Photo: Allan Gardens main greenhouse

Visitors to Toronto will find plenty of sightseeing attractions where they can go shopping, have a meal, take in some culture, or snap a great picture, but the city also has some great green spaces to relax in, too! Here are three of my top picks (plus a bonus!).

Evergreen Brick Works used to be a quarry, but now it is a city park which is surrounded by walking trails and connected to other parks. There is a cafe, a garden center, a farmers’ market, public washrooms, and several buildings that host classes and workshops. You can walk around the trails and discover all kinds of plants, insects, birds, and animals, such as turtles, frogs, and beavers. It’s a great place to try new foods and buy local products, go for a jog, or just spend a relaxing afternoon in nature. Although I like to walk to the Brick Works, it’s also accessible by bus and car.

The Toronto Islands, located in Lake Ontario, are accessible by ferry from Queens Quay, just a short walk from Union Station (Toronto’s main downtown subway station). The ferry ride is quick, cool, and inexpensive. Most people take the ferry to Centre Island, but there are other islands that you can visit as well. The islands feature beaches, gardens, trails for walking and cycling (bicycle rentals are available on the island), a theme park, and a few small food stands. This is a great place to escape the heat of the city, as it’s often several degrees cooler than the downtown area (be sure to bring a jacket if you’re going to be there at night). It’s a great place to go for a romantic date, a fun day with the family, a barbeque or game of frisbee with friends, or just some quiet time to yourself. Watch out for the Canada geese, though. They are not friendly birds! 

High Park is a huge park that is a little east of the downtown core but is easily accessible by subway (just get off at High Park Station!). There are plenty of trails for walking and biking, as well as gardens and benches where you can sit, relax, and feed the squirrels and birds. There are play areas for children, sports fields and tennis courts to play on, restaurants where you can sit and eat or grab something to go, and even a small zoo (I like to visit the capybara there). You can also go down by the water and see the ducks and geese. From High Park, it’s a short walk to Lake Ontario, where you can relax on the beach, eat at a restaurant with a view of the lake, or find some water activities to do. High Park is big enough to feel like you’ve escaped from the city and is a great place to come back to again and again in any season.