What the tower gets wrong

I gave twenty-five years of my working life to this building. I know every weld on the car frames and I still fondness-check the mast whenever I drive up Macleod Trail. That is exactly why I can tell you what is wrong with the visit without pretending everything is five stars.

1. It is not Toronto (and some towers downtown are now taller)

When the tower opened in 1968, 191 metres made it the tallest structure of its type in North America. Today, The Bow and the Brookfield Place office tower a few blocks away actually top out higher than the observation deck. People who show up expecting the CN Tower step out of the lift and say, "Wait, that office building is looking down at us." Come for the 360-degree balcony over the rail yards, the river valleys, and the foothills — not for a world altitude record.

2. Haze days cost the exact same as clear days

The ticket desk will happily sell you admission when forest-fire smoke has reduced visibility to six blocks. There is no "mountain guarantee". Look at the sky before you hand over a card.

3. Downtown parking is a racket

Paying twenty-five dollars to park a minivan for ninety minutes on 9th Avenue sours people before they even reach the turnstiles. Take the C-Train or come after 6:00 p.m.

4. The base gift shop is skippable

Plush moose, shot glasses, and keychains you can buy on Stephen Avenue for less. Walk straight through and spend that ten dollars on a pastry two blocks north.

Bottom line: on a crisp morning when the Rockies are out, it is a great hour of television for the eyes. On a smoky Tuesday with a $28 parking stub in your pocket, you will wish you had stayed at the zoo.