When a few of my colleagues and good friends who travel tell me about a city or area to check out, I tend to value their opinion. They have yet to steer me wrong.

They are once again correct with Toronto. This city is really cool. 

There are so many neighborhoods and each one has its own feel. ALL of them are filled with a vast assortment of small businesses. 

Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, boutiques, food stores, clothing…you name it. Most of them are not chain stores. It’s incredible, and overwhelming.

So far I’ve visited these parts of town: Pape Village, East York, East Danforth, Greektown, The Beaches, Leslieville, Corktown, Cabbagetown, The Distillery District, North York, Chinatown, Yorkville, Old Toronto, Liberty Village, Parkdale, High Park, Little Portugal, The Annex, and Bloordale Village. 

That’s a lot, but I haven’t seen a whole lot more that is left. I certainly know I’ve seen enough to realize that a city like this is for me. It’s clean and quiet for a city as big as Chicago (with a whole lot less crime).

The problem is…I wish it were as pretty as The Bay Area in Northern California and had weather like San Diego. My dream place to live could keep an incredibly efficient public transit system like the TTC here and can keep the genuinely nice and diverse people. I might actually give up my car if I could get around town on public transportation with so few headaches like I do here. 

Can I invent the perfect place to live? Is there a lab where I can work on this? Geez! 

Toronto is something else. I need to come back during the summer when it’s warm. I’m sure it’s even better than it already is.