St. Lawrence Market - Maple Syrup, Toronto

What to buy here: Butter tarts from Saint Lawrence Market | Local Maple Syrup.

No trip to Toronto (or Canada, for that matter) is complete without sampling some of the delicious maple syrup for which our beautiful country is famous. Be sure to take some home with you to keep the vacation “flowing” – Canadian maple syrup is delicious on pancakes and waffles, but locals know the best pairing for authentic maple syrup is bacon – delicious! If you can plan your vacation to be here during maple sugar season, you won’t regret it.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority hosts sugar bush maple syrup festivals throughout March and part of April. The earlier in the day you arrive, the fresher the pancakes will be, and the more time you will have to explore the rustic and beautiful maple syrup farms. Many offer carriage tours, guided hikes, and, of course, maple syrup tastings. Can you get more Ontarian than that? Bottles of the sweet stuff start at around $9.99. Check out trca.on.ca to plan a sugar bush day.

Get a double whammy of Toronto culture by indulging in butter tarts, Canada’s most famous dessert, at Saint Lawrence Market in the heart of downtown Toronto. An afternoon spent wandering through the market dining on local delicacies will give you the unique taste of the city itself.

The market on Front Street East is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 8 am to 6 pm, Fridays from 8 am to 7 pm, and Saturdays from 5 am to 5 pm.