With summer in full swing, everyone wants to bask and enjoy the warm weather — but will it be safe to travel in summer 2021? Although socially distancing continues to be an important aspect of safety, it does not necessarily mean you can’t get out and have fun in the summer sun. After the long cold winter months followed by a wet spring, you deserve a chance to go out, have a safe trip, and enjoy several outdoor summer activities with your favourite people.
If you live somewhere in the Greater Toronto Area, you don’t need to leave it to have fun. There are plenty of fun things to do in the summer with your friends and family. The GTA has various events, attractions, and activities that you can enjoy safely.
What You Need to Know About the GTA
The GTA has 6.2 million residents, with Toronto being its largest Canadian city boasting a population of 2.7 million. The GTA is comprised of Toronto City and 4 neighbouring municipalities — Durham, Halton, Peel, and York. It includes other various major cities, like Brampton, Markham, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan.
Every year, more than 40 million people visit the GTA, spending about $7.2 billion during their trip. Toronto boasts over 8,000 restaurants and bars, which represents 6.5% of all the businesses in the city.
If you are planning to stay and enjoy the summer in Toronto for a few days, you can find and check in to over 35,000 hotel rooms in the city.
Fun Summer Activities to Try Out in the GTA
1. Visit the Toronto Islands
Looking for the perfect place to get away from the summer heat in the city? Visit the Toronto Island. Take a relaxing break on the beautiful beaches on the islands, including a clothing-optional beach at Hanlan’s Point. Rent a bicycle from the city bike-sharing stations and bring it with you on the ferry to explore the beauty of the islands. Another option is to join a guided Toronto islands bike tour.
Board the 13-minute ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal or take a ‘Tiki Taxi’ FOR $10 from Queens Quay to Spadina. Tiki-themed small boats offer a fun, memorable experience to reach Toronto islands while listening to the Caribbean-inspired music playing along the way.
2. Visit the Canadian National Exhibition
After cancelling 2020’s fair and going virtual, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) organizers are planning to proceed with an in-person event this year while keeping in mind all the public health and safety guidelines and government stipulations.
3. Take a Splash in Waterparks
Waterpark facilities across Ontario are ready to open their doors in anticipation of an exciting but safe and responsible 2021 summer. Taking a splash in the waterpark is a great way to relieve yourself from the hotter weather. Among the most popular waterparks in Ontario include:
- Splash Works at Canada’s Wonderland – Main attractions include the Barracuda Blaster, Muskoka Plunge (6-storey tall water slide complex with 4-speed slides), White Water Bay (one of Canada’s largest outdoor wave pools), and Lakeside Lagoon (a pint-sized splash pool for a great mini aqua experience)
- Wet ‘N’ Wild Toronto – Thrilling slides and rides include Oh Canada!, Jet Stream Zip Line, and Hurricane. Other attractions include a lazy river, wave pool, beach bar, and a private cabana.
- Wild Waterworks – Its main attraction is the wave pool that is able to generate 1.3-metre high waves, one of Canada’s largest. It also has two 20-metre high body slides and 4 tube slides, a quarter-mile Eazy River and Little Squirt Works that is perfect for children.
4. Montgomery’s Inn Farmers’ Market
Shop for fresh local fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat, prepared foods, and many more from up to 20 vendors every Wednesday from May 5 to October 27, 2021. Although it operates as essential outdoor food service, the market observes strict COVID-19 protocols to keep everyone safe. For convenience, you can pre-order online at montgomerysinnovators.ca/virtual-farmers-market/ from Friday to Monday and pick them up on Wednesday at the market.
5. Children Summer Camps
While the City of Toronto has yet to clarify their plans for their widely popular summer camp programs, luckily there are still many safe, high-quality and fun Toronto summer camp programs for preschooler kids that are open for registration in 2021. With the pandemic changing the summer camp scenarios, make sure to keep yourself updated with the policies and procedures to keep your kids safe and healthy.
6. Cool Off With Your Favourite Ice Cream
Cooling down with delicious ice cream deserves a place in this blog. The city has plenty of ice cream parlours offering a variety of frozen treats, including Mexican ice pops, Paletas, Thai ice cream rolls, churro ice cream cones, straight-up ice cream cones. If you want to earn extra money in the summer, Toronto ice cream parlours offer jobs to young adults.
7. Explore the Rouge Park
Explore the endless trails of Canada’s largest urban park on foot or bike. Rouge Park is also one of the best summer camping sites in the city. While there is a free shuttle running from downtown Toronto to Rouge Park, renting an exclusive charter bus for the whole gang can make the experience more convenient, knowing that you have a private bus driver to take you to your destination.
8. Visit Botanical Gardens
Experience serenity while strolling through the Toronto Botanical Gardens in North York near Sunnyside Park. The Edwards Gardens and the Don Valley are open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free but you still need to follow the current health and safety guidelines of the City of Toronto, including wearing a mask and social distancing of at least 2 metres.
9. Visit the CN Tower
Toronto’s most popular iconic landmark, the CN Tower, reopened last March 2021. Tickets are available as of July 1, but its 360 Restaurant remained closed as of this time. For an exciting summer adventure, consider doing Edgewalk along the largest, free-standing tower in the world.
Tips to Make Your GTA Summer Experience Safe
Although the pandemic has been going on for more than a year, Canada has opened up. If you are wondering if If you want to explore the GTA during the summer season, here are a few helpful travel safety tips to keep in mind.
- Check the Health Advisories and Travel Warnings – Be updated with the city’s travel warning or health advisories before planning your summer adventure this year. Create a short summer bucket list and check them out at Canada’s travel and tourism site.
- Pack Smart and Safe – Wherever your summer escapade is, do not forget to carry a hand sanitizer when your stop at restaurants or fill up on gas. Make sure to wear a mask especially in crowded places and wash your hands whenever possible.
- Contact a Bus Rental Service – Renting a charter bus exclusive for you and your group helps limit your risk of coronavirus when travelling to different places. Thorough planning is key to ensure that everyone has safe and comfortable travel.
Parkinson Coach Lines has been the leader in the Toronto bus service since 1922. If you want to ensure a safe and comfortable trip, call us at (905) 451-4776 or fill in our contact form to let us know your travel needs.