Spring is finally blooming in Toronto after a long, cold winter, and I am determined to make the most of it. This winter was really brutal; it was cold, snowy, dark, and felt never-ending. Now that it’s finally over (fingers crossed), I have promised myself that I will live my life to the fullest in this newfound warmth and happiness.
As soon as the sun is out, it’s almost like life is breathed back into Toronto. The city comes alive, and there’s no place I’d rather be. Patios along Ossington fill up, and friends gather at Trinity Bellwoods. There’s so much to do that it can sometimes be overwhelming, so I made a list of three must-do activities before the season ends – perfect for friends, family, or solo outings!
- Have A Picnic In The Park
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There are so many great parks in Toronto, and having a picnic is the perfect reason to visit one (or all). Trinity Bellwoods is always a hit, Riverdale has some of the best views at sunset, and how can you miss the cherry blossoms in High Park? It’s a great, budget-friendly activity, and you can take full advantage of the gorgeous spring weather. A picnic can be super high or low-effort depending on what works best for you. You have so many different food options, whether that be packing a full lunch in a beautiful basket or picking something up nearby.
- Visiting A Farmer’s Market
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Once the nice weather begins, so do all the different farmers’ markets in Toronto. This is another activity that can be low-budget and also support small business owners and farmers. There is an abundance of farmers’ markets in the city during the spring and summer in all different areas and at different times to fit your schedule. Farmers’ markets have such a wide variety of vendors, so they are great places to shop around and find a treat or something one-of-a-kind. It’s a great place to get a coffee and browse, and bonus points if it’s outdoors! Here is a list of some of the farmers’ markets around town.
- St. Lawrence Farmers’ Market: Saturdays 5 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Allan Gardens Farmers’ Market: Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Leslieville Farmers’ Market: Sundays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market: Tuesdays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Go Patio-Hopping
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You know spring has really begun in Toronto when the patios start opening up. There’s nothing better than sitting out in the sun and enjoying some good food and drinks. This is the perfect excuse to get all your friends together, but it can also be a great solo date, maybe with your favourite book. No matter what type of cuisine you are looking for, there’s a patio that serves it. Honestly, with all the cute patios in Toronto, it can be hard to pick which one to go to, so why not make a day of trying a whole bunch of them? A lot of these restaurants are in close proximity to each other, so it’s easy to check out a bunch of places in one outing. You can walk along the Ossington strip or check out King West. Here are some of the patios on my list for this spring:
- Pennie’s: 127 Strachan Ave
- Bellwoods Brewery: 124 Ossington Ave
- Petty Cash: 487 Adelaide St W
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The Drake: 1150 Queen St W