Toronto is one of Canada's most exciting cities, offering fantastic tourist attractions such as Toronto Zoo and Casa Loma.

CN Tower
Instantly recognisable, the CN Tower pierces the skyline of Toronto like an exclamation mark. The entire structure is designed to thrill and amaze. Elevators shoot upwards at 22 km/h (15 mph) and cover a distance of 1,135 feet in 58 seconds. Looking out from the SkyPod level on a clear day, the view can stretch 160 km and bring Niagara Falls and Rochester into sight.

Waterfront and Islands
Many of Toronto's best features are right on Lake Ontario. There are beaches where you can scrunch sand between your toes. There are schools that will teach you everything from kite-sailing to sea kayaking. The Toronto Islands are just a short ferry ride away. They’re a car-free escape from the city with everything from bumper cars to haunted lighthouses.

Harbourfront
Once a desolate chunk of industrial land, this area was taken over by the Canadian government in 1971. Today it's been transformed into a hive of cultural and artistic activity on the shore of the lake. Harbourfront Centre holds more than 4,000 theatrical and musical events every year.

Old Town
Old Town Toronto is a community with a rich history. With one of the largest concentrations of 19th century buildings in Ontario, this area of town has been experiencing a cultural and economic revitalisation. Many of the historic buildings are now home to art galleries, coffee shops and specialty shops.

Niagara Region
With 35 million gallons of water rushing over the falls every minute, it’s no wonder why the Niagara Region is so popular. But there are plenty of other reasons to visit the area too. For wine lovers, there are vineyards to visit. For the thrill-seeker, there is a haunted fort, and for those who just need to be cooled off, the killer whales of Marineland create a sizable splash.

Green Toronto
Toronto once had a parks commissioner who became internationally famous for putting up signs that stated "Please walk on the grass". The idea was shocking for the time. Today those signs can still be seen. There are some parks wild enough to support deer and coyotes. Others have imaginative playgrounds that provide hours of fun for young and old alike.

Toronto Zoo
Take a stroll through the Sahara Desert. Dive under water and witness otters, beavers and seals in their natural habitat. Watch nocturnal animals roam around in a pavilion that simulates night. With over 5,500 animals representing 460 different species, the 710-acre Toronto Zoo is an oasis of discovery for children and adults.

Museums
For those with inquiring minds, Toronto's museums can satisfy anyone's curiosity. The largest is the Royal Ontario Museum, which holds over 6 million objects and artifacts. Fashion lovers will enjoy the unique Bata Shoe Museum and hockey fans can live out their dream at the Hockey Hall of Fame. In fact, there's a museum here for just about any interest.

Casa Loma
Sir Henry Pellatt was a dreamer and romantic. He took a handful of sketches of his favourite castles to Toronto architect Edward Lennox, designer of Toronto’s Old City Hall. The result is Casa Loma. Its turreted, imposing presence makes it one of Toronto’s icons. The castle overlooks the city on land that once marked the shoreline of Lake Iroquois 12,000 years ago.

Roger's Centre
Toronto's Rogers Centre is a marvel in itself. It's the world’s first stadium with a fully retractable roof. Four giant white-topped panels rest on top of each other when the roof is open. Then the panels spread out at 21 metres a minute for the 20-minute trip to seal the elements out. If it happens when there’s a game on, it can be tough deciding which to watch.

For more information about Toronto and what it has to offer, visit www.torontotourism.com.

The article Exploring Toronto originally appeared on 999 Today