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As the fifth largest city on the continent and home to more than two million people, Toronto offers the bustling nightlife, attractions and dining scene found in the most dynamic U.S. metropolises. But it has a bonus: the unique cultural experience of departing the United States for a country with its own charm and customs.

Transportation: It's usually pretty easy to find special rates for flying in and out of Toronto as long as you are flexible about departure dates and times. Also, if you can't find a good fare at one of the city's two airports, consider flying into Buffalo, New York and making the forty-five minute drive to Toronto from there.

Activities: While not costing nearly as much as a European vacation, Toronto offers plenty to entertain you. From the top of the CN Tower, the world's "largest free-standing structure," you'll find great views of Toronto's sky line and Lake Ontario, in addition to restaurants and virtual reality adventures. At the Hockey Hall of Fame, you can learn everything you didn't need to know about Canada's national pastime, and, in the right season, you might even score with some tickets to a Maple Leafs game.

For culture lovers, the Royal Ontario Museum has one of the largest collections of Asian art and collectibles in the world. Adults and children will also be delighted by the museum's Jim and Louise Temerty Galleries, home to 13 full-size dinosaur skeletons, and "The Bat Cave," where 35,000 of the winged marsupials live in various crooks and dark crannies.

Admission to the museum is normally $18*, but on Friday nights from 4:30 – 9:30, you'll pay just $5. Also, for the traveler who really wants to see and do it all, consider purchasing a city pass for $55 that gives you access to six of Toronto's most famous attractions (within a nine-day span). In addition to touring the Royal Ontario Museum, you'll have access to CN Tower, the Toronto Zoo, the Ontario Science Center, the Art Gallery of Ontario and Casa Loma – a castle that was once North America's largest private residence.

Plus, this January, special events throughout the capital of Ontario mean added savings and special opportunities for savvy travelers. From January 26 – February 8, 2007, both the Winterlicious and WinterCity Festivals will run in Toronto. WinterCity provides art shows and live entertainment throughout the city, while Winterlicious means that most of Toronto's finest and most popular restaurants will offer special "prix fixe" menus of their best dishes. (With "prix fixe" you'll enjoy a three-course meal for either lunch or dinner at drastically reduced prices from the regular fare. Lunch runs between $15 and $20 and dinner between $25 and $35.) There will also be cooking demonstrations throughout Toronto and gaming events such as poker tournaments associated with the festivals.

Ready for more? Check out more stories in our travel section.

For more information on visiting Toronto, its events and attractions, visit http://www.toronto.ca/index.html.

*All prices are in Canadian dollars.