Gord and I have been wanting to explore Tommy Thompson Park (aka Leslie Street Spit) ... a couple weeks ago we did.
We had tried in June but discovered when we got there that it's only open on weekends and holidays (we'd gone on a Tuesday).
The Leslie Street Spit is North America's most remarkable public urban wilderness. It is a 5-kilometre long peninsula, built by lakefilling, that juts into Lake Ontario close to downtown Toronto. Started 40 years ago, it was intended to be a breakwater for harbour expansion, which was not needed due to a decrease in lake shipping. Now, the Spit - as it is lovingly called by the people of Toronto - has been transformed by nature into an extraordinary wildlife reserve, where humans can find a car-free refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a quiet time amid unmanicured vegetation.
We walked the loop, starting with the east trail and came back along the west trail.
There is an automated lighthouse at Vicki Keith Point, is one of three lighthouses in Toronto and the only active one in the city.
We had brought a picnic lunch (chicken, salads and wine) and had it sitting on a log by the water.
What a great afternoon!
We were there for over four hours and walked about 12.5km.
It's definitely a place I'll go back to.