CN Tower-Toronto, ON, CA

Towering over the city of Toronto, the CN Tower stands as one of the most iconic, recognized structures in the world. Practically, it also acts as a navigational aide, allowing you to always place yourself in the city, helpful when you find yourself with no GPS service- which oddly still happens in this day and age. 

Built by the Canadian National Railway Company in 1973, the tower designed by John Andrews, Webb Zerafa, E.R. Baldwin, and Menkes Housen was the tallest freestanding structure in the world between 1975-2007. At 1814 feet, 5 inches, it is still the tallest building in the western hemisphere. Inside, the structure boasts high speed glass elevators, several observation decks, as well as a café and full service restaurant. As one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions, it is always busy. 

Surprisingly, the food at 360 The Restaurant was actually very good (albeit limited and pricey). It is very much a tourist restaurant though, so expect loud small children and rushed service- certainly interesting enough to do once, but no need to return. The views, however, are fabulous, including a bird’s eye view of the operations at Billy Bishop Airport.

For those who want additional experiences, there are glass floors to walk over, premium observation platforms, and an opportunity to walk around the exterior of the platform, hands free. Just expect to wait for it all.