Exploring Toronto with Mom
I’m super close to my mom but it’s rare for us to have a day to ourselves since she doesn’t live in the city. When the opportunity finally came up to spend some quality time together downtown, I thought it would be a great idea to take her for some culture, attractions, and of course, lots of great food.
We took advantage of the Toronto Spotlight program, which offers 2-for-1 admission and discounts on some of the city’s top tours and attractions. There are different ones every week, so make sure to visit their website for more information.
Food Tour of Kensington Market
What better way to explore a city like Toronto than through its food? We booked a 2.5-hr food tour operated by Tasty Tours that took us through Kensington Market, Toronto’s most vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods.
The tour took us on a journey through savoury and sweet, sampling from various local business (and cultures).
One highlight of the tour was the Moo Frites poutine with maple-infused mayo. It’s the sweet & savoury snack that we deserve, and currently only available through Tasty Tours.
I have to admit that as a local, I’ve come to see Kensington as a bit of a touristy thing to do (at least during the weekends) but the tour really helped to add a new perspective to it.
Throughout its history, Kensington was a settlement for British, Irish, Portuguese, Caribbean, Vietnamese, and Chinese communities, and we learned about how they shaped the neighbourhood that we know today. It’s the perfect place to get a true taste of Toronto.
Brunch at El Rey
Of course, it wouldn’t be a true day in Toronto if we didn’t indulge in several meals, so we popped into El Rey, located on the border of Kensington Market and Chinatown (Dundas).
This quaint and compact spot — known mainly for its mezcals and Mexican eats — now serves brunch on weekends. Super authentic and fun!
Make sure to save room for the caballero pobre, a fried brioche bun with tres leche and vanilla ice cream.
Mackenzie House
The next stop on our Tour de Toronto was Mackenzie House, the last home of Toronto’s first mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie. Known as the “rebel mayor”, Mackenzie was an outspoken politician and journalist, and eventual fugitive who led the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion.
The home is now a museum with a fully-functioning printing press, like the one Mackenzie would have used to print his newspapers.
We didn’t really know what to expect heading into the museum, but we were pleasantly surprised with how engaging it was. Canadian history is wild! And at Mackenzie House, the experience is essentially divided into two parts: the house, which gives a glimpse into how people lived in that time period, and the printing press, which gives insight into slavery and the impact and importance of the press.
Located just steps away from Yonge-Dundas Square, Mackenzie House is a bit of a hidden gem as far as cultural institutions go. Make sure to check this one out!
Ripley’s Aquarium
Our last stop was Ripley’s Aquarium. It was fairly packed — it was a Saturday, after all — but you can’t go wrong with 2-for-1 admission.
So that’s what we got up to in one day! There are tons of things to do in Toronto, and even though I planned this day mainly for my mom, it was great to get a new perspective on the city.
Beat the cold and take advantage of the Toronto Spotlight 2-for-1 deals! The promo ends on Sunday, March 1.
Craving more Toronto adventures? My Mom does my voiceover in this one:
