When you live in a city as large and bustling as Toronto, it’s nice to get away from it all on weekends. I love to travel to Bobcaygeon, Collingwood, or Prince Edward County to experience the fresh air, laid back attitudes, and beautiful scenery…but the drive can be long and 401 traffic can instantly remove all the weekend zen as soon as you merge onto it.
I was in need of a staycation!
It’s always fun to explore new neighbourhoods, hit up The Islands or the Beach but I had never been to Ontario Place before. I have to say, it’s been a bit of a mystery to me since moving to Toronto. Hovering over Lake Ontario like a futuristic city, I had no idea what was there and if it was even open!
So we checked it out and it was one of the best staycations I’ve ever had.
Ontario Place opened along Lake Ontario shores in 1971, operating as a theme park until 2012. Recently reopening as a gorgeous public space, Ontario Place contains:
-The popular Budweiser Stage (which I think is the best way to see live music…under the stars)
-The Cinesphere – the original IMAX theatre
-Trillium park (where there is free yoga during the summers)
-A marina surrounded by three sunken lake freighters
-A giant outdoor basketball courts area, and,
-An outdoor big screen complete with Muskoka chairs where you can get comfy and watch the latest game or event
**Thank you to ontario.ca for the image
Spanning 155 acres of waterfront, the views can’t be beat…in fact I think you can get the best picture of Toronto while being in Toronto from the edge of Trillium Park.
Besides taking glamour shots of my beautiful city, here’s what we got up to!
Stop one: Go Tours Canada for a personal Segway tour!
Going on a Segway has been on my bucket list and there is no better place to do it. Lots of flat paths with no cars in sight! Our guide, Erik, was a bundle of interesting historical facts as we zipped up and down for a fun-filled hour…with me only falling twice. Yes, I am a natural. I loved checking out the area – it is so pretty in the summer and I definitely got the fresh air I was so needing!
Next we had lunch next door at Vista Cafe. Serving up standard park fair, the view from their patio can not be beat. Surrounded by water and backing onto the new basketball courts, this is a perfect place to grab a bite this summer.
We then walked back towards The Cinesphere to check out a movie in Ontario’s largest IMAX theatre. I loved this theatre – accessible, cozy and comfortable, there’s not a bad view in the house. The seats are positioned so everyone has a clear view of the large screen.
They’re playing classic movies here all summer long and taking requests for additional 2019 programming. Anything you want to see – tweet them @ontarioplace with the hashtag #cinesphererequest.
You can also take paddle boats and kayaks out on the protected waterfront, cruising underneath the ‘pods’…it was pretty chilly the day we went down, so we will have to try this out next time.
This Summer they’ve also just launched a brand new rec space in the East Commons with a skatepark, a bocce court, table tennis tables, a big sandbox, and giant chess. Best part? All activities and ball rentals are FREE and available daily from 10 AM – 10 PM.
Plus, CJ’s SKATEPARK staff will be onsite at Ontario Place every Saturday from 12 PM – 6 PM offering specialized classes including introductory group lessons, girls only lessons, private lessons and FREE skateboard servicing clinics and mini skills competition. Interested participants can sign up here to register and learn more.
Plus plus, they’ve launched an Art in the Park class series including family-friendly afternoon classes on weekends and adult classes on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at the Vista Eatery. Art Tonite will also be offering an art-focused summer camp for kids aged 5- 12 years of age, which will run from July 20 to August 23. Visit here for more info and to register.
And, some extra fun news if you are thinking of checking out the space this Fall – Cirque du Soleil is set to put on up to 90 shows.
Next time I will need to try the free yoga in the park, the kayaks and check out another show. Really so much to do, I felt like we were far away from Toronto…even though we were right in the heart of the city. The perfect staycation.
M FabreakALegway
