The Tennis Traveler: Top 5 things to do in Toronto

The WTA tour is descending on Toronto this week for the National Bank Open, but there's more than just women's tennis to enjoy in the most populous city in Canada.

When a city offers experiences so Canadian-ly unique, it’s more than just a job to report them: It’s simply the right thing to do. So, for the good of humankind and for the tennis traveler in us all, here are five absolute must-dos when visiting Toronto.

(It's a list so good, that we nearly kept it to ourselves.)

1. The Monkey’s Paw

Named after a horror story by W.W. Jacobs, The Monkey’s Paw is a bookstore unlike anywhere else in the world. Identified as antiquarian, this shop specializes in book rarities, diverse oldies, and uncommon vintage reads from all over the world.

Situated east of the Gladstone Library, this place prides itself on obscure reading topics, artifacts and visual culture.

But it's also known for another unique find: the Biblio-Mat. The Biblio-Mat billed as the world’s first randomized vending machine for books, spitting out old books in exchange for a $5 token.

2. Fossils and more at Skullstore

Skullstore is exactly what it reads: a store selling skulls. If you’re in the market for “wet specimens," butterflies and bugs, fossils, or animal products, this is the place for you.

Skullstore’s initiative is all about responsible and sustainable collecting across a range of items, including a wide range of human skulls and skeletons. The second item currently for sale on the website in this category is a baby skull, going for $92.

This oddities shop also offers not-previously-alive items such as crystals and minerals, craft supplies, and jewelry, not to mention a limited natural art collection.

In case Toronto isn’t on your travel list this year, don’t fear: Skullstore ships worldwide.

3. Berczy Park Dog Fountain

After exploring Skullstore’s collection of animal skulls, make your way to Berczy Park to explore dog sculptures in what’s come to be known as the Dog Fountain.

The three-tiered water fountain has a bone sitting at its very peak and requires every dog’s attention. While all the dogs are fixated on the bone, there is one cat who is staring off into the distance at two bird sculptures on a nearby lamppost.

A total of 27 dog breeds are celebrated in this artwork, but the one cat breed isn’t identified. It also doesn’t spit water like the rest.

The fountain sits in the center of the 3,606-square meter park and is open year-round for viewing and wandering.

4. Bata Shoe Museum

Anyone else’s shoe collection become too large for their home? That’s what happened to Bata Shoe Company founder Thomas Bata and his wife, Sonja. As they traveled for conferences, she shopped the world for traditional footwear of every kind.

Eventually, her private collection outgrew their living space, which inspired her to establish a foundation for footwear research that also displays the assortment.

The Bata Shoe Museum houses more than 12,000 shoes along with educational insight to shoemaking and footwear throughout the decades.

5. “Little Canada”

Fit all of Canada in your trip to Toronto by visiting Little Canada, a 45,000 square-foot space dedicated to miniature figures of the entire country. (45,000 square feet, by the way, is the length of two hockey rinks.)

Located near Centerville Amusement Park, Ontario’s No.1 attraction is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., offering Little Bites for snacking, Little Things for purchasing, and Little Moments for meeting the artists behind the set.

There is also an opportunity to “get littlized” with a 3D-printed miniature version of yourself. Opt to be placed inside the Little Canada display following the photo session, or have lego-sized you delivered in a few weeks’ time.