Explore Toronto and Visit the Hometown of Baseball Star Wang Jianmin, Former Blue Jays Player

This week, Taiwanese-American baseball pitcher Wang Jianmin has once again become the focus of attention as he returns to the Major Leagues wearing the uniform of the Toronto Blue Jays. His comeback not only showcases his perseverance and dedication but also makes people wonder—what kind of city is Toronto, really? Today, HowToTrip takes you on a sneak peek into Canada’s largest metropolis to discover its most exciting and enjoyable spots.

In the Indigenous language, “Toronto” means “a place where people gather.” This meaning feels even more fitting in modern times. As Canada’s largest city and the fourth-largest in North America, Toronto attracts young Canadians just as Taipei draws Taiwanese and New York draws Americans. Highways 401 and 11 act like giant straws, sucking ambitious youth toward this city of dreams. Toronto may lack the clean freshness of Vancouver or the refined elegance of Quebec City, but what it offers is a complex and diverse urban character.

 

When it comes to Toronto’s iconic landmark, the CN Tower is undoubtedly the top choice. Standing at 553.33 meters tall, the tower was built partly to solve television signal transmission issues and partly to showcase Canada’s industrial prowess. Since its completion in 1976, the CN Tower held the Guinness World Record for the tallest freestanding structure in the world until it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in 2007 (Taipei 101, with a roof height of 449.2 meters, was once the tallest skyscraper in the world).

 

Tourists taking the high-speed elevator (just 58 seconds!) to the observation deck at 346 meters can enjoy one of the most complete views of Toronto. The daytime scenery here might actually be more impressive than the nighttime view, as Toronto isn’t particularly known for its bright lights. On a clear day, you might even spot Niagara Falls across Lake Ontario. On the level below the main observation deck, there's a transparent reinforced glass floor (the Glass Floor)—it’s quite a surreal feeling to look down and see the ground 70 or 80 stories beneath your feet. While the observation deck is already impressively high, there’s an even higher level at 447 meters: the SkyPod, currently the world’s tallest outdoor observation deck. As the saying goes, “To see a thousand miles, climb yet another floor.” The view from the SkyPod is absolutely worth the extra cost and wait.

From above, the new City Hall resembles a large pair of parentheses. These two arc-shaped, asymmetrical buildings were designed by award-winning Finnish architect Viljo Revell. Since their completion in 1965, they have been one of downtown Toronto’s landmark structures. The square in front of City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square, is named after a former mayor with many achievements, Nathan Phillips. It’s now a popular spot for locals to rollerblade in summer and ice skate in winter, and skate rentals are available. The old City Hall, located diagonally opposite the new one, was built in 1899 and now serves as a courthouse. Its classic, elegant architecture is also well worth seeing.

The 1997 Oscar-winning film *Good Will Hunting* tells the story of a genius young man, Will, who worked as a janitor at MIT. After solving a difficult math problem written on a chalkboard hallway, he is discovered—but his rebellious personality gives his math professor a headache. The professor then calls in his psychologist friend Sean to counsel Will, leading to an inspiring journey of growth.

 

Although the movie is set in Boston on the U.S. East Coast—where MIT (where Will is discovered) and Harvard University (where Will’s girlfriend studies) are located—in reality, much of the film was shot in Toronto. Several buildings at the University of Toronto stood in for those elite American campuses.

 

Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto is vast, even spanning Queen’s Park, and includes 17 colleges and over 120 academic departments, making it Canada’s largest university. Filming locations included Whitney Hall and Knox College in the central campus, as well as University College, the main building, which is also worth a visit. Victoria College, located to the north of campus, was another filming site—it houses a library and student services center, where you can purchase University of Toronto merchandise.

 

Walking through the campus surrounded by 19th-century British-style classical buildings, with its rich academic atmosphere and serene green gardens, you might feel as if you’ve stepped right into a scene from *Good Will Hunting*, as professors and students stroll by, perhaps discussing coursework.

From a small dock behind the Westin Hotel, you can take a ferry to the Toronto Islands. The “islands” actually refer to 17 islands on Lake Ontario, with the main ones being Ward Island, Centre Island, and Hanlan’s Point—all connected by land bridges. The Toronto Islands offer one of the most complete panoramic views of the city. The Toronto skyline, dominated by the CN Tower, attracts photographers from all over. Strolling through the islands’ woods and small lakes offers a peaceful escape, and when you reach the other side, the sudden openness is both refreshing and uplifting. Lake Ontario, stretching as far as the eye can see, almost feels like an ocean to Torontonians—with the only difference being that it’s freshwater, not saltwater.

 

Centre Island has the most entertainment options. Renting a bike to cruise the quiet paths, taking a small boat out onto the lake, or playing in the sand by the shore all make the islands feel like a hidden paradise—a world apart from the bustling city of Toronto just a 10-minute ferry ride away.