A city and beyond of destinations
Hockey Hall of FameThe history of Canada’s game comes alive with a centennial exhibition highlighting a century of memorable league moments, including equipment worn by the NHL’s 100 greatest players. Download the personalized tour app (for Android and iPhone), with more than 50 options based on your favourite teams, countries, or positions. 30 Yonge St., 416-360-7765, hhof.com Ripley’s Aquarium Thousands of squishy, scary, colourful and cool sea creatures, conveniently located at the base of the CN Tower. Check out the interactive and educational dive shows (five shows a day, seven days a week) and aquarist talks, where you can ask staff questions, while watching the animals chow down on their lunch. 288 Bremner Blvd., 647-351-FISH (3474), ripleyaquariums.com/canada Canadian National ExhibitionToronto’s annual end of summer celebration is like a whole season crammed into two weeks: carnival rides and games, free concerts and performances, an agricultural hall and petting zoo, hundreds of shopping vendors, and the air show. One highlight: Food vendors step up their game every year with creative takes on fair grub. Aug. 18-Sept. 4, 210 Princes’ Blvd., theex.com Toronto FCCheer on Toronto’s soccer club at one of six home games this summer at BMO Field, which reopened last year after a multimilliondollar expansion. You’ll have to wait until September to see them play their biggest rival, Montreal Impact. BMO Field, 170 Princes’ Blvd., torontofc.ca Toronto Blue Jays When the dome is open at the Rogers Centre on a sunny day, it’s a beautiful thing. There will be plenty of bobble head and Canada 150-themed giveaways. On Jr. Jays Saturdays, kids 14 and under can run the bases after the game. Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way, bluejays.mlb.com Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Head just east of the city to Bowmanville. Events headlining the summer include the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix (July 6-9), the biggest sports car race of the year, and the Superbike Double Header (Aug. 18-20). Topping off the summer on Labour Day weekend (Sept. 1-3) is the Chevrolet Silverado 250. 3233 Concession Rd. 10, Bowmanville, 1-800-866-1072, canadiantiremotorsportpark.com Toronto Zoo Bamboo-chomping pandas Da Mao and Er Shun continue to attract visitors with their cuteness while on loan from China, especially with the arrival of their baby cubs. The zoo is also known for its gorilla troop (also home to an adorable new baby) and one of the country’s largest indoor giraffe houses. 2000 Meadowvale Rd., 416-3925929, torontozoo.com Ontario Science Centre Like summer school, but fun — and with IMAX movies. This summer’s featured Inventorium space encourages hands-on innovation with circuit building, laser cutting, data visualization and engineering, while the Wildlife Rescue exhibit tells real-life stories of those on the frontlines protecting endangered species. The museum’s Canada 150 exhibit highlights scientific achievements by Canadians. 770 Don Mills Rd., 416-696-1000, ontariosciencecentre.ca Harbourfront Centre There are endless free activities at the city’s lakeside multiculturalism hub: paddleboat rides on the pond, interac- tive kids’ activities, and an impressive number of cultural, ethnic and food festivals, markets, movie screenings and art exhibitions, plus a summer favourite: “dancing on the pier” nights, with a rotating cast of musicians and genres. 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com Canada’s Wonderland The amusement park just north of Toronto has two new attractions this summer. The Muskoka Plunge, a series of four 18-metres-tall waterslides inside Splash Works Waterpark, promises to shoot riders around S-curves and loops at 40 km/h. For the brave, the Soaring Timbers ride whips two spinning, flipping gondolas through the air in sweeping arcs. Yikes. 1Canada’s Wonderland Dr., Vaughan, 905-832-8131, canadaswonderland.com