Allan Gardens Conservatory - Toronto Hotels .com

Located close to the heart of downtown, the Allan Gardens Conservatory provides a natural, colorful contrast to the urban atmosphere of Toronto. Established in 1858 by former mayor George William Allan, the conservatory was Toronto's first civic park. It has since gone through major renovation, and now functions as the botanical headquarters of the University of Toronto.

The garden is host to all sorts of exotic plants from around the world, including cacti, ferns, orchids, palm trees, and other flora that would otherwise be unable to thrive in Toronto's weather. The rustic architecture of the conservatory buildings is as pleasing to the eye as the flowers themselves, particularly the glass-domed Palm House, which was first built in 1910. In addition to the Palm House, there are four other regionally themed greenhouses, holding more than 16,000 square feet of vibrant plants within their walls.