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| - You can't live in the west end without visiting this park at least one weekend a month during the warmer seasons. There is just so much to do, and if you're all about outdoor fitness, High Park is a great location to get into shape. It's outfitted with a swimming pool, tennis courts, a baseball field, and numerous trails to choose from for running, biking, etc.
It's also a haven for pet lovers. There are specific trails or park areas where owners/ownees can take their dogs off their leashes, which seems to be an attractive option. The High Park area (Bloor Street West, between Runnymede and Keele) looks like a hot-spot for dogs, which is probably why there's a large trendy shop for dogs and their owners called Bark & Fitz just on the outskirts of the park on Bloor (and a Starbucks attached to the same building). Every time I pass the area, it always renews my interest in adopting an ankle-biter and a latte.
They also have a Shakespeare theatre company, sponsored by TD, which runs all summer long. The stage directions are always creative, especially with the small area they have to work with. The 2009 season ran The Tempest, which I would have *loved* to have seen. And just as long as it's not R&J, I'm looking forward to what will be playing next year. If you do plan on attending, be sure to bring something to sit on (blanket, cushion, etc) as you're more or less sitting on ground and make sure to get in early, 'cause the good seats do go fast.
Another quirk of High Park is its zoo. Even to this day (after living in the area for more than a decade) it feels kinda weird that I could walk down to Bloor and Runnymede for groceries, books, n' stuff and if I decide to walk east and far enough into the bowels of High Park I could visit their resident Bison and billy goats, peacocks and llamas. Being "neighbours" to these large Bison in the urban city of Toronto, is kinda cool.
There may even be something for ghost/haunted/horror story enthusiasts. There's a street along the edge of the park called "Wendigo Way", so I've always wondered if there was any native mythology for the High Park area about the Wendigo spirit... and erm, I'm still looking, heh. I have heard that there are family halloween-themed activities in High Park, including a pumpkin float, which sounds really entertaining, but have yet to go watch.
But, if "ghost hunting" isn't your thing, there is another popular hunting sport within the park grounds. One of the most inspiring moments I had was standing on a bridge and watching a truly gorgeous swan take flight. Their wingspan is quite long and you could listen to the flap of those wings as it flew by. Bird watching is a popular event for both professionals and amateurs alike in High Park. There is an abundance of species to see: eagles, hawks, and falcons to name a few (the Broadwing Hawk seems to be the most popular sighting).
So, if you find yourself wanting to spend time outdoors, for a romantic evening walk, a fun family afternoon picnic, or something in between you can't go wrong by visiting High Park.
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