Toronto, Late Summer: Recs & Side Trips?
May 21, 2024 12:40 PM Subscribe
We have beloved cousins in Toronto that we visit all the time. We've asked for tips before. This time, we're going in late summer, probably the week at the end of July/beginning of August or the first full week of August. We're interested in fun recs for things to do and places to eat, and this time, we'll have the time to venture a bit outside of town if it's worth it. More inside.
The cousins have recently moved to Cliffside, but we don't mind straying to other areas in or outside of the city.
Difficulty level: we've been there five or six times already, so a lot of the classic Toronto tourist stuff is long-since checked off our list. Outside of our regular trip to St. Lawrence Market, and maybe dropping in on Kensington Market, we probably won't repeat much, unless there's a fresh reason. Maybe a Jays game, if the schedule works.
We've already done: CN Tower, Casa Loma, Rogers Centre, Distillery District, Ripley's Aquarium, Toronto Island Park, High Park, Edwards Gardens, Allan Gardens Conservatory, Queen Street, Toronto City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square, Evergreen Brick Works, Yorkville Village, Yonge Street, Ontario Science Centre, Yonge/Dundas Square, and probably a bunch more I am forgetting.
Other things we have particularly enjoyed include the Monkey's Paw Bookstore, Sigur Ros's Jónsi's sound installation at AGO, Curiosa, Storm Crow Manor, Momofuku, Wvrst, and more I am forgetting.
The teenager has limited to zero tolerance for museums. Smart kid, inquisitive mind, just doesn't enjoy the pacing.
Comrade Doll loves gardens and flowers. She and kiddo both like antique stores. Kiddo is very into old Polaroid cameras.
The cousins have recently moved to Cliffside, but we don't mind straying to other areas in or outside of the city.
Difficulty level: we've been there five or six times already, so a lot of the classic Toronto tourist stuff is long-since checked off our list. Outside of our regular trip to St. Lawrence Market, and maybe dropping in on Kensington Market, we probably won't repeat much, unless there's a fresh reason. Maybe a Jays game, if the schedule works.
We've already done: CN Tower, Casa Loma, Rogers Centre, Distillery District, Ripley's Aquarium, Toronto Island Park, High Park, Edwards Gardens, Allan Gardens Conservatory, Queen Street, Toronto City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square, Evergreen Brick Works, Yorkville Village, Yonge Street, Ontario Science Centre, Yonge/Dundas Square, and probably a bunch more I am forgetting.
Other things we have particularly enjoyed include the Monkey's Paw Bookstore, Sigur Ros's Jónsi's sound installation at AGO, Curiosa, Storm Crow Manor, Momofuku, Wvrst, and more I am forgetting.
The teenager has limited to zero tolerance for museums. Smart kid, inquisitive mind, just doesn't enjoy the pacing.
Comrade Doll loves gardens and flowers. She and kiddo both like antique stores. Kiddo is very into old Polaroid cameras.
Some green spaces you may have missed:
Allen Gardens Greenhouses (Jarvis/Carlton, right downtown ) are a gem. The palm house will still be undergoing renovations, but the desert and jungle greenhouses are still open. Set aside 30-60 minutes for this when you're in the Garden/Village district. No fee.
The Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton (on the way to Niagara) are gorgeous, admission $.
Toronto Botanical Gardens in midtown by Leslie/Lawrence, no fee, parking $. The Toronto Botanical Gardens in particular are a great place to have a picnic, bring take-out, wander, eat, and wander some more.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:48 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
Allen Gardens Greenhouses (Jarvis/Carlton, right downtown ) are a gem. The palm house will still be undergoing renovations, but the desert and jungle greenhouses are still open. Set aside 30-60 minutes for this when you're in the Garden/Village district. No fee.
The Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton (on the way to Niagara) are gorgeous, admission $.
Toronto Botanical Gardens in midtown by Leslie/Lawrence, no fee, parking $. The Toronto Botanical Gardens in particular are a great place to have a picnic, bring take-out, wander, eat, and wander some more.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:48 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
Also, if you like dogs, Cherry Beach (just each of the Don River by the lake) has a huge sandy off-leash area that is great for dipping your toes in the water and (with permission) saying hi to dozens if not hundreds of frolicking puppers.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:54 PM on May 21
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:54 PM on May 21
Caribana is 1–5 August. It is claimed to be the largest street festival in North America. I don't know how true that is, but I am sure it's the largest street festival anywhere around here.
Shaw Festival and Stratford Festival will be in full force.
Always interesting movies at the TIFF Lightbox.
Fort York and the Village at Black Creek may be of interest.
You didn't mention having been to the Scarborough Bluffs already. They're worth going to, and, of course, right in the new backyard. I like Tommy Thompson Park.
Check out Suresh Doss's food guide for interesting places.
posted by grouse at 1:43 PM on May 21 [3 favorites]
Shaw Festival and Stratford Festival will be in full force.
Always interesting movies at the TIFF Lightbox.
Fort York and the Village at Black Creek may be of interest.
You didn't mention having been to the Scarborough Bluffs already. They're worth going to, and, of course, right in the new backyard. I like Tommy Thompson Park.
Check out Suresh Doss's food guide for interesting places.
posted by grouse at 1:43 PM on May 21 [3 favorites]
For green space, head out to Rouge National Park in Scarborough. You could also explore the Don Valley trail, which starts almost at the lake and just keeps going through lots of parks - it connects the Brickworks and the Toronto Botanical Gardens, for example. If you can borrow bikes, the Leslie Spit is incredible but it is a long hot walk on foot.
WVRST now has a location in Union Station, if you find yourselves passing through there.
There's a great antique place on the way down to Niagara, near Jordan, I think, but I was only there with someone else who knew where we were going so I'm not sure what it was, but it's like a few barns with a bunch of vendors and lots of neat stuff.
posted by phlox at 1:48 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
WVRST now has a location in Union Station, if you find yourselves passing through there.
There's a great antique place on the way down to Niagara, near Jordan, I think, but I was only there with someone else who knew where we were going so I'm not sure what it was, but it's like a few barns with a bunch of vendors and lots of neat stuff.
posted by phlox at 1:48 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
It’s an hour out of Toronto to the NW: the Elora Gorge is wonderful. You can hike the sides of the river and walk down to the rapids, rent tubes or kayaks, do a zip line, and enjoy a bit of antiquing and crafting in town. There’s a lovely pub right on the river, too. We made a day trip out of this many times.
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:45 PM on May 21 [5 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:45 PM on May 21 [5 favorites]
You could combine an Elora trip with St Jacobs (just north of Waterloo), which has a huge antique/craft mall. On Saturdays the farmer market (7am to 3pm) is enormous and will be full of local produce, jams, more crafts, snacks, whatever you want.
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:56 PM on May 21 [3 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:56 PM on May 21 [3 favorites]
Also: we are probably going to Niagara Falls.
If you like gross high-rise hotels and parking lots and wax museums and parking lots and gooney golf and parking lots, but with a view of lovely parkland, stay on the Canadian side.
If you like lovely parkland, but with a view of Myrtle Beach crossed with Dollywood, cross back to the US. Do be aware though that while the NYS parkland around Goat Island is really nice, the city of Niagara Falls NY is... not.
Maid of the Mist is worth it
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 3:29 PM on May 21
If you like gross high-rise hotels and parking lots and wax museums and parking lots and gooney golf and parking lots, but with a view of lovely parkland, stay on the Canadian side.
If you like lovely parkland, but with a view of Myrtle Beach crossed with Dollywood, cross back to the US. Do be aware though that while the NYS parkland around Goat Island is really nice, the city of Niagara Falls NY is... not.
Maid of the Mist is worth it
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 3:29 PM on May 21
if the dates line up for you and you can visit Kensington market on one of the pedestrian sundays, they are fun. Last time I caught one there were 2 dance troupes and 3 drum bands performing.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:48 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:48 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
Seconding Caribana.
If you like movies, Fox Theatre in The Beaches is fun. They have a lot of audience participation events.
posted by lukemeister at 4:08 PM on May 21
If you like movies, Fox Theatre in The Beaches is fun. They have a lot of audience participation events.
posted by lukemeister at 4:08 PM on May 21
My in-laws and nephew visited last summer and we took them to Niagara Falls over a weekend and it was actually a good trip. Yes the whole Clifton Hill area is tacky as hell but the falls themselves are impressive and from the Canadian side you can see both the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls so I think you get the best view. Yes do the Maid of the Mist or whatever they call it. Maybe do the zipline or the tunnel behind the falls too. There might be fireworks at night, there will be a light show for sure. And yeah to keep your kid amused go do some go-karting or mini golf and have some over-priced ice cream.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 5:47 PM on May 21
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 5:47 PM on May 21
If you go to Niagara Falls, I have two recommendations: the White Water Walk is my very favourite thing. You take an elevator 70 m down to the gorge and there's a boardwalk all along the river well below the falls. All the water that's cascaded over the falls churns it's way through with unbelievable force, and behind you is lots of greenery and the rock face. It's absolutely stunning. Second is wood-fired pizza at Antica if you do go to Clifton Hill. But seriously, do the Walk
posted by kate4914 at 6:47 PM on May 21
posted by kate4914 at 6:47 PM on May 21
If you liked Curiosa and Storm Crow Manor (yay!) you might like re: reading on the Danforth; it’s not as elaborate but has a vibe. While on the Danforth if you didn’t get to Zed*80 it’s right there, and loads of good places to eat.
Scarborough stuff:
Agreed on the Rouge.
Cliff side you’re right near the Rosetta McClain gardens.
The Guild Park is great if you love gardens, and you can head down the trail from the eastern parking lot to the bottom of the bluffs (not Bluffers Park; it’s quieter.)
We have Archery Circuit on our list but haven’t been yet.
Taste of Lawrence is a lot earlier but is fun. However you may have made up for that by hitting Ribfest weekend. It’s in Tommy Thompson park, which connects up to some great trails.
Out of town
If your kids like theatre at all I’d recommend Stratford. Both the festival and the place.
posted by warriorqueen at 7:20 PM on May 21
Scarborough stuff:
Agreed on the Rouge.
Cliff side you’re right near the Rosetta McClain gardens.
The Guild Park is great if you love gardens, and you can head down the trail from the eastern parking lot to the bottom of the bluffs (not Bluffers Park; it’s quieter.)
We have Archery Circuit on our list but haven’t been yet.
Taste of Lawrence is a lot earlier but is fun. However you may have made up for that by hitting Ribfest weekend. It’s in Tommy Thompson park, which connects up to some great trails.
Out of town
If your kids like theatre at all I’d recommend Stratford. Both the festival and the place.
posted by warriorqueen at 7:20 PM on May 21
Second is wood-fired pizza at Antica
Seconding this. We went there and were very pleasantly surprised.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 7:55 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
Seconding this. We went there and were very pleasantly surprised.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 7:55 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
This might be too museumy for you, but I loved visiting the old Rankine Generating Station in Niagara Falls. You can get a guided tour or you can wander around it on your own. It's Beaux Arts period, so it's an interesting mix of beauty and danger, with Industrial Age electrical equipment and deep shafts next to marble tiles and brass ornamentation. There's a glass elevator down to the old water tunnel with a viewing platform of the falls at the end. I ran into a friendly guy named Jim who worked at the station while it was operational, as did his father, and who now works for the Niagara Parks Commission telling stories about the site to curious tourists.
posted by Stoof at 9:29 AM on May 22
posted by Stoof at 9:29 AM on May 22
I got inlaws in Stratford and Niagara so I'm in both places often enough to be pretty tired of all the usual so here's my advice.
The US Falls are way quieter but the Canadian side has the better view but will be packed. Maid of the Mist is worth it. Going behind the Falls is cool. Marineland is bad. Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls is a cut price Vegas it is true and is trashy in a way Canadians don't usually do but it has some appeal. DoT I mostly know you from Fanfare posts so I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that you may like Nightmares Fear Factory. There's no ambiguity, it is kind of dumb, but I think if you're a little like me that kind of dumbness might have an appeal for you. I also like unpleasant wax museums which are also there in Clifton Hill should you have a similar affliction.
If you got some time and want to do something a bit lowkey where you'll likely be the only one there I have a few suggestions - if you like trees, Comfort Maple is neat to see and there's the Screaming Tunnel, which is a small tunnel near a trail that some people find creepy, and there's the Grande Hermine, an abandoned ship just off the highway towards Niagara. All these are out of the way but fine for some quiet. And yeah there's the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake. On the way from Toronto you can stop in Hamilton and go to Hutch’s on the Beach, an old school diner on the beach (on a nice day it could be packed) and not too far away is the Hamilton Steam Museum which if you like industrial history there are some interesting buildings and technologies there.
If in Stratford, try to get a tour of the backstage and studios of the theatre (which are pretty interesting). There's the theatre of course but you might want to skip that and maybe rent out the Little Prince Theatre with your crowd and watch your own movie. There's lots of good places to eat in Stratford though a lot of our favourites got taken down by the Pandemic. If you don't want fancy I suggest the Erie Drive In , which is nice on a sunny day. Or get some fried chicken from Polla Morta and have a picnic by the river.
posted by Ashwagandha at 11:27 AM on May 22 [1 favorite]
The US Falls are way quieter but the Canadian side has the better view but will be packed. Maid of the Mist is worth it. Going behind the Falls is cool. Marineland is bad. Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls is a cut price Vegas it is true and is trashy in a way Canadians don't usually do but it has some appeal. DoT I mostly know you from Fanfare posts so I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that you may like Nightmares Fear Factory. There's no ambiguity, it is kind of dumb, but I think if you're a little like me that kind of dumbness might have an appeal for you. I also like unpleasant wax museums which are also there in Clifton Hill should you have a similar affliction.
If you got some time and want to do something a bit lowkey where you'll likely be the only one there I have a few suggestions - if you like trees, Comfort Maple is neat to see and there's the Screaming Tunnel, which is a small tunnel near a trail that some people find creepy, and there's the Grande Hermine, an abandoned ship just off the highway towards Niagara. All these are out of the way but fine for some quiet. And yeah there's the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake. On the way from Toronto you can stop in Hamilton and go to Hutch’s on the Beach, an old school diner on the beach (on a nice day it could be packed) and not too far away is the Hamilton Steam Museum which if you like industrial history there are some interesting buildings and technologies there.
If in Stratford, try to get a tour of the backstage and studios of the theatre (which are pretty interesting). There's the theatre of course but you might want to skip that and maybe rent out the Little Prince Theatre with your crowd and watch your own movie. There's lots of good places to eat in Stratford though a lot of our favourites got taken down by the Pandemic. If you don't want fancy I suggest the Erie Drive In , which is nice on a sunny day. Or get some fried chicken from Polla Morta and have a picnic by the river.
posted by Ashwagandha at 11:27 AM on May 22 [1 favorite]
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posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:42 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]