3 Best Sights in Toronto, Ontario

Even if you aren't a hockey fan, it's worth a trip to see this shrine to Canada's favorite sport. Exhibits include the original 1893 Stanley Cup, as well as displays of goalie masks, skate and stick collections, players' jerseys, video displays of big games, and a replica of the Montréal Canadiens' locker room. Grab a stick and test your speed and accuracy in the Goodyear Shoot Out virtual experience, or strap on a goalie mask and field shots from big-name players with the Shut Out computer simulation. The grand building, a former Bank of Montréal branch designed by architects Darling & Curry in 1885, is covered with beautiful ornamental details—note the richly carved Ohio stone and the Hermès figure supporting the chimney near the back. At the corner of Front and Yonge Streets, the impressive 17-foot bronze statue Our Game is a good photo op.  Entrance is through Brookfield Place on the lower level.

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.

This small museum might not rival the city’s major art institutions, but it offers a fun escape—especially for families on a rainy afternoon. Its mind-bending illusions range from holograms to an antigravity room and a rotating room that makes it look like you’re standing upside down. It’s also a great place to snap a few photos.