Toronto on a Budget

Multicultural, cosmopolitan Toronto has a surprising slew of appealingly priced attractions and distractions from sandy beaches, charming islands and wooded ravines to incredible restaurants, diverse neighborhoods and more than 125 galleries and museums. Add to that alluring mix, a social life that never stops and plenty of free festivals and you've got a bargain destination you may never want to leave.

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Gladstone Hotel
A quirky, but beautiful, red brick hotel that dates back to 1889, the Gladstone has 37 guest rooms, each designed by a local artist. Opt for the angular Offset Room or give in to your inner diva with a stay in the saccharine pink Teen Room. Downstairs, the bustling, friendly ballroom cafe and dimly lit Melody Bar offer great value foo... More >
A quirky, but beautiful, red brick hotel that dates back to 1889, the Gladstone has 37 guest rooms, each designed by a local artist. Opt for the angular Offset Room or give in to your inner diva with a stay in the saccharine pink Teen Room. Downstairs, the bustling, friendly ballroom cafe and dimly lit Melody Bar offer great value food and drinks till late. Popular with locals, a variety of entertainment and eclectic exhibitions fill the downstairs spaces.
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Toronto Islands
A peninsula until a 19th century storm destroyed the sandbar connecting the islands to the city, nowadays ferries bustle back and forth across the few hundred feet to shore for just a few dollars. The tiny archipelago has hundreds of picnic spots, some of the city's nicest stretches of beach, quad bike rentals, a petting zoo and kids a... More >
A peninsula until a 19th century storm destroyed the sandbar connecting the islands to the city, nowadays ferries bustle back and forth across the few hundred feet to shore for just a few dollars. The tiny archipelago has hundreds of picnic spots, some of the city's nicest stretches of beach, quad bike rentals, a petting zoo and kids amusement park. It's a perfect choice for a sunny afternoon whether youve got the kids or opt for some grown-up time. Keep in mind, though, that Hanlans Point Beach is Toronto's clothing-optional beach.
Fans of this much loved burger bar deep in the social heart of Fashion District thoroughfare, King Street, are lured as much by the perfectly fried onion rings as by the grilled to order beef burgers.
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Kensington Market
An eclectic array of cafes, restaurants, quirky stores, Latin American markets and retro clothes bodegas are crammed into the colorful blocks between Bathurst and Spadina and College and Dundas. Whether you pick up a bargain item, a pleasantly priced pupusa or just people watch from the patio at I-Deal Coffee on Nassau, the Market show... More >
An eclectic array of cafes, restaurants, quirky stores, Latin American markets and retro clothes bodegas are crammed into the colorful blocks between Bathurst and Spadina and College and Dundas. Whether you pick up a bargain item, a pleasantly priced pupusa or just people watch from the patio at I-Deal Coffee on Nassau, the Market shows off Toronto at its laid back best.
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Distillery Historic District
Once the world's largest distillery, today this cobbled quarter is one of Toronto's top tourist stops. Wander through the preserved Victorian Industrial district, admiring the wares of artisans, stopping for coffee at Balzac's or for a flight of hot chocolate drinks at chocolaterie, Soma.
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Pho Hung Restaurant (Spadina)
Locals don't go to Pho Hung in bustling Chinatown for the service they troop in, in their hordes for the huge portions of steaming pho and gargantuan plates of "broken rice." Pho Hung has more of a canteen feel than anything else, but it's a perfect mid-sightseeing stop between quirky Kensington Market and little known Baldwin Village... More >
Locals don't go to Pho Hung in bustling Chinatown for the service they troop in, in their hordes for the huge portions of steaming pho and gargantuan plates of "broken rice." Pho Hung has more of a canteen feel than anything else, but it's a perfect mid-sightseeing stop between quirky Kensington Market and little known Baldwin Village and you can have a feast for $10 a person.
Downstairs, the bustling, friendly ballroom cafe and dimly lit Melody Bar offer great value food and drinks till late.
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Craft Burger
Fans of this much loved burger bar deep in the social heart of Fashion District thoroughfare, King Street, are lured as much by the perfectly fried onion rings as by the grilled to order beef burgers. Tantalizing toppings teeter on top of fresh, charbroiled Triple A Canadian beef the signature menu item that costs just $7 before tax. If you're in need of a table as well as a bun and then some, grab it before you order sea... More
Fans of this much loved burger bar deep in the social heart of Fashion District thoroughfare, King Street, are lured as much by the perfectly fried onion rings as by the grilled to order beef burgers. Tantalizing toppings teeter on top of fresh, charbroiled Triple A Canadian beef the signature menu item that costs just $7 before tax. If you're in need of a table as well as a bun and then some, grab it before you order seats are few and far between.
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About the Author

Aefa Mulholland
Aefa Mulholland
Travel writer Aefa Mulholland has worked with the B.B.C., Irish national broadcaster R.T.E. and a plethora of print and online publications, including the Irish Times, Miami Herald and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She has been published or broadcast on four continents. She is currently writing “The Scottish Ambassador”—a book on learning how to become Scottish in Scottish America.
Websitehttp://thescottishambassador.wordpress.com/
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