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40 G O I N G P L A C E S | W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 the toronto convention and visitors association/clifton li, courtesy ripley's aquarium of canada (above) Ripley's Aquarium of Canada's Dangerous Lagoon features a transparent underwater tunnel; (top right) the Distillery District is a pedestrian-only village, home to hot boutiques and cool eateries. Exclusive travel tips from CAA Eclectic escape. "There's something for everyone in Toronto, from hockey die-hards to shoppers to history buffs. And a great restaurant to suit everyone is Marché (181 Bay St.), just steps away from the Hockey Hall of Fame. –Matthew Isles, CAA Travel Consultant Visit Matthew at our McPhillips Service Centre or email him at matthewi@caamanitoba.com. Call 204-262-6200 for more travel tips. A late lunch at Shakey's, founded by ex-Leaf Mike "Shakey" Walton, showcased not just deli- cious homemade chili with sour cream, but also eye-catching mementos like artist Daniel Parry's print of Leafs centre Darryl Sittler's famous 10-point game against Boston in 1976. At dinner, I got another taste of greatness when I ordered a bottle of Wayne Gretzky Estates Merlot at Joe Badali's, a homey Italian eatery on Front Street. Full-bodied and fruit- forward, the wine perfectly complemented my spaghetti poncetta and crab cakes as I dined with Ivana Paulova, a Czech hockey journalist friend. Such heavy hockey-themed indulgence demands a little detox. On Sunday, my final morning in Toronto, I will visit the Ritz- Carlton Hotel for a "Blokes & Beer" spa treat- ment. Following a Swedish massage and facial at Canada's top hotel spa (as voted by Travel + Leisure readers), I'll sip the award- winning, locally brewed Mill Street Organic Lager and watch Boston goalie Tuukka Rask stop Chicago's Patrick Kane in TV shootout highlights. It'll be a fun way to experience hockey, even in such a calming, gracious atmo- sphere – a world away from the wildness of the Air Canada Centre. A t the arena, it's hard to disagree with Leafs now ex-coach Randy Carlyle, who says: "If you don't get shivers and chills with Montreal-Toronto on a Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada, then I don't think you understand the true meaning of the game here in Canada." With NBA star Kobe Bryant and one-time Toronto mayor Rob Ford among the spectators, the Leafs- Canadiens game comes to a dramatic conclu- sion. After Montreal rallies from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game in the third period, Toronto gets the winner with 5:33 left on a beautiful rush, beating Olympic gold medallist goalie Carey Price. e Leafs salt away the victory with an empty-net goal. I leave the arena on a hockey high, knowing this is far from the last installment in this storied rivalry. Canadian visitors from coast to coast will unite in support of both Toronto and Montreal when the two cities co-host the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championships. I can't wait to come back to this hockey mecca. e sport is always more exciting when you can feel the passion of the fans, and Toronto has taken my passion to a new level. GP