In 1929, the largest hotel in the British Commonwealth opened on the site of the old Queen’s Hotel, which had been an integral part of Toronto’s boomtown. It was also rumored to have been the site of Sir John Macdonald’s meeting with American Civil War sympathizers who plotted retaliation. The Royal York became known as a city within a city, with its 1.5 acres (.6 hectares) of public rooms including a 12-bed hospital, a 12,000-book library, a concert hall with a 50-ton pipe organ, its own bank, and ten ornate passenger elevators. A $100 million project from 1988 to 1993 restored the guest rooms and public spaces to their original elegance and added a health club. Still, many of the hotel's original features are intact, such as the marvelous hand-painted ceilings, travertine pillars, ornate furnishings, and wall hangings. Even if you aren't a guest of the hotel, take a walk through it and think about the illustrious guests who have walked before you. And don’t forget to sneak a peak at ornate elevator #9, the designated lift for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Fairmont Royal York Amenities:

• 1,365 rooms, 22 story. Pets accepted, some restrictions; fee. Check-in 3 pm, check-out noon. High-speed Internet access. Five restaurants, four bars. Fitness room. Indoor pool. Business center.