TRUE COLOURS

As autumn falls, Pandora Forsyth finds Toronto dazzles in all its beauty

- BY NIGEL THOMPSON

With its collection of effervescent neighbourhoods, a vibrant creative scene and bucket-list attractions, Toronto has so much city-break appeal.

Proud to be Canada's most diverse city, with citizens from 230 countries around the world speaking 140 different languages, the result is a colourful array of culture, art, food and history.

From the shallows of Lake Ontario to the soaring towers of its skyline, the city tantalises every kind of tourist with a warm welcome and infectious energy.

But when the summer season tourists have gone home, Toronto turns even more alluring.

Awash with a backdrop of red, orange and dazzling amber foliage during an Ontario autumn, it is easy to “fall” in love with this glorious place.

In fact, these seasonal changes are so marked, the natural fiery scenery was immortalised in a collection of paintings by Torontos Group of Seven landscape artists in the early 20th century. Visiting during autumn also has its advantages as there are fewer crowds and bargain flights up for grabs.

Plus, with a thriving major league sports scene, big-city sports bars and excitable fan bases, there's always a buzz on game nights.

To get a flavour of this city's zest for life, visit the historic Distillery District.

A bevy of beautiful 19th-century buildings that once housed the world's biggest distillery, it's now filled with more than 40 one-of-a-kind shops, coffee houses, bakeries, bistros, global cuisine, theatres, galleries, all within exposed brick settings, which give it an edgy vibe.

As you wander through, you'll soon find yourself drawn in by all the sweet and spicy aromas that permeate from the shopfronts.

One of my favourite finds was SOMA chocolate-makers, which produces the most indulgent chocolates, cookies, truffles, spreads, toffee and gelato, with the owners seeing the process through from bean to bar.