1. The Little House

When Englander Arthur Weeden moved to Toronto in 1902, he briefly worked as a superintendent at the Lighthouse Mission before becoming a builder and completing projects around the city. Many of Weeden’s projects were constructed on Day Avenue. His project Little House is the smallest house in Toronto, built in a former thruway between existing homes. Weeden lived in the home for 26 years, until close to the end of his life. It has since been renovated by contemporary owners to optimize the space, and has appeared in tiny home magazines and other media.

2. The Half House

Once part of six identical row houses constructed in 1890, this building on Saint Patrick Street is quite literally half of a former building. It came to be this way because the remaining row houses, which each contained two units, were all bought and demolished in the middle of the 20th century. However, this one unit was not ceded to the buy-up, and instead cleaved from the other half of its row house. The load-bearing wall that once separated two units now serves as the crumbling exterior of this place. As of 2013, the property was privately owned but left vacant.

3. The Wood Cake House

Located in Seaton Village, the Wood Cake House belongs to Albino Carreira. This man transformed it in 1994 after a spinal injury left him out of work and without much to do. His project involved covering the home in coins, glass beads, used toys and small wooden pucks called “wood cakes”. It’s not just the side of the house, but also Carreira’s mailbox, porch, garden and car, which are all covered in knick-knacks and oddities. The house is now a celebrated tourist attraction in the otherwise unassuming neighbourhood.

4. North Toronto Station

A former Canadian Pacific Railway Station constructed in 2016, this place is now the largest liquor store in Canada. It saw twenty years as a transportation hub, with visits from everyday Canadians to British royalty. Then the station closed for a few decades before reopening as a very unique LCBO, maintaining its bronze ceiling lights and massive clock tower. Portraits of former railway workers grace the walls, making the store a kind of para-museum. The clock tower holds a tasting area for wine stored in padlocked fridges.

5. Casa Loma

This 98-room European-style chateau in the middle of Toronto is both a tourist attraction and popular filming location. This is likely because of its unique history and beauty, enduring over 100 years after construction. Sir Henry Mill Pellat spent much of his massive fortune (earned from founding the Toronto Electric Light Company and other financial ventures) building this place in 1911, before going bankrupt around 1920. Forced to pawn off many of his personal possessions and sell the home, Pellat’s downfall was a massive one. Now owned by the City of Toronto, Casa Loma is a museum and tourist attraction featuring many of the home’s original attributes. Included are a 10,000 book library, a stained glass conservatory, a ball room with pillars and statuettes and horse stables made of mahogany.  Various other quirks and extravagances of the home are better left for a tour guide to regale you with.

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1. Visit Maplewood Farm or Southlands Farm

One is located in the Southlands, and the other on the North Shore. Both are open to walk-in visits, within designated hours on their website. Children can meet the animals (chickens, goats, cows and ponies) and sometimes watch farm hands milk the cows. Southlands Farm has a stand with produce, eggs and jams open Fridays in the Summer, and Saturdays in Spring and Fall. Both farms also have Halloween-related events such as Pumpkin Fest (Southlands Farm), and Fall Festival (Maplewood Farm). Other programs, such as horse riding, summer camps, educational workshops and crafting are bookable online. 

2. Explore Bloedel Conservatory or Lynn Canyon Park

Located in Queen Elizabeth Park, Bloedel Conservatory is a domed botanical garden and aviary which hosts tropical plants and colourful parrots. It’s the perfect spot to go on a cold and gloomy day because of the warm and humid environment inside. It doesn’t take long to walk around the path inside; but if you grab a scavenger hunt sheet from the front desk, your kids will be looking for birds with names and brightly-coloured flowers for as long as you let them.

A natural gem of the North Shore, Lynn Canyon Park is an outdoor area with multiple flat hiking trails, a suspension bridge that’s free, swimmable areas, an ecology centre and a gift shop selling coffee and treats. It’s the perfect outdoor adventure for children. They won’t get too tired walking around, and there’s exciting things to see and do around every corner.

3. Dress up like a sailor at the Maritime Museum

Inside Vanier Park is the Maritime Museum: a curiously-shaped, rarely busy place to learn about the city’s seafaring history. Inside is a complete wooden ship with interactive elements and original artifacts inside. A play area specifically for children has sailor costumes and marine-themed toys to entertain while parents take turns checking out the other exhibits. If you choose, you can also purchase a pass that grants entry to all three Vanier Park attractions (The Maritime Museum, Museum of Vancouver and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre) for the day.

4. Play at the Granville Island Children’s Market 

Granville Island’s rainbow-embellished Kid’s Market has just about everything kids love, from playful mural art to multiple toy stores and the nearby Granville Island Licorice Store (not just licorice, but all candy delights). There is also an Adventure Zone with over 30 arcade games, a playground with a ball pit and VR experiences inside egg-shaped consoles. Little ones can even ride in child-sized bumper cars! In the summer time the Granville Island Waterpark just down the road on Cartwright Street is also in operation. This park features slides, a splash pad and picnic areas.

5. Take the Aquabus to Science World

With eight different ferry stations– including ones in Yaletown, David Lam Park and Granville Island– the Aquabus is arguably the most fun form of transportation in Vancouver. You can grab tickets on board, just like taking the bus. On this ride, you’ll sail across False Creek in an adorable rainbow vessel with great views of the city. Get off at The Village dock and you’ll be within walking distance of Science World. Buy a ticket and enter a world of learning and play with over ten exhibits– plus films, live shows and more.

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Water Bikes

No boat-owning friends this summer? Enjoy a day out on Lake Ontario with a water bike instead. Not only is water biking a great form of exercise, but its environmental impact is much lower than boating. The bikes are human-powered and make very little noise (which can disturb marine life). Water bikes are perfect for a peaceful solo date, or a fun-yet-intimate couples date. Check out Toronto Water Bikes to book a rental and for important information about what to bring along with you.

City bikes

Bike Share Toronto is the city’s dedicated bike rental system, operated by the Toronto Parking Authority and sponsored by Tangerine Bank. It works very similarly to Lime bikes. All you have to do is download an app and enter a payment method to unlock bikes and ride them. Ridership of these bikes has grown exponentially since Bike Share’s initial launch in 2016. Join the growing trend and go explore a new neighbourhood in Toronto cruiser style. 

Paths and cycle routes

If you have your own bike, have you ever wondered if there’s a hidden trail close to where you live? What about the best street to take Downtown that has a protected bike lane? The City of Toronto has actually mapped its biking infrastructure, including parking stations and spots where you can easily make connections to public transit. You can view the map here, and use it to plan anything from a new way to commute to work, to a weekend adventure.

Bike Party

Maybe you’re already an enthusiastic cyclist in Toronto. Maybe you need to check out Bike Party. This group organizes night-time cycle routes in a large group with lights, music and dance party stops along the way. It’s a highly social and family-friendly way to get in touch with the cycling community in Toronto. You can find Bike Party on Instagram here. Sign up for their mailing list to get details about the next ride.

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1. Pinery Market– Grand Bend, ON

For two dollar entrance, you can enter this Sundays-only market, whose inventory changes every week with rotating vendors. You’ll find produce and prepared food alongside handcrafted items, vintage and retro antiques, and even services like henna. All of the antique items can be bargained for, so make sure you bring both cash and confidence. Lastly, the experience wouldn’t be complete without music. Live musicians play at Tuck’s Gas Bar– an indoor outdoor licensed area of the Pinery Market where cold drinks are sold.

2. Aberfoyle Antique Market– Puslinch, ON

Open every Sunday and some Saturdays, this market has been around for over 60 years and has furniture, collectibles, folkart, and more from over 100 dealers. This indoor outdoor market is open Spring until Fall, rain or shine, and is easily accessible from the GTA. Aberfoyle Market offers family-friendly fun and reasonable prices on unique wares. They have a restaurant and sweet shop on site for your mid-shopping pitstop. Most vendors are cash-only, so make sure you bring some or use the ATM on site. Saturday Special shows bring more dealers and excitement– but also come with a $10 entrance fee for adults.

3. The Freelton Antique Market– Freelton, ON

This large indoor market is complete with displays from over 250 dealers filling a ground and mezzanine level. The family owned mall contains jewelry, comics, houseware, art, books, collectables, and clothing. They have a strong reputation in the area among antique dealers and are open Wednesday through Sunday. You might just have to come a couple days in a row to properly see the whole store!

4. St. Jacobs Antiques Market– Waterloo, ON

Another indoor antique mall, this market hosts around 100 dealers and is open seven days a week. They are located across the street from the St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market, offering the unique cultural experience of purchasing fresh food from Mennonite farm vendors before heading inside the antiques market for vintage goods. St. Jacobs Antiques Market also hosts outdoor antiquing fairs on the 2nd Sunday of each month from May to September, with larger seasonal items, food trucks, and more.

5. Renfrew Flea Market– Renfrew, ON

Open on weekends, this small and carefully curated flea market caters to vintage nostalgia; in particular, retro games and vinyl records. The owners refurbish old consoles and ensure that everything in the market is in working condition and a fair price. Come here to buy, trade, or sell, and stay for the trip down memory lane.

The post These Antique and Flea Markets in Ontario are Worth the Trip appeared first on Northly.

1. The Big Nickel, Sudbury

This giant nine meter coin replica was built in 1964 to celebrate Sudbury’s mining history. Today it stands out in front of Dynamic Earth: a science museum for all ages which includes a mine shaft you can visit. Another nearby museum, Science North, contains an exhibit all about the process of minting money from raw materials into coins.

2. Ghost Train, Brampton

A piece of art created by Ron Baird in 2011, the Ghost Train is located in Mount Pleasant Village Square in Brampton. The Square used to house a station for the Canadian Pacific railway. Today it is instead a library, farmer’s market, playground and neighbourhood meeting place. As a tribute to the place’s railroad history, the Ghost Train sculpture uses coated metal beams to create the illusion of a steam engine when it is viewed from certain angles.

3. Rainbow Tunnel, Toronto

The Rainbow Tunnel is a bright mural that graces the entrance to an old railway tunnel on East Don Trail. The walking and biking trail is adjacent Don Valley Parkway in Toronto’s North York borough. The mural was done by a teenager in the early 1970s and painted over multiple times by the city. Despite this, the rainbow kept returning to the tunnel’s wall. The art was finally restored permanently in 2013, with the support of community members and a local arts organization. Today you can pass under the arch of the Rainbow Tunnel on a walk through scenic Moccasin Trail Park.

4. Midlothian Castle, Burk’s Falls

This castle is the lifelong project of school teacher Peter Camani, who began working on it in the mid-1970s. “Inspired by druids and ancient Briton, Camani has filled the castle and its grounds with fire-breathing dragons, arches shaped like gaping mouths, and an eerie forest of tree-shaped sculptures. The castle even has a dungeon” (Atlas Obscura). Today Midlothian Castle is a museum, and its outdoor grounds are open to public visitatio. All through the gardens, atop building posts and decorating fences, are faces with gaping mouths constructed from metal and stone. Camani’s uncanny estate is home to Harvest Music Festival each year.

5. Tim Horton’s No. 1, Hamilton

An iconic symbol of Canada as its biggest fast food chain, Tim Horton’s began in Hamilton, Ontario. The first location was opened by NHL player Miles Gilbert “Tim” Horton in 1964. Despite a shiny new exterior, the inside of the store reflects its vintage. A museum on the second floor celebrates the history of the franchise, and a giant bronze sculpture of Tim Horton in full hockey gear greets guests in the doorway. Read more about the museum and the Ottawa St. N location here.

6. Pleasantville Curve, Whitchurch-Stouffville

This 700 foot piece of roadway serves as a place for street painters to practice their lines. Traditionally, “test decks” are used to assess how paint holds up under weather conditions, and are used in a more scientific manner. However, this strip (which shoots off from Woodbine Ave in Whitchurch-Stouffville) is by now an attraction and a piece of public art whose progress has been captured over time on Google Street View.  

7. Pickering Pedestrian Bridge, Pickering

Guinness World Records recognized this bridge in 2021 as the longest enclosed pedestrian bridge in the world. It is 250 meters long and cuts across 14 lanes of Highway 401, connecting a commuter train station to a mall and smaller scale transit. The bridge is covered in an aluminum product that gives it a distinct appearance– particularly when illuminated at night by colourful rotating LED lights. 

The post Unusual Landmarks to Visit in Ontario appeared first on Northly.

Bayfield in Summary

Located on the coast between Goderich and Grand Bend, Bayfield has a mere 1,250 permanent residents. It attracts lots of visitors in the summertime due to its natural beauty and historic Main Street. The charm of this place comes from its scenic locales, culinary excellence and late-20th century appearance. Its clapboard and brick buildings, gravel pathways and quaint parks are protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. Needless to say, the town is a romantic destination perfect for a relaxing weekend getaway.

Eat and Drink

• Stop at Shopbike Coffee for a specialty latte and some old school candies
• Pink Flamingo Bakery offers a cupcake flavour of the day and plenty of tart varieties
• Black Dog Village Pub and Bistro has the best burgers in town, as well as elevated steak, haddock, malt whiskey and craft beer
• Get ice cream or frozen yogurt from Copenhagen’s walk-up counter, or head to their backyard picnic area to enjoy fish and chips, tacos or hotdogs
• Olio is a snack bar open all day long, with a BBQ grill that serves up breakfast, pulled pork sandwiches and plant-based burgers and dogs. They also have wood-fired pizza in the summertime
• For the big dinner, visit Benmiller’s Inn and Spa on the river for lamb shanks, Atlantic salmon, chicken souvlaki, crab-stuffed mushrooms and more

See and Do

• Visit Pioneer Park: a beautiful overlook of the white sandy beaches on Lake Huron. Picnic on beaches at the top of the bluff, or head down to the shore via a huge wooden staircase
• Go to the farmer’s market at Clan Gregor Square and enjoy the mist from water features in this pleasant green park
• Walk along the marina on the Bayfield River and watch the sailboats
• Visit the adorable Village Bookshop and a few of the boutique clothing stores on Main Street
• Attend the Bayfield Community Fair the 3rd weekend in August. The event features craft vendors, farm animals, music, food and more

The post Bayfield, Ontario is the Perfect Weekend Getaway for the Summer appeared first on Northly.

As big as LAX or about 16 football fields, the hub is inspired by urban bazaars. WEM incorporates theme parks aspects to create an incredible destination for tourism, and an endless supply of entertainment options for locals. 

If it’s your first time visiting, grab one of the multi-park passes to make the most out of your time. Most of the stores and venues are open from 10 AM to 9 PM each day, but you’ll want to check attraction hours ahead to help plan your time.

1. Visit at least one featured attraction

• World Waterpark 💦

17 slides, 1 giant wave pool, 31 degree C water temperature, and 12 cabanas and party spaces, the waterpark is a great time for families, events, and even surf club members. 

• Hasbro Galaxyland 🎢

Featuring characters such as Mr. Potato Head and the Monopoly Man, this park has a Hungry Hungry Hippos ride and a Chutes and Ladders climb and slide zone. 

• Ice Palace ⛸️

Drop-in figure and public skating, hockey, and private events and concerts all take place at this indoor rink.

• Marine life 🐧

Experience sea lion shows, penguin meet-and-greets, educational tours, and over 100 species of marine animals at this full-scale zoo.

• DRIVE 🚗

Go-karting on a street art-themed track with state of the art electric rides. Two levels of high-speed racing are available for individuals, families, and parties. 

• Ed’s Bowling 🎳

In addition to lanes and shoe rental, this alley has billiards, an arcade, karaoke, and an escape room. Food and drinks will help you last long enough to try it all out.

2. Shop on one or more of the themed streets

BRBN St. is inspired by Bourbon Street in New Orleans, and features many of the nicer restaurants in the mall, plus a comedy club and a dive bar. Europa Blvd 🛍️is designed to look like a charming and architectural European thoroughfare. This street is full of fashion retailers both famous and niche. Chinatown also utilizes architecture and art installations to simulate Chinese culture. This street features restaurants, tea shops, and a T&T supermarket.

3. Try another attraction or entertainment experience

Dragon’s Tale is a colorful glow-in-the dark mini golf course. There is also a connected fun house, which hosts a labyrinth of mirrors. The Ship 🏴‍☠️ is an attraction found at the centre of the mall, with a full-sized sailboat available to climb onboard across a green-boat moat. You can reserve the Ship’s deck for events, or rent a swan-shaped pedal boat in the water below. At Infinity Experiences, you can go on an immersive journey set in a breath-taking location with the help of new VR technology. Splatterverse is another fun place to go with friends to blow off steam, create, and have a one-of-a-kind experience. Inside, you’ll decorate a canvas with glow-in-the dark colours, and then use the remaining paint to decorate one another!

4. Stay the night in the themed hotel

Complete with a grill and lounge to wind down in, the Fantasyland hotel has themed rooms that keep the magic alive, even from the comfort of your own personal space. Rooms are inspired by different parts of the world, periods of history, sports and movies, fantasy settings, and outer space. There are a number of special packages and promotions available to make the experience an even more special one, that can be found here.

5. Bring home a memory

If you’re looking for a way to remember the experience, consider finding yourself a unique souvenir. It could be a picture of you and your crew dressed up in period clothing from the antique photo parlour, a new stuffed animal from Build-a-Bear Workshop, or even simply a ticket stub from a movie at the Scotiabank Theatre.

There’s no way to fully experience the vastness of West Edmonton Mall in just one day, but hopefully with knowledge of the big things to see and do, you’ll spend less time saying “what next?”, and more time enjoying the fun.

The post How To Spend 24 Hours in West Edmonton Mall appeared first on Northly.

The largest park in the city at nearly 400 acres, High Park’s oaks, cherry and birch trees produce beautiful colours in October. Walking or cycling along trails you’ll encounter playgrounds, sports fields, green houses, a dog park and a gorgeous waterfront. Grab coffee or a bite to eat from Palmer Coffee, La Diperie or Hannah’s Cafe and Bakery on Bloor Street West, and head down to Hillside Gardens to enjoy the view of Grenadier Pond.

Crowdriff

2. Quarry Garden

Located in the Evergreen Brickworks, this garden has a lookout that includes views of reflective pools and the city skyline. In close proximity are the Evergreen Garden Market and Picnic Café, as well as walkways, trails and the historic brick factory. A mesh of warm hues and environmentally-conscious landscaping, this viewpoint is amazing for photography, picnics or a crisp Autumn stroll.

Rouge National Urban Park

3. Rouge Park

Meadows, forests and wetlands in red, orange, yellow and green await you in this national urban park area. Guided walks, canoeing, kayaking and cycling are great ways to immerse yourself in nature just outside of Vaughn. Various historic buildings (cottages, a schoolhouse) and an old logging trail are also curious sights for exploration and wonder.

4. Etienne Brule Park

The Humber River and its shores make up this historically significant park. “Within this park you will find interpretive signage with information about the history of the area and its traditional uses. You will also find a ball diamond, a great hiking trail and lovely spots for a small picnic along the way” (City of Toronto). People say that in the Fall, freshwater salmon swimming upstream add to the vigour of warm-coloured foliage.

5. McMicheal Canadian Art Collection

One hundred acres of forested land surround this public gallery of Canadian art. Visit the museum’s permanent collection to glimpse works by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven and Indigenous contemporary artists. Alternatively, walk the grounds and trails while listening to an audio tour with information on physical landmarks and the history of Canadian art. Sculptures and historic sites are given a new life breath by the Humber River Valley wilderness with the turning of the seasons.

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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.

Images Squarespace Cdn

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. 

Tribc

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!

The post Three Outdoor Summer Challenges for Active Vancouverites appeared first on Northly.

Morning 🌳

Arrive in Woodbine Park at your leisure. If 12:30 PM ends up being the morning, so be it; there’s really no rush to get started for most of these activities. Let the day warm up as you picnic, walk along the park trails and Boardwalk, watch beach volleyball or play disc golf. Make your way down to Woodbine Beach West Dock for amazing views of the skyline and the yachts on the lake.

Toronto Beach Kayak

Afternoon 🚣

Stroll across the sand until you reach Toronto Beach Kayak. This boat rental is open from 9AM to 30 minutes before sunset, and you can either reserve kayaks ahead online or just drop in if you have a small group. Take a look at their chart for paddling times to specific destinations (broken down by ability level) before setting sail across that blue water. Of course, if you’re not confident kayaking or it’s not in your budget, Woodbine Beach is also very swimmable. From July to September the water temperature is often around 20 C– and the shore is gentle, without many rocks. Take some time to recharge by lounging in the sunshine on the beach or back in the shade of the park, before you get hungry for dinner.

Restaurant Tiflisi

Evening 🥙

Go on a walk up the road away from the beach until you reach Queen St E. Here you’ll find a wide range of entertainment, shopping, and dining options, with most of the restaurants located between Woodbine Ave and Wineva Ave. From Greek, to Thai, Indian, Japanese, Italian, poké, burger joints, and pubs, you’ll almost certainly find something that appeals. 

HISTORY

Night 🎸

After dinner and maybe a couple of drinks, head West back towards Woodbine Park on Queen St. to find two great entertainment options to round out the day. HISTORY is a live music venue hosting all kinds of shows each week. Stop by the box office to see what’s on and buy tickets at the door. Alternatively, Cineplex Cinemas is right next door, with six screens and late-night showtimes. Enjoy the cooling dark theatre and walk out into the night with that peculiar, thrilling feeling of renewal after a great film.

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