The Beaches, Toronto

This is the place to be especially during summer! Yes, going to the Beaches is certainly a way to beat the heat. The waters of Lake Onatrio are still cool even in the summer heat. But most people come here to bask in the sun and have a tan and/or play beach volleyball. But if these aren't your cup of tea, try strolling in the 3 kilometer boardwalk with nicely spaced seats if you ever get tired. There's also a wide shaded park with century-old trees specially at the Woodbine area for setting up picnics. Just a walking distance south of Lakeshore Boulevard, the Beaches , is also part of the Waterfront Trail, which in itself is an attraction. Try following the Martin Goodman Trail or the Gus Harris Trail and you're on the road to nature discovery. Yes, lots of interesting things to see. During the 2nd or 3rd week of July, the Beaches is a venue to a major international jazz event, aptly named The Beaches Interantional Jazz Festival. This one is really cool!

We have some friends that live in Toronto and after we went to dinner they took us to this part of town for ice cream at a place called Licks. This is a cute little niche on East Queen St. There are cute shops and cafes. After we bought our sweets we took a stroll down to the beach. I enjoyed looking at the old beach houses on the way. We enjoyed the boardwalk and sandy beaches. On the walk back up to our car we walked a different path and found a large playground. That was good for another half hour of play with the kids-it was after 9pm. There were people still playing ball in a large baseball field. We will probably visit this part of town again. Thank God our friends brought us here. I don't know if we would have found it. Parking is a bit of a hassle, but well worth it!