The Most Beautiful Parks in Toronto Photo Essay

High park maple leaf shaped flower bed

Have a look at amazing Photo Sets all shot by talented photographers. Explore the vibe of the city, its hidden treasures, meet the Torontonians! This time, let's have a look at Toronto through the lens of Viera Prievoznikova!

Viera studies marketing communication. She has been devoted to documentary photography and fine art photography for 2 years. Amongst other styles, Viera is fond of street photography, portrait photography and art nude photography. Viera uses street photography to draw people's attention to things often overlooked in everyday life.

Landscaped gardens with a pond
High Park has beautifully landscaped gardens with a romantic pond

High Park

Toronto's largest municipal park spanning over 161 hectares of land, High Park was opened to the public in 1876. Unlikely to be missed once you set off for a walk in the area, you will find it to the west of downtown. What is so unique about this Toronto park is its landscape: hilly curves created by two deep ravines running all the way from the north to south ends of the park. There is so much to do for everyone, including many great picnic spots, a kid's adventure playground, stunningly landscaped gardens, the park's very own zoo, a lot of great sporting grounds, and a unique oak savanna habitat that takes up to one third of the park. The beautiful Grenadier Pond on the western border of the park is connected to some interesting myths — like the one in which the British Grenadiers fell through its thin ice when crossing to defend the city in the War of 1812 (hence the name)! With seasonal activities such as Shakespearean plays in the park's amphitheatre or skating in the winter, it's one of the most popular places to go spend a day out!

One of the great features of Toronto is the very many green spots in and around it that perfectly fit the active lifestyle many Torontonians love. If you want to find out more about the community activities in parks, follow the city park voice of Park People Toronto.

Red sightseeing train
Relaxing on the bench in park
Ostrich in High Park ZOO
High Park zoo lies in a ravine along Deer Pen Road

Queen's Park

Opened in 1860 and named in honour of Queen Victoria, this is our very own "Central Park" located in the heart of the city. The University of Toronto and the park have established a perfect relationship: students flock to the green areas from the campus buildings surrounding its grounds to take a break from studying and the park comes alive! The Ontario Legislative Building houses the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and leases the grounds from UofT. Footpaths, bronze statues, picnic spots — it all offers a nice and refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the city surrounding it. You can totally forget that you're actually in one of the busiest parts of Toronto!

Park entrance close to Financial district
The park entrance is this close to Toronto's Financial District!
The Ontario Legislative Building
The Ontario Legislative Building is located in the centre of the park
Romance in the park

Hanlan's Park (Toronto Islands)

Hanlan's Point takes its name from the very first family that lived on the Toronto Islands all year round, the Hanlans. When you want to get outside the city but don't actually have that much time on your hands, this is the perfect solution! Just a ferry ride away from the Financial Centre and with Toronto's cityscape just minutes away, you will feel like you're in a small holiday resort. Ferries leave on a regular basis from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at 9 Queen's Quay. Once on the islands, a nice way to get around is taking your bike and exploring (bike rentals are also available). A 1900s-style amusement park called Centreville, the public Toronto Island Marina, and the nice, small community of 262 houses are just some of the sights to see! The park offers lovely beaches, 13 picnic areas, fire pits, washrooms, snack bars, and sporting facilities. Have you ever visited the historic Gibraltar Point Lighthouse?

Old Boat on Toronto Islands
Parks on Toronto Islands
Picnic Points in Hanlans Park

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