Doozie Dozen: Toronto in the Summer
Top 12 Things to do in the City
This September, I am moving away from Toronto. I have been in the city for far too long. The other cities that I am very familiar with are Oxford, Munich, San Diego and recently, Montreal. Toronto is a big city with lots to do, but I would gladly live in any of those other three mentioned. I can't say that I'm a huge fan of the Toronto culture, but with six million people, there is a lot of fun activities in the summer. It is a great location for vacationing if you like big cities and know what to do. If you don't know what to do, here is a list of my top twelve activities in the summer.
Some of these activities are outside Toronto, but still very accessible from the city. I have also made selections of activities that are either unique to Toronto or where Toronto boasts one of the best versions of that activity that is common to large cities. I also review the upside and downside of the attractions.
Some of these activities are outside Toronto, but still very accessible from the city. I have also made selections of activities that are either unique to Toronto or where Toronto boasts one of the best versions of that activity that is common to large cities. I also review the upside and downside of the attractions.
12. High Park
Every big city that was well-planned has a huge park and Toronto is no different. High Park is no Central Park or Hyde Park, but it is very big. It is about half the size of Central Park, but there are some nice winding paths, a lake, children's playground and even a small zoo. The park was a greater attraction decades ago and the city could infuse some funding to make it more impressive today. That being said, it is worth a half day excursion and provides the opportunity to explore the High Park commercial strip on Bloor St., which has some nice bars and restaurants.
|
Above: Cottages in Muskoka
Left: Wasaga Beach |
11. Wasaga Beach and Muskoka Lakes
If you want to go on a driving trip, Wasaga and Muskoka are a few hours away (about two to three). Wasaga is a beach town and many Torontonians travel there to party in the summer. They have big volleyball tournaments throughout the summer. The town is small but there are a couple of nice restaurants. There are also a strip of bars at the beach. Muskoka is more refined and many of the wealthy Torontonians have cottages there (even celebrities). If you have the money, you could find some high-end golf courses (may need a membership). Muskoka is a great place to visit if you know someone with a cottage there.
|
|
10. ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) & AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario)
The ROM and AGO cannot come close to competing with European galleries and museums. However, both institutions do a good job of having impressive featured attractions seasonally. You would have to check online to see what these attractions are, but it might be worth a day of your vacation to visit the ROM and AGO if you are an art and history buff. They are relatively close in proximity, so you can walk through the beautiful University of Toronto St. George campus to get between them.
9. Pub Crawl...
Full disclosure: Torontonians are spoiled, and often bratty... and always trendy. Toronto must have about as many restaurants and bars as there are houses. People don't do much cooking and instead charge their taxed credit cards at a variety of local restaurants and bars. My personal go-to is the Yonge-Eglinton St. Louis location for wings and ribs. Tuesday is half price wing night and the place gets rammed. There is a large patio that is bumping in the summer and has mist towers to discourage wasps. As a tourist, this may be all too common fare. Hemingway's is a large bar in Yorkville, one of the most chic shopping areas of the city. The bar has a couple of nice patios and the menu is well-priced compared to many of the other bars and restaurants in that area. Walking west, there is the big university bar, The Madison. It fills up with young people (sometimes underage) but the bar is absolutely massive in a converted set of old Victorian mansions in the Annex area. Further south is Kensington Market which can be fun to explore during the day with the expected vintage stores and hash bars. There are also a spattering of bars and restaurants that fit the theme and feel of the neighbourhood. That route from Hemingway's to the west and south is more for a younger crowd and one could keep heading south and west to find more watering holes along the way. From Hemingway's to the east could take you to Terroni's at Summerhill. There is a nice rooftop patio that looks over the old train station (now a liquor store). Further south is the 180 bar (formerly known as Panorama). It is located up fifty floors of one of the city's centrally-located skyscrapers. The bar provides an incredible view of the city. It is pricey and there is an informal dress code, so dress nice and if money is a factor, go for dessert or a drink, see the view, take the photos and leave. The panoramic landscape is very dramatic at night. Much further south is the Distillery District. It is also a chic area with more expensive restaurants and bars. Queen Street West is a long strip with unique bars and restaurants, but don't forget to head south to King St. and some of the side streets along the way to explore the full range of bars, restaurants and night clubs. Some are casual and others very chic. The Drake can vary between scrubby and posh depending on the event at night but is almost always crowded with tons of energy.
8. Center Island
Center Island is a great unique tourist attraction in Toronto. That being said, there is a residential area on the island. It is an odd community with three main personality types - boating enthusiasts, elitists and dreamers. Combined, this is a deadly formula. That community has done an extremely successful job of blocking commercial development on the island and as a result as a tourist attraction, the island has not improved in decades. There are three areas of the island - west, central and east. If you head west you will encounter Hanlon's Point. This is where the clothing-optional beach is located. Most of the nudists are gay males and old couples. The main tourist area is in the central part of the island. There is a large restaurant on the water beside the ferry port, but it is very pricey. Further east is a kid's area with some rides and a petting zoo. The beach in the central area is not very impressive but likely nothing will change as long as the residential community blocks commercialization of the tourist area of the island. The east part of the island is known as Ward's. This is where the residential area is located. The houses are usually miniature and there is a beach at Ward's also. The sand is better there than at the central beach, but this beach is less for tourists (mainly because they don't know the lay of the land). There are a few restaurants on the east side of the island (also overpriced). There are ferry ports at all three areas of the island but be aware that the Ward's ferry sometimes travels to Hanlon's Point before heading back to the mainland. The most expeditious route back to the city is from the central port. There are bike rentals if you want to explore the entire island. Center Island at Hanlon's Point is a great spot for fireworks celebrations on Canada Day (July 1st).
7. Toronto Blue Jays Game
The Blue Jays are a storied franchise having won back-to-back championship titles in the early 1990s. For many years, the team was in the cellar and the trendy Toronto crowd could have cared less about them. No one went to the games and ticket prices dropped to the point where they were basically giving them away (I remember $6 tickets). Then, Toronto tryhards decided that going to the game to drink was pretty damn cool. Baseball didn't matter to this crowd (and still doesn't) but their habits taught others to follow in suit to be part of the in-crowd. Now, the Jays are actually a competitive team, ticket prices are still not so high to discourage filling the stadium and it is still trendy to go to the game and drink beer. Every decent looking girl who wears too much makeup in Toronto has a photo of themselves at Rogers Centre (Skydome) with a cap on and a beer in their hand littering their social media profiles indirectly promoting the Jays. A tourist will miss the nuances of the local demographic and simply enjoy a boisterous crowd. In the summer, it is the Jays, but if you have the money and are visiting in Winter or Spring, then the Raptors and Maple Leaf games can be very exciting also. Rogers Centre and the ACC (Air Canada Centre) have big music concerts throughout the year.
6. Algonquin Park
It is about a four hour drive, mainly north and slightly east of Toronto, but Algonquin Park is one of Ontario's gems. There are dozens of amazing hiking routes and countless lakes for canoeing. My top location is Provoking Lake, whose campsites are still hiking distance from the main highway. There is an RV site at this highway as well as a hamburger joint and tuck shop. In the summer, it is important to book a campsite because they fill up. On the way to Provoking Lake is a little rapids area where two lakes are connected. It can be fun to wade in the water before heading back to your campsite. I have personally encountered many beasts while at my campsite, including a bear that came right up to my tent.
5. Fan Expo
You don't have to be a nerd or geek to enjoy Fan Expo. It is an incredible marketplace that takes in tens of thousands of visitors during the weekend. Dozens of celebrities show up because Fan Expo is one of the top 10 comic conventions in the world (ranking as high as fourth with many reviewers). Artists alley is massive and now includes a lot of crafts. Toronto is a very multicultural city and this is reflected through artists alley and the unique styles of art that can be found there. Unfortunately, politics can get in the way with big events and the Fan Expo organizers have done a poor job of balancing the hegemons (Marvel and DC) with the B-level comic publishers. As a result, the B-level guys have all-but disappeared from the event. I haven't seen Image there since 2011. Dark Horse is gone along with many others. The Fan Expo organizers are undoubtedly greedy but they have done a better job recently in controlling crowds. That being said, last year they moved the dates of the event to Labour Day weekend which was a huge mistake if you had a table at the convention. There were probably 15% fewer visitors. In Toronto, Labour Day weekend is important for cottage-goers and the city is usually pretty empty. Fan Expo has some interesting panel discussions and always tons of creative cosplayers craving attention.
4. CNE (Canadian National Exhibition)
Before Canada's Wonderland, before the Toronto Blue Jays... before most attractions in Toronto, there was the CNE. The CNE runs for less than a month at the end of the summer. The organizers do a good job of maintaining the feel of the event from decades passed. My mom had a job at the CNE in the 1950s and she still finds the event familiar. There are rides and games, but every separate one involves paying. You can buy ride tickets in bulk at kiosks throughout the exhibition. There are buildings throughout the complex that have different exhibits. There is also an indoor petting zoo and a casino. The casino opens slightly earlier than the main event. The CNE is right downtown, so when you are tired of the event, you can either take a streetcar out or just walk.
3. Niagara Falls
Less than two hours away from downtown Toronto, at the US-Canada border is Niagara Falls. It is a full day excursion because there is so much to do. This can be a great spot for fireworks shows on either Canada Day (July 1st) or Independence Day (Fourth of July). Visiting the actual waterfalls is just one activity. There are casinos, an indoor waterpark, ferris wheel, mini-golf, with lots of rides, games and novelty stores. Everything is walking distance. Like the CNE, Niagara Falls maintains its carnival-like roots. You can buy a pass for a set of rides and it is decently priced. There are restaurants and bars among the attractions. The Niagara area also features the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake, if theatre is your fancy. The Niagara escarpment has a series of smaller waterfalls to visit and this area is the wine country of Ontario.
2. Metro Toronto Zoo
I have been to San Diego Zoo and it does a good job of living up to its reputation as the best zoo in the West, however, the Metro Toronto Zoo is definitely up there in the rankings. The Toronto zoo is huge with many different "geographic" regions. The summers in Toronto can be sticky and humid, so it is best to visit the zoo on an overcast day when the animals will be more active. I have seen very playful grizzly bears and an inquisitive polar bear cub. There are elephant and ape performances at different times. Prepare for some walking if you intend to see all the animals, especially if you want to see the Canadian animals (moose, raccoons, eagle, etc.) which are slightly off the beaten path. The zoo is pretty remotely located with the GTA, so you will have to drive back into the city to find a nice restaurant for dinner. In downtown, you can find Ripley's Aquarium beside the CN Tower, which has a lot more marine species than the zoo.
1. Canada's Wonderland
This is definitely the best attraction in Toronto. If you want a full rundown of the park, please check out my article on this site dedicated to reviewing Canada's Wonderland.
