Disclosures: The author travelled with some assistance from Destination Toronto, which neither reviewed nor approved this post. This post contains affiliate links.
The first thing I learned on a weekend trip to Toronto to reconnect with my first-born child, fresh off first-year university, was that this city oozes unscripted mother-daughter magic.
Travelling together for the first time as two adults, we had bonding pencilled high on the agenda. I just didn’t realize how readily Toronto would deliver memorable experiences—from chatting through 20,000 steps across the Toronto Zoo in a May heat wave to strolling on a balmy night, under the glow of the CN Tower, into the heady vibe of a crowd of Maple Leaf fans anticipating playoff hockey victory (alas, they lost in overtime).
Here are six great mother-daughter places to explore.
Sleep in a sustainable sanctuary
To feel like you’re on an Ontario lakeside estate getaway, with staffers who take you under their wing, base yourself at 1 Hotel. The eco-luxury brand’s first Canadian outpost is a sustainable sanctuary that’s an oasis of calm in busy King West Village. The interior is all soothing greenery and reclaimed wood—including felled trees repurposed into gorgeous tables, nightstands and more by Just Be Woodsy.
The onsite, plant-drenched, 1 Kitchen is a zero-waste restaurant that’s also the type of place where your waitress kindly shares Uber and city tips as she refills your morning coffee mug. More dining options at 1 Hotel can be had at Casa Madera, Flora Lounge and Harriet’s Rooftop (complete with plunge pool with skyline views).
The hotel has complimentary bikes for exploring, too, and a Tesla car to shuttle guests around town. Not going to lie: We had a “holy Batman” moment when our driver pulled up and the car doors opened skyward.
Next up: Brunch
A quick three-minute walk around the corner from 1 Hotel and you can be sitting in a window seat toasting your trip and clinking celebratory glasses of Prosecco at Shook, a Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant with a life-affirming brunch (think a fry up with za’atar fried eggs, grilled halloumi, latkes and pita, and chocolate babka French toast). The smoothies are good too.
Take a (really good) bite of Asian culture
In May 2022, Superfresh Night Market—an Asian food hall serving up culture, community and good eats—opened its doors in a 370-square-metre (4,000 square foot) Bloor Street space that once housed a 24-hour Korean supermarket named, yes, Superfresh. With colourful colanders hanging from the rafters, a fabulously fun red fortune wall with waving gold lucky cats, and a neon sign pointing out Auntie’s Supply, Superfresh is all things marvellous (with alleyway vibes).
Indoors and outdoors, diners devour fare from seven Asian-led businesses, including steamed bao sandwiches, addictively tasty mochi muffins, grilled satay ayam (chicken skewers) and killer hand-pulled noodles in beef brisket bowls. Look for fun cocktails, too.
Gorgeous greenery
Bustling, multicultural Toronto may be a city where you brush shoulders with millions of other people, but not so in the city’s largest park. High Park is a beacon of nature, hiking trails and dreamy lakefront views with an adorable red-and-white train that transports visitors around the park for a small fee. Visiting in spring? You’ll want to channel your inner influencer—it’s Toronto’s most famous cherry blossom spot with one of the city’s highest concentrations of sakura trees. Even the normally photo-hesitant can find their moment to shine!
Zoo-tastic
At 162 hectares (400 acres), the Toronto Zoo is Canada’s largest zoo, with more than 5,000 animals and seven zoogeographic regions. Those regions are based on where the animals are from and not their species, making it more stimulating for the animals and more helpful for educational purposes than the typical zoo layout. One of the best ways to explore it is to book a behind-the-scenes tour.
Indulging my daughter’s childhood fascination with all things polar bear, we went behind the scenes to meet the massive animals and ended our visit with a rallying cry. Polar bears are listed as vulnerable and we must do something to help them, our guide Sarah said. Her advice? Start with education and reducing carbon emissions at home. “You can be that seed of change.”
This old thing
Of course, it’s not a visit to Canada’s largest city without some retail therapy. You’ll want to hit up such tourist icons as the Toronto Eaton Centre and fan (read my teen’s) favourite Canadian retailer, Simons, in the Square One mall in nearby Mississauga. However, you should also make plans to include Stackt Market, Canada’s largest shipping container market. Less than a five-minute walk from 1 Hotel, it’s a fun place to browse, enjoy an ice cream cone, up your sneaker game at some snazzy shops, and even get a haircut!
If you go
Downtown Toronto is about 450 kilometres (280 miles) from Parliament Hill. Find out how you can easily get from Ottawa to Toronto by car, bus, train, plane or bike.
Use the map below if you’d like to book accommodations in Toronto at 1 Hotel or another property. Disclosure: If you book a place to stay using this map, Ottawa Road Trips will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
For more information on visiting Toronto, check out the Destination Toronto website.
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