Guests of The Fairmont Royal York will be going underground during this March Break. The hotel, in partnership with Mr. Phil Reilly, urban explorer and storyteller, is offering an overnight stay and an underground walking tour that will turn art and architecture admirers into Toronto PATH enthusiasts. The overnight Underground Safari Package is available for $199 on the first three Friday and Saturday nights of March 2009. The Underground Safari tours take place on Saturday March 7, Saturday March 14 and Saturday March 21, 2009 and run from 1:30 pm through to 4:00 pm.
The Underground Safari Package features one night in a Fairmont room and a walking tour that explores the public art and architecture of Toronto’s underground PATH system. Safari guests are escorted from the hotel lobby at 1:30 pm to the Toronto Transit subway system and onto Metro Hall as the first point of the tour. The entire Safari spans a majority of the PATH’s southern portion and runs under nearly 10 city blocks of the 27 km long path system. The PATH was established in 1900 and its real growth began in the 1970s by linking the Richmond-Adelaide Centre with surrounding shopping centres and businesses. According to Guinness World Records, the PATH is the largest underground shopping complex in the world.
The Underground Safari will appeal to inquisitive teens and adventurous adults. The tour’s artistic highlights begin at Lexier’s “Synopsis of Categories” sculpture at Metro Hall and moves on to great architecture and unique gardens at Roy Thompson Hall. Guests will visit a number of different sites along the PATH on their way through to First Canadian Place, Canada’s tallest office tower. From there, guests will wander through and explore the role of tapestry in the world of fine art. Another stop on the Safari is the neighbouring Toronto-Dominion tower and its Inuit Art Gallery. The final highlight is The Fairmont Royal York hotel where architecture meets empire and the walls seem steeped in the great myths of Canada. The tour concludes at The Library Bar of The Fairmont Royal York where a complimentary beverage will be offered to each guest.
“After researching the walk, I decided that The Fairmont Royal York is an excellent place to conclude the safari. Not only is it a cornerstone of Toronto’s heritage, but it also has much to offer in the world of art and architecture,” says tour creator Phil Reilly.
The Underground Safari Package is $199, exclusive of taxes and includes:
* One night in a Fairmont room, based on double occupancy
* Walking tour exploring Toronto’s underground PATH system
* Complimentary beverage (coffee, tea, soda, domestic beer or wine) at The Library Bar
For tickets or more information on the Winter Art-chitecture Safari, email Phil Reilly at safari@webnetics.com and for more information on The Fairmont Royal York’s Underground Safari Package call (416) 368-2511 or 1-866-540-4489.
