Toronto Archives - Page 4 of 4

What to Expect From Each Toronto Neighborhood as a Visitor

September 30, 2020

If you’re planning a trip to Toronto for the first time, you may be wondering where to stay. The city is made up of quite a few distinct neighborhoods, each of which has its pros and cons.

In the central area of the city, you’ll find leafy residential streets lined with townhouses, beautiful homes, the University of Toronto campus, and the bright lights of the downtown area. In the east, you’ll find wide-open green spaces, residential homes, and even waterfront hikes.

Here are a few of the city’s most popular neighbourhoods and what you can expect if you choose to stay in them.

Yorkville

This centrally located area is just north of one of Toronto’s main streets—Bloor Street. While the neighbourhood is close to the hustle and bustle of the city, it offers a much more quiet and tranquil atmosphere.

It’s a relatively upscale area, with pricier restaurants, bars, and shops. If you’re looking for a neighbourhood that’s close to Bloor St., but that offers a quiet, trendy way of life, Yorkville might be ideal for you.

Downtown and the Entertainment District

Downtown Toronto is usually considered to be located around the Yonge-Dundas Square area. This area is always bustling and is filled with shopping, offices, and skyscrapers. If you’re travelling to Toronto for business, you may very well end up in the downtown area on a daily basis.

Downtown Toronto is conveniently located and has excellent transport links. Plus, if you’re interested in shopping, eating out, or catching a movie or a play, it’s ideal. However, it’s not a particularly homely area, and it may get a little hectic for some visitors.

The Annex

The Annex is another central area in Toronto, located just west of its bustling downtown. The Annex is filled with student houses along with plenty of charming family townhouses. It’s a slightly quieter, cooler area in comparison to both Yorkville and downtown.

Here, you’ll find plenty of affordable, hip restaurants, cafes, and bars, along with some interesting second-hand boutiques. If you like leafy, pretty streets, but still want to be close to the entertainment district or to the University of Toronto, the Annex is perfect for you.

The Beaches

The Beaches is a little further out than the other areas we’ve discussed so far. It’s located in the east end of Toronto (on the east of the Don Valley Parkway).

The Beaches are aptly named—the area is known for its sandy waterfront walks, it’s village-like feel, and it’s intimate bakeries, cafes, and bistros. If you don’t need to be close to the downtown area of Toronto, this east end paradise is quiet and charming.

Cabbagetown

Cabbagetown is a small, idyllic area in the west end of Toronto. While the Annex is on the west of the university, Cabbagetown is to the east. It offers a quiet, residential feel, along with lots of family-friendly restaurants.

Highlights of this area include Allan Gardens and Riverdale Farm. If you happen to be travelling with kids, this area is perfect for you.

Parkdale

This west end residential area is known for its inclusive, artistic spirit. You’ll find colourful street art and a wide range of entertainment and restaurant options.

This hip, laid back area is centered around Queen St W, which is filled with boutiques, vintage stores, and vegetarian eateries.

Roncesvalles

Roncesvalles is west of the Annex. In the past few years, this area has become more and more trendy. These days, it’s where you’ll find some of the coolest wine bars and tapas restaurants in the city.

You’ll also find independent bookshops and cafes, as well as the city’s huge High Park. This area is a little far out from the hustle and bustle of downtown, but it’s easy to get around by streetcar or subway.

The Danforth

The Danforth is the Main Street in Toronto’s east end. It’s a largely residential area with lots of young families. It’s got lots of parks, easy-going restaurants, and idyllic side streets.

While this area is east of the Don Valley Parkway, simply hop on the subway to get back to Toronto’s Entertainment District.

Finding Your Home Away From Home in Toronto

Here at DelSuites, we offer a wide range of furnished suites on a temporary short-term basis. Our fully fitted homes are ideal for people travelling to the city for business or short-term school purposes. With suites dotted all over the city, you’re bound to find a gorgeous apartment in whichever area you think will suit you best.

Start browsing our listings and discover the home of your dreams in Toronto.

Lifestyle talk, Relocation

Things To Do Before You Move: A Checklist

November 1, 2019

Relocating is a complicated process, so this list will help you to keep everything organised.

When you are moving home, there are a lot of things to remember. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of this process, it’s easy to forget important steps. There are many things you need to do when you are leaving an old house and moving into a new one.

So, we have put together a moving checklist that you can use to make sure that you have covered everything necessary when relocating.

Things To Do Before You Move

Notify everyone who needs to know that you have changed your address. This includes the Post Office (so they can redirect your mail), your bank, the voter registrar, the department of taxation, your insurance company, your magazine subscriptions, your friends and family and any others.
Stop any services to your old address, including magazine or newspaper subscriptions, telephone, electricity, water, gas and internet.
Disconnect the washing machine and drain the water.
Defrost the fridge and drain the water.
Call your gas and electricity companies and ask them to disconnect the fittings from the supply.
Remove your fittings and fixtures from the walls.
When packing, make a small bag to take with you. Use this bag to carry your ID, your tickets, your passports and other important documentation so that they are not accidently packed.
In this bag that you take with you, also pack important and irreplaceable items such as legal documents, insurance papers, taxation papers, birth certificates, etc.
Make sure that you aren’t packing any dangerous items that should not be transported, including bleach products, kerosene, cleaning fluid, nail polish, aerosols, ammunition, partially used cans of paint and vegetable oils. You can either throw these items away, recycle them safely or give them to friends.
If you are transporting valuable items such as jewellery, collectibles, paintings, antiques or furs you should get some transit protection for them.
Avoid packing liquids such as perfumes and sauces, as they could break in transit and make a mess.
Avoid packing perishable foods. If you can’t use up all of your perishable food before the move, consider donating it to a food shelter or giving it to friends.
Make sure that the water heater, gas connections and main power are turned off before you leave the house for good.
Think about whether you have any shoes at the repair shop, sporting goods at a club or school or clothes at the dry cleaner.
Lock all of your windows and doors.
Look over the house one more time in order to check for any belongings that the packing crew may have forgotten. Don’t forget to check in the basement, garage and attic.
Give over the old house keys to the new owner or the agent.

Print off this list and check it off as you go through your move – so that you can make sure that every detail is taken care of when relocating to your new home.

Toronto