Yonge Street - Longest Street in the World

Anyone who has ever had any interest infollowed the line of this ancient street. These
Toronto at all knows that Yonge Street is adays, Yonge Street is a tourist attraction, as well
pretty big attraction, but many don't knowas an integral part of Toronto. It's lined with
exactly why. This is the longest street not only inbusinesses and clubs, shopping centers and
Toronto, but the world! Stretching nearly 1,900amazing sights and attractions and has become a
km from Toronto Bay to Rainy River, Ontario,tourist destination in its own right.
this street is practically a highway, filled withWhat to Do on Yonge Street
history.The majority of people who visit Toronto will only
Long before Toronto was a city and Yongeever see a small portion of Yonge Street. If you
Street was a proper street, the Huron Indianshave the time and inclination, it can be quite the
used this same route as a trail. Traders also usedtrip to head all the way up to the lake and then
it to reach the lake, where there was a tradingdrive down, stopping at the various sights. At the
post set up and Yonge Street boastsvery beginning of Yonge Street, you have One
accommodation of famous feet such as those ofYonge Street, where the Toronto Star operates.
Samuel Champlain, an explorer.Also located on this very long street are such
From Trail to Street to Tourist Attractiontourist sights as the Eaton Center, Empress Walk,
It wasn't until John Graves Simcoe, founder ofCanon Theatre, Hockey Hall of Fame and Dundas
Toronto, decided that the trail should become aSquare, among others. There are plenty of
more professional road that Yonge Street wasshopping opportunities here, as well and the street
paved. At first, only a small portion was paved,is also home to businesses such as Sam the
with the intention of providing military access toRecord Man, which have long since vanished, but
the lake, but this grew and grew as the cityremain in the annals of historic photography.
began to spring up around it. The street grewTruly the Longest?
longer and long and eventually parts of it wereNot everyone believes that Yonge Street
used as a highway, Highway 11, though thesedeserves its title of longest street in the world.
areas have now fallen into disrepair.They claim that since much of it now lies in ruin
Yonge Street has held many positions over theas the old Highway 11 that this no longer counts
centuries. First, it served as a trail leading nativesas part of the street. And perhaps they are right.
to trading posts, then for the military, offering aHowever, no one will ever completely forget the
retreat option should the Americans decide toworld record for the longest street and the fact
attack, then a busy city street. When the firstthat Yonge Street received this recognition. It's
subways were implemented into the city, theystill an amazing part of Toronto and its history.