Escapism, For One, For Two Weeks
March 23, 2016 8:40 PM Subscribe
Between 21 June and 18 July I will have finished school and not yet started work. I want to get away, outside, for some if not most of that time. I am based in Toronto. I like biking, hiking, walking, and being outside. I also like cities and reading books and sleeping in. Hope me please?
The thing that I dislike the most about Toronto is how difficult it is to be "in nature". I want to fill myself up on nature and being outdoors and alone before I start a pretty intense year of work that can make or break the rest of my career. I have reasonable funds to throw at the problem.
In the past I have cycled through Portugal with a friend and greatly enjoyed the experience. Can anyone vouch for a self-guided cycle company basically anywhere in the world that sets up self-guided tours for individuals? I am fine to take my stuff in panniers, etc.
I am also interested in hiking. I thought about taking an NOLS course (there's an Alaska one that looks interesting in my time block). I like the idea of mountaineering or learning some outdoorsy skill and so am querying the hive mind: any great outdoorsy experiences you would recommend? If it ends in a city where I would like to stay a few days and check things out, so much the better!
Alternatively, if you think I should be doing something else entirely in my time off between school and work, feel free to let me know.
The thing that I dislike the most about Toronto is how difficult it is to be "in nature". I want to fill myself up on nature and being outdoors and alone before I start a pretty intense year of work that can make or break the rest of my career. I have reasonable funds to throw at the problem.
In the past I have cycled through Portugal with a friend and greatly enjoyed the experience. Can anyone vouch for a self-guided cycle company basically anywhere in the world that sets up self-guided tours for individuals? I am fine to take my stuff in panniers, etc.
I am also interested in hiking. I thought about taking an NOLS course (there's an Alaska one that looks interesting in my time block). I like the idea of mountaineering or learning some outdoorsy skill and so am querying the hive mind: any great outdoorsy experiences you would recommend? If it ends in a city where I would like to stay a few days and check things out, so much the better!
Alternatively, if you think I should be doing something else entirely in my time off between school and work, feel free to let me know.
Response by poster: Note: I live in a small apartment and besides a commuter bike, have none of my own camping supplies.
posted by hepta at 9:23 PM on March 23, 2016
posted by hepta at 9:23 PM on March 23, 2016
Hiking the Bruce Trail? You could probably get bare minimum supplies at crappy tire for a couple hundred.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:31 PM on March 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:31 PM on March 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have a friend who did NOLS and loved it. I would say do that.
posted by dame at 10:22 PM on March 23, 2016
posted by dame at 10:22 PM on March 23, 2016
Adventure Cycling has you covered for self-guided tours if you want to explore the US by bike.
But here's the thing. I know what you mean. I've seen Toronto, and I have lived in places with a lot of amazing nature, right up to literally living in national parks. And now I live in an urban environment, and it doesn't feel like enough nature, and I live in Portland, Oregon, which has loads of trees everywhere. I think really it's probably just all those asphalt streets filled up with so many motor vehicles, but I digress. Something that has worked for me is using - really using - public parks. They're public. It looks like there are several conservation areas near Toronto, too. What works best, though, is gardening. It is amazing! Talk about nature! There's so much nature in gardening! I have so many exclamation marks for gardening!!! It sounds like such a drab activity but it is so seriously right up there with climbing a Himalayan mountain and probably a more useful skill, too.
So another thing you could consider doing is staying in Toronto and using those three weeks to seek out all the hidden bits of nature. Then you'll know where you can go when you need nature during this upcoming year. There are just loads of public parks, once you start noticing them. And Toronto totally has community gardens. Getting jump-started with volunteering at a community garden could be just the thing to keep you going during the intense upcoming year of work.
posted by aniola at 10:38 PM on March 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
But here's the thing. I know what you mean. I've seen Toronto, and I have lived in places with a lot of amazing nature, right up to literally living in national parks. And now I live in an urban environment, and it doesn't feel like enough nature, and I live in Portland, Oregon, which has loads of trees everywhere. I think really it's probably just all those asphalt streets filled up with so many motor vehicles, but I digress. Something that has worked for me is using - really using - public parks. They're public. It looks like there are several conservation areas near Toronto, too. What works best, though, is gardening. It is amazing! Talk about nature! There's so much nature in gardening! I have so many exclamation marks for gardening!!! It sounds like such a drab activity but it is so seriously right up there with climbing a Himalayan mountain and probably a more useful skill, too.
So another thing you could consider doing is staying in Toronto and using those three weeks to seek out all the hidden bits of nature. Then you'll know where you can go when you need nature during this upcoming year. There are just loads of public parks, once you start noticing them. And Toronto totally has community gardens. Getting jump-started with volunteering at a community garden could be just the thing to keep you going during the intense upcoming year of work.
posted by aniola at 10:38 PM on March 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
There are a lot of companies that do self-guided cycling tours in the Netherlands and Belgium. The Netherlands in particular might work because you can basically cycle from city to city.
posted by neushoorn at 1:13 AM on March 24, 2016
posted by neushoorn at 1:13 AM on March 24, 2016
I've heard good things about this sailing school in NC.
posted by heavenknows at 3:36 AM on March 24, 2016
posted by heavenknows at 3:36 AM on March 24, 2016
How long have you lived in Toronto? Scarborough has amazing nature by the lake - for some moving around take the GO out to Rouge Hill (or the Lawrence bus), cross the tracks to get on the waterfront trail, turn left and you can walk along the lake to the Rouge national park and go over the bridge to the Pickering conservation centre, or you can turn right and go along to East Point Park and the head up the Highland Creek trail.
By the way, once you're on that trail you can go to Port Hope on it. See waterfront trail.org (my phone is driving me nuts for this second link.)
For a smaller but slightly closer hit of nature, take the TTC to Bluffer's Park. After you walk down the cliff you can't see the city.
Downtown there's the Don of course.
Okay, that bit of horror at the idea that a city of ravines on the lake has no nature, check out GO's summer weekend service to Niagara - they have bike cars on all the trains and you can bike around the escarpment, or get of closer to Niagara-on-the-lake and bike wine country. It's also part of the same massive waterfront trail system.
posted by warriorqueen at 4:02 AM on March 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
By the way, once you're on that trail you can go to Port Hope on it. See waterfront trail.org (my phone is driving me nuts for this second link.)
For a smaller but slightly closer hit of nature, take the TTC to Bluffer's Park. After you walk down the cliff you can't see the city.
Downtown there's the Don of course.
Okay, that bit of horror at the idea that a city of ravines on the lake has no nature, check out GO's summer weekend service to Niagara - they have bike cars on all the trains and you can bike around the escarpment, or get of closer to Niagara-on-the-lake and bike wine country. It's also part of the same massive waterfront trail system.
posted by warriorqueen at 4:02 AM on March 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
My favorite outdoor experience was spent canyoning in the South of France. I was with friends who knew a hike off the beaten path, among goat farms, lavender fields and vineyards. I think it was the Canyon du Loup.
I had no previous canyoning experience and this Canyon was easy. We also came across an organized hiking group.
I can't seem to find any English sites for this particular hike, but these French sites can give you an idea.
posted by Milau at 4:36 AM on March 24, 2016
This Toronto?
posted by sadmadglad at 4:55 AM on March 24, 2016
Toronto has five watersheds with an extensive natural environment trail network for hiking biking and exploring. Trails wind through woods, across wildflower meadows and along rivers, wetlands and ponds. They are a great way to experience nature, enjoy Toronto's urban forest and see wildlife - herons, hawks, deer, rabbits, muskrats and butterflies to name a few.This map of Toronto shows just the parks. We have a TON of park land, much of it quite wild, and when I have gone into the ravines in east Scarborough it is that deep forest smell, that busy alive humming creature noise. Warriorqueen is right. Get out to Rouge National Park. Get into the ravines and hike. Go out onto the Leslie Spit. Explore the Don River. Hike and bike here.
posted by sadmadglad at 4:55 AM on March 24, 2016
Holland is one of the most perfect bicycle holidays. You can see practically the entire country by bike in two weeks and, from any city or big town, you will have a choice of multiple other big towns that can be reached within a day, on bike paths the whole way. In fact, I've done Amsterdam-Utrecht-Gouda-Den Haag-Delft-Rotterdam in a lazy weekend before.
Personally though, much as I like bicycle touring, were I in your position, I would probably head to the Caribbean and do a scuba diving certification course. Two weeks in sun, sand, and water and come away from it with a certification that will make you feel awesome and productive.
posted by 256 at 5:50 AM on March 24, 2016
Personally though, much as I like bicycle touring, were I in your position, I would probably head to the Caribbean and do a scuba diving certification course. Two weeks in sun, sand, and water and come away from it with a certification that will make you feel awesome and productive.
posted by 256 at 5:50 AM on March 24, 2016
For something close to home, Algonquin has lots of outfitters.
My partner and I booked one of these, and just showed up with clothes and they gave us everything including permits and a map of the route, showed us how to paddle a canoe and how to pitch the tent, and sent us on our way for 5 days. Amazing.
posted by girlpublisher at 6:25 AM on March 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
My partner and I booked one of these, and just showed up with clothes and they gave us everything including permits and a map of the route, showed us how to paddle a canoe and how to pitch the tent, and sent us on our way for 5 days. Amazing.
posted by girlpublisher at 6:25 AM on March 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Note: as much as I appreciate it, I live in the heart of urban downtown Toronto, do not have a car, and do not have more than 1-3 free hours in any given day to do outdoor adventures in my regular life. This question is pretty specifically about what to do to get away from Toronto/my life for a little while. Thanks :)
posted by hepta at 7:16 AM on March 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by hepta at 7:16 AM on March 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
You could go to Iceland. Icelandair has direct flights out of Toronto. I took that flight last summer. I hiked the Laugavegur trail , which takes 6 or 7 days if you start in Landmannalaugar and end in Skogar (I would definitely go all the way to Skogar). And because of weather, you can only do it between mid June and August, so your time off comes at the right time. I went with a guided tour, but many people do it themselves. And after the hike, you can spend some time in Reykjavik, which is a pretty cool city.
This is a very popular trek and accommodations get booked well in advance, so make your plans now if this sounds interesting to you. The tour company I used was Icelandic Mountain Guides, and they were great. I think Trex is another tour company I heard good things about, and their prices were a little cheaper than what I paid.
posted by crLLC at 7:43 AM on March 24, 2016
This is a very popular trek and accommodations get booked well in advance, so make your plans now if this sounds interesting to you. The tour company I used was Icelandic Mountain Guides, and they were great. I think Trex is another tour company I heard good things about, and their prices were a little cheaper than what I paid.
posted by crLLC at 7:43 AM on March 24, 2016
Start in Thunder Bay, bike down the North Shore and end up in Duluth. There are tons of hiking trails in the state parks along the way. There are also local trips to the Boundary Waters where you can canoe or kayak.
posted by soelo at 7:46 AM on March 24, 2016
posted by soelo at 7:46 AM on March 24, 2016
In a similar position (no car, no license, stuck in Toronto, funds available), I got my motorcycle license. Sign up for a weekend course, and in 60-90 days you can get your M2 and have the ability to travel on any road out of the city you'd like to.
If you start now, you'd have just enough time to get your M2.
I got some cheap camping gear and headed up to Bon Echo. Rented a canoe at the camp, and canoed out to a site at which I was all alone for a week. I'm not much of a campfire cook, so I mostly just ate cereal bars.
In years after that, I took solo motorcycle trips to Georgian Bay, Vermont, Colorado, and Newfoundland. It's not always the most comfortable way to travel, but it's an easy way to get out of the city if you've got the funds and the confidence.
posted by clawsoon at 9:45 AM on March 24, 2016
If you start now, you'd have just enough time to get your M2.
I got some cheap camping gear and headed up to Bon Echo. Rented a canoe at the camp, and canoed out to a site at which I was all alone for a week. I'm not much of a campfire cook, so I mostly just ate cereal bars.
In years after that, I took solo motorcycle trips to Georgian Bay, Vermont, Colorado, and Newfoundland. It's not always the most comfortable way to travel, but it's an easy way to get out of the city if you've got the funds and the confidence.
posted by clawsoon at 9:45 AM on March 24, 2016
Oh, and make sure you take a course which has the road test as part of the course. Makes your life much easier.
posted by clawsoon at 9:46 AM on March 24, 2016
posted by clawsoon at 9:46 AM on March 24, 2016
That would be right around the start of beluga whale season in Churchill. You could take the train from Union Station to get there.
posted by clawsoon at 9:53 AM on March 24, 2016
posted by clawsoon at 9:53 AM on March 24, 2016
I have friends who say that a bike tour of the Gaspe is a beautiful thing.
posted by clawsoon at 9:57 AM on March 24, 2016
posted by clawsoon at 9:57 AM on March 24, 2016
On the provincial park getaway, for non-drivers, there is also Park Bus.
posted by girlpublisher at 10:17 AM on March 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by girlpublisher at 10:17 AM on March 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by parki at 8:46 PM on March 23, 2016