car hire Toronto

The Canadian city of Toronto was first populated by Seneca Indians, who gave the town its name (meaning "meeting place"). By 1720 the French had come into the area and established a trading post, but it wasn't long before the British assumed power and renamed the village York, in 1793. When Americans held the city during the War of 1812, they changed the name back to Toronto. Throughout the 1800s, Toronto underwent an ambitious expansion, thanks to a glut of new buildings and a population boom fueled by the first wave of European immigrants to the region. But the city's momentum was cut out from under it when the fire of 1904 incinerated more than 100 buildings. The city's spirits flagged in the soon-to-come Depression as well. Sometime during this period, Toronto earned the moniker "Toronto the Good" after its allegedly straight-arrow and by-the-book character. When another influx of immigrants came after World War II, the city was again revitalized and set out on a path to becoming the biggest city in Canada by the turn of the millennium.

There are plenty of rewarding side trips less than a couple hours' drive from Toronto. Many travellers take their hire car to Stratford for its amazing theatre scene, or to Muskoka Lakes. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a 130-kilometre drive, and home to one of the best-preserved and most charming 19th-century North American villages. The lure of its quaint period buildings and tree-lined streets brings in many tourists, as does the region's wine. Niagara-on-the-Lake is regarded as the centre of the Ontario wine region. And yes, Niagara Falls is just a half-hour drive away.

The Art Gallery of Ontario, which is presently undergoing a spectacular renovation by Toronto native Frank Gehry, features a comprehensive and impressive collection, and also hosts the world's biggest public collection of the sculptor Henry Moore's works, in the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre. When Moore discovered how beloved his sculptures were to the people of Toronto, he was so moved that he donated a huge number of pieces to fill out the Centre.

While some of Toronto's many attractions require a little exploring to find, one that most certainly does not is the ever-visible Canadian National (CN) Tower. This omnipresent skyscraper is the tallest freestanding building in the world. For a fee, you can ride a glass elevator to its top, where you can take in the views from two observation decks – one which is exposed to the windy elements. If you happen to have a reservation at the tower's luxurious revolving restaurant, 360, the elevator fee is waived.