Tired of this gloomy weather yet? Me too. I find myself constantly thinking of the sunshine and the freedom that summertime allows, and I think a lot of other people are in that mindset as well! With that being said, I have put together a list of things you’ve gotta do this Summer in Toronto!
1) Sushi in many different varieties
If you love sushi, then you’re gonna love all of the different varieties of sushi that you can get. Specifically, you can get sushi as a donut, burrito, cone, or burger! All of which, are extremely mouth watering to think about and ridiculously delicious. Why not grab a sushi donut at Square Fish on Queen West? There are a variety of different places you can get a sushi burrito, but my personal favourite would be Rolltation which is on Dundas St West (side note, this is where I lost my sushi burrito virginity).
2) Get your butt to a music festival!
Outdoor concerts and festivals are my absolute favourite part of summer! It’s so nice to be in a space filled with people who are there to relax, have a good time, and immerse themselves in the music. It truly is a getaway even if you just get a day pass. Wondering which festivals to check out? If you’ve never been to one, Field Trip at the Fort York and Garrison Commons is a great start! It’s on for two days and this year there is so much Canadian talent, like Broken Social Scene, A Tribe Called Red, BadBadNotGood, Jaunt, and more!
If you’re looking for something a little more extended, check out Wayhome! It takes place at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, which is basically a huge open field in Oro-Medonte (about an hour outside of Toronto). I went last year and had the time of my life, it was honestly my favourite summer memory of 2016. I loved the idea of camping out and just knowing the next morning you’re going to wake up and listen to music all day. Additionally, with camping, you get the opportunity to meet so many amazing people. Wayhome is a little more on the pricey side, but it’s worth it.
3) Roam Kensington Market
Kensington Market is one of my favourite spots in Toronto. I love the relaxed and organic vibe there, and it kind of takes me away from the chaos of the city. There are so many cute and unique stores! They have everything from freshly made Kombucha at “The Witches Brew”, to unique clothing from Thailand at “Dancing Days”. On top of that, everything in Kensington is pretty conveniently priced! Additionally, you gotta check out Pedestrian Sundays! Essentially, a celebration of the community of Kensington market with artists, musicians, performers, and more! They take place on the last Sunday of every month from 12-7pm – and from personal experience you definitely don’t wanna miss out!
4) Eat EDIBLE Raw Cookie Dough
If you haven’t heard already, this is now a thing. You can get cookie dough served to you on a cone or in a cup in a variety of different flavours and toppings at Junked Food Co. located at 507 Queen Street West. It’s just so good, that I had to add it to the list with its very own category.
5) Thrift at the Black Market
This is honestly one of my favourite things to do all year round, but for the summer, Black Market gets a bunch of new pieces and you really never know what you’re gonna find! Summertime is garage sale season, so that is when they usually have better items. Grab your friends and take a trip to Black Market on Queen St. West!
6) Have a picnic in High Park and check out the free Zoo!
If you’re trying to save some dollars, this is definitely a good idea. Wait for a sunny day, pack up some snacks, and head over to high park. I mean, who doesn’t love picnics and nice weather? Also, can you really go wrong with a free zoo? You can see deer, bison, peacocks, llamas, and more! In my opinion, there’s nothing better than nature, a nice day, food, and no money spent (oh, and cute animals)!
7) Spend the day at Cabana Pool Bar
If you have a whole day to spare, head on over to Cabana Pool Bar. This is the only public spot in Toronto where you can drink and swim (legally)! Also, there are beds placed around the pool along with private cabanas that you can rent with a group of friends for the day. Usually they have DJ’s spinnin’ tracks throughout the day as well.
So, are YOU ready for summer?
I look forward to sharing all of my new DoTheDaniel.com adventures with all of you!
From Toronto with Love,
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Photos by Gemma Mastroianni, Catherine Sugrue & Daniel Reyes, with Photo of Gemma in Kensington by Star Photography
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