Ripley's Aquarium - Toronto Canada

Just down by the water of Lake Ontario at 288 Bremner Blvd which has become quite the hub of Toronto's tourism is the Ripleys Aquarium.

It situates itself somewhere between Toronto's iconic CN Tower and the Rogers Centre home of the NBA champions and has always been the least intriguing attraction to me since it's opening in  October of 2013.

Particularly because I have a strong belief like most of us that aquatic animals should not be held in captivity (or any animals for that matter, unless of course they are already domesticated).  This belief was about to change though -- well not for Marineland but for at least here.

This evening all started because recently my husband received a gift card from family for the COPA (Copacabana Ridizio) so we enjoyed a dinner of an all you can eat meat from bacon wrapped filet mignon to parmesan infused prime rib to top sirloin, lamb, shrimp and chicken.

Afterwards he wanted to make it a date night out of it, so we went to the Ripley's Aquarium which was about a 10 minute walk away (since it was his birthday, I was obliged to go).

I absolutely loved it! I totally felt like a kid again.  At Ripley's, you will see everything from sharks to swimming green sea turtles and jelly fishes to eels and the most beautiful colourful tropical fishes and marine life you'll ever get a chance to see otherwise unless of course you have thousands to spend visiting the tropics.
 
Although they are in fact in captivity, I can't imagine a more beautiful home than here.  Designers and engineers have painstaking designed every aquatic aquarium tailored to the marine life here.  Either fresh water or ocean floors making sure the surrounding were like home to the animals right down to the temperature of the water as well as the water's content.

The aquariums are spotless clear and cleaned and are monitored by computers and high-compression drums and gauges by skilled employees in marine biology.  There is even a section where you are able to view this for yourself.

Here swims, floats and flutters any species of the underground world you can imagine and they all get along perfectly respecting one another space.  They clearly are all being fed well or you would see a much different picture in the water.

Highlights for me were the blue lobster (which incidentally I never knew were rarely blue).  In fact in a BBC news article, dated may 26, 2016 (cited: https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36369687, BBC News: How rare are bright blue lobsters?) notes how rare they really are.

  I also loved the touch and feel tanks where you can immerse your hand in shrimp tanks where little shrimps will crawl over to take little pieces of dead skin from your hand (you might not know they are there, but they do!) and I found it so cute and it tickles!  The other highlight was to put your hand in a very large tank of stingrays and they will sense your heart beat and swim by you so you can pet them.  As you might have thought they feel very slippery and smooth.  I also petted the top of a baby shark and a giant eel.  

I was so happy to see how well they are living and looked after, although it was very costly getting indoors, we went after 7:00 at night, which is called 'Sharks After Dark',  you can stay as long as you like up until 11:00.  It is $7 cheaper than the usual price but you can still see all the exhibits so it's worth it.

I won't be going back again only because I have seen it already, but I highly recommend this place to go at least.  Costs are steep at $39/each for adults, but check their website for up to date prices for kids and seniors and discounts.

Meadow Trail of the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park (Cataract Falls)

One of the prettiest areas near Toronto definitely has to be the Caledon region.  For cyclists it's an astronomical challenge with enormous hills and valleys. Caledon is in the region of the Oak Moraines and the Chedleton Badlands and has gorgeous vistas which makes it a paradise for day trippers.

The Forks of Credit Provincial Park is a part of the Bruce trail and streams the Credit River all the way through it.  It is home to an abundance of nature trails including the Meadow trail which leads you to an old historical mill and a cataract waterfall.

The mill was purchased by John Deagle back in 1820 and features a cascading waterfall.  John converted the mill into an electric generating station which dammed the credit river that created Cataract Lake.

The generating station was later sold and purchased by Ontario Hydro but was shut down in the mid 40s.

There is evidence today of the dam that was destroyed.  Today it is riddled with destruction and graffiti, although the ruins of the mill and the powerhouse are still in the park.  The stairs and bridge leading to the mill have been closed off due to erosion and construction this summer.

We as well as others found a way to venture closer to the waterfall.    It's a shame that people had destroyed the ruins of the Deagle mill with spray paint, as it's a reminder of the history there.  It's far to

o dangerous to try to clean it up now. 

The Meadow trail as a I mentioned earlier is a part of the Bruce trail and is about 4 km long.  There are several entry points, but I refused to pay $6.80 per head just to visit a trail, so we found a paid parking lot which only cost $2.00 by meter for 2 hours.

Provincial parks are becoming increasingly expensive, but in this case I really feel it's the principle of the matter.  For example if you drive your car into the park, you will be charged $6.80/per person in the vehicle, which I think is ridiculous.

We had a great time as I had before seen the Belfountain waterfall but never knew there was another waterfall located in the same park.  If you decide to come, I would suggest either pooling your money to go through the park from the main gates or entering from Meadow trail.  The trail is simple, and very steep at times but it's really good workout and to be honest it was a slow incline coming back out of the park so I never really noticed it.

Claude Presbyterian Church, Inglewood

 Sometimes while I am day tripping, I might pass something that catches my eye to the point where I will stop and turn around to take pictures.

This was one of those times.  A little church located off the side of Hurontario Street in Caledon on my way home from hiking.


As you may be able to tell by the shadows on the small church, the day was long and the church had been closed already.

That's too bad because I would have entered and gladly so, not because I am religious by any sect or ceremony, but I believe in the soul and serendipity and that all things come to us by plan.  Maybe that sounds silly - I think what I mean to say is that I believe our destinies change by the choices we make.

Being inside a church, especially old empty ones, can make me feel closer to what I believe religion was meant to do for us - heal us.  I truly believe we all have the power to heal ourselves if we shut off everything around us and listen.

Churches too I think are made to be beautiful so that it would be easier to make people submit to believing in something greater than themselves. 




Click here to read about the interesting history I discovered about this place.

Toronto Islands - Hanlans, Centre and Ward

One of my  favourite tourist attractions in Toronto would definitely be visiting the Toronto Islands. Any time of year, there is something so magical about living on an Island away from the big city. Even when I was a young woman I would envy the Islanders for their idyllic lifestyle.

One of the first inhabitants to live all year long on the Toronto Islands were the Hanlan Family (Hanlan's Point), who settled at Gibraltar Point in 1862. Several years later the City of Toronto owned the islands after it was transferred from the federal government in 1867. The City divided the land into separate lots to allow for cottages, amusement areas and even resort hotels to be built.

The Toronto islands developed by eroded stone from the Scarborough bluffs as they were carried westward by the currents from Lake Ontario.

To get here you take the Island Ferry located on the Queens Quay in Toronto, otherwise known as 'The docks.' For a minimal fare you board a large barge which carry people and bicycles to the island and back again within a set time frame. No one is allowed on the island after 9 P.M.

It's almost like taking a mini-vacation. When you first get off the ferry, you land on the Island's 'centre-point' otherwise known as Centre Island which is between Hanlan's Point and Ward's Island.

Ward's Island, is located at the easternmost point of the island and is named after the Ward family who first settled there around 1830.

David Ward was a local fisherman who raised seven children. His son, William, built the landmark Ward’s Hotel in 1882, just south of the ferry docks at Channel Avenue. Originally the building had two floors and a central, third story tower, but in 1922 the tower and upper floor were removed after the structure deteriorated. The remaining building operated as a grocery supply and ice-cream parlour until its demolition in 1966. The hotel, in addition to Wiman’s Baths, built in 1881, created a pleasant resort that attracted many visitors.  Today,  Ward's Island is where the residents live.  

The west side of the island, commonly known as West Point, rapidly became a resort destination for the citizens of Toronto; the first summer cottage community was found here. In 1878, a hotel was built by John Hanlan at the north-west tip of the island and soon after the area became known as Hanlan’s Point.

Centre Island amusement park and a baseball stadium for 10,000 spectators was built in the 1890s-1910. Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run here!




Today, there are no more hotels, and the local residents enjoy peaceful seasons, and I've been told resent the hub-bub that summer months bring with the amusement parks. They try to keep to the themselves, but I'm sure they look forward to the quieter times of the year when they can have the island to themselves again.

If you prefer to get around by bicycle like the locals do here, there is a place to rent bicycles on the island, but we bring our own bikes across the ferry with us. It's a wonderful flat ride and not too busy either. Lots of beautiful homes here, which gorgeous gardens in the summer. You can rent kayaks or standing boards for recreation in the lagoon.



On the islands, there are lots of places to get lost and be alone, or sneak a peak at the Toronto skyline across the lake. It's a home away from home and when it's really hot in the city, there's always a balmy breeze off the lake to waste the day away.

Everyone knows the Centre Island Amusement park with its free concerts, expansive picnic areas, petting zoos, amusement rides, bumper cars, scrambler ride, ferris wheels, and mini putt golf. Truth is when I come here, I almost never go to there.


While here, you'll want to check out the Meany Maze which is a maze of shrubberies lots of fun to test your sense of direction. Of course I was hopeless and decided to follow others out. It was either that or I would sit in a corner and just wait to be found.


The Lake Light Marker is located near Gibraltar point, is the earliest Lighthouse on the Great Lakes, which stood in 1808, shaped like a hexagon, topped with a wooden cage housing a whale oil lantern for light. It stood 52 feet high. It was later raised to 82 feet in 1832 equipped with a revolving light. The lighthouse has a reputation of being a haunted building since the disappearance of its first lighthouse keeper, J.P. Rademuller in 1815 and a later discovery of a partial skeleton nearby.



On a lighter note, there is also a slew of elderly boat and yacht owners who coop in their water vessels all year long on Mugg's Island. It's a way of life for them by the water and they've sold their northern cottages for a trip across the lake a lot closer to home. Sounds like a great idea to me!