Toronto - A Clean, Safe, Cosmopolitan City

Americans are notoriously indifferent to the cultural life offered by their neighbor to the north, so it's not surprising that Toronto, Ontario's capital, doesn't leap to mind as a travel destination. However, Toronto's population of 4.3 million ensures a lively mix of ethnic backgrounds that contribute to its wonderfully diverse shops and restaurants. For instance, the city boasts three Chinatowns, each brimming with distinctive grocery stores and pharmacies as well as dim sum restaurants offering as many as 150 dishes on the menu.

Theater buffs in particular will adore Toronto, a city that ranks behind only London and Paris for sheer variety of plays. On almost any given night, it's possible to catch dramas, comedies, big name musicals, and even operas. Canada gained its prominence in the arts when former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau instituted government funding for national theater in the 1970s. This boost led to the formation of the Toronto Theatre Alliance, which has continued to support both mainstream and experimental plays, many shown in restored theaters like the Royal Alexandria and the Winter Garden.

Sure, kids like plays, but what they really love is running wild at amusement parks, frolicking in swimming pools, and participating in hands-on learning activities. Luckily for parents, they can do all three in Toronto. Water games and rides abound at Ontario Place and Paramount Canada's Wonderland, and if you've booked a room at the Delta Chelsea, your children can take advantage of the family-only pool to make as much noise as they want. Children will also love the exhibits at the Royal Ontario Museum, which encourage them to pet animals, examine specimens under microscopes, and even handle ancient Egyptian objects.