Union Station in Toronto may be a National Historic Site of Canada but it's a busy modern rail hub too. In fact it's the country's busiest transport complex, with 65 million passengers passing through annually. Canada's largest rail station was opened in 1927 and its cavernous Ticket Hall has since served as the backdrop to many feature films. Travellers who hire a car at Union Station soon find that the Beaux-Art style colonnaded building stands on Front Street West on the border of the city's business and entertainment districts; it's also a short drive to the Lake Ontario shore, the Waterfront arts centre and the CN Tower.
If you pick up a hire car at Union Station you'll be well placed to explore the busy high-rise city of Toronto spreading along the north shore of Lake Ontario. Gardiner Expressway is one block away, giving fast access to all parts of the city. The visitor highlights include the restored Distillery District's trendy restaurants and boutiques, and the bohemian Beaches lakeside area. There are prestigious monuments, museums and galleries of course, plus unexpected treats like Edwards Botanical Gardens, and the colourful Chinatown district. Look out too for the family-friendly theme parks, Canada's Wonderland, Ontario Place and Centreville.
