Have you CN the Tower? (CN Tower)

Member Name: waterlilly

Product:	CN Tower
Date:	01/07/09 (66 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great views

Disadvantages: Vertigo anyone?

Today is Canada Day and in honour of Canada's birthday I thought I would write a review about the CN Tower (Canadian National is what CN stands for) which is the defining feature of the Toronto skyline. Set next to Lake Ontario the CN Tower is an iconic Canadian image and a building for the record books. Finished in 1975 the CN Tower is the World's Tallest Free Standing Structure at just over 553 metres. According to its website (http://www.cntower.ca/) the CN Tower also holds the following records:

* World's highest public observation gallery
* Sky Pod at 447 m (1,465 ft.)
* World's highest bar - Horizons at 346 metres (1,136 ft.)
* World's longest metal staircase - 2,579 steps
* World's highest glass floor - 342 metres (1,122 ft.)
* World's highest and largest revolving restaurant - 351 metres (1151 ft.)
* World's highest 'wine cellar' - 351 metres (1151 ft.)
I am scared of heights. My husband gets vertigo (more about this later), but you still must visit!

Enough with facts and figures, feel free to browse the website for those, the point of a review is to capture what a visit is really like. I grew up across the lake from Toronto and so have visited the tower several times. It has changed over the years with many renovations and extensions (particularly of the gift shop!). Open every day of the year but Christmas the hours for visiting do change based on the season. Summer is the most popular month for visitors to the CN Tower and so it opens at 9am. I am fairly certain that it was 10am when we were there in December. There are a variety of packages depending on the amount of time you want to spend at the tower. The basic visit to the Lookout and Glass floor is $26.99 for adults and $14.99 for children. I would really suggest that you get most of the CN Tower experience just from that. However, there are also options that include the Skypod and/or a Motion Theatre Ride (which changes). The CN Tower is also included in the Toronto CityPass which is a brilliant option if you're spending a couple of days in Toronto as it includes the Toronto Zoo and Ontario Science Centre both of which are awesome if you have children.

The CN Tower experience really varies depending on the time of year you visit. I remember a visit in August 2001 that involved about a 45 min queue to get into the lift. However, going on a random week day in December 2008 meant that we waited about 5 min. The ground level foyer of the CN Tower is light and airy with decent air conditioning if I remember correctly. The staff are all bilingual in case you want to try out your French and were very helpful, of course in December they were happy to see people and may be slightly grumpier at the height of summer, I don't know. As you head to the lift there are displays about the building of the tower and comparing it to other impressive structures of great height around the world. We looked at them quickly (and took a typical "Godzilla-esque" photo of my husband and the model tower) but were keen to get to the top.

An odd security addition since my last visit is a doorway that blows air at you. I have no idea why it does this but there it is. Security has definitely been topped up at the CN Tower since I was a kid!

Now for the first hurdle for those of us with height issues. The lift is glassed in providing an amazing view out across Lake Ontario. If at all possible, those with height issues must get to the back of the lift as it is ever so comforting to have one hand on the metal rail. The little guide person who controls the lift talks to you about the structure and the speed of the lift (which is very impressive) and before you know it, you're back onto a firm, non-clear piece of flooring.

The Look Out provides spectacular views across Toronto which is a sprawling city, as well as of Toronto Island and across Lake Ontario. On a clear day you can see across the lake. You have the option of doing all of the viewing from inside the building. The wall is about three feet high before it becomes window which limits the amount of vertigo you will feel! In December we were actually unable to go outside due to the ridiculously cold temperatures and high winds that week. Despite these high winds the building did not feel like it was swaying (though it does sway slightly)! We got fabulous photos through the glass so weren't too disappointed at having to stay inside where it is nice warm. In summer months it is well worth heading outside which is entirely screened in.

So the evil glass floor. I miss the days when there was no glass floor (it was put in in 1994), but I know most people love it! When we were there in December there was in fact a Christmas Tree on the glass floor providing a festive air to people's photos. My husband and I came down the stairs to the level with the glass floor, turned the corner, caught site of the floor out of the corner of our eyes and both reeled slightly. Luckily the CN Tower does have lots of wall, railings, etc to grab onto! I've managed to get a photo of me on the floor by sitting down and scooting backwards until onto it. Not an elegant manoeuvre. My youngest brother has been jumping up and down on it since it opened. So I'll leave you to decide which approach you would take!!

At the "top" of the tower there is a gift shop and displays about various records and stunts that have involved the tower over the years in case you get bored of the view. The 360 restaurant is very popular but quite pricey. It's worth booking ahead, particularly if you want an evening meal. It takes 72 minutes for the restaurant to revolve the entire 360 degrees so don't rush through your food! Every year there is a charity race that involves running up the stairs of the tower. Ugh. I think I'll stick to the scary glass lift! There are also other events that are regularly updated on the website. Do be prepared for a little staff person to take your group's photo and offer to let you purchase the result with various backings. They aren't overly pushy (Canadians just can't manage that!) so have a quick look, smile and walk away if not interested.

I love the CN Tower and though it's not the cheapest activity in town it really is worth a visit. Two million people visit every year and no one has ever cracked the glass floor or managed to fall to their death. It is safe, informative and provides an amazing perspective on Toronto. I would generally recommend a daytime visit for first timers as you get a feel for the layout of the city and can spot other landmarks. Also the shadow of the tower over the city makes for a great photo. Visiting in the evening (closes at 11pm during the summer months) is a completely different experience as the tower is lit up in various colours these days and the city is all lit up.

Summary: 2 million other people survived it so head on up