The Long Hot Summer: Part 1

As of last Tuesday, Duckie's last day of school until the fall, I have 84 days of two kids under the age of four to entertain. Fear not - I have signed Duckie up for day camp, I have lots of time planned up north, hubby will be taking time off, I am taking a week off to do a writing class, and I have those 5 days with my BFF at Blogher and on Chicago's Magnificent Mile (brace yourself, J. Crew!) to keep me sane.

But I'm still on the hook for a lot of activity planning. And while a lot of that will be hanging around the yard or heading to the local park or wading pool, Duckie is of an age where she seeks a little variety in her week. So I plan on hitting some of the hot spots for kids in the city.

Day One was a bit of a give for me. It was Duckie's school end of year picnic. This year it was held at Sherwood Park at Mount Pleasant just south of Lawrence. I have not spent time there before but it is a lovely park for kids. Lots of shade, a lovely splashpad which is operating now, washrooms (I did not check out the condition), good playground equipment. There is lots of free lot and street parking nearby but there is a walk down a big hill to get to the play area (and, more importantly, a big walk up the hill to go home!) It is tucked away in a ravine so there are woods for kids to disappear into and a stream that is not fenced off. For a big group, it's a perfect location but I might feel a little uncomfortable if there were not a lot of other people around (I have a Blair Witch/Deliverance problem and find quiet woodsy spaces somewhat unsettling). There were no creepy people around at all (you know, the ones who do not seem to be with kids and yet like to hang around splashpads). Both Baby Girl and The Dude had a blast and even if we do nothing else for the remaining 83 days, I think they'll consider this summer a success.

Day 2 I took the kids to the Toronto Botanical Garden at Leslie and York Mills. I haven't been to Edward's Gardens for years and had not seen the TBG's gorgeous glass building. We walked around the botanical gardens and the exterior of the new building (I would have loved to spend some time in the gift shop but, well, there is that whole bull and china shop thing that always weighs on my mind).  The snack shop was a bit of a letdown for me (I would have loved to see more of a tea house) but the kids were impressed with the chocolate chip cookies that we ate on the lawn leading down to the place where the ducks gather on the  stream. It was gorgeous and everything was free (save for the cookies). Places like this remind me of why I love Toronto. I will definately return to spend time in the teaching garden and in the library.

Day 3. Grandma was riding shotgun so I decided to brave High Park - a place I have not been to in a very long time. My plan was to play in the children's adventure park, check out the zoo, and then have lunch at Grenadier cafe and tea house while checking out the organic market.  Toronto has some great parks and as the park is described as "the jewel of the Toronto's park system", I had high expectations. I was expecting Central Park. I was expecting Peterborough's Riverside Park and Zoo.

It didn't live up to expectation.

The first problem was me --  I needed a better map. I decided to access the park from Bloor rather than Parkside and one of the roads was closed so it was hard to find the Adventure playground. Duckie had seen the playground off Grand and insisted that she wanted to play there. Honestly, we could have been in the middle of Mississauga. There were no trees to shade the play structures. The play structures were old and, in some cases, rusty. And there was a cloud of wasps and flies circling the same spot in the sand in a way that made me think that perhaps those still looking for Jimmy Hoffa, should perhaps head on over with some shovels. The slides were so hot that my slide loving son would not slide down them and instead sat sadly at the top saying "hot, hot." On the plus side, there was a great concession stand (the organic market had been a bit of a bust) and a shocking blue bubble gum ice cream seemed to make Duckie and the Dude feel that they had had enough of a park experience to get in the car without too much fuss. I drove by the zoo and the adventure playground with the castles and the childrens garden and it just felt a little bit tired. A little too hot. A little too dusty. Like things needed a fresh coat of paint and some love. Had I simply stumbled upon this place, it might have been much more impressive but Toronto has a lot of fantastic places like the glorious Riverdale farm and this one did not live up to the hype.

Any suggestions of places to try? We did the Withrow Park thing last summer. I've always wanted to hit Dufferin Grove on market day but since we had a creepy experience at the formerly beloved Dufferin Mall, I've put that one on hold. I want to do the island but I'm having a mental block around taking two wild kids on a ferry boat.

I've got 81 days left and only a handful of anti-anxiety meds. I need suggestions of free outdoor places -- preferably ones that serve cookies.

Comments

[Madeleine]

If you ever get the nerve again and find a better map, the Children's Adventure Playground at High Park is really nice. You can't see most of it from the road. It has picnic tables, lots of shade and a separate fenced area for the smaller kids with their own little castle and swings. The big kids' castle is huge and there's a tire swing, too.

The zoo is nothing spectacular, but fine for small kids who are hugely entertained by animal poop. There are bison, peacocks, llamas, sheep, a few more things.

(I was there chaperoning a Grade One field trip on Thursday, just missed you apparently.)

[LJ]

Best thing about Kew Park is the fact that Starbucks is about a one minute walk away. The playground there is very shaded and the splash pad is great. The playground is big enough to keep both kids busy (big play "castle" and all equipment in very good condition). Right next to Kew Park is a very nice library with an excellent children's area (and very very nice bathrooms).

Also, you can do a "playground" tour in the Beach by walking west from Kew Park along the boardwalk. You will hit two or three other playgrounds.

Best ice cream in the Beach is Ed's Real Scoop. Worth the walk east along Queen (its about 10 mins from Kew Park). On your way, you will find a great Mastermind Store too... ohhh, and in the other direction, a great children's bookstore just opened in the Beach called Ella Minnow (right next to a Dufflet!!!). The kids bookstore has real bunnies hopping around.

Also, there is a drop-in called Busy Bee play centre in the Beach - good place to play indoors if too hot out.

(Can you tell I live in the Beach? I am just returning to work after a year-long maternity leave for baby #2. Big sis is 4 so I had to find lots of activities.)

[whymommy]

What about all those fabulous Toronto splash parks? I still remember you talking about those from last summer... and I'm still envious!

[Anne]

YOU SAID:
"Honestly, we could have been in the middle of Mississauga. There were no trees to shade the play structures. The play structures were old and, in some cases, rusty. And there was a cloud of wasps and flies circling the same spot in the sand in a way that made me think that perhaps those still looking for Jimmy Hoffa, should perhaps head on over with some shovels. The slides were so hot that my slide loving son would not slide down them and instead sat sadly at the top saying "hot, hot."

I SAY:

NOOOOOO!

Just want to say your description of Mississauga is totally off! We have parks and splash pads and farmers markets! There are so many things to do in Mississauga all summer long! Yoga on the Lawn, concerts, sports night. My blog is connected to the Got My Kids Website. Check the Got My Kids Mississauga website under local events in the red bar at the top of the page. There is so much to do it will blow your mind! Except for Mondays...odd...guess everyone needs a day of rest?

Come on over someday, if you email me I'd love to meet you and show you around. My "little guy" isn't so little anymore, he is 13, but he'd love an excuse to play in a splash pad! And he is great with little kids.

[Mamalooper]

Thumbs up for Dufferin Grove Park from me. The playground has lots of equipment (although I wish it had wood chips on the ground instead of dirt - have the kids wear clothes that can get dirty). The parents are friendly and there are lots of them. (One of the parks in my neighbourhood is mostly nannies).

I pick up my organic food box from the farmer's market every Thursday (3-7pm). With the market, you can get there in the afternoon, play with the kids and grab a snack from the market. They have produce and baked goods and meat and cheese and prepared goods too.

If you need a quick snack for the kids, you can buy fresh bread by the slice from the baker at the top of the hill where the market is located.

[Shandra]

Oh and try Kew Beach, if you haven't (Queen & Lee) - playground is nice, beach is lovely, Beach has nice shopping etc. Way out in Scarborough there is the Kidstown Water Playground, $1 to get in. (3159 Birchmount) No cookies though.

[Shandra]

Oooh is that the Humber class? If so it is amazing! Did it three years ago.