When my birthday weekend approached last month, I didn’t need much convincing to celebrate — this 50+ mama believes every turn around the sun is worth a party. And where better to make that happen than Toronto — a city that knows how to celebrate in style!

Hubby and I flew from Moncton to Canada’s most populous city — home to about 2.9 million residents, about 7 million in the Greater Toronto region — for a weekend of food, fun and family time. Together, we explored attractions, did a little shopping, sampled phenomenal eats, watched some sports, and enjoyed every joyful moment along the way.

The iconic Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square.

Staying at the Heart of It All

Our home base for the weekend was the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto, which, fittingly, is celebrating its own milestone — a 50th anniversary. As the country’s largest hotel, the Chelsea has long been a downtown landmark, in the heart of the city. With 1,590 guest rooms housed in twin high-rise towers, the Chelsea anchors its downtown block with a sleek, contemporary look. It’s just steps from the College subway station and directly across from the new IKEA Toronto Downtown. (Dangerously convenient!) It’s also within easy walking distance of the Toronto Eaton Centre, Yonge Street shopping, and major attractions like the Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena and the Royal Ontario Museum.

The Chelsea Hotel, Toronto — Canada’s largest hotel and our welcoming home base for a weekend of midlife birthday joy.

Since my last visit about a decade ago, the Chelsea has had quite a transformation. The hotel recently completed a series of major renovations, refreshing more than 600 guestrooms, upgrading corridors, and modernizing meeting and dining spaces, with further work underway on nearly 1,000 more rooms and a soon-to-open lobby bar. These multi-million-dollar upgrades are part of the hotel’s vision for the future as it celebrates its 50th year.

(To commemorate the milestone anniversary, the hotel is running a special until Dec. 31 that includes a $50 food and beverage credit, breakfast for two and a welcome amenity. Members of the hotel’s loyalty program, Brilliant, receive an additional 5% discount. Learn more here.)

What hubby and I enjoyed most about our stay at the Chelsea was how welcoming it felt. While the lobby bustled with big-city energy, the courteous staff provided genuinely thoughtful service, making us feel right at home. (I also couldn’t resist chatting with the hotel’s own robot concierge — what a laugh!)

We also really appreciated the property’s excellent amenities. We made use of the Chelsea’s workout facilities, which include a full-scale fitness centre with cardio equipment and free weights. Guests can also access an indoor heated pool and whirlpool, saunas, and a seasonal sundeck. For families, there’s a pool with a waterslide on the second floor.

And can we talk about the dreamy bed that practically hugged us goodnight? After full days of exploring, nothing felt better than sinking into that cloud-like nest and watching the city lights twinkle beyond the balcony. Serious joy!

We dined off property for lunch and dinner during our stay but breakfast at the hotel’s lovely Elm Street Bar & Lounge and more casual Market Garden was delicious. The express|o Coffee & Wine Bar proved just right for afternoon tea.

Avocado toast meets Eggs Benny perfection at the hotel’s Elm Street Bar & Lounge.

Morning buzz at the Chelsea’s Market Garden — a bright, casual spot for breakfast and coffee.

Discovering Little Canada — Big Wonder in Miniature

One of the coolest experiences of the weekend was our visit to Little Canada, a captivating miniature world that brings the country to life in astonishing detail — from tiny versions of Niagara Falls to the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. Each scene is meticulously crafted, complete with moving trains, twinkling lights and small people figures that make you feel like a giant exploring Canada in miniature. What an awesome family attraction for all ages!

Everyday Art and City Beauty

Even though we didn’t make it to any of Toronto’s world-class art galleries this trip, there was no shortage of art to be found. Everywhere we went, creativity spilled into the streets — from colourful murals on the sides of local businesses to floral and food displays at the St. Lawrence Market that seemed like works of art themselves. Even the city’s architecture, a mix of classic stone buildings and striking modern lines, felt like part of the show.

We also spent time in a few downtown parks, alive with people enjoying the sunshine. One of my favourite moments was simply people-watching from a row of Adirondack chairs near the St. Lawrence Market — sipping our teas and coffees, soaking up the energy of the city and wishing birthdays came more often.

Feast(s) for the Birthday Queen

I knew before we arrived that my birthday weekend would revolve around food — and Toronto did not disappoint. Our visit quickly turned into a gastronomic adventure.

At the St. Lawrence Market, I couldn’t resist the city’s unofficial rite of passage: a classic peameal bacon sandwich from Paddington’s, followed (naturally) by a slice of lemon cheesecake. (I was in too much of a sugar fog to note the cake vendor’s name.) Downstairs, Everyday Gourmet offered a cozy retreat amid the bustle. The aroma of freshly roasted beans made it hard to leave, even though I’m not a coffee drinker. My tea was heavenly.

Beyond the market, we later treated ourselves to a memorable Italian dinner at Enoteca Sociale. The Dundas Street restaurant, which opened in 2010, has earned rave reviews for its handmade pasta, award-winning wine list and excellent service.

From the moment the warm focaccia and plump green olives arrived at our table, we knew we were in for something special. A vibrant heirloom tomato salad topped with clouds of fresh ricotta set the stage perfectly.

Then came the showstopper — agnolotti filled with lemon ricotta and wild mushrooms, bathed in a delicate butter sauce and finished with ribbons of Parmigiano. Each bite was bliss.

And as if the evening couldn’t get any sweeter, my daughter and son-in-law surprised me back at their apartment with a decadent chocolate birthday cake — the perfect finale to my special day.

Naturally, we couldn’t leave Toronto without a few more appetizing detours. There was the juicy smash burger and refreshing craft beer at the Steam Whistle Brewery amid happy Jays fans. There was the takeout pie from hugely popular Pizzeria Badiali. (I can’t remember which one we ordered but it was cheesy nirvana.)

The pièce de résistance? A return visit to Le Gourmand. I’d been before and knew a birthday stop was in order for one of their famous chocolate-chip cookies. (Anyone know of any Moncton gyms with membership deals currently?)

Retail Therapy and Joyful Wandering

No Toronto trip is complete without some retail therapy — and since I can never resist perusing local shops while exploring a city, I happily indulged. Having the birthday excuse helped silence any potential naysayers. Over the weekend we easily logged 15,000 steps a day, balancing all that food with plenty of walking and browsing.

I especially loved strolling along Ossington Avenue in my daughter and son-in-law’s neighbourhood, popping into shops like Kotn, a Toronto-based brand known for its ethically made apparel and home goods, and Monos, where sleek, minimalist luggage tempted me. At The Latest Scoop, my daughter and I had a laugh trying on sunglasses. Next time, we’ll hide the sales tags better.

Other fun detours included 401 Games on Yonge Street, perfect for our board-game-loving crew, and Henry’s Camera on Church, where this birthday girl couldn’t resist picking up a new gadget for future adventures.

We also browsed the Eaton Centre for fall inspiration and wandered through a few Winners and Marshalls stores in the vicinity, where I tried my best runway moves.

Game Day Joy!

The weekend’s grand finale came at the Rogers Centre, where we watched the Blue Jays’ final regular-season game. We’d purchased tickets months earlier, well before the Jays were in the playoff race. The electric energy in the stadium was a birthday bonus!

Sitting in Section 233, high-fiving strangers as the Jays scored run after run in a 13–4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, I couldn’t stop smiling. When the scoreboard flashed the words AL East Champions, the entire stadium erupted. What a way to wrap up a birthday weekend!