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The Best Parks and Picnic Spots in Toronto
It's easy to head to your local playground, but this summer why not push the boundaries with a historic hike, a spot of culture, or some majestic scenery for your family's fill of Vitamin D? We've found ten must-try parks and picnic spots for all your low-key outdoor adventures.
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Locavore Luncheon
Take the trail to the Brickworks. It's muddy at times, but home to a hidden geocache as well as mini ponds—and end up at the Brickworks for a well-earned picnic. And by picnic, we mean go on a Saturday when the Farmer's Market is on and splurge on all sorts of delicacies to eat while overlooking the pond (where there are real live frogs). The kids will love playing and learning in the children's garden. It's the perfect oasis in the city.
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Best 905 Beach: Burlington Beach
Check out the water-jet plaza and pirate playground for a really great way to stimulate the imagination. Then meander down the waterfront trail to clean shores and mature trees of Burlington Beach and you'll feel like Martha's Vineyard has headed north for the summer.
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Hideaway Park
Shhh - this tiny, perfect park is a Leslieville secret. Complete with wading pad, it's almost hidden unless you're in the know. Which you are, now.
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Safe and Secure
We love Charlotte Maher at Bayview and Eg because it's away from busy streets and has a fence. A ton of park toys, a great playground and plenty of grass make this our go-to playground and picnic.
Image of kids on playground from Shutterstock.
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For a Fido Family
Take an easy stroll through Cedarvale Park and Ravine and check out the playground and off-leash area. Start at the Rosedale subway station, and avail of the park benches that make for the perfect pit stop for refuelling for the rest of the walking adventure through to the Beltline Trail near Yonge and Davisville.
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Pride and Picnics
From the Sunnybrook Park entrance, you have the option to head north to beautiful Edwards Gardens for a Jane Austen-style afternoon tea overlooking the very essence of a classic English garden. Lots of free parking makes it easy to use the car as home base, and the paved trails make this a good bike route as well. Cue the crumpets.
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Humber River Ramble
A good starting point for a more nature-focused excursion is King Mill's Park (start at Old Mill subway station), from which you'll travel south toward the lake along the Humber River. Marshes and the old mill plus bridge make this pretty neat for the kids, while the history behind the Shared Path is intriguing for the whole family.
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On An Island in the Sun...
Save Centreville for another day and stroll from Hanlan's Point to the Gibraltar Point lighthouse. End the day with a play in Franklin Children's Garden playground, and pack a picnic for a rugged beach feast.
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The Cultured Picnic
It's never too early to appreciate the Group of Seven and Tom Thompson paintings at the McMichael Art Gallery, especially if the wee ones have ever been up north. Let the kids loose in the Discovery Space or hiking trails and have a delish picnic with some sweets and savouries from Kleinberg.
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