Best Free Places To Visit In Toronto Near Me

4worldlovers: High Park is Toronto's largest public park featuring many hiking trails, sports facilities, diverse vegetation, a beautiful lakefront, convenient parking, easy public transit access, a dog park, a zoo, playgrounds for children, a couple of eateries, greenhouses, picnic areas, a bunch of squirrels and various events throughout the year.

On this website you can find information about High Park to help you plan your visit and to learn what makes this beautiful park a true gem in the Southwestern part of Toronto.

If you know of any updates or other info that we missed while we were reviewing High Park please send us the updates. Your feedback keeps the site up to date and accurate for everyone to enjoy. Thank you!

Ask and answer questions, read reviews and post your comments on the High Park forum pages.

High Park is home to a many cherry trees, called Sakura trees, that bloom in April or May - depending on weather. The beautiful white and pink cherry blossoms attract thousands of visitors to the park each year.

From wild forests to the Chinese gardens High Park has a truly genuine and beautiful vegetation - well taken care of by the city. Regardless of when you visit the gardens are always beautiful.

A walk along the Grenadier Pond on the west side of High Park will make you forget you are in the largest city in Canada. You will find ducks, geese and hiking trails by the lakeside. A popular destination by runners, hikers and families alike.

The park has a designated off-leash area for dogs and several paths where dogs are allowed to run free. While the dog park is not completely fenced in it is surrounded by natural borders such as thick bushes and trees.

The mini-zoo at High Park has llamas, buffalo, bison, deer, peacocks and a few other animals including cats and pigeons:) The zoo is open from 7am until dusk. Free admission.

Tennis courts, baseball diamonds and soccer fields are all present inside the park but many other sports can be played on the large grassy fields.

The Jamie Bell Adventure Playground is a large, unique play area designed in part by children. Make sure to include a visit to this adventure park this summer with your kids!

The 18 designated picnic areas seat hundreds of people. Reservation required for larger groups.

Whether you are taking your bicycle, the subway or your car these maps can help you get to the park and to find your way around the park once you arrived.

I've been to High Park many times but each time I bump into something new, discover yet another hidden corner or see a beautiful tree I never noticed before. Let me give you an idea just how large the park is: me and my two-year-old Golden Retreiver were zig-zagging through the park one day to take pictures but she got tired so I had to return with my camera two more times to take some more shots. Few other dogs have as much energy than young Goldens. Yup, that's how big it is.

If you really want to see the many faces of High Park you need to go in spring when nature is wide awake and everything is in full bloom, you also need to go in the fall when golden leaves cover the ground as far as the eye can see and you need to go in the winter to see just how beautiful ice and snow can be. Don't always come during the busiest times; High Park is most peaceful and relaxing early in the morning and after twilight. Here is a list of holidays in Canada 2023 to help you plan your visit.

Another beautiful park is located in nearby Brampton about a 40 minute drive away from High Park: Chinguacousy Park. This park has a small ski hill, a curling rink, snowtubing, a large splash pad and wading pool, beach volleball courts, a track and field stadium, a petting zoo, pony rides, long trails and a great playground. If you're ever nearby, set aside an afternoon to visit Chinguacousy Park - it's well worth it!

Around blooming season I visit the park occassionally with my camera to take new pictures and post new info and updates to this site.

4worldlovers: Allan Gardens is a park and an indoor botanical garden with six greenhouses comprising over 16,000 square feet. The indoor conservatory features colourful plants and flowers from around the world. Seasonal plants supplement the permanent plant collection of botanical importance since 1858. The conservatory boasts the "Palm House" (1909) modelled after similar structures in the United States and England.

The playground features open play opportunities for all ages and includes a water tap and sand play area, and incorporates natural materials such as fieldstone boulders and log seating.

4worldlovers: A hidden gem in the heart of Toronto’s ravines where nature and community come together. Open daily and all year round, the Brick Works is a place where the world can experience sustainable practices that enable thriving cities of the future.

The ultimate farmers market (Toronto’s largest), with the widest offering of local and seasonal food you’ll find in the city.

120,754 people enjoyed healthy local food and vibrant cultural celebrations at the Brick Works through our Markets and Day of the Dead.

Over 16,100 families enjoy access to active, outdoor play and learning through the Visiting School Program, Evergreen Brick Works’ Children’s Garden, skateboarding and camps.

1,200 people of all ages got out on the ice through our public skate program.

Immerse yourself in a place that’s unlike any other in the city. We’re calling all farmers market foodies, kids, art fans, nature lovers, and well, everyone! Experience the magic of Evergreen Brick Works. You won’t believe you are in Toronto.

Want to be the first to find out about new events at the Brick Works, sales at the Evergreen Garden Market, vendor lineups at the Saturday Farmers Market and more?

By visiting and supporting Evergreen Brick Works you are helping shape cities across Canada for the better? This 130-year-old abandoned brick factory hidden in the ravines at the heart of our city was transformed by Evergreen, a national not-for-profit, in 2010. As Canada’s first large scale community environmental centre, our public markets act as incubators for small businesses, pilot programs in the Children’s Garden are our testing ground for loose parts and risk in play and the redevelopment of the historic kiln building brings us closer to becoming a carbon-neutral campus. Successful ideas are then scaled and implemented across Canada through Evergreen’s projects to transform cities for the health of people and our planet