Best Sellers

From Imperial Jasmine Green Tea to Blue Delta (an herbal tea made with butterfly pea flowers), the best-sellers list features both classic black and green tea varieties from tea-growing regions of the world, and house-made herbal blends. Each pouch of loose leaf tea is beautifully labeled with the place the tea leaves come from; for example, Assam from India and Sencha from Kyoto. Caffeination level, ratio of tea to water and steeping time are each also included on the front of the box. A more detailed description of sourcing, notes, and how to enjoy the tea is included in the description of each item on the website.

Genuinetea

Full Online Shop

In addition to a large inventory of loose-leaf varieties including adaptogenic blends, holiday blends, white tea and pu-erh tea, the Genuine Tea Co. also sells some of the more classic flavours in tea bags. They carry four varieties of matcha powder from Kato Matcha, and a few kinds of other microground teas suited for making lattes, such as hojicha, masala chai, turmeric and earl grey. Lastly, they also brew and can three flavours of sparkling iced tea: Peach Turmeric Ceylon, Lemon Ginger Sencha, and Elderberry Hibiscus. Like any good tea supplier, Genuine Tea Co. sells tools and accessories for measuring, steepings, whisking, and enjoying your drinks to their maximum potential.

Genuinetea

Third Wave Tea Culture

Genuine Tea Co.’s founders describe the Third Wave Tea movement as “clos[ing] the gap between the tea in your cup and the people who have dedicated their lives to producing it. It is a shift in focus from convenience and quantity to freshness and quality”. From writing an educational blog to tea patrons about different varieties of tea and their production, to donating a portion of proceeds to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Dave O’Connor and Sarah Wilcox’s business has upheld the values of this new wave of tea appreciation, becoming one of the best tea stores in the province. Check out Genuine Tea Co. on Instagram or visit their website to order directly!

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1. Get lost in the intricacy of Little Canada

Experience Canada’s cities and landscapes in miniature at this famous attraction in the heart of Toronto. Get curious just walking around and taking everything in, or look for Maurice: the mini moose who changes location within the exhibits. Make sure to hop in the Littlization Station and get scanned by 128 cameras that will help create a ¾ inch version of you!

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2. Spend the day at Centreville Amusement Park or Canada’s Wonderland

Centreville, located on Toronto Islands, features rides and attractions surrounded by lush parklands just outside the city. Kids love taking the train, paddling Swan Boats, driving miniature fire engines, or hitting the splash pad on a nice day. There’s also mini golf, a small farm, and plenty of food and drink in the carnival style. 

Canada’s Wonderland suits the speed of older children and teens. Literally. This amusement park features some of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in Canada, such as Leviathan and Yukon Striker. It also hosts Halloween Haunt in the Fall, adding a layer of thrill to the park experience during Spooky Season. There are also plenty of rides for small children including Splash Works Water Park, which opens for the Summer months.

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3. Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame

Housed in a beautiful historic building in Old Toronto, the museum hosts artifacts and a trove of NHL information and paraphernalia. If you’ve even dreamed of gazing upon a Stanley Cup in person, this is the place to see it. Your junior hockey player will also love the replica dressing room and interactive rink inside. Life-size statues of players and an extensive gift shop with NHL merchandise await. Tickets for kids are just $15, while adults gain entrance for $25.

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4. Check out the Toronto Zoo or Ripley’s Aquarium

With over 300 animals in habitats grouped by geographic origin, the Toronto Zoo is as varied as it is massive. Guests can ride the Zoomobile for an easier tour of all the exhibits, plus visit a variety of other attractions with the cost of admission. These include a carousel, greenhouse, kids play area, the Wildlife Health and Science Centre, a ropes course and a kangaroo walkthrough experience on weekends!

Located right next to the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium is an unforgettable “journey through freshwater wilds, local fisheries, and kelp forests, meeting more than 80 aquatic species, like sturgeon and the giant Pacific octopus, along the way”! Dive In Theatre shows ocean-related movies and events inside the aquarium itself include Jazz Night, and Breakfast with a Mermaid.  

Interested in seeing both the Aquarium and the Zoo? Consider getting a CityPASS for sightseeing in Toronto, which will cover those two experiences, plus a visit to CN Tower. You can use the pass over the course of nine days, so no need to worry about burning out from too much excitement at one time!

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5. Attend a matinee show at Mirvish Theatre

Begun in 1963 by a Torontonian family, Mirvish Productions are Broadway-quality, with internationally acclaimed performers participating in plays and musicals across a main and off-season. Matinee shows are usually around 1:30 or 2:00 pm, giving you the chance to attend on Sunday without staying out too late on a school night. Check out what’s on and see show times by visiting the theatre’s calendar.

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1. Mount Pleasant Vintage and Provisions

Celebrating community in the Mount Pleasant area, this unique bar and grill is disguised as a vintage storefront (which itself is disguised as an A-frame house)! Downstairs you’ll find items for sale and vintage furniture to relax on. A multi-level space, the upstairs floor features indoor and outdoor cocktail lounge areas.

Open daily from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM, they play underground hip hop, grill burgers and dogs, and create craft cocktails. A 2025 regional honoree for Spirited Awards’ Top Ten Best Restaurant Bars in Canada, quality and taste come first here. With a full menu of delicious dishes, art all around and weekly special events, the atmosphere here is always lively and social.

Check out their Instagram @mountpleasantvintage to find out about Morning Discos, new menu items, merch, classes, pop-ups and more. Walk in or reserve a spot on Open Table or their website.

2. Spa by JW Vancouver Aqua Lounge

The JW Marriott Parq hotel, located next to BC Place, offers a spa experience like none other in Vancouver. It includes access to a hydrotherapy tub on the roof– some 17 stories and 59 meters (194 feet) off the ground. From this vantage point, you can see all across the city. At night, Science World illuminates the waters of False Creek and casts colourful lights on the glass buildings of Vancouver’s skyline. 

How to access this scenic and tranquil experience? “The Aqua Lounge is open for Spa by JW and hotel guests, as well as for locals who purchase a spa day pass. Please note: Day passes are based on availability and cannot be booked in advance. Please contact the spa the day of your request to confirm availability”. The hydrotherapy tub is open 7 days a week, from 9 am to 9 pm, so there’s plenty of time to drop in and claim your rooftop time. For more information and contact details, visit Spa by JW.

3. The Vancouver Public Library’s Rooftop Garden

Planners of the Vancouver Public Library’s downtown Central Branch incorporated the feedback and vision of citizens and designers in producing the architectural beauty that this building is today. As a hub for community, culture, and learning, one feature of the Central Library that was most pushed for is its rooftop garden, opened to the public in 2018.

Featuring Japanese maple trees, flowering bushes and shrubs, soft grasses, paved walkways and comfortable seating, the garden is well-used by library patrons. Food and drinks are permitted, and reflection and creativity encouraged. This spot makes for an amazing place to study or get work done if you’re seeking that rooftop time, but have things to get done. A serene and beautiful viewpoint, you’ll want to start making plans to meet friends or get your tan on up here.

The post Three Vancouver Rooftops You Need to Be On This Summer appeared first on Northly.

1. Do the Grouse Grind for time

Whether you’ve scaled Grouse Mountain before or it’s your first time you are allowed to be competitive– as long as it’s with yourself! This trail through the trees with 800 meters of elevation takes the average person between 1.5 and 2.5 hours to complete. If you’re more experienced and don’t have to stop as often, you’ll be able to do it faster. Pro hockey players race up the mountain all the time; Connor Bedard finished it in a mere 37 minutes! However, the record for time has not been broken since cyclist Sebastian Salas completed it in 23 minutes and 48 seconds in 2010. Either time yourself on your phone as you go up, or tap an official time card at checkpoint poles at the bottom and the top of the Grind.

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2. Progress through volleyball tiers on public beaches

You may have noticed that many of the city’s public beaches have wood beams for volleyball nets. You’ve probably even seen people playing or setting up. Parks Vancouver’s website confirms that nets and lines are not provided, but that anyone is welcome to play on any beach. Looking at Reddit threads or talking to players on the beach, you’ll find out there’s an unofficial understanding that the best players practice at Kits Beach. If you’re just a beginner and want to drop in, consider asking to join people at Spanish Banks or Jericho Beach. In order to work your way up to the skill level needed for Kits beach, you’ll probably want to join a league such as Volleyball BC or Urban Rec. Or you could exercise your free will and see if the elite players on Kits Beach need a line ref/ substitute. 

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3. Complete the Vancouver triathlon

With 3 different event distances and the option to complete the race as a relay team instead, the triathlon can be as moderate or grueling as you make it. The Standard Distance (actually the longest) is a 1,500 meter swim in English Bay, followed by a 37.8 kilometer bike along Park Drive and a 10 kilometer run with views of Second Beach. The scenic Stanley Park course makes this race unlike many other triathlons around the world. Just finishing will give you a great sense of accomplishment and connect you to other athletes in the city. Race day is in the late Summer/early Fall; register here!

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1. The Ivy Bridge, 160 Main St. S

A contemporary pub, The Ivy Bridge hosts Trivia Nights on Sundays at 3:00 PM. Entrance in the competition is $4 per player, and teams will be formed at random. You can expect seven rounds of play with seven questions per round. There are chances to win wager-based bonuses, as well as other exciting aspects of gameplay. Here you can come alone or with a group, and have the chance to win a cash prize! The pub also has board games, pool, Euchre, and darts for those interested.

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Jack’s Brampton, 154 West Dr

Jack’s is a restaurant, bar and lounge that has everything from patio parties to DJ nights. Trivia here is on Tuesday nights, beginning at 7:30 PM. You can play solo or on teams, and everything is done digitally on screens and smartphones. Some of their nights are themed, such as music trivia, drag trivia or hockey trivia. With free entrance, players have the chance to win prizes in one of two rounds.

Jacks Brampton

Tracks Brew Pub and Grill, 60 Queen St. E

This long-time spot in Downtown has live music and karaoke in addition to their Wednesday Trivia Nights. Entrance is free, and the competition begins at 7:15 each week. Come with a team of four or get randomly sorted onto a team. The game lasts for three rounds, with 20 questions in each one. The prize is a free round of drinks for the winning team.

Jacks Brampton

West End Espresso Bar, 37 Queen St. W

This coffee bar stirs things up with trivia every other Thursday of the month (in the summertime). A true community hub, the cafe also hosts live music, paint and sips and other cultural events. Entry for trivia starting at 7PM is free, and the prize is leaderboard glory and potentially some store swag.

The post These Spots in Brampton Are a Must-Go for Trivia Lovers appeared first on Northly.

June: Strawberry season 🍓

Many of Ontario’s berry farms are open all summer– but it’s important to remember that if you’re going specifically for strawberries over raspberries, blueberries, blackberries or currants– you should be going in June for the cream of the crop.

Downey’s Strawberry and Apple Farm in Caledon, a quick drive from Brampton, is known to be very beautiful and produces that bright-red variety of strawberry. They also have a farm stand with a petting zoo and vendors selling vegetables and honey. Reesor’s Family Market in Stouffville is open early in the month for berry-picking and farm stand visits. Beyond fresh fruit and produce, they also make breads and pastries, prepared foods like soups and salads and delicious preserves.

Cherry Avenue Farms

July and August: Raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and stone fruit season 🍑

Cherry Avenue Farms in the Niagara Valley is not only a coveted wedding venue, but also an amazing spot to go picking for all varieties of stone fruit from cherries to apricots, peaches and plums, nectarines and pears. Their picking schedule is dependent on the weather and which fruits took during the planting season. You’ll take a tractor ride to the orchard from the parking lot, where friendly staff will provide you with a basket and any necessary instructions for picking. There are picnic tables available so that, if desired, you can enjoy some of your bounty just minutes after harvesting.

Another locale with views of the Niagara Escarpment, Andrew’s Scenic Acres is great for all berry varieties and also makes fruit wines for sale. Lastly, make sure to visit Barrie Hill Farms in Springwater: one of Ontario’s biggest berry farms where educational tours and workshops are provided to teach visitors about sustainable farming practices.

Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm

August through November: Apple season 🍎

A classic celebration of the autumnal harvest, apple-picking can be accompanied by a number of cozy traditions that are perfect for family fun. This map was created by Tetiana Demkiw and pinpoints every location where pick-your-own experiences are offered in Ontario. There are so many of them that it’s actually a little overwhelming! Here are just a few that stand apart for some of their other offerings and activities:

Dixie Orchards in Inglewood has over 23 apple varieties, a corn maze, farm animals and a market which opens in mid-August. Carl Laidlaw Orchards in Brampton has wagon rides, sunflower fields, fresh-made apple cider and a barbecue. Chudleigh’s in Milton lets you craft your own scarecrows, hosts live music nights with a hard cider bar in the summertime and makes delightful apple pies for purchase. Waddell Apples in Kingston may be the most scenic spot to pick, as stunning views of the Rideau Canal are visible from the orchard. Lastly, Brantview Apples and Cider in St. George is famous not only for ciders canned on-site, but for their apple cider flavoured doughnuts!

The post Where to Go Fruit Picking Around Ontario appeared first on Northly.

Parks and Preserves

• The Hilliardton Marsh Research and Education Centre: This wetland habitat (located about 6 hours north of Toronto) is home to ducks, songbirds, hummingbirds, owls and more. Spring and Fall are the best times to experience migrating flocks, and also the seasons for public events such as Garden Party and Owl Banding at the Centre.
• Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park: This glacial landscape, dotted with lakes, offers many different recreational activities like hiking, kayaking and fishing. Ivanhoe is located 8 hours north and west of Toronto, and offers camping. The most unique animals in the park are “white-coloured” or “spirit” moose, whose ghostly shade comes from a unique recessive gene.
• Chapleau Crown Game Preserve: Bears, beavers, foxes, waterfowl, timberwolf, lynx, and bald eagles all reside here. The Missinaibi River offers gorgeous views, and you can paddle down it in canoes. It takes between 8 and 9 hours to reach the Preserve from Toronto.

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Rescue Habitats and Education Centres

• Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat: This rehabilitation centre for wild polar bears operates on 24 acres of sub-arctic and boreal forest. Located 8 hours north of Toronto, getting to the habitat can be a bit of a trek. Luckily, there is the option to camp on the grounds for one or two nights. Guided tours and special viewing experiences can be reserved ahead, allowing you to make the most of your trip if you’re there to witness the majestic bears.
• Wolf Centre at Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve: The privately-owned forest includes a massive facility for the conservation of Ontario wolves. Primarily an education centre, the wolves (including a pair of Alphas and their relatives) are viewable from an observatory. The forest also offers outdoor activities, a treetop walk and bookable wood cabins for overnight stays. It is located just 3 hours north and east of Toronto!
• Mountsberg Raptor Centre: An educational facility located within the Mountsberg Conservation Area, programming and events are held for guests to experience Ontario birds-of-prey (owls, hawks, eagles, and falcons) from up close. The “Raptor Encounter” is a unique opportunity to hold a raptor on-glove yourself, as well as participate in their feeding and enrichment. Mountsberg Raptor Centre is located just west of Mississauga.

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Viewpoints

• The Deer Yard: About 4 hours north of Toronto is an area of wetlands where tens of thousands of whitetail deer congregate in a herd. The 3.6 km of trails are maintained by volunteers for visitation between May and October.
• Point Pelee National Park: Mid-September and the rest of the Fall is the time of year when flocks of migrating Monarch Butterflies make their way through Ontario on their way south for the winter. Just 3.5 hours south of Toronto you can see these bright and beautiful insects (as well as migrating birds) at the southernmost point of mainland Canada.

The post Unique Weekend Trips for Viewing Ontario Wildlife appeared first on Northly.

You can get this tangy loaded fried pickle on a stick from the Twisted Pickles booth near the Stampede Trail entrance. It makes for a great appetizer, packing flavour while remaining fairly light. The giant dill pickle is nice and juicy; a refreshing bite even when fried. Its spiraled gaps are filled with a zesty tzatziki sauce, as well as sour cream & onion potato chip crumbles. The price is $14: not cheap, but perhaps to be expected from a featured item.

 Calgary Stampede

PB&Jammin Chicken

For some protein, why not eat two iconic North American dishes as one? This cone contains grape jelly-glazed fried chicken that actually tastes like jam rather than a sweet glaze. Over the top is a savoury satay peanut sauce (though not enough of it, in our opinion)! The two sauces work together to nail the flavour of a classic PBJ sandwich. The whole thing is served in a waffle cone, adding another potential layer of food combination genius to the ordeal (think chicken and waffles). Best of all, after finishing the chicken you can eat the remaining cone and not have to worry about throwing trash away!

Calgary Stampede

Portuguese Tart Pineapple Soft Serve

This is truly a special dessert to round off your Midway experience. Served in a rounded out pineapple rind, a layer of real pineapple slush is topped with Egg Tart-flavoured frozen yogurt, with flaky pastry mix-ins. You’ll get no shortage of curious looks carrying this around the Midway, but it’s very much worth it. The tart pineapple and sweet custardy yogurt come together to create a decadent yet definitely finish-able treat.

The post We Tried Foods from the Stampede Midway. Here’s The Perfect Three Course Meal appeared first on Northly.

The Dining Experience

O.Noir’s concept is a dining room in total darkness, designed to provide guests a unique way to enjoy food and beverages. Depriving them of the major sense of sight cuts out visual distractions, drawing more attention to the act of eating and sense of taste. Diners choose two or three courses from the menu including a main and a dessert, with the option to add a surprise appetizer. Serving staff lead diners from the lit lounge where they place orders, into the pitch black dining room where they take their seats. The time spent in the dark lasts around an hour and a half and is meant to give guests a taste of how their servers experience dining. 

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The Mission

How does the restaurant connect diners to their servers exactly? O.Noir employs a serving team made completely up of blind and visually impaired individuals. These people are best suited to do the job as they navigate every day life without sight. Of course, the staff are also provided training in table waiting and food service. O.Noir’s mission is to provide career development to this underemployed group, as well as encourage the exchange of experience between their staff and dinner guests. Many reviewers mention their servers by name, noting the interaction they had as a highlight of their visit.

ONoir Toronto

Plan Your Visit

The restaurant is open from 6:30 until 9:00 or 10:00 PM throughout the week, and only a small number of walk-ins can be accommodated. It’s well worth it to reserve ahead of time, particularly if you have a larger group. Should you have questions related to accessibility or other concerns, there is an FAQ on their website for peace of mind. O.Noir is meant to be an experience for anyone interested!

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1. Allan Gardens Conservatory 🌺

This indoor botanical garden has free admission and is open Monday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM. It features five distinct greenhouses: arid, tropical, palm, orchid and bromeliad, and temperate. Here you’ll walk through lush vegetation and flowers from different geographical regions. The Temperate House even has seasonal flower shows and a koi pond.

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2. Bata Shoe Museum 👡

Free for all on Sundays (open 12-5 PM) the Bata Shoe museum is a walk through the history of footwear. Their full collection of shoes and related artifacts includes 15,000 items– from cowboy boots to chopines– with some pieces approaching 4,500 years old! The museum also occasionally holds dance classes and talks for inexpensive or pay-what-you-can prices. The Bata Shoe Museum is free for Indigenous people every day.

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3. Royal Ontario Museum 🌍

The ROM features all kinds of historical, art and science exhibitions, as well as galleries dedicated to different parts of the globe. Every third Tuesday of the month they offer free admission, but you still have to book tickets online ahead of time. Two weeks before the free night, the tickets will become available on their website. Simply click on the third Tuesday of their monthly ticket calendar, and check the box for “3rd Tuesday Nights Free” to secure your spot.

Toronto Music Garden

4. The Music Garden 🎶

The Toronto Music Garden is a harbourfront scenic series of connected gardens inspired by Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. In the summer, the gardens transform into stages for performances, from live music to storytelling with celebrated Canadian and international artists. These events take place on Thursdays and Sundays from late June until the end of August. Learn more about the seasonal shows here.

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5. Maple Leafs Baseball Games ⚾

Come and watch Toronto’s IBL baseball team for free at Dominico Field in Christie Pitts Park. Bring a picnic and blanket, as you’ll be seated on the side of a grassy hill to view the game. To maximize the fun, come dressed up for one of their special events, such as Boots’n’Bats or Beach Day. Take a look at the team’s schedule to plan your visit!

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