I peered outside the clear glass window of the uber. Our driver passed tall glassy buildings that disappeared among the clouds. I raised my eyes just in time to catch a glimpse of the tower that graced Drakes album cover, Views. For a moment I thought of him casually sitting, feet dangling. I imagined he would wave to us, welcoming us into his hometown.
My sister Nara and I rang the bell at the front desk of the St. Regis. Like clockwork, an impeccably dressed man in a grey pinstripe suit appeared before us and clasped his hands, showing off clean, manicured nails.
“Welcome to the St. Regis Ms. Middleton, we are happy to have you. We have upgraded your room and requested two queen double beds.”
Nara raised her eyebrows and I smiled in response.
The bellhop took our bags as we got the rundown of the logistics of our stay at the hotel for the next two days.
“...and please join us for a champagne toast at 6 pm in the lobby.”
“Champagne?” I asked as I wandered behind the host as he lead us to the elevator.
He shook our hands and left us to wait for the elevator which would shoot us to our upgraded room on the 28th floor.
“You think Drake lives here?” asked Nara staring into the mirror outside the shiny elevator doors
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“He probably owns it,” I replied.
We stepped into the elevator and shot to the top. Once we entered our room, we were greeted by an espresso machine and a fully stocked bar. Nara plopped on the bed losing herself in the abyss of white fluffy pillows, I immediately ran hot bath water in the porcelain plated shower. We were in Toronto at the St. Regis and there was champagne, and room service and view from a hotel in the 6.
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Toronto is a great city to visit for just the weekend. It is a one hour flight from New York City and eight hours if you plan on taking the scenic route by bus or car.
I planned a two day trip with my sister at the end of October. We had a small mishap the first day (which is another blog post within itself) however we had a pretty solid itinerary. Once we were settled in our hotel in Toronto’s Financial District, we ordered room service, rested up and got ready to begin our excursions.
The CN Tower
After a complimentary breakfast at the penthouse in the St. Regis, we tidied up and headed to one of Toronto's notable landmarks. It was a sight to behold. We took some photos outside the tower then headed inside to be shot to the top by a glass elevator.
One inside it was amazing to see all of Toronto from thousands of feet above the ground. We read about the rich history and pretty much took in the sites.
Tea Time at The Shangri La Hotel
It’s always a good time for tea time. The minute I walked into the Shangri La Hotel, I was in heaven. It’s beautiful, ornate and luxurious. We sat in plush velvet seats in the lobby, sipped specialty cocktails and ate an assortment of finely crafted mini sandwiches.
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The maitre d brought an abundance of teas for our choosing. I sipped upon a rose-scented liquid and looked out the tall glass windows. The pianist played a soft tune in the background. As the music floated through the air, I reminded my sister that we were meant to do this.
Book: https://www.shangri-la.com/toronto/shangrila/offer-detail/dining/high-tea-in-the-lobby-lounge/
The Art Gallery of Toronto
My sister and I love art and museums so it was really important we made our way to at least one museum in Toronto. We found ourselves at the AGO and got to view the ongoing exhibition “The Early Rubens.” We wandered around marveling at the art and people watching. I felt comfortable here and everyone was friendly. It was hard for me not to compare everything I saw in New York, but that just shows how amazing Toronto is.
Visit: http://ago.ca/ago-bistro
Kensington Market:
“We need something local...I need something that reminds me of New York.”
We found ourselves in Kensington Market, a small market town with a stretch of street that's littered with a hole in the wall restaurants, bars, and specialty shops. My favorite aspect of Kensington Market was the art. Murals littered the walls and little shops sold one of a kind pieces and trinkets. We had empanadas and enjoyed people-watching in the streets.
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Toronto was a fun weekend trip in a very cute city. I would love to visit again sometime in the summer. By uber, our ride to the hotel was about 30 minutes. However, you can take the train from Toronto’s Union Station:
Arrive at Airport - $18.00
UP Express Train - Toronto Airport (YYZ) to Union Station (Toronto, Canada) - Fri, Oct 25
UP Express Train - Toronto Airport (YYZ) to Union Station
You can cancel free of charge until 25 hours before the activity starts. After that time, no cancellations, changes or refunds will be made.
Activities cannot be transferred from one person to another.
Please refer to your itinerary for redemption instructions.
For more things to do in Toronto click here:
Happy Traveling!
Sincerely,
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