TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS of KING WEST

Living and working in King West Village is awesome, and it’s a Mecca for tourists and GTA residents alike with theatres, shopping, great restaurants and plenty, within blocks, to see and do. Summer may be winding down but the top tourist attractions of King West are open year round, starting with:

The CN Tower—The Look Out, the Glass Floor, the Sky Pod, and the Movie and Motion Theatre Ride are certainly great tourist attractions for this landmark, but why not go Way Out There when you are Way Up There? Take a walk on the wild side with the Edge Walk.  Your $175 (plus tax) admission price includes a keepsake video and photos, your Certificate of Achievement and re-entry to the CN Tower to give you the Total Tower Experience.

When you’re back down on terra firma, head over to:

Canoe Landing Park— Why is there a giant red canoe on the top of a hill? So you can climb up, and climb in, to look past the cars whizzing by on the Gardiner Expressway for a great view Lake Ontario. This 8-hectare park has walkways that wind from Fort York to the Rogers Centre. The giant canoe is a stand-alone art installation by one of Canada’s foremost writers, designers, and visual artists, Douglas Coupland. Back on the walkway, you’ll notice other unique artwork including a display of some very special running gear, which is a highlight on the Terry Fox Miracle Mile. Leaving the park, you can head to Spadina Avenue to Queen’s Quay and visit the Harbourfront Centre.

Harbourfront Centre  is where you’ll find a number of concerts, author readings, dance recitals, and special kids’ activities on most weekends and many evenings throughout the year. From the main square, you can hop on a ferry, rent a bicycle or canoe. Hail a taxi or hire a pedicab, see the city via TTC, double-decker bus or water taxi. There are plenty of options to take in the town while getting around.

There are also plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and nightclubs along The Quay, so there’s no shortage of activities to keep you hopping. There is also a large pond that becomes a skating rink in the winter months. Heading north on Spadina from the waterfront, watch for the giant thimble that lets you know you’re in Toronto’s Fashion District. 

Fashion District, also known as “the garment district” where you’ll find terrific bargains on local fashions, and home décor items, especially those in fur and leather, so you’ll be right up on the King West Style. 

You’ll find everything from small specialty boutiques to larger stores like Winners. Many of the outlets are in refurbished warehouses, which have become very trendy. Of course, you’ll want to stop for something to eat at one of the many restaurants in the area.  Then, you’re ready for a stroll.

There’s no better place to stroll than on Canada’s Walk of Fame which is situated on King Street West in front of The Princess of Wales and Royal Alexandra Theatres. This promenade is certainly one of the top tourist attractions of King West!

Initially designed to playfully mimic the “stars walk” in Hollywood, this walkway has grown into its own as a place to permanently recognize the achievements of Canadians in all areas, primarily the entertainment industry. You can stand on the stars honouring legends like film director Norman Jewison, actor Donald Sutherland, musician Neil Young, and comedian John Candy.

If those aren’t enough stars for you, you’ll certainly find them just a short hop away from King West in the Hockey Hall of Fame—a must do for hockey fans! Highlights include The Home of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Ring Displays, a 40^th Anniversary Tribute to the 1972 Canada-Russia Summit Series (which is also being honoured on the Walk of Fame this year), the 2010 Olympic Hockey display, and a tribute to the current Stanley Cup Champions, the Los Angeles Kings. Before you even head into the building though, be sure to stop by the exterior sculptures depicting players on the bench waiting to get on the ice, a goalie in the crease, and the 1972 Team Canada memorial. There is a lot to see and do here, so plan your visit carefully to maximize your time.

End the day with hockey hall of fame legend Wayne Gretzky and his own museaum of memorabilia at Wayne Gretzky’s Restuarant at 99 Blue Jays Way in King West Village. Canada’s Olympic legends live here, along with the “great one”, who’s showcase will make you proud to be or know a Canadian.

You’ll want to come back time and again to experience the art and culture, style, taste, rhythm, game, and good life that King West has to offer Toronto and tourists on the town, in the neighbourhood of King Blue.