“What do you call a fish with no Is?” asked the WestJet steward across the plane’s sound system.Ignore, ignore ignore.“Fshh.....”Ugh. Why my lack of enthusiasm for humour? It was 12.30am and I was still sitting on a plane destined for Toronto. Thanks to centimetres of unexpected, spring snow the very day I left, my flight got delayed.....by FOUR hours.Adding salt to the wound, not the snow, my travel buddy and I had landed on a plane with a steward who thought comedy was truly his calling.My trip was not starting off on a good note and poor Toronto already had a lot to prove to me before my humourless steward stepped in.Sure, the popular sentiment is that everyone deserves a second chance, but I’m not usually a proponent of second chances.If a city doesn’t capture my interest quickly I don’t usually care to visit a second time; my time as a tourist is too important! But the fares on WestJet to Toronto offered me a flight for little more than $300. “Tarana” you’ve given me reason one to try again.My first time with WestJet? Well, besides their employee’s poorly-timed attempt at comedy, I would say not a bad experience (I can’t really blame them for the snow....can I?)Reason two to visit Toronto? It’s the perfect city for a quick shopping trip or a cultural visit or both. Ie you can easily fill 24 hours (because we all know vacation time is petering away) or a week (if you’re really lucky) indulging further.So to start with this week in the Rock Fever column we explore 24 hours in Toronto and reason three to visit: recovering from a flight is easy with a gourmet coffee and gluten-free sun-dried tomato wrap at the St Lawrence Market. Overwhelmed by fresh produce of all sorts of colours, cheeses from all varieties and organic, free-trade woven bags, the St Lawrence Market is one uber-downtown grocer. Make it your first stop and plan to wander for at least an hour or two to the sounds of the music provided by local musicians and eat to your heart’s content.Of course that leads to reason four to spend 24 hours (or more): Toronto has gone gluten-free (GF) and organic! Of course you probably only care for GF if you’re celiac (but we’re multiplying so I figure it’s a fair reason). From gluten-free biscotti in coffee shops to vegan, gluten-free burgers in “regular” restaurants, and every location proclaiming seasonal produce (ie sourced locally) there was very little stress for someone with food allergies or someone hoping to eat “green”.Reason five ok, maybe this one is a stretch, but they, like New York, have a Flatiron Building. Yes, a building shaped like an iron. At least in Toronto there is a great mural on it that resembles a wall on an apartment complex and you can have a drink in the basement bar.Ok, it was a stretch, I already said it but it’s next to the St Lawrence Market so.... reason six, is once you are in the St Lawrence Market/Flatiron Building area, you are in the heart of Old Toronto. If you wander further East you will run into the Distillery Historic District where wine couples with music, patios and pubs.But if you’re not quite ready for a glass of wine after breakfast, wandering up to reason seven and Queen Street (just a little bit of home for us) is a good start on Toronto. Jump on the street car and let it move you amongst the “empty” streets of this city.Side note: Perhaps the problem with tourists and Toronto is that areas of interest are interspersed with random streets filled with overwhelming office buildings. Navigate toward the neighbourhoods with smaller buildings and personality (ie Queen Street, Kensington Market, even Chinatown) and you will enjoy Toronto!So wander and shop along Queen Street with its boutiques and mainstream shops until you reach Spadina Avenue and you head north through Chinatown. Complete with dragon-shaped streetcar signs and Chinese figures explaining a grocery store (I think), it’s a fun area to wander through.Especially since the walk will bring you to Kensington Market near Baldwin Street and reason eight....Kensington Market. A bit bohemian with a tad of the inevitable gentrification, Kensington Market (which isn’t so much a market as an area ie New York’s West Village) has coffee shops (not Starbucks) filled with very happy baristas and gluten-free toast (I told you!) and shops dedicated to chocolate! Heaven. Shops are painted various colours, and are filled with the random (frog-shaped salad tongs) to the useful (unique clothes).Enough chocolate and coffee? Head East again! Reason nine: a little bit of culture might be needed in your 24 hours, so why not head to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Of course it’s shaped like a canoe (inside there are actual wooden beams warped into the shape of the boat) so really how can you miss it? Plus with your best smile and nicest “good afternoon” you’ll get a discount on the temporary Maharaja exhibit and yes, Canada has art.All well and good, but after a day wandering, shopping and photo-taking, some food and drink is deserved. So ten is, of course, the wide selection that is offered in Toronto. Like the canoe-shaped museum? Why not visit Canoe the restaurant and bar? Yes, on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower on Wellington Street, not only will you not need to visit the CN Tower (which costs $22.95 for adults unless you eat at the restaurant) for a view of Toronto, but you’ll also get to sip on good and affordable wine while you do it. Want more than a drink? Canoe offers great, organic food to enjoy while watching Toronto below.Reason 11: Had an early enough dinner? Want to finish your 24 hours in the city with a bang? Well when you finish at Canoe you’re in the Toronto Entertainment District so visit: www.torontoED.com to see what’s happening!And finally, reason 12 (and I could go on, but this is already too long) want one last push for shopping? Head back to the Eaton Centre, which is filled floor to basement and everywhere in between with everything you could ever need. It’s enormous is what I’m saying.Then head back “home”. Me? I chose Victoria’s Mansion for its price ($140 a night) and quaintness. Plus it was two minutes from Yonge Street (Toronto’s Broadway) and central enough that the Eaton Centre was only 15 minutes away. Now that your head is on a pillow, though, make sure you get some sleep. Toronto is not only a great city to visit, but a great gateway to Niagara. And no, not just the falls.Make sure you visit www.robynswanderings.com for photos and your daily dose of travel and of course next week....all that Niagara has to offer.