2 Best Sights in The Annex, Toronto

Created by Sonja Bata, wife of the founder of the Bata Shoe Company, this museum holds a permanent collection of more than 15,000 foot coverings and, through the changing fashions, highlights the craft and sociology of making shoes. Some items date back more than 4,500 years. Among the items that may pop up in the rotating exhibits are delicate 16th-century velvet platforms, iron-spiked clogs used for crushing chestnuts, 8-inch lime green Vivienne Westwood heels, Elton John's platform boots, and Elvis Presley's blue (patent leather, not suede) shoes.

A European-style castle, Casa Loma was commissioned in 1911 by financier Sir Henry Pellatt, who spent about C$20 million building his dream home—only to lose it to the taxman a decade later. Some impressive details are the giant pipe organ, the 60-foot-high ceilings in the Great Hall, and the 5-acre estate gardens. The rooms are copies of those in English, Spanish, Scottish, and Austrian castles. Exhibits feature antique cars and hyper-realistic statues of celebrities (paying homage to the many movies, from Chicago to X-Men, that have used Casa Loma as a location), alongside other rotating attractions and events. Included in the admission price is a self-guided multimedia tour (available in four languages).  A tour of Casa Loma is a good 1½-km (1-mile) walk, so wear sensible shoes.