Let's Take a Day Trip

TORONTO — Toronto in late fall has its own kind of magic. There are twinkling lights, busy sidewalks, and a holiday energy that fills the air. But there’s also something else: serious cold. The weekend I visited, the temperature dropped so low that the wind felt like it cut right through my jacket. I knew Toronto could get chilly, but this was the kind of cold that makes you think twice before stepping outside.

Luckily, I found one of the city’s hidden gems: the PATH, Toronto’s underground walkway system. It has over 17 miles of tunnels that connect hotels, transit stations, office towers, food courts, and shopping centers. The PATH quickly became the highlight of my trip.

What surprised me most wasn’t the size of the system, but how smoothly it worked. My hotel, the Fairmont Royal York, is right above the PATH. That meant I could get from my room to different parts of downtown without going outside. When it’s so cold that your fingers go numb after one block, the PATH feels less like a convenience and more like a lifesaver.

As soon as I checked into the Royal York, I knew I had chosen the right place to stay. The hotel was decorated for Christmas with tall, beautiful trees in the lobby, garlands on the staircases, warm lights, soft holiday music, and a classic historic charm. It felt like a real-life Christmas movie set. The hotel was elegant but not stuffy, festive but not over the top. After long days of walking, it was nice to come back to a place that was both cozy and luxurious.

What really made the Fairmont stand out for me was how well it connected to the rest of the city. I didn’t have to put on extra layers or get ready for the wind every time I wanted to go out. I just took the elevator down, followed the signs, and found myself in a whole underground world.

The PATH has everything you need: coffee shops, bakeries, stores, restaurants, convenience stores, banks, and links to major attractions. At first, I thought I’d only use it for short trips, but it soon became my main way to get around. The tunnels were warm, clean, and easy to navigate once I got used to them. Even when it was busy, it never felt crowded. I could walk comfortably without dealing with slush, ice, or cold wind.

One of my favorite moments was seeing how far the PATH could take me. A walk that would have been a freezing 10 or 15 minutes above ground turned into a comfortable, easy stroll below the city. Instead of worrying about the weather, I could window-shop, get a snack, or stop for coffee along the way.

All those warm, underground walkways eventually took me right where I wanted to end my day: the CF Toronto Eaton Centre, one of the city’s busiest and most iconic shopping malls. The PATH leads straight into the lower level of the Eaton Centre. When I walked in, it felt like I had reached the heart of downtown Toronto. Holiday decorations hung from the high ceilings, the crowds were full of energy, and the stores were packed with tourists and locals escaping the cold.

In a city known for its winters, the PATH system turned my trip from something that could have been brutally cold into something comfortable and enjoyable. If anyone visits Toronto in winter, I’d tell them this: the PATH isn’t just a shortcut. It’s a game-changer.