One of the most iconic attractions of Canada is the CN Tower. The closer you get to Downtown Toronto the more impressive it looks. But what does “CN Tower” stand for? It’s simple, really – Canada’s National Tower. It initially started as a hub for telecommunications and resembles a huge antennae/needle structure amongst the skyscrapers. The entrance and ticket office are located on Bremner Boulevard on the side of the Rogers Centre and before Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.
We visited a line on Sunday afternoon that zigzagged its way to the ticket kiosk. Then, visitors pass through a security area where handbags are searched. Then, it’s into the foyer of the ground floor of the building, where you are directed through a corridor to join another line. The line gives an upper-floor view of the Gift Shop and café, accessible while waiting to reach the elevators. We took a quick run-through, ensuring we did not lose our place in the line. Given we visited on a sunny Sunday afternoon, many families were there, and we stood in queue for more than an hour.
While in line, there is a photo station that everyone goes through. Here, they ask if you would like to stand against a green screen and choose one of several backgrounds of the CN Tower to collect on your way out at a price. You don’t need to say yes and you can decline the offer. Then, there is a multimedia room that the line passes through. This shows a continuous video of the history of the CN Tower.
There are six elevators with guides who regulate the number of people who enter. Once inside the elevator, there is a ceiling-to-floor front glass panel that allows visitors to see the climb. In our elevator, there was a small glass panel on the floor that showed what the ascent looks like when looking down the elevator shaft as you rise 346m (1,136 ft) into the air with a top ascending speed of 22km (15mph) in a mere 58 seconds. You can get a bit giddy looking down. There are just three elevators that have the glass-floor panel, which was installed in April 2008 and are said to be ‘North America’s first and the world’s highest glass floor paneled elevators’ according to the CN Tower website.
As the doors open, you find yourself on the Outdoor SkyTerrace lobby revolving doors leading outside onto the level with an encaged view that is open to the elements. This level is 342m (1,122’) above ground and offers a bird’s eye view of Downtown Toronto and beyond. The view across Lake Ontario was most exciting with the Harbourfront, various boats, and an expanse of water that continued into the horizon.
The Glass Floor
This is not for the weak of heart as it had me cowering at the edge, afraid to step on. Below is the Rogers Centre, which had a game on at the time, and the Ripley’s Aquarium Canada roof, complete with the image of two sharks. The glass floor holds the status of being the world’s first-ever glass floor in June 1994. It does receive an annual safety check to ensure the 23.8 square meters (256 sq. ft) of solid glass is worthy of holding all visitors regardless of size or weight or even those who jump onto the floor. On the wall is a comprehensive chart showing how much weight it can hold. Should you want a professional photo a guide will clear the glass floor and a photo is taken from the ceiling fixed camera which aptly points downwards onto the area. This is available at a cost.
Eating
By walking up one level you enter the Lookout where the Horizons Restaurant is located. There are also floor-to-ceiling glass-paneled walls that allow you to see without being open to the elements. There are monitors overhead that show landmarks and areas of interest as you look out. The award winning 360 Restaurant is a revolving restaurant that takes about 72 minutes for a complete revolution. And don’t forget Le Café is always on the ground floor in the Gift Shop.
The EdgeWalk
The EdgeWalk opened in 2011; it allows visitors to walk hands-free but securely harnessed around a 5-foot ledge at a height of 356 meters (1168 feet). The tour takes one and a half hours, and the price includes photos, a video, a certificate and access to the SkyPods and more!
SkyPod
To visit the SkyPod, you must purchase another ticket and take another elevator ride up from the Lookout Level to the height of 447m (1,465ft) where the SkyPod is located. It is one of the highest observation platforms in the world. Besides excellent views of the city on a clear day, some educational videos and exhibits tell you more about the tower.
Night time
Since 2007, every night on the hour, the CN Tower comes to life with an 8-minute light show. It tends to promote the Canadian colors of red and white but can also produce 16.7 million separate colors. The CN Tower website actually has a Night Light Scheduling, which shows what colors and causes are on daily display. For example, Pride Month shows a rainbow of colors, and for Father’s Day, they show dark and light blue.
The CN Tower was once the world’s tallest from 1976 to 2007 at 1,815 feet and is still one of Canada’s top attractions and enjoys over 1.5 million visitors’ per year.