Toronto

Historic waterfronts in many cities transitioned from gritty transportation hubs to dynamic tourist attractions in the latter part of the 20th century. These destinations display their obvious appeal in the summer — gulls squawking overhead, tantalizing food smells, cooling breezes — as the perfect antidote to a sweltering day in the city. But many urban waterfronts deserve a wintertime visit. Though an invigorating bite to the breeze can turn summer’s leisurely stroll into a brisk walk, the crowds thin to congenial proportions and the crisp air makes everything seem more sharply focused.

Nothing yields a fresh perspective quite as much as an observation deck. Whether you’re the cautious person who stands back from the rail and looks far, far out or the daredevil who leans as close to the edge as possible, you can’t help but be impressed by the view from umpteen floors up.

Whether you’re a loyal iPhone user or you love your Android device, smartphone apps have changed the way we travel. You no longer need to carry around a map, guidebook, bus schedule, and directions to the restaurant you want to try for lunch. You can find all of that, and more, on your phone.

Got a kid in college? No doubt you’ve already received your invitation to the gala event of the season: Parents’ Visiting Weekend. When your student goes to school in a major urban area, this trip is extra-thrilling. Not only do you get to reunite with your child (while reminiscing endlessly and annoyingly about your own days on campus), you get to do it in a big city! How fun is that?

Sure, you love your car – but maybe it deserves some R & R, just like you do. Leave it in the parking garage at the hotel, and take advantage of the futuristic, whimsical and earth-friendly touring options found in CityPASS locales.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the completion of the CN Tower in Toronto. So before you head to Toronto, below are some really interesting facts and other tidbits to help you get to know the tallest structure in the Western Hemisphere better. As you’ll see, the CN Tower is an amazing structure!

Very few of us will ever know what it’s like to stand in front of the world to accept an Academy Award — but with the help of CityPASS, we can all get a chance to stand in the same places where many of these celebrated movies were filmed. In honor of this year’s 83rd Annual Academy Awards, we have designed a mini-tour of a few CityPASS attractions as real-live movie lots featured in Oscar-winning films.

The 2010 Toronto International Film Festival may be over, but that doesn’t mean visitors have to wait an entire year to enjoy a little movie magic. Thanks to its tradition of graciously standing in for cities such as Chicago, Boston and New York, Toronto is chock-full of film locations that can add a touch of stardust to any vacation itinerary.