Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Toronto, Ontario

A former weekend get-away destination for Victorian Torontonians, Colonel Samuel Smith Park still offers plenty of attractions which appeal to both the young and the young at heart. While the kids will surely enjoy the playground which is located only steps from the lake, the park offers many other attractions besides the playground.

If you crave a scenic nature walk without the long drive out of the city, then you will find it at the Samuel Smith Park. Boasting a beautiful trail along a peninsula on Lake Ontario, the park is one of the best ways to enjoy the waterfront. With several rocky beaches where you can stop and watch the ducks and swans swim by, a yacht club perfect for beautiful boat watching, a panoramic view of the CN Tower on a clear day, as well as prime fishing spots, there is something there to please every outdoor enthusiast.

The kids will especially love stopping by one of the viewing decks, where you can often spot groups of baby ducks and swans, turtles sunning themselves on the rocks, beaver dams and even the beavers themselves, if you are lucky! Make sure to bring along a camera and binoculars as there are over a hundred bird species which can be spotted in the area, as well as their nests often hidden in the reeds.

After the hike and sightseeing, you will surely work up an appetite. There are numerous cozy picnic spots on the trail and on the beaches, or if you prefer, the park also offers a picnic shelter with a large table for a group gathering or team lunch. It’s conveniently located on the south side of the Humber college campus, next to the softball diamond. Whether you enjoy playing, or are just a spectator to the game, there is nothing like a barbecue lunch and baseball game on a lazy Saturday in the summer.

To burn off the hot dogs and hamburgers you just had for lunch, take your kids over to the playground area to run off some energy. Younger children will enjoy the double slide and swing set a short walk from the picnic shelter and the entire family will be able to appreciate the large field for running, jumping, a soccer game or kite flying on a windy day.

Colonel Samuel Smith Park also organizes several special events in the summer, which are famous with the locals and attract visitor from near and far. The Brass in the Grass is a Lakeshore summer tradition with jazz and blues bands playing all weekend well into the night, special attractions and activities for the kids, food stands and more! A number of traveling fairs and amusement parks stop by Samuel Smith during the summer as well, especially on the long weekends. Children and parents flock from the entire southern Etobicoke for the rides, roller-coasters, carnival games, cotton candy and face painting. A sure- to-please event for the entire family!

Parking is available on the bottom of Kipling Street, along Lakeshore Blvd. or in the numerous side streets in the area (some fees may apply).