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| Toronto is a remarkably eco-friendly travel destination recognized as one of the greenest cities in North America. Signs of Toronto’s commitment to an environmentally conscious lifestyle are found throughout the Ontario capital, which is home to North America’s only urban wind turbine. The city’s energy conservation measures include green roofs on a number of buildings, such as the Metro Toronto Convention Center, and an innovative method of cooling downtown Toronto high-rises with cold water energy provided by Lake Ontario. Just north of Toronto, the Kortright Centre for Conservation demonstrates the use of sustainable energy.
Eco-tourists on holiday in Toronto may relax at a number of parks and other outdoor recreational areas. High Park is among the largest Toronto green spaces — more than one-third of its 399 acres has been left in a natural state — while Rouge Park is known as North America’s biggest urban wilderness park. Other Toronto outdoor attractions include the Toronto Botanical Garden; the Toronto Islands, an island community that bans all cars; and Tommy Thompson Park, a waterfront urban wilderness popular with nesting birds.
Toronto’s green tourism extends to its shops, restaurants, hotels and other businesses, among them the eco-friendly Steam Whistle Brewery, Mountain Equipment Co-op and Kensington Market, the perfect place to shop for vintage clothing. A number of Toronto restaurants serve vegetarian and organic food, as does downtown Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel, which grows much of its food atop an organic rooftop garden — the largest in Canada.
Though it may be large, Toronto is one city where you don’t need a car to go sightseeing. Public transportation options in Toronto include subways, buses and streetcars, with GO Transit and VIA Rail providing transportation outside the city. Bicycle paths and walking trails are also available. You can even enjoy Toronto bike tours and walking tours.
Tourism Toronto, the official Toronto destination marketing organization, participates in green business practices, such as using recycled paper and purchasing carbon offsets for business flights. Many Tourism Toronto member businesses also follow eco-friendly practices.
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