Urban Adventures - Ward Island, Toronto, Ontario

I'm a day late with my blog due to the fact that I went on an urban adventure. This is not my first one this year but these adventures are a new phenomenon for me this year. The reason for this is that I now have someone around who loves exploring as much as I do. My daughter gets me out on these adventures frequently and I thoroughly enjoy them. I am always armed with my camera and recording inspiration left, right and center.

Yesterday we loaded up the kayaks and drove to Cherry Beach on the Toronto lakefront. I had heard of this place but had never been here. We found a parking lot where we could park for free, a rarity in Downtown Toronto, unloaded the kayaks and put them in the water. Across the bay from us was Tommy Thompson Park which is completely man-made and was formerly called the Leslie Street Spit. This park has nothing to do with the artist Tom Thomson but was named after a former Parks Commissioner.

Cherry Beach Life Guard Station

A couple of guys learning to sail with Tommy Thompson Park in the background

Tommy Thompson Park shelters the bay at Cherry Beach and you can find sail boarders, kite surfers, and large sailboats all in this small bay. We had only to paddle 200 meters to get to Ward Island Beach. The beach is on the Lake Ontario side of the islands as opposed to the Toronto side of the islands. The water was surprisingly clear and signs on the beach told that it was safe to swim with low ecolli bacteria readings.

I found it very strange to have the Toronto skyline in view because I felt like I was vacationing

Young kids just arriving on shore at Ward Island were also learning to sail

After landing, I immediately went for a walk. On this section of the Toronto Islands, there are 260 houses with about 750 people residing there. Cars and trucks are not allowed in the community so everyone gets around by bike or by walking and most people have a boat of some sort. These houses and their properties are so cozy and eclectic. There are many artists living here and you can tell by the properties that everyone is creative.

Some of the cottages/homes were so cute

A really unique planter in one yard

This canoe was half buried in the ground and made to look like it
had been left in the woods up north somewhere.

These are pedal motored buggies that can be rented on the
island and pedaled by two or four people.

The gardens were beautiful and attracted lots of butterflies.

This was a little cabinet set up along the path and filled with
books welcoming people to take a book and leave a book.

The Toronto Skyline is beautiful and more-so with the sailboats
floating in front of it.

This small yard had two large boats sitting in it and by the
condition of them, I don't think they've moved in a while.

Small stone sculptures I made at the beach.

One home had set up a reading nook for little ones that Jacob
enjoyed.

It is a hidden gem right in the heart of Toronto that is well worth taking a walk through.