Hi, there. I'm a tour guide in Toronto. I love the city, as well as meeting new people. A role model of mine was Anthony Bourdain, as I loved what he was trying to accomplish by bringing people together, regardless of background, to illustrate the human desire for connection we all have. I aspire to give my guests the same genuine passion. In my spare time, I enjoy eating too much chocolate, making music, and writing, the latter two being my side jobs and passions. (If only I was paid to eat chocolate.) I've traveled to over 10 countries, I have lived in four of them, and have spent years residing in different states within the U.S, from California to Pennsylvania. One of my favorite places on earth is Ireland, and a place I want to travel to is Japan. I offer a few tours in Toronto and would love to show you around the city. **I am a certified tour guide with the Toronto tour guide association. **
Let's face it - Canada isn't known for its temperate climate. It can get cold. Very cold. Yet, people crave that type of experience at times - snowfall, beautiful white winter wonderlands, skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating, or maybe just to experience an authentic Christmas.
Whatever the reason, Canada can be a beautiful time in the winter season, and it's worth checking out. The reality is though, a walking tour in Toronto in the middle of the coldest time of the year is not ideal. Far from it. Images of Hawaii or Florida come to mind for many around this time of year.
But Toronto has a way of ignoring all that cold, icy windchill. We have the path system - an elaborate underground passageway which Torontonians can use to avoid the weather - both hot or cold - as well as the foot traffic and honking cars.
From within its many paths and passages, you have access to many of Toronto's landmarks and attractions, such as Union Station's Grand Hall, The Fairmont Royal York, both New and Old City Hall, as well as views of the CN Tower, and access to The Hockey Hall of Fame museum, Brookfield Place (a marvel of modern architecture) and Canada's second largest mall, The Eaton Centre.
The best part? You barely need to leave the warmth and safety of the underground. You can stay warm and still enjoy a walking tour that allows you to see Toronto's premium destinations while learning about the city's history, both old and new. You'll remain underground 90% of the time, and only come up for a few minutes at most.
If you're in Toronto for the cold winter months but still want to learn about the city, this tour is perfect for you.
And don't worry - even though the path system is a maze many people don't understand or know, I won't get us lost.
NOTE: This tour is a free walking tour. If you liked the tour, no one got lost, and didn't totally hate me, you can choose to tip at the end. It is appreciated and always welcome, but there is no strict obligation.
The meeting point is in front of the travelers aid booth inside the Great Hall of Union Station. I will be wearing a lanyard with my name on it.
Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).
