It's just a short 8-10 minute ferry ride from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal across the inner harbor to Toronto Island Park. The park actually consists of 15 islands of various sizes, that combined are approximately 800 acres, which is roughly the equivalent of New York's Central Park. Many of the islands are connected by bridges while a few of them are only reachable by private boat.
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| City skyline from Toronto Island Park Ferry |
Here's a few tidbits of information on the islands:
They were not always "islands". Originally they were a series of sandbars.
Several of the islands are named after early settlers to the island. Ward's Island is named after David Ward, a fisherman who settled there in the 1830's.
The first year-round inhabitants to the island settled there in 1862.
Many residences and business left the island in the early 1900's but there are still private homes and around 750 year round residents.
At one time there was a large baseball stadium on the island. Babe Ruth hit his first professional homerun there on Sept. 5, 1914.
Today there are beaches, including one section that is clothing optional, cafes, gift shops, an amusement park, hiking and biking trails and gardens galore.
Here's a few pictures from a fun filled day of hiking and biking around Toronto Island. If you're going to be in Toronto for any length of time be sure to check it out.
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| There are miles and miles of biking trails |
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| Wooden Bridge connecting two islands |
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| "Clothing Mandatory" Beach. We didn't venture down to the "Clothing Optional" section. |
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| Part of the old fashioned amusement park |
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| Toronto Island Pier |
