5 Popular Parks in Toronto

Besides being the capital of the province of Ontario, Toronto is also a beautiful city located on Lake Ontario bayside. Because of the water surrounding Toronto, most of the parks in the area are water-based, which makes them fun amusement choices for the summertime. 

Fly into Toronto for under 1,100 GBP with Cathay Pacific if you start at Ho Chi Minh City. Once you settle into your Toronto hotel, try out one of these five popular parks in the area throughout your stay. 

1. Toronto Islands Park 

Enjoy the lovely sights of the large fountain on Center Island. Swim at the beach or go fishing for a fun day by the water. Center Island is also one of the best spots to spot different birds which you can cross-reference with the city’s Biodiversity Series booklet.

Nearby is the Centreville Amusement Park where children and adults alike can have fun on about 30 rides. There are many options for restaurants such as Toronto Island BBQ and Beer or Island Cafe. Locals and tourists rave about the pita sandwiches at The Greek Grill. 

Go enjoy spectating various animals at Far Enough Farms with some that visitors can pet for entertainment and learning. You can have a peaceful walk or go on a biking, skateboarding, or rollerblading adventure through the walkways of the park.  

Address: Toronto, ON, Canada

2. Rouge National Urban Park

Rouge National Urban Park is one of Toronto’s newest urban park destinations as it was opened in May 2015. The park is 29 square miles made up of beautiful energy and the Rogue River with many amenities.

Visitors can use the iNaturalist app to post their pictures of various small animals they see from a distance and delightful plants that catch their eye. If you are not sure of the animal species that you found, the identifier in the app can tell you. 

Engage in other lovely nature activities such as bird-watching, swimming, photography, and water sports. Hiking is the most popular engagement at Rouge National Urban Park with many trails marked by difficulty. The Rogue Marsh Trail and Glen Eagles Vista Trail are great for novice hikers while Orchard Trail and Vista Trail are ranked moderate difficulty. Be sure to pack water and hiking trail snacks with you as food amenities are not available for hikers deep on the trails. 

Address: Zoo Rd, Toronto, ON M1B 5W8, Canada

3. Don Valley Brickworks Park

Take a trip to the 40-acre Don Valley Brickworks Park for delightful skyline views of Toronto and the opportunity to view awe-inspiring wildlife. For 100 years from the late 1800s to the late 1900s, Don Valley Park was where brick making and distribution happened most prominently. 

There are many adventuring possibilities when you choose one of the 15 walking and biking trails at Don Valley. The City of Toronto acquired and restored the area in the 1990s to allow the animals in the wetlands and forest area to peacefully dwell in their homes. 

If you have a four-legged friend with you on your trip, you can let them off the leash at the on-site off-leash dog park. There, they can make new furry friends and handle their business, too. Just be sure to have clean-up supplies and dispose of them in one of the many trash cans throughout the park. 

If you are with a group of 25 or more people attempting to visit Don Valley Park, you need to call ahead of time to reassure them that they can accommodate you and your party. Remember to take out what you bring in and behave accordingly to treat the park and other people around you with respect. 

Address: 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4W 3X8, Canada

4. High Park

High Park is considered the largest park in Toronto with 399 acres to explore and enjoy. Go to Grenadier Pond to see if you can find a frog in its swampy environment or go bird and duck watching at the Hillside Gardens observation deck. 

Enjoy the High Park Zoo during your stay. The zoo was prominent in the 1900s when park officials watched over the deer that dwelled in the area. Today, there are deer, bison, and other forms of cattle. Delight in spectating the beautiful peacocks and the eccentric llamas. 

If you have the little ones with you, take them on a self-guided adventure at the largest on-site playground in Toronto nearby Duck Pond. The playground is made of mainly wooden structures with triangular plastic tops that almost make the playground look like a rustic castle. 

While you are already at Duck Pond near the playground, you can start spectating some of the nearby cherry blossom trees. They are lovely whitish pink and are in full bloom for the best spectating in late April or early May. Head back to Hillside Gardens to get the best view of the Sakura cherry trees. 

If there is too much of a crowd at High Park to enjoy the cherry blossoms, you can go to Toronto Islands Park. Center Island is another great place to enjoy the Sakura cherry trees in the springtime. 

Address: 1873 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6R 2Z3, Canada

5. Trinity Bellwoods Park

Trinity Bellwoods Park measures about 40 acres and is the largest park within the downtown region. What is most awe-inspiring about this park are the 400 trees with some that are centuries old or just years old. 

There are many amenities for all to enjoy. Play ball at one of the three on-site ball diamonds. Grab your tennis gear and your friends for an afternoon game of tennis at one of the eight available tennis courts. Bring the little ones with their bathing suits on to enjoy the on-site wading pool for a fun way to cool off in the spring and summer. 

From May through October, enjoy the Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market to purchase produce and other various wares from local vendors. Hence, you can spend an entire day at this park during the spring and summer. 

Address: 790 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1G3, Canada

Final Thoughts

Cathay Pacific is your go-to airline for worldwide adventures. Fly into Toronto excited about exploring their parks and eating classic poutine while enjoying one of the safest cities in North America.