Toronto residents love the great outdoors, whatever the time of year. In summer, you'll see people cycling, boating, and hiking; in winter, there are skating, skiing, and snowboarding. For additional information on facilities in the parks, golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, beaches, and picnic areas, call Toronto Parks and Recreation (tel. 416/392-8186). Beaches The Beaches is the neighborhood along Queen Street East from Coxwell Avenue to Victoria Park. It has a charming boardwalk that connects the beaches, starting at Ashbridge's Bay Park, which has a sizable marina. Woodbine Beach connects to Kew Gardens Park and is a favorite with sunbathers and volleyball players. Woodbine also boasts the Donald D. Summerville Olympic Pool. Snack bars and trinket sellers line the length of the boardwalk. Personally, I prefer the beaches on the Toronto Islands. The ones on Centre Island, always the busiest, are favorites with families because of such nearby attractions as Centreville. The beaches on Wards Island are much more secluded. They're connected by the loveliest boardwalk in the city, with masses of fragrant flowers and raspberry bushes along its edges. Hanlan's Point, also in the Islands, is Toronto's only nude beach (I have to confess, I haven't worked up the nerve to sunbathe there . . .). Don't Drink the Water! -- Situated on Lake Ontario, Toronto boasts several beaches where you can lap up the sun. Just don't lap up the polluted H2O, even though you'll see many Torontonians doing just that as they swim through the murky waters. Lake Ontario has high counts of Escherichia coli, a very nasty bacteria that can cause ear, nose, and throat infections; skin rashes; and diarrhea -- not exactly the kind of souvenir you were looking for. Families will probably want to keep kids out of the water altogether. Canoeing & Kayaking The Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak School, 283A Queens Quay W. (tel. 800/960-8886 or 416/203-2277), rents canoes and kayaks; call ahead if you are interested in taking private instruction. You can also rent canoes, rowboats, and pedal boats on the Toronto Islands just south of Centreville. Cross-Country Skiing Just about every park in Toronto becomes potential cross-country skiing territory as soon as snow falls. Best bets are Sunnybrook Park and Ross Lord Park, both in North York. For more information, call Toronto Parks and Recreation (tel. 416/392-8186). Serious skiers interested in day trips to excellent out-of-town sites like Horseshoe Valley can call Trakkers Cross Country Ski Club (tel. 416/763-0173), which also rents equipment. Cycling With biking trails through most of the city's parks and more than 29km (18 miles) of street bike routes, it's not surprising that Toronto has been called one of the best cycling cities in North America. Favorite pathways include the Martin Goodman Trail (from The Beaches to the Humber River along the waterfront); the Lower Don Valley bike trail (from the east end of the city north to Riverdale Park); High Park (with winding trails over 160 hectares/395 acres); and the Toronto Islands, where bikers ride without fear of cars. For advice, call the Ontario Cycling Association (tel. 416/426-7416) or Toronto Parks and Recreation (tel. 416/392-8186). Bike lanes are marked on College/Carlton streets, the Bloor Street Viaduct leading to the Danforth, Beverly/St. George streets, and Davenport Road. The Convention and Visitors Association can supply more detailed information. For a list of bike rental shops, contact the Toronto Bicycling Network (tel. 416/766-1985). One sure bet is Wheel Excitement, 249 Queens Quay W., Unit 110 (tel. 416/260-9000). If you're interested in cycling with a group or want information about daily excursions and weekend trips, call the Toronto Bicycling Network. Walk/Jog/Cycle in Peace -- One of the best places to walk, jog, or cycle in the city is Mount Pleasant Cemetery. No, I'm not joking! The wide paths of the cemetery are like roads, with lots of space for everyone, from athletic types to parents pushing strollers. Locals love this parklike space, which abounds with trees and statuary, not just tombstones. It's a lively scene and anything but depressing. Fitness Centers The Metro Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St. (tel. 416/975-9622), has excellent facilities, including a 25m (82-ft.) swimming pool, all kinds of cardiovascular machines, Nautilus equipment, an indoor track, squash and racquetball courts, and aerobics classes. The University of Toronto Athletic Centre, 55 Harbord St., at Spadina Avenue (tel. 416/978-3436), offers similar facilities. For yoga aficionados, there's no better place to stretch than the Yoga Studio, 40 Eglinton Ave. E. (tel. 416/322-9936). A single class costs C$15 (US$14/£6.75); there's also a pay-what-you-can "Karma Yoga" class available. The Yoga Studio also runs classes in a Yorkville health club located at Hazelton Lanes (call the number above for details or check out the schedule on the website). Golf Toronto is obsessed with golf, as evidenced by its more than 75 public courses within an hour's drive of downtown. Here's information on some of the best. Don Valley, 4200 Yonge St., south of Highway 401 (tel. 416/392-2465). Designed by Howard Watson, this is a scenic par-71 course with some challenging elevated tees. The par-3 13th hole is nicknamed the Hallelujah Corner (it takes a miracle to make par). It's considered a good place to start your kids. Humber Valley, 40 Beattie Ave. at Albion Road (tel. 416/392-2488). The relatively flat par-70 course is easy to walk, with lots of shade from towering trees. The three final holes require major concentration (the 16th and 17th are par 5s). The Glen Abbey Golf Club, 1333 Dorval Dr., Oakville (tel. 905/844-1800). The championship course is one of the most famous in Canada. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the par-73 layout traditionally plays host to the Canadian Open. Travelers who are really into golf might want to consider a side trip to Muskoka. This area, just 90 minutes north, has some of the best golfing in the country at courses such as Taboo and the Deerhurst Highlands. Ice Skating & In-Line Skating Nathan Phillips Square in front of city hall becomes a free ice rink in winter, as does an area at Harbourfront Centre. Rentals are available on-site. More than 25 parks contain artificial rinks (also free), including Grenadier Pond in High Park -- a romantic spot, with a bonfire and vendors selling roasted chestnuts. They're open from November to March. In summer, in-line skaters pack Toronto's streets (and sidewalks). Go with the flow and rent some blades from Wheel Excitement. Skate till You Drop? -- Let's say you'd like to go skating while your traveling companion wants to hit the shops. If you head to Hazelton Lanes, you can both get what you want. A central courtyard doubles as a skating rink. Better yet, the shopping center's Customer Service Centre (tel. 416/968-8600) offers complimentary skate rentals. It's hard to beat a deal like that. Jogging Downtown routes might include Harbourfront and along the lakefront, or through Queen's Park and the University. The Martin Goodman Trail runs 20km (12 miles) along the waterfront from The Beaches in the east to the Humber River in the west. It's ideal for jogging, walking, or cycling. It links to the Tommy Thompson Trail, which travels the parks from the lakefront along the Humber River. Near the Ontario Science Centre in the Central Don Valley, Ernest Thompson Seton Park is also good for jogging. Parking is available at the Thorncliffe Drive and Wilket Creek entrances. These areas are generally quite safe, but you should take the same precautions you would in any large city. Rock Climbing Toronto has several climbing gyms, including Joe Rockhead's, 29 Fraser Ave. (tel. 416/538-7670), and the Toronto Climbing Academy, 100 Broadview Ave. (tel. 416/406-5900). You can pick up the finer points of knot tying and belaying. Both gyms also rent equipment. Snowboarding & Skiing The snowboard craze shows no sign of abating, at least from January to March (or anytime there's enough snow on the ground). One popular site is the Earl Bales Park, Bathurst Street (just south of Sheppard Ave.), which offers rentals. The park also has an alpine ski center, which offers both equipment rentals and coaching. Call Toronto Parks and Recreation (tel. 416/392-8186) for more information. Swimming The municipal parks, including High and Rosedale parks, offer a dozen or so outdoor pools (open June-Sept). Several community recreation centers have indoor pools. For pool information, call tel. 416/392-7838. Visitors may buy a day pass to use the pools at the YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St. (tel. 416/975-9622), and the University of Toronto Athletic Centre, 55 Harbord St. at Spadina Avenue (tel. 416/978-4680). Spas & the City Maybe you have a kink in your neck you just can't work out. Maybe you've got a nasty case of jet lag that won't quit. Or perhaps you're just in the mood for some pampering. In Toronto, you won't have to look too far: This city is spa heaven, as far as I'm concerned. The standards are top-notch, the treatments range from the tried and true to the innovative, and the prices tend to be quite reasonable. All of the spas listed cater to both women and men. Tennis More than 30 municipal parks have free tennis facilities. The most convenient are the courts in High, Rosedale, and Jonathan Ashridge parks. They are open in summer only. At Eglinton Flats Park, west of Keele Street at Eglinton Avenue, six of the courts can be used in winter. Call City Parks (tel. 416/392-8186) for additional information. | 
