Hike - Dundas Valley, Ancaster Village is one of the most spectacular and diverse spots along the Niagara Escarpment.

 

Dundas Valley, Ancaster Village is one of the most spectacular and diverse spots along the Niagara Escarpment.

One of my famous trails...Lets explore together the beautiful and breath taking  Sherman and Cantebury waterfalls, hike through the Hermitage and Groundhog Hill for a view of the sunset over Dundas Valley. Its a good place to see deer(if we're quiet!).

The hike out is very easy, good for beginners. Its about 2-2.5h relaxed pace

Sherman Falls

Sunset , May 2013

happy hikers:)

 

What To bring:

water

snacks

camera

proper footwear( hiking boots or shoes)

bring hiking poles if you have them to help with stability.

Dress appropriately for the weather

Head lamps or flashlight

I always ask to bring a POSITIVE ATTITUDE and BIG SMILE!

Bike ride from Victoria park to beaches

Time to get those bikes out and let's hit the trails for a 30+ km RECREATIONAL Bike Ride. Road, mountain, hybrid, cruiser, uni, any bike (but not ebikes) is welcome! Riders of every skill can join in!

We will meet at Victoria Park subway and take this route:

Victoria Park subway - Taylor Creek Park - Don Valley Trail - Cherry Beach - Leslie St Spit - Beaches

We will go through this scenic route with a halfway break possibly at Cherry Beach. We will go at a mild pace so we can also enjoy the scenes.

We will end at the westernmost end of the Martin Goodman trail at the bottom of Victoria Park avenue. We'll decide if we'll hang out for drinks/eats or split up then. The road back to Victoria Park station from here is one steep hill so I decided to not include it in the route. But you have the option to bike back up to the station or hitch your bike to the Victoria Park bus back to the station. Or you can bike home on your own way.

For those driving, parking is available at Victoria Park subway station.

Don't have a bike? rent a Share Bike (formerly Bixi) --> http://www.bikesharetoronto.com

Estimated distance of the route: 31+ kilometers

Route map:

Canoe on the Humber River

  Canoe on the Humber River 

If you've never kayaked before, or if you like to experience it with someone else, this is your opportunity to double up for a great price, on a Canoe Adventure on the Humber River. Sign up for two, and have double fun. Free parking in this area.

The Humber is a slow moving scenic river that meanders through forest and marsh. On this adventure we will see plant and wildlife rarely seen in the city. Often more wildlife is seen on the Humber River than seen on a trip to Algonquin Park. You are likely to see: Canada Geese, Swans, Ducks, White Egrets, Blue Heron, Night Heron, Cormorants, many types of Raptors, Beaver, Deer, Salmon, Trout, Carp, Bass, Catfish, and many types of Turtles.

Niagara on the lake

Today we will visit the beautiful and historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, as well as the lovely Niagara Parkway, which Winston Churchill once described as one of the best Sunday drives anywhere.

We will hike about 45 minutes from historic McFarland House, along the General Brock Trail, into Niagara-on-the-Lake. You may want to grab some lunch or visit the many shops there for about an hour or so. Then we will do the return hike back to McFarland House.  This will take us back to our cars between 2 and 3 pm.

Allow about 1.5 hours to get to McFarland House from GTA.

Naturally, we will have to arrange carpools. Anyone willing to drive can offer to do so below.  Passengers should each give a $10 gas contribution to drivers.

There is free parking at McFarland House, and other spots along the Parkway if necessary.

Recommended Directions:

- Follow the QEW towards Niagara. 

- After crossing the Garden City Skyway at St. Catharines,  exit the QEW at exit 38B (Glendale Avenue NORTH/Highway 55-Niagara Stone Road). 

-At the lights in front of the Hilton Garden Inn, turn left onto York Road. At the second set of lights back under the Skyway,  turn right onto Niagara Stone Road. (Hwy 55) 

- Follow this until you come to the East-West Line. (There's a McDonald's on the corner.)

- Turn right, follow the East-West Line until it ends, then turn right onto the Niagara Parkway.  McFarland House is on the left.

 

Free & Year round events/ideas!

Note: This is a Live Document and will be updated often (More Pages above)

     Event list feed for Toronto (updated every Min)   

Parks and Recreation

• All public parks in and around Toronto offer free admission
• All city public Pools and Skating rinks are free admission (bring your own swim wear or skates)
• Riverdale Farm - 7 acres of green space in downtown Toronto, complete with a petting zoo. Free admission.
• Cherry Beach - Promise Sundays: weekly beach techno party (free, but pwyc encouraged). See Facebook group for details
• Ashbridges Bay - Large beach area in the East End. Free beach volleyball space, but bring your own net.
• Toronto Islands - Large Island just off the lake accessible via boat ferry ($8 return). 600 Acres of recreational and green space including the kids park Centreville. Ferry ride offers great view of the Toronto Skyline
• Bixi Bike sharing - an inexpensive alternative to taking the TTC. 24 Hour rentals for $5 plus tax.

Entertainment

• Dundas Square - Free movies (Tuesdays) and concerts throughout the week during the summer. Other weekend events available in the winter.
• High Park - Free Shakespear Plays at the Ampitheatre. More info here
• Harbourfront Centre - Weekly Free Concerts on weekends
• Distillery District - Interesting boutiques and restaurants, with a large collection of preserved Victorian Architecture. An excellent place for photography.
• Free stuff can be won by entering weekly contests through Toronto's Weekly Newspapers
• Drake Hotel - Elvis Mondays: Free concert performance by local bands. Also free food served too.
• TIFF Bell Lightbox - "The Free Screen" series offers free contemporary films
• The Cinema Studies Student Union at the University of Toronto has free film screenings every Friday evening on campus at Innis College.
• Toronto Music Garden - FREE concerts take place in the Toronto Music Garden on most Thursdays at 7pm and Sundays at 4pm and are approximately one hour in length. Bench seating is available but limited, so feel free to bring a lawn chair – and don't forget your hat or umbrella and sunscreen as shade is also limited. - info here
• Air Canada Centre - Free movies on the outdoor TV in the summer. - info here
• Tap into TO - local volunteer "greeters" offer FREE tours of their favourite neighbourhoods. info here
• Woodbine Racetrack - Toronto - General admission and seating are free and horse betting is not required. Minimum bets are $2. There is both indoor and outdoor seating along with restaurants. Parking is free.
• Bowlerama West Toronto - 70s night on Wednesdays, games are $0.99 per person, hot dogs and fries are also $0.99 (5429 Dundas W, 416 239 3536)

Culture

• Art Gallery of Ontario - Free admission every Wednesdays from 6pm - close
• MOCCA - Museum of Contemporary Candian Art - Pay what you can admission. info here
• Royal Ontario Museum - Free admission every wednesdays between 3:30pm and 5:30pm; 1/2 price admissions on Fridays from 4:30pm
• Bata Shoe Museum - Thursdays from 5pm - 8pm admission is Pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $5
• Canadian Opera Company - Free Lunch Hour performances at the Four Seasons Centre. Full schedule can be found here
• National Film Board - Access to 5,500 FREE NFB films at their digital viewing stations located at Richmond and John.
• Toronto Public Library - Free book rentals and internet access
• CBC Building - The CBC museum inside is free
• Hart House - Free concerts by Hart House Groups such as the Hart House Orchestra and free admission to the JM Barnicke Gallery
• Toronto Heritage Walks - Free guided tours of Toronto's historic neighbourhoods from May to October. info here
• Japan Foundation - Free library access to Japanese books, magazines, media and language studies material. Also art exhibitions film screenings and more. info here
• Luminato - Annual festival in June related to theatre, dance, music, literature, food, visual arts, fashion, and film with free and paid events. info on free stuff here
• Canadian Opera Company's Free Concert Series - The Canadian Opera Company has free lunch hour performances at the Four Seasons Centre. Enjoy a variety of musical style concerts in the sun bathed ampitheatre of the Four Seasons Centre

Others

• St. Lawrence Market - St. Lawrence Market is spread over 3 historic buildings in downtown Toronto. There is an antique market, food market and other public space.
• Kensington Market and Chinatown - Kensington Market and Chinatown are Toronto neighbourhoods. Find funky, organic, fair-trade coffee shops, retro furniture, vintage clothing shops and plenty of places to pick up a cheap take-out meal. Authentic Chinese food.
• Distillery District - This pedestrian-only village is set amidst fabulous heritage architecture that comprises the largest and best-preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture. All the stores and galleries are one of a kind.
• Parking Republic - Find streets with free parking are the location and times where you want to park using their website
• The Bike Chain - University of Toronto operates a bike shop for members of the community. Free use of equipment for your own repairs. Parts and accessories for sale and for cheap.
• Bike Sauce - DIY repair space and community hub. More info
• Downtown Legal Services - Free legal services operated by the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. It is a public interest clinic for low income individuals. Info here
• Flemingdon Community Legal Service - free legal service for tenant issues, immigration, social assistance, legal aid & appeals. More info
• Free WiFi Internet - At libraries, coffee shops and other places. See our Wi Fi Hotspots category
• Hassle Free Clinic - Free counseling and medical services related to sexual health. <a href="http://www.hasslefreeclinic.org/index.html" class="external text" title="http://www.hasslefreeclinic.org/index.html" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(51, 102, 187);
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