3-Day Weekend of Art & Culture in Toronto

Arrive in Toronto and get straight to it! You don't have much time after all and there's plenty to see! Visit Monkey's Paw rare book store for outdated and unusual books. Purchase a mystery book from the Biblio-mat, their own used book vending machine! Go shopping in this neighborhood afterwards for art and fashion.

Go to the Bata Shoe Museum. As a shoe and art lover, I couldn't have been more pleased. They take you through the decades with shoes from the ancient to the futuristic. I also love to check out the botanical garden in any city I visit and Allan Gardens did not disappoint.

Today you do the EdgeWalk on the CN Tower. Don't overthink it or you risk backing out. When I did this (on a layover of all times,) we had someone actually try to abort mission at the last second so I bravely led the group outside and eventually he calmed down. Not only is this a great way to see the city, but it is incredibly exhilarating. Plus, they give you photos of yourself at the end of the experience, hanging off the edge without breaking a sweat, and it's pretty darn cool. The CN Tower also has a restaurant at the top if that is more your speed..

Walk through Kensington Market to get the hippie vibes, shops and food, of course!

Have dinner at Piano Piano, which has a great ambiance with delicious Italian food. Plus the waitstaff are super sweet and accommodating. This restaurant is perfect for date night.

While in Toronto you have to try the Chinese cuisine. So why not dim sum? Replace the usual mimosas, eggs and bacon brunch with tea, dumplings and sponge cake in Toronto's Chinatown.

Very near to Chinatown is the esteemed Art Gallery of Ontario. Years ago, I went for the "David Bowie Is" exhibition that showcased over 300 of his personal artifacts in all art forms, but their rotating exhibitions are not the only showstoppers. The permanent collection ranges from European masters to Contemporary works, including Indigenous Canadian artists.

Indulge in charcoal ice cream at the Asian-inspired iHalo Krunch with its photo-ready shop and black cones just dying to be on your Instagram.

Finish the trip with a visit to the Harbourfront and walk through the peaceful Toronto Music Garden with scenic Lake Ontario views. Sit for a while and listen to a musician set up on the docks.