|
Originally a peninsula, the Toronto Islands , the low-lying, crescent-shaped sandbanks that protect the city's harbour, were cut adrift from the mainland by a violent storm in 1858. First used as a summer retreat by the Mississauga Indians, the islands became popular in the late nineteenth century with day-tripping Torontonians, who rowed across to enjoy the cool lake breezes and sample a range of attractions - including J.W. Gorman's "diving horses", who would jump into the lake from a high-diving board. The islands also held the baseball stadium where slugger Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run and once served as a World War II training base for the Norwegian Air Force. Today, the archipelago, roughly 6km long and totalling around 800 acres, is maintained by the Toronto Parks Department, who keep the islands spotless, in part by not allowing visitors to bring their cars. The city side of the archipelago is broken into a dozen tiny islets dotted with cottages, neat gardens and clumps of wild woodland. By comparison, the other (more appealing) side of the archipelago is a tad wilder and more windswept, consisting of one, long finger of land that is somewhat arbitrarily divided into three "islands". From the east, these begin with Ward's Island , a quiet residential area with parkland and wilderness. Next up is Centre Island , the busiest and most developed of the three and home to Centreville (late May to Aug daily plus Sept weekends 10.30am-7pm), a children's amusement park with charmingly old-fashioned rides, from paddle boats shaped as swans to a carousel, a Ferris wheel and the Lake Monster roller coaster. Finally, Hanlan's Point island, edging Toronto's tiny City Centre Airport, has the best sandy beach - though Lake Ontario is too polluted for swimming. One way to enjoy the islands is to cycle or walk along the archipelago's south (lake) side - there is a combined footpath and cycle track between all three ferry docks. This route is also taken by a free but irregular trackless train . Bikes can be rented on the islands - there are several outlets - or you can bring your own over on the ferry, though restrictions may apply on busy weekends. Three separate ferries depart for the Toronto Islands from the mainland ferry terminal, which is located behind the conspicuous Westin Harbour Castle Hotel , at the foot of Yonge and Bay streets. To get to the ferry terminal from Union Station, take streetcar #509 or #510 and get off at the first stop - Queens Quay (Ferry Dock). The Ward's Island and Hanlan's Point services run year-round, while the ferry running to Centre Island operates only from spring to early fall. During peak season (May to early Sept), all the ferry lines depart every twenty minutes; at other times of the year they operate at regular intervals, either every half-hour, forty-five minutes or hour. Ferries begin between 6.30am and 9am and end between 9pm and 11.30pm, depending on the service and the season. For schedule details, telephone 416/392-8193. Regardless of the time of year, a return fare for adults is $5, $3 for seniors and students; the ferry ride takes ten minutes - and provides great views of the downtown skyline.
Your Tip for Toronto Islands
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Toronto Islands - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Toronto Islands - visit the main Toronto Islands forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Toronto Islands webguide section below! Thanks.
|
