Well October is here and it’s that time of the year where Toronto residents come together to celebrate the bounty of the harvest season and enjoy the outdoors before winter is upon us.
With the cooler crisper air, October is the perfect time to head out and enjoy a hike or leisurely walk to see the splendor of color in our trees as the seasons change. In the west, you’ll find High Park, a green space that’s so large you may actually forget that you’re still in the city. There are many walking paths to explore as well as a zoo and playground. To the east, you’ll find Don River Valley which has walking trails and lots of natural scenery to offer including ravines, woods and lovely views of native-Toronto trees like pine, oak, beech, basswood and maple. The trees are splendid with their bright yellow, orange and red leaves this time of year.
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada. It is our favorite holiday for its simplicity of message – spending time with family and friends and giving thanks for all of the good things in our lives. For those of you who find cooking a turkey dinner and the fixings to be a daunting task, there are several restaurants around town to help you out.
To take you back in time, visit Black Creek Pioneer Village or the Old Mill. If you prefer to celebrate at home but want to kick back and enjoy it without the preparation, restaurants like Barque Smokehouse, Humble Beginnings or your local Longos market can provide you everything you’ll need for a ready-made delicious Thanksgiving meal. For a full group of suggestions and links from BlogTO, check here.
One of our favourite memories growing up in the west end of Toronto was the annual visit to an apple orchard to pick our own. We’d sample several apples in the process but always manage to deliver a bunch to Grandma G or Nana E and they’d bake up an amazing apple pie or apple cake as the perfect end to a Thanksgiving meal. Toronto.com has a full list of locations where you can pick apples in the Greater Toronto area and many also have pumpkin patches and other fall activities for the kids and young-at-heart to enjoy.
Beyond the obvious Thanksgiving, Oktoberfest and Halloween festivities at the end of October, there are lots of other things to do in Toronto this fall season. For other ideas, here’s a great list from BlogTO. It’s also that time of year to support our community as many local food banks, like Daily Bread, hold Thanksgiving drives to support the many food programs they operate around the city of Toronto.
From the Urban Flats Toronto team – we’re thankful for your business and can be reached here should you need a furnished rental suite for your next stay in town.
