Toronto's Historical Waterfront - Harbourfront Centre

One of the most interesting and historical places in Toronto is the Historical Waterfront or "Harbourfront" Centre.  

For over 40 years now this has been a place to 'go down to' check out the attractions and take in some art, food and music culture across the 10 acres of waterfront.

Back in the 70s, the central lakefront was nothing more than a wasteland of deteriorating industrial buildings - until Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau set out to make a change.  His vision was to bring the world to the waterfront of Toronto.  Since 2005, the Harbourfront Centre has been working on a series of projects that continue to transform the waterfront.

Part of Harbourfront Centre's charm is that it has retained and restored the original industrial buildings, creating a spacious campus-like site. 

The Bill Boyle Artport, formerly a trucking warehouse, is the central hub of Harbourfront Centre, housing administrative offices, multiple performance venues, exhibition spaces and our Craft & Design Studio. 

 

There's a constant shuffle of people along the harbourfront all year long.  You have to think of it as a central hub filled with every attraction imaginable to welcome people from all over the world.  This is the inception of how  the Historical Waterfront (Harbourfront Centre) began.

The Harbourfront stage is an outdoor venue, and has hosted Toronto audiences to artists that wouldn't normally be seen in commercial venues.  Artists like Celine Dion, Oscar Peterson, Philip Glass and Jim Carrey.

The COVID pandemic has closed off so many public venues that we didn't realize just how lucky we were to have access to so many attractions in the city.  

Restaurants to satiate any cuisine, waterfront parks such as Sugar Beach and the Queen Quay West park located on the waterfront.  

Boat rentals and boat cruises, art galleries and festivals; winter skating under the Gardiner bridge.  

In the summer, there are tall ship festivals that dock for a few weeks, and evening boat cruises with casinos and dinner menus included. 

If you come down and relax by the water in a high back colourful Adirondack chair, bring a book and stretch out your feet.  You'll be amazed how peaceful and quiet it can be in a one the largest populated cities on earth.

 One last thing to mention, if you ever do visit Toronto's historical waterfront - be very careful when you visit "Beavertails".  It is famous for it's Sundaes, and of course Beavertails which are dangerously delicious!

Beavertails - courtesy of 'tripadvisor.com'

Landon's Bay - 1000 National Park

 

After a quick breakfast stop at a quaint little spot called Gray's beach, I headed east on a recent road trip passed a large sign "Landon's Bay - 1000 Island Nati

onal Park" and decided to pull off  the 1000 Island Parkway between Mallorytown and Ganonoque to have a look.  

The entrance to the park was closed off, but there were a few cars parked along the side of the front gate, so I did the same.  Not sure what to expect, I brought my camera along. 

I ended up spending a couple of hours here checking out the some of the trails.  The Donevan trail was by far my favourite with mythical features like hand-laid stone walls and bridges and an old 'wishing tree' like something out of a story book.  

The Landon's Bay 1000 Islands Tower which stretches 400 feet above the horizon of Hill Island,  Ontario is unfortunately closed off due to COVID, but you are still able to find enough of a view in the area.  I was told by a fellow hiker that the area used to be a campground, but I figured since it is so close to Hwy 401, it wouldn't make for a good night's sleep with the noise, so probably the reason that phased out.

Overall, this was definitely worth checking out and glad I did.  There are plenty of signs to get around, but I'd suggest more might improve the experience.  It's pretty unique here and in it's entirety is encompasses over 225 acres of forested walking trails.  I'd definitely recommend if you are passing by.