hop on the TTC transit system.
Winter Sports
Ice skating is a very Canadian experience, and in Toronto it’s easy to find a place to do it. The city has several public outdoor ice rinks (here’s a full list of them), with a popular choice being Nathan Phillips Square at City Hall (100 Queen St. West). The best part about it is that it’s free to attend, and you can rent ice skates for a small fee if you don’t have your own. Want something that doesn’t involve slipping on ice? How about sliding on snow? Toronto has 23 official toboggan hills you can use if you want to grab a sled and zoom down a hill.
City Lights
There’s an oddly large amount of light-themed attractions in Toronto, and they’re all worth seeing (maybe you can admire the Electrical Engineering required to set them up, if that’s your program). First, there’s the tunnel of lights at Bloor-Yorkville, a gorgeous view you can take in while you’re having a look at the art, culture and shopping of the area. It runs until December 31, and you can check some photos out here. If you want a more guided experience, there’s Casa Loma, an old-fashioned castle, located at very top of Spadina Ave., which puts on a holiday lights tour throughout December. If you want to check out some animals while you’re checking out the lights, the Toronto Zoo has its own artsy setup, called Terra Lumina. It’s a night walk on a glowing pathway designed to transport you to the year 2099, when nature and people walk hand in hand. It’ll also run to December 31. And while you’re there, you can see the animals!
Food, Drink and Markets
Experiencing a culture’s food is a good way to get to know that culture, making these markets an excellent way to experience a taste of Toronto, particularly if you’re in one of Centennial’s Culinary Arts programs. One of them is the Kensington Market, an artsy, historic Toronto location. Another, winter-specific site is the Distillery Winter Village, where you can peruse Toronto’s best craftspeople, shops, and restaurants. It’s also a perfect place to pick up fancy gifts for your friends and family, food or otherwise. There’s also the St. Lawrence Market, home to hundreds of food stalls, including a famous Peameal Bacon sandwich. National Geographic has ranked the St. Lawrence Market among the world's best food markets anywhere!
Winterfest at Canada’s Wonderland!
A well-known amusement park just outside Toronto, Canada’s Wonderland has a selection of winter events that run until December 31, known as Winterfest. Attractions include skating on Snow Flake Lake, 50-foot Christmas trees, as well as a selection of live shows and events, plus, there’s the usual rides that they have all year ‘round (note that there is an admission fee).
Famous Toronto landmarks
Now that you have some time off, you can actually visit some of Toronto’s best landmarks. It’s great research if you’re in one of our Tourism programs. Obviously, you can visit the CN tower, a place everyone who visits Toronto should experience at least once. It’s one of the tallest structures in the world, and offers the best view of the city. If you want to learn something, you can go to the Royal Ontario Museum (the largest museum in Canada), or the Hockey Hall of Fame, and if you just want to look at cool creatures there’s Ripley’s Aquarium, full of fascinating marine life (and Friday night Jazz every second Friday of the month), or the Art Gallery of Ontario, which is free to students if you’re under 25!
Be sure to take a break
One last thing: While it’s fun to explore the city, be sure to take the time to relax and decompress now that the semester is over. You’ve earned the time off, so make sure you rest and recharge before the next semester gets started.