The Best Spring Activities in Downtown Toronto
Now that the weather is getting warmer it’s time to get outside and explore the city. If you are looking for some fun activities to add to your spring bucket list here are my recommendations:
Day Trip to the Toronto Islands
Visiting the Toronto islands is the perfect day trip! You can access the islands through the jack layton ferry terminal (round trip is $9.11) or by taking a water taxi (faster but more expensive). There are 15 different islands but the three main ones are Centre Island, Wards Island and Hanlans Point
What to do:
Visit Centreville amusement park on Centre Island
Go to Hanlans Beach Point
Rent a bicycle and cycle around the islands
Take the centreville sky ride
Shopping Along Yonge Street
Yonge Street has some of my favourite shops to bop and shop! Here are some of my favourite stores
Here is where you should shop:
The Good Neighbour: A combination of the best qualities of a general store and a department store
Thursdays: A cute family run boutique
Lemonwood: A boutique that focuses on clothes made with natural fibers\
Spend an Afternoon at Evergreen Brickworks
If you want to escape to nature but only have an afternoon, Evergreen Brickworks is where to go! They also have a year round farmers market on Saturdays and the Artisan and Vintage market on Sundays.
Go to the Farmers Market
Spring is the start of farmers market season! And going to a farmers market is a great way to support local farms. Most farmers markets start mid May and run through the middle of October.
Here are some farmers markets you should visit
Leslieville Farmers Market: Located at Greenwood Park on Sundays from 9am to 2pm
The Junction Farmers Market: Located at Baird Park on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm
The Underpass Farmers Market: Located near Sackville Park every Thursday from 4pm to 7:30pm
Visit the St Lawrence Market
Getting dinner at the St Lawrence Market and having a picnic at St James Park or Berczy Park is one of my favourite ways to spend an evening after work! If you haven’t been to Padinnton’s at St Lawrence Market it is a must do! If you are downtown on the weekend, make sure to check out the farmers market in the north market on Saturdays or the vintage market on Sundays.
Go to a Bluejays Game
The first sign of spring is the opening game of the baseball season! And it just gets better as the weather gets warmer. Going to the jays game when the dome is open is the most fun (but pro tip; don’t forget sunscreen!). I recommend sitting along the Third Base Line (Sections 111-125, 220-234, 524-537) to get the best view of the CN tower when the dome is open.
What to eat:
Garlic Knots from the Catch Bar
Al pastor dog from the Schneider “Poarch”
Viande fumée poutine
Rocky Mountain sundae
Visit Allan Gardens
Allan Gardens is an indoor botanical garden featuring five different greenhouses. This is the perfect activity for those colder spring days that we have been experiencing.
The Green Houses:
Northwest House: The Arid House is home to a large display of unusual cacti and succulents
Northeast House: The Tropical House features a mix of plants from equatorial regions.
East House: The Plam House displays an assortment of palms and other tropical plants.
Southwest House:The Orchid and Bromeliad House displays include equatorial plants.
Southeast House: The Temperate Show House showcases seasonal flower shows and has a Koi pond.
Walk to Cherry Beach
The Toronto Martin Goodman Trail is one of my favourite walking paths in the city! It’s part of the Waterfront Trail System. The trail spans 22 km from east to west along Toronto's waterfront. You can download a map of the trail on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail website.
Play Pickleball at an outdoor court
There have been a lot of pickleball courts popping up across the city. My suggestion is to skip the indoor courts (that have crazy membership fees) and go play at one of the many free, public courts.
Here are some outdoor courts:
High Park (West End)
Riverdale Park (East York)
Kew Gardens (The Beaches)
Greenwood Park (East End)
Ramsden Park (Midtown)
Go to High Park
High Park is a mixed recreational centre and park. There is a selection of sporting facilities, gardens and a zoo (who doesn’t love spending time with animals!). High Park is another way to escape to nature without leaving the city; you can go fishing in Grenadier Pond, swimming at the outdoor pool or visit one of the picnic areas. For a full list of activities, check out the high park website.
