There are many ways to get to know Toronto, but none of them quite compare to walking tours. Strolling the streets is slower than taking a bus or train, which gives you a chance to really look at your surroundings. Exploring the sidewalks and park paths of this city gives you a different appreciation for it, whether you’re a new resident, a visitor just passing through, or a born and bred Torontonian. Try at least one of these five self-guided walking tours approved by the City of Toronto Pedestrian Office.
The Danforth Tour
The Danforth is a neighborhood in Toronto that is home to one of North America’s largest Greek settlements. The area is full of shops, restaurants, and nightlife attractions, all with an upscale and international flair. This walking tour is short, usually taking no more than 30 to 45 minutes. Of course, it’s up to you how long you spend enjoying the flavors of freshly baked spanakopita and browsing colorful gifts.
The Water in the City Walk
Looking for a longer walking tour that combines education with breathtaking views of the nature in and around the city? The Water in the City tour is a perfect fit for you and your family. The RiverSides foundation, a group dedicated to maintaining and restoring the natural waterways in Toronto, offers a guide that traces the journey of water from droplets to runoff in the city. You’ll learn about the Don River, including the threats to its health, and traipse through wetlands and marshes currently being restored. You’ll even pick up helpful tips on how to protect your local water resources as a homeowner, whether you’re a Toronto resident or a traveler.
NHS Urban Walk – Cultural Toronto
Prefer pavement to muddy trails? Head out on the Urban Walk that focuses on the cultural side of Toronto. This leisurely two to three hour tour covers many of the highlights of Canada’s artistic history. The tour brings you by the studio where the Group of Seven painters once worked, the Royal Conservatory of Music that has produced many Canadian stars, and numerous other important landmarks. No lover of art, music, or film should stop off in Toronto without taking this free and fun walking tour.
Exploring the Northern Ravines and Gardens
Finally, nature lovers can’t miss the Northern Ravines and Gardens tour. From a convenient start at the Lawrence Subway station, you’ll stroll through four different parks as you traverse the mild ravines that make Toronto’s geography so interesting. Numerous brooks, memorial gardens, and playgrounds offer even more to see. Walk under the shade of 150 year old trees, explore the intersection of wilderness and man made landscaping, and burn calories while doing it. You’ll be back in civilization within one and a half hours if you walk at a brisk pace, or you can stretch out the tour by meandering leisurely to take in the beauty.
Marshall McLuhan’s Toronto
You don’t need to be from Toronto or even Canada to be familiar with the name Marshall McLuhan. He revolutionized our concepts of how we communicate with each other, and his work paved the way for today’s advertising methods. He called the University of Toronto his intellectual home for the majority of his life as an academic, so it’s no wonder there’s a walking tour dedicated to his favorite sites around the city. In addition to a map that takes you around the University campus and into the city proper, there are six interview audio files available for listening to on your favorite device that give context and life to the sites.