Toronto Off the Beaten Path Tips by mim95

Toronto Zoo is the home of thousands of animals representing different parts of the world, including the polar bears, gorillas, tigers, elephants, and komodo dragons. There are both indoor and outdoor exhibits throughout the zoo. Kids would love the water park here!

Plan to spend a whole day here, as there's a lot to do...10km of walking trails, Splash Island, safari simulator, camel rides and pony rides. If you're too tired, you can also take the zoomobile.

You can picnic here, or have fast food at one of the many restaurants throughout the zoo.

Admission is $19 for adults. The zoo opens everyday except for Christmas Day. Admission on Boxing Day is free and you can see the animals getting special Christmas treats. But it will be very crowded for sure. Don't forget to bring some non-perishable food items for the food bank.

You can take the bus to the zoo, or drive there. There are plenty of parking, but it'll cost you $8 between March and October.

The zoo is located on Meadowvale Road (north of Highway 401) in the east end of Toronto. There are signs in the area to direct you - you won't get lost.

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Website: http://www.torontozoo.com/

High Park is a large piece of parkland located in southwestern Toronto, bounded by Bloor Street, The Queensway, Parkside Drive and Grenadier Pond.

You will find forests, beautiful gardens, walking trails and even a zoo and a restaurant in High Park.

Lots of sports activities that you can do here, as there are all kinds of facilities, such as baseball field, ice rink, swimming pool, tennis courts and football fields.

You can get off at High Park subway station, then walk south to the park. There are also parkings available inside the park.

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Rouge Park is a large natural area along the Rouge River and its tributary in the eastern boundary of Toronto. It includes beaches, marsh, forest and meadow. There are hiking trails and even campgrounds in the park. There is an abundance of wildlife, including beaver, coyote, deer, frogs, turtles and many species of song birds.

There are many access points to the park. Check the Rouge Park website for details.

Visit my Rouge Park travelogue for more fall foilage photos.

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Website: http://www.rougepark.com

From May to October, thrill seekers head to Wonderland for the 60+ rides. There are also a large water park, children's area and Kingswood Theatre where concerts or special events are held.

Admission for ground and rides are around $50 for adults. It's cheaper to go either earlier or later in the season, with fewer ppl too in line for the rides.

Wonderland is located north of Toronto, at Hwy 400 and Rutherford Road. You can also take the GO Bus from York Mills or Yorkdale subway stations.

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Website: http://www.canadas-wonderland.com

Unionville's Main Street is quite charming with historical buildings that were built in the late 19th century. The street is lined with shops, restaurants and galleries.

Just north of Main Street, there is a nice park called Toogood Pond, which is quite popular with the locals.

Main Street is located a block west of Kennedy Road, intersecting Highway 7 in Markham.

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Website: http://www.markham.ca/markham/channels/visitorinfo/attractions/mainstunionville.htm

***On Jan 1, 2006, this fun attraction for all ages closed its doors after 25 years.***

As its name suggests, it's a place with miniatures in a beatufiul landscaped setting. You'll find anything that you can see in everyday life but has shrunk in size, such as a miniature downtown street that lights up at night, a cottage area with boats and campgrounds, a theme park with lots of fun rides and a church with a wedding couple and their family and friends! They really pay close attention to details, as the lawns are nicely decorated, and so is the inside of the houses!

Cullen Garden is located in Whitby, about half an hour drive from eastern Toronto. Check out their website for more details. CAA/AAA members can get 10% discount off the regular admission.

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