Hotel at a Glance: Edward Village Hotel Markham

The Edward Village Hotel Markham is located right off Highways 7 and 404, which can help bring you straight to downtown Toronto in 30 minutes flat. But don’t worry, there’s plenty to do closer to the hotel as well. Just take a quick five-minute drive west and you’ll not only find York Cinemas, but more than a dozen dining options from pub fare at Tilted Kilt to chinese fusion at Dragon Boat Fusion Cuisine. As if that weren’t enough, head five minutes in the opposite direction and you’ll reach First Markham Place mall.

• Take a dip in any weather in the indoor pool.
• Work up a sweat in the fitness center or onsite sauna.
• In-room amenities: coffeemaker, hair dryer, and free WiFi

Toronto, Ontario: Scenic Trails, Boutique Shopping, and the Hockey Hall of Fame

Toronto is known as a wonderful walking city, with a sprawling network of eclectic neighborhoods and miles of waterside parkland. Set on the shores of Lake Ontario, the city’s scenic hiking and walking trails wind along the harbor front. From there, a northerly stroll takes you to the Fashion District, where warehouses and old factories that sat empty for years now house upscale restaurants, galleries, and cutting-edge boutiques. A bit farther north lies Kensington Market, a bohemian village rife with vintage shops and organic-food markets.

Toronto may be home to Canada’s best collection of museums. Hockey is a national pastime, so it makes sense that the Hockey Hall of Fame is here. Its interactive Pepsi Shut Out exhibit challenges goaltender wannabes to stop a slap shot against a virtual Wayne Gretzky. The Hall of Fame’s centerpiece is the hallowed Esso Great Hall, home to the Stanley Cup and portraits of all 375 inductees. Science buffs can stop at the Ontario Science Centre, where you can watch an IMAX film, delve into space at the planetarium, or touch a plasma ball at the Science Arcade.

The nearby Art Gallery of Ontario exhibits an astounding collection of work from Canadian artists and European masters in a Frank Gehry–designed building that centers on a circular floating staircase. Toronto is also known as a city of gardens, and you’ll find one of its best, the Toronto Music Garden, stretched out along the waterfront. Designed in part by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the Music Garden translates the music of Bach through beautiful landscaped installations, including a winding river and giant grass steps.

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