We live in possibly the best city in the entire world, and there is certainly no shortage of fun things to do with your family. Check back here often for some of momstown Toronto's tips for family fun in this amazing city of ours!
 |
| Looking out the ferry window! |
The Toronto Islands
A trip to
the Toronto Islands is like an escape to cottage country, a county fair and a yacht club all rolled into one! The ferry ride is fun for the whole family, and the kids will love the anticipation of the ride over. It is also stroller friendly, and you can even take over bicycles if you take the Ward Island Ferry.
 |
| The Swan Ride on Centre Island. |
Once you arrive, there are so many options for fun!
Centreville of course springs to mind with its
rides and amusement park atmosphere, but there are so many other things to do as well. Centreville's rides really are a lot of fun however, especially the 1907 carousel and the log flume ride. Let's not forget the Swan Ride, a favourite with many children!
 |
| Hi Franklin! |
The
Franklin Children's Garden is a lot of fun to explore, with all of your favourite Franklin characters. It's an interactive garden for kids and families on Centre Island, inspired by Franklin the Turtle, the
celebrated series of books written by Paulette Bourgeois. The garden is divided into six sections where children can
enjoy gardening, storytelling, and visits with seven child-accessible
sculptures from the Franklin the Turtle series.
 |
| A hug for Goose |
|
If you'd like to take a trip down the less-beaten path, then I would highly recommend taking the ferry to Ward Island with your bicycle. Bring along a picnic for lunch and enjoy it near a splash pad. One of my family's favourite things to do on the Islands is to bicycle through the streets where Island residents have their homes. It has such a cottage feel, and there is a great little community park with a play structure. Here is the website for the Toronto Island community for more details:
http://torontoisland.org/.
 |
| The Rectory Cafe patio |
When you're ready to sit down after a long day exploring the Islands, venture over to the
Rectory Cafe, possibly my favourite patio in the city of Toronto. It's like a secret garden oasis, and the staff is super friendly. The food is super yummy too!
This just scratches the surface of the fun waiting for you on the Islands! Why not visit this weekend and check them out for yourself?
High Park
 |
| Colborne Lodge |
New York may have Central Park, but we have a serious Canadian contender -
High Park. If you are looking to escape into a little piece of wilderness in Toronto, then this is your destination. Playgrounds, splash pads,
hiking trails, ponds, sculptured gardens,
restaurants and snack bars, swimming pool, tennis courts, a
nature centre,
Colborne Lodge - the list goes on and on.
To get there, take the subway to High Park on the Bloor line and walk south into the park. There is also free parking in the heart of the park.
 |
| The Jamie Bell Adventure Park |
A day in High Park isn't complete without a trip through the
High Park Zoo. From the Grenadier Cafe, walk down through the zoo, visiting the many animals en route to the
Jamie Bell Adventure Playground. It is a beautiful park and was actually designed by local children when it was originally built. My kids' favourite feature is the 'walkie-talkies' that allow to talk across the playground.
If you are a dog-owner, the park has an amazing
leash-free zone, which is fun for kids and adults alike. You can explore the trails and open space with your canine friend.
 |
| Climbing a cherry tree in High Park |
And did you know that High Park has a
Children's Garden? It is a wonderful adventure to explore the flora and fauna in the park. If you're lucky enough to visit in the spring, High Park's
cherry blossoms are famous around the world.
If you haven't had a chance to explore High Park, I urge you to go soon. This park is a beautiful place to escape to for a hike, an afternoon or a day.
No comments:
Post a Comment