Summer in Toronto
When we arrived in Toronto in April 2018, we only intended to stay for a few months to visit with friends and family close by in Ontario. We ended up staying for 6 months, mostly because we wanted to spend the summer with people we knew and we wanted to leave before the cold of winter set in. There are a lot of touristy things to do in Toronto, like the CN Tower, the aquarium, & the Hockey Hall of Fame. But if you want to get more of a local feel, here are 12 things we recommend when visiting the city in the summer:
1- Take a boat to the Islands:
On a sunny day, taking the ferry over to Centre Island is a wonderful way to get out of the busy city. The skyline of Toronto, complete with CN Tower and Roger's Centre looks idyllic from the island shore. Bring a picnic or a cooler of drinks and hang out on the beach or in the park. If you know someone with a boat, even better! Dock in the island harbour an enjoy the unique community of people there. |
3- Enjoy a meal on The Danforth:
The Danforth is a great place to escape into a quieter, calmer neighbourhood. There are several great restaurants, bars and even a music hall. Known as Greektown, Greek food is the specialty but you'll find a variety of food styles on offer. The Only Cafe is a great spot to stop of a beer. In August you can also check out the Taste of the Danforth street festival. |
4- Explore the local craft beer scene:
There are a lot of craft breweries in Toronto and they are great places to spend a sunny afternoon. You can easily divide them up into three separate brewery crawls- West, Downtown and East. A couple favourites are Bellwoods Brewery, Left Field and Radical Roads. |
6- Drink a Caesar:
You can't visit Toronto without trying a Caesar. It is the perfect brunch beverage, but can be enjoyed at any time. If you have never had one, the sound of clam juice in a vodka tomato drink might sound disgusting, but you can't be an honourary Canadian until you learn to love them. You can judge a caesar by its garnishes- from the basic celery stick to the more modern pickled bean to extreme versions with oysters, beef jerky or even a lobster tail. |
9- Enjoy the cityscape from Trillium Park:
Trillium Park is a newer park development along the shores of Lake Ontario. It's location, west of the downtown, allows you to look back at the cityscape, with the CN Tower front and centre. There are several trails for a walk along the water. Keep an eye out for summertime performances on the stage as well. |
10 - Spend a day at the Beaches & Leslieville:
Start your day with a coffee at one of Leslieville's quaint cafes and head to the beaches to enjoy some sun and sand. There is a wooden boardwalk you can walk along the beach and plenty of dog watching to be had. On the weekend there is normally some sort of event happening at Woodbine Park. |
11- Catch an outside gig:
There are a lot of free gigs in the city during the summer. Keep an eye out online for different listings in the parks, at Union station and other locations. The Budweiser Stage is also a great place to catch your favourite band. Get lawn seats and sit in the grass instead of in chairs. There are also several outdoor movie screenings put on throughout the summer. |