Spring in Toronto

By Hannah-Safiyya Awan, York University, Toronto, Canada

After braving a long Canadian winter, seeing the sun felt like a reward. Welcoming springtime meant watching the city come back to life as the chill faded, and the transformation was hard to miss. The city became so much more alive and energetic as parks were decorated with cherry blossoms, outdoor sports returned, and people filled the streets. Seeing how vibrant and beautiful the city became during this time made this one of my favourite seasons in Toronto.

High Park is the best place to go to see the cherry blossoms, and I highly recommend it; the whole park is transformed by all of the white and pink Cherry Blossom trees, making it such a magical experience. I had never seen so many of these trees in one place that I was in awe of the whole park and it was amazing to walk through it like something from a fairytale with the blossoms in full bloom all around! The blossom only lasts for a few weeks, and so capturing it in person is definitely something to remember and worth visiting while you can. It seems that everyone came out of hibernation because there were hundreds of people visiting, but it was nice to see everyone’s excitement and a buzz return to the city. High park is the perfect place for a walk as there’s also the lakefront which is so peaceful and surrounded by trees that are starting to grow their yellow and green leaves again, and the free Zoo to see some Llamas, Emus, Peacocks and more!

There are other places to see the Cherry Blossoms after seeing the ones at High Park which should be a bit quieter and are in locations worth exploring and having a wander around such as Trinity Bellwoods park which sometimes has a farmers market on or is a 20~minute walk to Little Italy (go to the Night Baker for some cookies!) or Kensington Market which has many food offerings from tacos to Korean hotpot, Toronto Music garden located close by the waterfront and is a boat ride to Toronto Islands and the University of Toronto campus which is a lovely campus to explore and is near Yorkville (where the expensive shops are)and the Royal Ontario Museum.

There’s also a vibe at St. Lawrence Market where you can find fresh fruit, food and produce. There’s a range of bakeries, food stalls and snacks to try and it’s located in the old town so there’s lots to explore in the surrounding area such as the Gooderham Building which is like a mini flat iron building, Berczy Park which a small park with a well known dog fountain, the Cathedral and of course the Hockey Hall of Fame. The preserved architecture of the Old town and historical sights make it a nice place to explore, and passing by the market on the way for lunch or just to browse is a great way to spend the day.

Between the Old town and downtown Toronto is a dessert place called Melt n dip which was actually my favourite dessert place so I have to mention it. It’s basically just everything covered in chocolate like waffles or fruit but it’s so good and there’s plenty of options!! it’s nearby the Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips square, the City Hall, the Eaton Centre mall, Yonge-Dundas square and Union Station.

Watching the Blue Jays Baseball game was an unreal experience! The stadium is massive and the tickets were quite affordable too. Since it’s next to the CN tower and some of the day time games leave the roof open, you’ll have a view of the game and the tower which are both iconic. I’ve never seen so many people in one place in my life, and there was such a positive atmosphere of people cheering and dancing. Almost everyone had the Blue Jays merch on and knew all the chants, the sports games are exactly how you’d imagine with the big screens, mascot and animated music. They were playing against the Yankees too so I just had to go. The baseball games can be a bit long but the whole atmosphere when there’s a home run is something unforgettable. Even after the game, the streets were so busy and lively with people celebrating, it was a special moment for everyone.

The Sunday Market at Parkdale Hall is a hidden gem, we just happened to come across it after going to eat at Dave’s Hot Chicken. The market is full of independent vendors selling a variety of different things including antiques, jewellery, handmade arts and crafts, vintage clothing and more. I ended up getting a pearl bracelet and some gifts for family, there was loads of one a kind items making it a nice surprise to come across!

Toronto Islands are stunning and easily my top place to see in Toronto. Though the main attractions such as the petting zoo and amusement park open in summer, it’s still worth going to see the full skyline of the city whilst enjoying the ferry ride over. The islands provide an escape from the busier city atmosphere and sitting on the grass or swings was so relaxing and unwinding, I could sit there all day just watching the lake and waves on the beach, listening to the birds or having a picnic and laying on the grass. The peaceful surroundings are a space to just chill and enjoy, it’s also nice to see the city from a different perspective. There’s also a sandy beach where we saw some swans and again showed the duality of Toronto as the islands are only ten minutes away. I would 100% recommend going in both spring and especially in summer because it’s a whole different vibe of people cycling around, the amusement park, flowers blossoming and other outdoor activities as well as just being able to relax.

Riverdale Park East is something worth mentioning as it’s a great place to see the city skyline from the top of a hill and it would be perfect for a picnic if the weather was just a bit warmer. Nearby is the East Danforth Avenue area, where Danforth Music Hall is, is a really cute place where you can go pot painting or have a look around all the different shops. There’s an ice cream place called GelaTeo cafe, which was my go-to as I loved visiting and looking around this neighbourhood.

In general, just be prepared for summer because it gets so hot and I was certainly unprepared after only hearing about the cold! Summer is the complete opposite as to what I expected and there’s loads of events and things to do, so don’t worry, it’s not always cold.

I’m so grateful to have experienced all the seasons in Toronto, but spring time was definitely one of the best times I’ve had there!.