After a long, long winter, the weather is finally starting to turn, and you know what that means: Time to head outside! Looking for something new to do in the great outdoors? We have ideas for everyone, whether you’re looking for a fun new trail, a hidden-gem patio or a cool walking tour to help you get to know our spectacular city a little bit better.
Plus, how to get yourself spring-ready with a few of-the-moment spring fashion and beauty items, tunes by Canadian artists to get your spring playlist started and lighter, brighter wines to toast the season.
1. Hit the prettiest walking trails
OK, city folk, time to throw on your sneakers or rubber boots and hit one of these scenic strolls for a dose of nature.
North: Charles Sauriol Conservation Area
Toronto is dotted with urban forests, but the woodlands within this conservation area are truly special. There are many trail options here, with plenty of wildlife-spotting opportunities, along with the picturesque East Don Trail Pedestrian Underpass. Make sure to snap a pic at the iconic rainbow bridge.
South: Toronto Islands
So many Torontonians mean to visit the island every year and then just never do. Change that this spring with a jaunt over to Ward’s Island; enjoy strolling 14 kilometres of pristine lakefront as you wend your way over to finish up at Hanlan’s Point. Don’t forget to check out the Gibraltar Point lighthouse on the way.
East: Scarborough Bluffs Park
This dramatic spot will make you feel like you’re not even in the big city at all. Clamber around the towering cliffs and enjoy the reward of a spectacular birds-eye lake view. Finish off your day with a stop at Guild Park to check out the architecture relics and outdoor sculptures.
West: Humber River Recreational Trail
There’s something so soothing about following the path of a river, isn’t there? One of the longest trails in the city, there are many lovely sights along the way, from the duck ponds of James Gardens to the Instagram-worthy vistas of the waterfront. If you end up finishing in the south, pop over to the Humber Bay Butterfly Habitat for some bonus wildlife time. —Briony Smith
2. Expand your patio game
Eating and drinking al fresco is sacred in Toronto. So grab your shades and some friends and take a seat at one of these outdoor oases.
For garden vibes: Bairrada Churrasqueira
Transport yourself to a sumptuous hidden garden somewhere in Europe, where the meats are plentiful and the specials oh so tantalizing. The rustic communal tables and jovial service will make you feel like you’re hanging out with your extended family in the old country.
What to order: Bairraida is known for its cornucopia of succulent meats; get a steak or some chicken off the grill or walk on the wild side with one of their old-school specials.
Other lush-garden patios to try: Mercado, Café 23, Epoch, Cluny
For rooftop drinks: Soluna
Ooh, a rooftop! Don your finest airy linen and get ready to lounge away the day on various pieces of cream-coloured furniture, fancy cocktail in hand. Catch that vacation vibe with a DJ spinning Afro and Latin house tunes and gorgeous, colourful murals.
What to order: Want to skip the hangover post-patio? Try Soluna’s booze-free Early to the Party, packed with cherry, pomegranate, spiced cranberry and lime.
Other overseas-inspired patios to try: Paradise Grapevine Winery, Lapinou, Bar Reyna, Amsterdam Brewhouse
For cosy canoodling: Sweaty Betty’s
One of Toronto’s all-time best bars, this friendly dive is still going strong after two decades. The indoor portion boasts comfy couches, but Sweaty Betty’s real secret weapon is its charming little back patio. It boasts the perfect mood lighting for a date or catching up with old pals. (Pups are welcome, too!)
What to order: Sweaty Betty’s signature dive-bar delight is the prickleback, i.e. a shot of whiskey with a side of pickle juice. Far more delicious than it may sound!
Other cosy backyard patios to try: Grape Witches, Bar Pompette, Fonda Lola, Sunnys Chinese —B. S.
3. Up your Toronto knowledge on a walking tour
Learn something new about our bustling city while getting your steps in on one of these specialized tours.
Spirits of the Distillery District Ghost Tour
Want something on the spookier side? Creep around the Distillery District and learn about its undead denizens.
ArtworxTO
Choose from more than 50 different self-guided tours highlighting the best of Toronto’s thriving art scene across the city, including everything from Yorkville murals and public art in High Park to TTC art and the Dundas West open-air museum.
Toronto History Museums
Each museum has a free self-guided walking tour that shares a bunch of fascinating sights in the museum’s neighbourhood; finish off your walk with a stop at the museum itself to immerse yourself in a slice of Toronto’s past.
Toronto Field Naturalists
This nature conservation has been offering guided nature walks for almost a century. Join one to discover some of the green space we’re lucky to have here.
Black Life in Mid-Nineteenth Century Toronto
On this self-guided tour, trace the footsteps of abolitionist, educator and newspaper publisher Mary Ann Shadd Cary on a journey through downtown Toronto, circa 1855, and learn all about Toronto’s thriving Black community.
Toronto Crime Tours
Ex-cops share all gory details of some of the city’s shadier history. Several different neighbourhood options are available, including Trinity Bellwoods and Roncesvalles.
Strange Toronto History Tours
Historian Adam Bunch has curated a fascinating lineup of history tours; he hosts regular public tours, or you can book your own group tour. Topics include secrets of the PATH; Old Toronto scandals, romance, or grotesquerie; weird mom-related stories; the tawdry history of the Toronto Islands, the Brickworks, or Rosedale; or Toronto’s animal history. —B. S.
4. Get your skin ready for the sun
We’re supposed to wear sunscreen all year, but it’s definitely time to start if you haven’t been already. Since you’re being good, go all the way with this Canadian, Environmental Working Group certified, all-natural, mineral, SPF 30 sunscreen. Attitude Mineral Face Sunscreen, $18, ca.attitudeliving.com
5. Upgrade your sneakers for all those long walks
This season’s sneakers are slimmer, with more retro-inspired silhouettes, offering a fresh way to wear the trend. Canadian brand Lululemon’s Cityverse sneakers have layers of cushioning, midfoot support for a better fit and 290 five-star reviews. Lululemon shoes, $178, lululemon.com —Renée Tse
Canadian brand Vessi’s vegan leather sneakers are 100 per cent waterproof (and puddle-proof). Easy to clean and with a removable insole, these sneaks will stay fresh for many springs to come. Vessi shoes, $124 (on sale from $160), ca.vessi.com
6. Hold your Canadian pride high in the sky
It doesn’t get much more patriotic than this maple syrup, Canada goose, moose adorned umbrella from Toronto brand La Bella Umbrella. Perfect for spring showers. Bonus: It’s big enough for two. La Bella Umbrella umbrella, $35 (on sale from $45), labella-umbrella.com
7. Let your toes greet the sunshine
Your feet haven’t seen the light of day in six months. The feeling of a warm breeze riffling across an open-toed shoe is a delight rivalled only by the joy of looking down at freshly pedicured feet. Tips Nail Bar at Danforth and Donlands has long been the city’s premier pedi destination — never cutting corners on grooming, cleanliness or care. Try the new Foot Rescue treatment (a $22 add-on), known around town as a foot lift; and basically a facial for your feet with exfoliation, serums and moisturizers, sealed with a paraffin mask.
This spring, owner Leeanne Colley calls an unexpected colour as the pedi polish of the season. “Baby blue! It’s airy and light, very versatile and it’s a subtle pop of colour without being too bright.” But not just any blue will do. “The shade of blue really matters with this polish. It should be less white and more on the greyish side. Creamy vs. cake-y.” If you’re DIY-ing, be sure to allow each coat to dry for three to five minutes before applying the next to eliminate streakiness, and use a thin brush dipped in remover to clean up the edges. “It’s a small detail with a really big impact.” —Rani Sheen
Quo Beauty InstaGel Longwear Nail Colour in Periwinkle, $15, shoppersdrugmart.ca
8. Spring clean your pores
It’s the time of year when your skin care stops working, when your skin needs a proper refresh — it’s the time of year to book a facial. We’re fans of the popular HydraFacial, which is now a staple at many spas and clinics: a mechanical device is used to clear out gunk from pores and push in effective serums in about 30 minutes. At Skin6 (802 Dundas St. W., 2nd floor), founder Jeremy Tebbutt took the treatment up a notch with a signature one-hour version ($225). For skin that’s dehydrated yet congested, the goal is quenching plus improving texture and glow. To start, physical exfoliation sloughs away dead skin, followed by extractions, and a layer of salicylic acid and honey. Next, skin is infused with antioxidants (vitamin A, C, D and E), then cooled down with a soothing Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Mask. The cherry on top is either red light therapy to help with redness or blue light for acne-prone skin. Right away, skin looks and feels hydrated with a subtle glow and noticeable smoothness you can feel for a week. —R. T.
9. Keep your skin calm as the weather changes
Fran Miller, one of the most inspiring creatives in Toronto, created her F. Miller skin care line adhering to exacting ethical and sustainable standards. Her newest launch is the Support Serum, which helps fortify the skin barrier with botanicals like tremella mushroom and a peptide complex to hydrate, soothe and help collagen production. F. Miller Support Serum, $98, fmillerskincare.com
10. Join team joy in a vibrant rugby shirt
We’re calling it now: Rugby shirts will be the quintessential spring staple. Combining colourful stripes and cool sporting cues, this athletic uniform from Canadian brand Kotn is a double dose of top runway trend and street-style buy-in without ever looking try-hard. Get yours oversized, and if you’re typically a fan of neutrals, take this as your chance to go bold — it’s only a stripe, after all! Kotn top, $148, kotn.com —Jillian Vieira
11. Stash your boots and embrace the loafer
It’s a very good thing when the runways present us with an actually comfortable shoe and call it a seasonal must-have. But unlike your typical personality-less penny loafers, fun options abound for spring. This cow-patterned pony-hair pair from Toronto brand Maguire touches on the season’s animal print obsession but is neutral enough to wear Monday through Friday. Maguire shoes, $250, maguireshoes.com —J. V.
12. Refresh your wine list
Spring calls for bright, quenching whites; lighter-bodied reds; bubbles; and something bold for grilling, so stock up on these sub-$20 Canadian bottles chosen by our wine critic, Carolyn Evans Hammond
2023 Flat Rock Cellars Foundation Series Riesling, VQA Niagara Peninsula
(Vintages Essential 43281, $19.95)
Score 92
Riesling is a brilliant wine this time of year because it’s low in alcohol, inherently mouth-watering and often tastes like sliced lime — a flavour that works well with spring and summer fare. And this bottle just sings. The scent teems with bright lime sorbet and salt. Then, it races in with lightning-fresh flavours of lemon-lime, green pineapple and pear, while a smoky limestone note lends sophistication. Lovely length, too. Pour this off-dry white on its own, or serve it with spicy foods, guacamole and chips or goat cheese salad. (11% alc., 19 g/L sugar)
2023 13th Street Winery Gamay VQA Niagara Peninsula
(Vintages Essential 177824, $19.95)
Score 91
Gamay is a variety well-suited to spring because of its ripe-berried goodness, light-bodied structure and affable nature. But it can be, at the same time, quite complex, cerebral and food friendly. See for yourself with this expression from Niagara. The wine invites you in with its bumbleberry pie aromas before flooding in with full-fruited, jammy goodness and cascading with violet, rubbed oregano and white pepper. Bone-dry, silky textured and juicy, this is a Gamay for the gourmands as well as everyone else at the table. Excellent with roast poultry. (12.5% alc., 2 g/L sugar)
2021 Vieni Bruce Trail Red VQA Ontario
(LCBO 452169, $13.95)
Score 92
If big jammy reds are your thing and you’re looking for an alternative to your favourite Californian bottle right now, taste this wine. It’s a rich, ripe and full of fruit — a cashmere crush of Cabernet Franc, Baco Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gamay. Each sip saturates the palate with a whack of cherry jam, plum purée laced with dark chocolate, dried currants and leather that smudge into the lengthy finish. Balancing acidity ensures a clean, dry finish. Serve this wine with grilled food mopped with sticky sauces. (13% alc., 15 g/L sugar)
NV Rosehall Run Pixie Sparkling Vidal Rosé, VQA Ontario
(LCBO 492959, $19.95)
Score 92
This popular wine from Rosehall Run in Prince Edward County starts with the soft scent of apricot and then slips in with vibrant immediacy. Flavours nod toward sweet apricot, tart cranberry and fresh lemon curd while tingling acidity offsets the kiss of sweetness. Steady effervescence rachets up the refreshment factor. And, as the wine recedes, a slow orange zest and apricot pit finish leaves the palate seasoned. More dry tasting than the sugar level suggests, this reliable crowd-pleaser offers easy delight. It gets the party started. (11.5% alc., 27 g/L sugar)
13. Play some new tunes by Canadian artists
“1/17” by Debby Friday
“Poetry and nude selfies / love the way that you know me,” Toronto electronic artist Debby Friday sings over a swirl of synth lines on her new single “1/17,” as if trying to resurrect the technicolor magic of Brat Summer. The latest single from the 2023 Polaris Prize winner is an exuberant dance track that will melt away any remnants of a long winter.
“Thus Is Why (I Don’t Spring 4 Love)” by Saya Gray
Spring is a time of opportunity but also danger. This ebullient earworm by Toronto art-pop auteur Saya Gray is a reminder that heartbreak can be as thrilling as it is painful.
“One Gripe” by Yves Jarvis
Canadian experimentalist Yves Jarvis manages to pack about a dozen ideas into two and a half minutes on “One Gripe,” a funky, genre-blurring track that zips seamlessly between futuristic pop-rock and retro R & B.
“Perennials” by Ken Yates
This lovely, pensive song from Ontario folk singer Ken Yates is a perfect balm for those prone to melancholy and quiet reflection as the seasons change. “Salt’s still in the wound / Still I’ll always think of you / Everytime the perennials bloom,” he sings over a glimmering guitar.
“9th Heaven” by Backxwash
If you’re looking to shake off some cobwebs, check out “9th Heaven,” the explosive new single from Backxwash, the dark lord of Canadian industrial hip hop. It’s a heavy, cleansing track, like a spring downpour that washes away winter’s dirt and debris. —Richie Assaly
