Hello Sunshine! Yes Toronto, the summer has finally arrived and man does it feel good! No more double-layering and awkward shoe tying before leaving the condo – it’s flip-flops and tank tops from here on out. And for the fitness fanatics among us, this welcome change in temperature means we can combine our cardio with a spot of sightseeing. Whether you prefer a brisk walk to get the heart-rate up, or you’re more for sweating it up with sprint intervals, Toronto is chock-full of gorgeous routes to take you away from all the honking horns and slow moving pedestrians.
High Park
High Park is definitely a hub for activity-loving folk, and once you’ve made the trip, it’s obvious why. With 399 acres of green space, you can choose to run on one of the more secluded trails where you can check out all those lovely plant, tree and flower species along the way, or you can run through the gardens where you’ll find quaint little bridges, ponds and waterfalls. For the avid runner, there are oodles of different terrains and elevations to take advantage of so you can really feel the burn!
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Milkman’s Lane (South Drive and Glen Road, Rosedale)
Fresh from a restoration project, Milkman’s Lane is back in top form for all your fitness needs. The trail was suffering from severe erosion due to the steep grades and heavy traffic. The resulting cracks and unevenness made it not the safest place to trek. Now, however, the inclines are less severe after being resurfaced, so you can safely enjoy your morning jog surrounded by butternut, oak and black cherry trees.
Queen’s Park
If you’re short on time and are unable to venture too far out, this downtown park is located at Wellesley and Queen’s Park Crescent but offers just enough foliage that you can maybe forget you’re downtown for the length of your workout. The northern part of the park offers a running loop; it’s a little less than a kilometre but you can loop around as many times as you need to burn calories!
The Martin Goodman Trail at Ontario Place
The Martin Goodman trail is actually a total of 56 kilometres long and runs from the Humber Bridge in the west to the Rouge River in the east. So if you’re feeling particularly strong, knock yourself out! The Ontario Place stretch of the trail, however, is right in my ‘hood so this is my favourite place when I’m taking my workout outdoors. This particular part of the trail runs 1.3 kilometres, parallel to Lake Shore through Ontario Place, and it is lined with approximately 161 trees to provide shade and something pretty to look at as you pound the pavement. This part of the trail officially ends at Coronation Park at Strachan Avenue, but I like to keep heading west all the way to my next favourite running spot…
Humber Bay Park (100 Humber Bay Park Road, Etobicoke)
If you continue running beside the water and over the Humber Bridge, you’ll find yourself at Humber Bay Park. The view of downtown Toronto from this spot is awesome and ongoing restoration projects at the park have provided wildflowers, lots of pretty greenery, and a butterfly sanctuary. Combined, the east and west side of the park total 347 acres, so there’s plenty of room to throw your weight around.
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