A Greener 48-Hour Guide to Toronto, Ontario

A Greener 48-Hour Guide to Toronto, Ontario

I visited Toronto half a dozen times growing up, seeing as much of my extended family lived in the city and its surrounding suburbs. I’ve been to Niagara Falls and the top of the CN Tower, wandered through Kensington Market and the streets of Chinatown, strolled around the University of Toronto St. George campus… but this time was different. While previous trips to Ontario have always been in connection with family gatherings – birthdays, holidays, funerals – this one only started out that way. That is, after spending Thanksgiving weekend with family in Brampton and Collingwood, I decided to stay an extra two nights in downtown Toronto. What followed was a rather green adventure, as I revisited old stomping grounds and uncovered new neighbourhoods through the lens of sustainable travel.

Day 1

9:00am – 3:00pm: Toronto Island Park
Toronto Island is a collective name given to 15 islands sandwiched between Lake Ontario and the Toronto Harbour, most of which are connected by roads and bridges. Together the islands measure approximately 5 kilometres in length, from Ward’s Island at the east end to Hanlan’s Point at the west end. Since becoming a park in the 1950s, the once year-round community of over 2,000 people has downsized to about 750 residents who occupy the remaining 262 homes on Ward’s and Algonquin Islands. As I walked from island to island, I took in the iconic views of Toronto’s skyline from Snake Island, dipped my toes in the sand at Hanlan’s Point Beach, and found my way to the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, the oldest existing lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The serenity of the island is in striking contrast to the hustle and bustle of downtown, it’s hard to believe that Canada’s largest city is only a 15-minute ferry ride away.

3:00pm – 4:00pm: Hostel Check-In
By the time I was back on the mainland, it was conveniently time to check into my room at HI Toronto. As a not-for-profit, member-based organization, the mission at Hostelling International Canada is “To build a community of conscious travellers who share a greater understanding of people, places and cultures.” Between their earth-friendly habits and sustainability projects, joining the HI Canada network is a great way to reduce your travel footprint. Moreover, the prime downtown location of HI Toronto put me within walking distance of all the city’s main attractions! The daytime and nighttime activities also lent themselves to meeting fellow travellers, and the free breakfast provided the perfect morning fuel for my daily adventures.

4:00pm – 6:00pm: St. Lawrence Market & Farm’r
Three main buildings – the South Market, the North Market, and St. Lawrence Hall – together make up the St. Lawrence Market Complex. While the North Market is mostly a weekend affair, with its Saturday Farmers’ Market and Sunday Antiques Market, the South Market is open on weekdays as well, with over 120 specialty vendors, merchants and artisans. Here you’ll find fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, baked goods and grains, dairy products and flowers, and the list goes on. Just around the corner from the St. Lawrence Market is Farm’r Eatery & Catering, a casual farm-to-table restaurant where I ate dinner. Here you can craft your perfect plate from a selection of proteins, warm/cool sides, and extras. I went for the lentil and chickpea falafels with roasted sweet potatoes and Ontario quinoa salad, all of which were vegan, dairy-free, gluten-friendly, and incredibly tasty!

6:00pm – 9:00pm: Distillery District
At the intersection of arts, culture and entertainment, the Distillery District is a historic cobble-stoned area that dates back to the 1800s. The once 47 buildings known as the Gooderham & Worts Distillery have since been restored and transformed into a pedestrian village, now home to several boutiques, restaurants and cafés. Between the Victorian industrial architecture and the authentic European atmosphere, “To enter The Distillery is to step back into an era of horse-drawn carts, windmills and sailing ships” – Toronto Star. You can sip artisanal coffee by day and local craft beer by night, and marvel at the way that original materials have been repurposed using modern materials and green technologies. I particularly enjoyed browsing the shelves of Wildly Delicious and sampling vegan goodies at The Sweet Escape Pâtisserie.

Day 2

9:00am – 12:00pm: Kensington Market
A bohemian neighbourhood with an edgy vibe and several hole-in-the-wall establishments, it’s no surprise that Kensington Market is frequented by thrifters, hipsters and tourists. From vintage clothing stores and creative street art to fresh market ingredients and conscious community cafés, there’s no better place to support independent artists and local businesses. Speaking of which, be sure to stop by the Livelihood Project & Café. This non-profit community café not only provides Toronto with quality coffee, but also helps refugees and newcomers secure sustainable livelihoods. In addition, the atmosphere is absolutely lovely and the turmeric almond milk latte certainly hit the spot. To date, the Livelihood Project has provided employment to 52 individuals who collectively have made close to a half-million dollars in earnings. As the slogan goes, #TorontoIsForEverybody.

12:00pm – 3:00pm: Trinity Bellwoods
Just beyond Kensington Market lies Trinity Bellwoods, a hip west-end neighbourhood with a charming, lively and vibrant feel. The Trinity Bellwoods Flea hosts monthly flea markets and the weekly Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market brings local, sustainable and organic agriculture to the city. In addition, the streets are lined with second-hand stores and insanely decadent desserts, namely Balfour Books and Almond Butterfly. Cue the shelf browsing and sugar rush. Seriously though, Balfour Books stocks the best used books in the city, and the Almond Butterfly is a 100% gluten-free bake shop with the most divine vegan chocolate espresso cupcake. Just look at that rich chocolate base, vanilla espresso frosting, and fresh espresso bean garnish!

3:00pm – 6:00pm: Fashion District & Financial District
Did you know that I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City a few summers back? Well now you do! While I no longer consider myself a self-proclaimed fashionista, trust me when I say there’s more to Toronto’s Fashion District than designer brands and fashion-forward stores. For example, the living and breathing Graffiti Alley resides here, a kilometre-long stretch of whimsical murals and quirky characters. If you head east along Queen Street, you’ll soon find yourself amidst the high-rise buildings on Bay Street, otherwise known as the Financial District. Step into the 18,000 square-foot Assembly Chef’s Hall for a smorgasbord of food, situated in the same building as Google’s Toronto office. This is Canada’s first chef-driven community market, where you’ll find global cuisines from 17 of Toronto’s top chefs. I sure hope you’re hungry!

6:00pm – 9:00pm: Art Gallery of Ontario
The AGO is one of the largest art museums in North America, housing a collection of nearly 95,000 works. From cutting-edge contemporary art and European masterpieces, to works by established and emerging Indigenous Canadian artists, there is no shortage of unique exhibitions to visit. Not to mention, the architecture both inside and outside is magnificent. If you’re 25 years and under, you can visit the Art Gallery of Ontario for free! Others can enjoy free admission from 6pm to 9pm on Wednesdays as part of AGO Free Wednesday Nights, which is why I’ve listed the gallery for this time slot. That said, opening hours differ from day to day, so be sure to check the hours beforehand if you’re planning to visit another day of the week.

With ♡, Julia Elizabeth

A special thank you to HI Toronto and HI Canada for collaborating with me on this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

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