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A Covid Safe Trip to Toronto

Jessica Giaccone , , ,

A covid safe trip to downtown Toronto has been a priority for the city ever since the very start of the pandemic in early 2020. Driving down the 401 highway the city begins to come into full view as posted signs preach the importance of vaccination and social distancing. As of March 2022, around 82% of those living in Toronto have received at least two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine as thousands of others get their first dose every day.

Entering the city, an electronic billboard informs drivers of the importance of vaccination. (Photo by Jessica Giaccone)

While traffic into the city may slow you down initially, when you finally hit the streets of Toronto, it’s yours to explore. The Scotia Bank arena is a fan favorite for being a concert hall to thousands of performers, as well as the home of the infamous Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. On any busy night, the arena can be expected to fill up its massive capacity of almost 20,000 seats with screaming fans. The lights and billboards surrounding the arena draw even those who have lived there for years to come and check out the events. And as the sun sets on the city, it only seems to get brighter as all the lights slowly come on.

The Scotia Bank in downtown Toronto houses hundreds of shows and sporting events each year (Photo by Jessica Giaccone)

One of the essential stops for a night out in Toronto begins with drinks and grub at a coffee shop turned bar. The Piccolo café, located right in the heart of Toronto, is the perfect way to ease into a night out with friends. From 8-2 P.M the café is a go-to breakfast spot for the busy city of people grabbing a bite to eat before and during work.

Chalkboard menus and a bistro-style bar line the walls of the café (Photo by Jessica Giaccone)

Their rustic style features drawings of scantily clad women lining the wallpaper above and around the washroom as well as a handwritten chalkboard menu. After 5 P.M the café transforms into a classic pub with a fully stocked bar that perfectly caters to any late night out.

Images of scantily clad women line the wallpaper designs in the bathroom (Photo by Jessica Giaccone)

A fundamental part of being a tourist in Toronto for the first time is taking a tour of the CN Tower.

The tower stands at 8447 m at the highest observation point in the needle. Originally built in 1973, the tower has remained the largest freestanding structure in the Western Hemisphere for over three decades. The lift to the top is just as entrancing as the view. The elevator ride is 30 seconds of pure excitement as it rises at a speed of 44 km/hr taking all the occupants to the main observation deck.

The view from the highest point in the CN Tower (Photo by Jessica Giaccone)

For an increased price, tourists can then get tickets to proceed to the SkyPod for the most stunning view of the city. While the tower itself is a wondrous sight, the final view cannot be topped. From the SkyPod, everything else in the city seems to disappear into miniature specks of movement. Yonge Street, the longest street in the world, is easily visible and seems to stretch miles away from this skyline view.

A stunning view of the Toronto skyline can be seen from the top of the CN tower (Photo by Jessica Giaccone)

The city of Toronto certainly has no shortage of excitement and continues to reflect that diversity truly is the city’s strength.