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Slow down in the picturesque town of Muskoka
With 16 cities across three different countries playing host to the FIFA World Cup this year, chances are that if you’re one of the lucky ones who managed to snag tickets, it could be somewhere you’ve never visited before.
If that happens to be sunny Toronto, read on for what to do, see, and eat between games, plus ideas for excursions outside the city when you’ve had enough of the crowds.
Stop by Brodflour in Liberty Village for the softest Swedish cardamom knots
Enjoy views of Lake Ontario on a stroll along the Martin Goodman Trail
Loga’s Corner in Parkdale has the best momos
All World Cup matches are being played at the Toronto Stadium on the southwestern side of the city near Lake Shore Boulevard. This means you’re just minutes away from gorgeous views of the endless blue expanse of Lake Ontario. Rent a bike or go for a stroll along the Martin Goodman Trail—a 56-kilometre path that traverses the entire lakeshore from the east end of the city to the west.
In this part of town near Exhibition Place, where the stadium is located, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to food. Within walking distance (or a quick bus/streetcar ride away) are Little Portugal, Little Tibet, and Little Italy, with more natural wine bars and cool coffee shops than you can count strewn along the way. Stop by Loga’s Corner in Parkdale for momos, Cafe Polonez in Roncesvalles for Polish dumplings, Bairrada Churrasqueira on College Street for Portuguese chicken, and Brodflour in Liberty Village for the softest Swedish cardamom knots. Pop into Rooms on Ossington Avenue for a coffee and excellent people-watching, grab a breakfast sandwich and coffee slushie to go from Dad’s, or sample unusual ice cream flavours at Death in Venice or Bang Bang
If shopping is on your agenda, the parallel streets of Queen West and Dundas West are full of chic shops offering everything from homeware (Puebco, Easy Tiger) to vintage clothing (Expo, VSP) to indie magazines and books (Type, Issues) to local and international fashion brands (Grays, Blue Button, Hoi Bo, Gravity Pope, Park & Province, Fawn). And if you’ve had your fill of sports talk and need to just disappear into a movie for a while, head to the Revue. Built over a hundred years ago, it’s Canada’s oldest standing movie theatre and has all the nostalgic charm of a classic, old-school cinema.
Little Thief Bakery will sort you out for your sugar fix
Nothing like a cute find in a local bookstore
There's no dearth of eateries like 9byTin in Goodwood
Schitt’s Creek fans, don’t squander the opportunity to visit the quaint little town where the Emmy-winning hit TV series was filmed. An hour’s drive east of Toronto is Goodwood, where you can stroll past (and take far too many pictures of) Rose Apothecary, Bob’s Garage, Cafe Tropical, and the Town Hall. (For a glimpse of Rosebud Motel, however, you’d have to drive an hour away to Orangeville.) And if you’re curious about the real-life establishments in town, check out the Blue Heron bookshop, Little Thief bakery and the restaurant 9 by Tin.
Art Gallery of Hamilton hosts some interactive sessions involving making (and sometimes breaking) art
The Royal Botanical Garden offers 27 kilometres of nature trails
Stop by Son of a Peach for excellent pizza
On the second Friday of every month, galleries, studios, stores, and restaurants across the city of Hamilton (an hour west of Toronto) stay open late for Art Crawl. If you can’t make it that day, you can still check out art on your own time at spots like Centre[3], the Art Gallery of Hamilton, and Hamilton Artists Inc. Just 15 minutes away, in the neighbouring town, is the Art Gallery of Burlington, which houses the largest collection of contemporary Canadian ceramics. Stop by Son of a Peach for excellent pizza made with locally sourced fresh ingredients and 96-hour cold fermented dough; the Collective Arts beer garden for an innovative range of craft beer and cider; or one of Hamilton’s many coffee shops (Phin, One For All, Synonym, to name a few) for a midday pick-me-up.
Outdoorsy types should head to the Royal Botanical Garden, which spans both Hamilton and Burlington and offers 27 kilometres of nature trails. On that note, if your schedule allows for an early morning, begin your Hamilton day with a hike at nearby Dundas Peak for jaw-dropping views of Ontario’s lush green landscape and even some picturesque waterfalls.
Rosewood Estates Winery has a 92-year beekeeping legacy
If meal with a view had a destination, two-Michelin-starred Pearl Morissette would be it
Take a print press tutorial or create your own stamp at the Mackenzie-Printery museum at Niagara-on-the-Lake
Nope, not talking about the Falls here (though they are well worth a visit). Within a 30- minute drive of the natural attraction are over 100 Ontario wineries spanning the wider Niagara region. Choose from the acclaimed Pearl Morissette (which has a two-Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant on site); Rosewood Estates Winery, known for both its wine and honey (with a 92-year beekeeping legacy); Southbrook Organic Vineyards (Canada’s first certified biodynamic winery), and many more. The nearby town of Niagara-on-the-Lake makes for a lovely pit stop with its 19th-century buildings, flower-lined streets, and quaint shops. It’s also home to the storied Shaw Festival (on till December 23), which began in 1962 as an homage to Irish playwright Bernard Shaw but now puts on a wide range of theatrical productions. On this year’s docket: Funny Girl, The Wind in the Willows, Jeeves & Wooster.
How to get there: Niagara-on-the-Lake is a 90-minute drive from Toronto. Map your route so you can hit a vineyard or two for a (responsible) wine tasting along the way.
Where to stay: Lean into the history of the place and book a stay at the luxe Prince of Wales Hotel, which was built in 1864. If you’re more of a B&B or country inn type, there are plenty of those options too, such as Darlington House, Canterbury Inn, and Brockamour Manor.
Grab a coffee and muffins at The Ashborne
The charming Bluebird restaurant serves delicious fare
Catch a Shakespearean or modern play at Stratford Festival
Stay at Hotel Julie, inspired by the tragic tale of Romeo & Juliet
Since 1952, this picturesque town has hosted the acclaimed Stratford Festival, staging both Shakespearean and modern plays across its multiple theatre venues. The festival runs from April through November, and its offerings this year include The Tempest, Othello, Guys and Dolls, Something Rotten! and Death of a Salesman.
Have dinner in town at Bluebird before a show, and the next day grab a coffee and pastries from Brch & Wyn or The Ashborne to enjoy as you walk along the serene, tree-lined Avon River. Be sure to stop by the beautiful Tom Patterson Theatre; its unique curvilinear design and bronze facade are particularly striking at sunset.
How to get there: The festival offers a direct bus service from downtown Toronto to Stratford, making it a convenient choice for out-of-town visitors. You can also rent a car for the under-two-hour drive.
Where to stay: Hotel Julie, a hotel inspired by the tragic tale of Romeo & Juliet. The nine-room hotel was originally built as a set of rowhouse apartments in 1890, and its moody, romantic aesthetic offers the perfect literary complement to your Shakespearean festival experience.
See the dunes at Sandbanks Provincial Park
Prince Edward County has some of the best farm-to-table restaurants of the region, like Flame+Smith
In recent years, this island-like peninsula has become home to creatives, artisans, and chefs fleeing Toronto for a quieter life. Which means the cluster of charming small towns that make up the county are full of great coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, shops, and boutique hotels. Wandering through the main towns (Picton, Bloomfield, and Wellington) is like stepping into a Gilmore Girls episode—think farmers markets, antique shops, bookstores and a friendly, neighbourhood feel—but decidedly elevated. You’ll find some of the best farm-to-table restaurants here, such as Flame+Smith, Rosetta, and Stella’s. Be sure to explore the sand dunes at Sandbanks Provincial Park and local wineries Grange Winery, Norman Hardie, and Closson Chase.
How to get there: Rent a car for the 2.5-hour drive from Toronto, towards the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. There is an option to take a train to Belleville, the nearest station, but you’ll need to either rent a car for your time in the county or rely on local taxis to get around.
Where to stay: The artsy Drake Devonshire has a prime location with sweeping views of the lake and is full of quirky art spread out over the entire property. Wander the Resort offers luxurious lakefront cabins and a Nordic spa, while June Motel has you covered if an affordable stay is what you’re after.
'Screaming Heads' is a surreal art installation in the middle of nowhere
Muskoka is home to over 1,600 pristine, peaceful lakes
If you’ve been dying to utter the words “I’m coming to the cottage”, here’s your chance. Muskoka is known as cottage country, and it’s where Torontonians love to escape over the summer. The district is about the size of a small European country and is home to over 1,600 lakes. And it’s these pristine, peaceful lakes that are the draw. A visit to Muskoka is meant for slowing down—for long days spent swimming and lazing around the dock, and for evenings filled with books, board games, and barbecues. Disconnecting from city troubles (deadlines, meal plans, and appointments) and gazing out onto a lake, with a cider or coffee in hand, is what Ontario summer dreams are made of.
How to get there: The Muskoka region is a 2.5-hour drive from Toronto. Depending on how much time you’re spending in the area, you could take a one-hour drive to nearby Algonquin Provincial Park for great hikes and nature walks, or to ‘Screaming Heads’, a surreal art installation in the middle of nowhere that’s just as weird as it sounds.
Where to stay: Airbnb is your best bet; look for a cottage that suits your needs in terms of the number of rooms, lake access, outdoor space, kayaking supplies etc. Black River Haus is a great option with its Scandi decor, and Casa Doma for a more unique experience. You could even book Shane Hollander’s actual cottage from Heated Rivalry, listed simply as The Cottage.
