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Tourism in Toronto had a record-breaking year in 2017, with 43.7 million visitors to the beautiful Canadian city. From its urban energy to its lakeside promenades, here are some of the reasons so many people head to the Great White North.

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The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto is one of the largest art museums in North America at 583,000 square feet. First opened in 1900, the museum expanded over time, now housing a collection of more than 90,000 works dating 100 A.D. to today. Its distinctive design was in large part created by legendary architect Frank Gehry.

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Toronto’s urban atmosphere is well balanced by the beautiful, peaceful Botanical Garden. With a mission to educate people about the natural world, the massive 17-garden complex features distinctive themes representing several different ecosystems including flower-filled meadows and woodlands.

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Just offshore from Toronto’s city center is a chain of small pedestrian-only islands in Lake Ontario, home to parkland, Centreville Amusement Park and Hanlan's Point Beach. Take a ferry to the island in the summer and enjoy biking, kayaking, beach lounging and other recreational activities to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

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For a dose of history in a modern city visit Casa Loma, an impressive Gothic Revival castle located in the heart of the city, dating to 1911. Translated, Casa Loma means “House on Hill,” an apt name considering its location, which offers great views of the city from its towers. Explore the castle’s secret passages, grand staircases, underground tunnel, wine cellar, stables and five-acre garden.

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Catch a show at the Princess of Wales Theatre, the first privately owned Canadian theater to open since 1907. The grand 2,000-seat playhouse combines the traditional elegance of 19th-century theater with a modern stage and production technology, as well as a distinctive artwork collection throughout the theater and a top-rate lineup of shows including An American in Paris and Annie.

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You can easily spend an entire day wandering the cobblestone streets of Toronto’s iconic Distillery District, home to cafés, restaurants, shops, Victorian-era industrial architecture and heritage buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts Distillery. The historic district is also the location of several of the city’s leading arts and theater establishments.

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Get a taste of the real Toronto at the St. Lawrence Market, the largest of its kind in the city. Stroll with basket in hand through hundreds of bakery, butcher, produce and artisan stalls, or watch live cooking demonstrations hosted by world-renowned chefs. The market also hosts special events like dinner parties, history talks and hands-on skill-building classes.