Perfect timing for Franklin Children's Garden

Another gem on Toronto Islands

The young kids I've visited Toronto Islands with were always so content with Centreville Amusement Park that I never could drag them beyond. A few weeks ago, I finally had the chance to visit Franklin Children's Garden and I loved it!

As it turns out, Friday and Saturday August 16 & 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be a very good time to visit the place thanks to the first Teddy Bear Picnic to be held at Centreville Amusement Park. Following free activities at the amusement park (you still need to pay if you want to do the rides), Franklin and Beasley Bear will lead a parade over to the Children's Garden for storytelling and giveaways.

To Franklin Children's Garden
To get to the Garden, you have to walk past Centreville Amusement Park (near Centre Island ferry) and cross the bridge to go towards the fountains. To your right, you will eventually notice the cute splash pad (beyond the reflecting pool with fountains). 

I suggest you walk by it and reach the lovely entrance to the Children's Garden further west (promising the kids you'll return to enjoy the water fun once you've explored the Garden).

The site is peppered with bronze statues of characters from Franklin the Turtle (Kids Can Press beloved books for 6 to 7-year-old readers). They're part of the decor, enjoying the place as we do. Expect Franklin, Bear, Rabbit, a goose, a snail and a beaver.

 

 

I was impressed by the attention to landscaping and detail. The microcosm of Franklin Children's Garden encompasses a pine grove, a storytelling stage, a wetland with turtles, frogs and birds, a treehouse, a vine tunnel, the elevated Unilever Snail Trail and a cute hands-on gardening section (offering craft activities and watering opportunities daily from 1 to 5 p.m.). 

Kids 8 years and under were having a ball when I visited. The treehouse was very popular, and so was the elevated trail, from which we can see the beach. 

Water fun
Centre Beach, the beach just south of the Garden, is protected from the waves by a wall and perfect for young kids. Gibraltar Beach, less than 5 minutes west, on the right, is more secluded and, on a windy day, offers fun waves bigger kids will appreciate.

The pretty splash pad is located right by the playground structure just east of the Garden.

Facing Centre Beach

Like Toronto Fun Places on Facebook 

for last-minute suggestions, photos and funny bits.

In kayak around Toronto Islands (girlfriends outing)

We get a very different point of view of a place when we stroll through it rather than simply drive by. Now, try exploring it in a kayak for yet another take of the site. I just did, exploring Toronto Islands, and it was something!

This week, thanks to a friend who owns two kayaks, I got caught in a bottleneck of water lilies. I caught a crawfish with my paddle (as I was fighting my way through the lilies). I enjoyed a ballet of dragonflies. I chilled with a white crane while eating cherries. I also came across the Log Ness Monster but that's another story (you can check the photos of a recent post on my French blog). 

As we paddled along the canals, we could read some funny names on the mooring boats (such as AppropriYatch and Breakin' Wind). At one point, sliding past majestic weeping willows, I couldn't believe we were so close to downtown Toronto.  (But the sound of boats and planes was a good reminder.) 

West of Centre Island's ferry dock, I counted close to 100 white swams by the shore!

Can't reach it on a boat
If you have a look at City of Toronto's map of the Islands, between #23 and  Long Pond (to the right of the 4 little people in a canoe), you'll notice a small bay including a circle of greenery. You can only access this spot (where the water is less than 15 cm deep) on a canoe or a kayak. That's where you'll find cranes and crawfish amidst the water lilies. 

This little bay is 15 minutes away (paddling) from the Boat Rental building. (See building on the left hand side of the map)

Kayak or canoe rental
No need to have a friend who owns two to enjoy a kayak ride around Toronto Islands (I know, I'm lucky!). You can rent one at the Boat Rental place, a two-minute walk east of the large white bridge in Centre Island, or at HarbourFront Canoe and Kayak Centre.

I've seen a few kayaks amidst the canoes and paddleboats at the Boat Rental. Unfortunately, I could not find rental fees on the City of Toronto's page on Toronto Islands (go figure!). I can only recommand you go straight to the rental as you get on Centre Island to reserve the next one  available. Allow two hours for a good ride along the canals.

At HarbourFront Canoe and Kayak Centre, you could share a double-seat kayak in tandem with a friend, $85 for the day. It will take you approx. 20 minutes to paddle to the Islands. Bring a picnic in a plastic bag, and go have lunch in the middle of the water lilies.

More blogs about Toronto Islands:
8 TIPS: Toronto Islands with teenagers
5 TIPS: Toronto Islands with older kids
5 TIPS: Toronto Islands with younger kids

8 TIPS: Toronto Islands with teenagers (also good for girlfriends)

Toronto Islands with teenagers 

Here's the outing I'd recommend if you're visiting Toronto Islands with kids.

My TIPS for a great visit with TEENAGERS

1) Check the Centre Island ferry schedule and arrive at the ferry docks (at the foot of Bay Street) 45 minutes prior to departure, with snacks and water. Note the schedule for your ride back at WARD's DOCK!!!

2) Walk straight to the south shore of the Islands (Centre Island Beach), past the bridge and the fountains to get to the Bike Rental outlet. And treat your teens with the rental of a quadracycle (2-seat or 4-seat) for an hour. (Don't hop on with them, rent yourself a normal bike.) Meet in an hour at the outlet. It was totally worth the $17/hour cost, according to my 15-year old companions. BRING CASH for the rental ($30 deposit).

3) They won't be too keen on the 20-min walk along the boardwalk towards Ward's Island (east of the rental outlet) but they'll appreciate what comes next (and so will you).

4) Have lunch at the Rectory Café just off the boardwalk. Their patio is a real treat. Their $15 burgers are scrumptious. (Their cocktail list is impressive, I had a natural Ginger Ale and vodka cocktail.)

5) Have a swim at Ward's Beach. I prefer Gibraltar Beach, west of Centre Island Beach, but Ward's Beach is the youth's hub.

6) Head north towards Ward's dock and check one of the carless street east of the park. What a feeling!
7) Have an ice-cream at the very funky Island Café (you can see it from Ward's dock).

8) Catch a ride back to Toronto on the Ward's ferry, seriously less busy than Centre Island's.

If your teens are not starving by the time you reach the Rectory Café, go straight to the beach for a swim and eat later at the Island Café, offering less expensive and still yummy options.

Also read 5 TIPS: Toronto Islands with younger kids

Also read 5 TIPS: Toronto islands with older kids

5 TIPS: Toronto Islands with older kids

Toronto Islands with older kids
This is what I would recommend if you're visiting this attraction with kids 7 years and older.

My TIPS for a great visit with OLDER KIDS

1) Check the Centre Island ferry schedule and arrive at the ferry docks (at the foot of Bay Street) 45 minutes prior to departure, with snacks and water (and maybe chalks for them to draw on the pavement while they wait). DON'T FORGET TO NOTE THE SCHEDULE FOR YOUR RIDE BACK!

2) If your family has the inclination, bring everyone's bike, with locks. There are no cars on Toronto Islands! It's cyclists haven! Then, it doesn't matter on which ferry you hop on.

3) Try to catch the Lagoon Theatre play on your way in or out of your visit to Centre Island. (Their 30-min. play is great for 3-12 years old with double-entendre for the adults (2013 update: performed by Frolick Wednesday to Sunday at 11:15, 12:15, 1:15 and 2:20 until September 2); with potential shows later on the weekends. Bring cash, its pay-what-you-can, suggested admission price of $10 but they're cool about it.) 

4) Walk straight to the other end of Centre Island, past the fountains, and turn right to reach Gibraltar Beach (skip busy centre Island Beach). You'll find many beach entrances walking 10-15 minutes along the paved path. The sand is fantastic! There are less people. It feels like the ocean.

5) At the end of the day, you must check the weird contraption of the Synthecycletron by Barry Prophet, an interactive machine generating noise as you ride it. it is part of the New Adventures in Sound Art. You'll find it on your left if you walk east, past the bike rental place near Centre Island Beach.

Note that the Carousel Café by the large bridge is pretty, with a large patio overlooking the canal, and it offers a vast menu, not too expensive (I'd make two kids share a club sandwich). 

When my companions walked by the hilarious large character by the entrance of the Lagoon Theatre, he called them: "Come closer! I want to smell your conditioner!"

Also read 5 TIPS: Toronto Islands with younger kids

Also read 8 TIPS: Toronto Islands with teenagers

5 TIPS: Toronto Islands with younger kids

Toronto Islands with younger kids
Last time I visited Toronto Islands, it had been a while since my last summer visit. I was impressed!!!

There were more people than when my kids were young, but everything was really well organized to maximize everyone's experience to the Islands.

I was with two teens (I will later post tips to better enjoy the place with teens) but had a good look at what would appeal to me, were I to return with younger kids.

My TIPS for a great visit WITH YOUNG KIDS:

1) Prior to your visit, go online to buy Centreville Amusement Park tickets (you save money and will avoid the crowd at the gate. It is absolutely perfect for kids 8 years and under.
2) Check the Centre Island ferry schedule and arrive at the ferry docks (at the foot of Bay Street) 45 minutes prior to departure, with snacks and water (and maybe chalks so the kids can draw on the asphalt while you wait). DON'T FORGET TO NOTE THE SCHEDULE FOR YOUR RIDE BACK!
3) Bring cash to pay for the ferry ride! (Last time I checked, it was cash only.)
4) Once on the other side, go directly to the amusement park, a short walk off the Centre Island dock.

5) When the kids are ready to cool down, go to the great spray pad outside of the amusement park. To reach it, cross the big bridge to your left as you exit of the amusement park. Walk until you reach the fountains on each side of the alley, and go to your right. The spray pad is hidden from the sight because of the trees but it's there! And it is very pretty.

Of the ferry, you'll see signs (and probably some of their wacky characters) for the Lagoon Theatre 30-minute pay-what-you-can performances. I'd save this attraction for kids 7 and older, simply because the amusement park and the spray pad is already a full plate for younger kids but the show is suitable for 3 to 12 years old.

On the way to the amusement park, you might also catch one of the 10 Minute Drum Circle (when we visited, they offered free playshops and they supply the drums, not sure it's still going on).

Also read 5 TIPS: Toronto Islands with older kids
Also read 8 TIPS: Toronto Islands with teenagers

Toronto Islands: Family outing for July 23-29

The outing of the week as of July 23 featured on my website is Toronto Islands.

This weekend, I did the unthinkable: I decided to take two teens to Toronto Islands... at 1 p.m., on a Saturday, on a bright summer day.

Well, the wait wasn't so bad, 30 minutes. We reached Centre island, walked to Centre island Beach, rented a 2-seater quadricycle, checked Gibraltar Beach, walked to Ward's Island, had a bite at the Rectory Café, a dip at Ward's Beach and an ice cream at the super cool Island Café before catching the Ward's ferry. All in all, six hours of great summer fun.