What to do in Toronto for Free

One  of the things that I love about Toronto is discovering all the great things this beautiful city has to offer. Here are just a few things to do in Toronto for free, plus as a bonus I have given you some insider tips on some unique things to keep an eye out for. First and very important – don’t forget to bring your walking shoes because Toronto is a great walking city with lots of interesting neighbourhoods to visit in this very multicultural city. My favorite area is the Toronto Waterfront which offers miles and miles of waterfront multi-use walkways for walking, jogging, biking or roller blading. If your tired of the walking don’t worry there’s lots of benches  and parks to take a rest or have a picnic. In-fact if you are really lucky you may even get to feed Charlie, the local black-crested night heron on the west side of Harbourfront Centre. Legend has it that for six years Charlie was fed roast chicken daily by his friend Thomas. Over the course of the years they bonded and afforded onlookers a glimpse of this usually shy bird. In 2010 Thomas died but from April to October Charlie can still been seen on the bench beside the memorial picture of Charlie and Thomas.

One of my favorite parks is the Harbourfront Centre Music Garden near Spadina and Queens Quay. Its a wonderful place to stop and smell the roses or appreciate the beautiful gardens in this waterfront park. If your there on Thursday evenings or Sunday afternoons during the summer you can catch the free music concerts in the park, but be sure to arrive early and bring a blanket to sit on the grass because the benches usually fill up fast. While your are there you’ll want to take a stroll in all the paths in this very special park because they are in the shape of musical notes!

If you want to sink your feet into the sand you don’t have far to go. Toronto’s Urban Beach is a short walk from the Boatel. Enjoy the boats cruising past or bring a book and some sunscreen and enjoy a day at the beach complete with beach chairs and umbrellas. This special park is an urban oasis with a spectacular view of the Toronto harbour and the CN Tower.

If people watching is your thing then grab a bench along the waterfront and while your at it enjoy the view of sunset. If you visit Toronto on Labour Day weekend the sunset is not the only thing you will enjoy. Toronto plays host to the Toronto International Airshow that is sure to capture your attention, especially Canada’s flying squadron the Snow Birds.  On a side note – you don’t need to leave the boat to enjoy this sunset view, you can just grab a chair and sit on the bow of Toronto’s only floating bed and breakfast with a drink in hand and simply do nothing.

There are lots of free festivals to enjoy in Toronto during the summer. One of my favorites is Buskerfest which is located on front street near the St. Lawrence Market. They close off the street for the weekend and set up tents filled with food, crafts, music and of course buskers to entertain the crowds. Here is one of the talented artists doing a 3D chalk drawing to the delight of onlookers. Please come back and check here soon for the list of summer festivals in Toronto. Or if you have any questions just – Ask Diane.