It might still be warm in Toronto in early October (not gonna hear me complain!), but the city is already drowning in pumpkins, pumpkin-spice lattes and Halloween candy.
There are many reasons to fall in love with Fall in Toronto, but also many fun ways to make the most out of it, before the cold hits. Brrrrrrrrr...
Go Apple Picking
Apple Picking has become a tradition in our family, and the timing is always perfect as apple picking season starts around Rosh-Hashana (or as my friend Reut likes to call it, Happy Jew Year!) so we always have a good excuse to pick MANY apples. Apples dipped in honey symbolize the hope for a sweet year ahead.
Sweet.
There are many apple orchards around the city, and they all seem to offer many other things besides apples, including animal corrals, pumpkin patches, wagon rides, corn mazes and walking trails. It's a great way to spend the day as a family, keep the kids entertained AND come home with freshly picked apples. Thank God they only weight the bags and not the kids, as mine like to 'sample' the apples. Like, all of them.
Here are the Apple orchards we always enjoy visiting:
Take a hike! (literally)
There’s plenty of places to enjoy the foliage, and you don't have to drive too far! For stunning day hikes/day trips outside the city, we love going to the following places:
Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area
Located in Milton. There are many beautiful trails, but the best ones for the Fall are the Nassagaweya Canyon Trail and the Buffalo Crag Trail which leads to the Buffalo Crag Lookout.
Elora
This adorable small town is only a short drive out of the city, and the Fall colours really pop when you're sipping a pumpkin spice latte, strolling beneath the golden trees or looking at old buildings. Elora is a hidden gem in Wellington, Ontario, and it is well known for its 19th century limestone architecture and the geographically significant Elora Gorge. It also offers a lot of trails that are perfect for the Fall, just pick one and don't forget to charge your phone (or camera).
Scarborough Bluffs
This family-friendly area is made up of 11 natural parks, one of which has its own white sand beach (Bluffer’s Park). If you're a nature lover, you'll enjoy it all year round, but something extra special happens when the trees turn colour here. Head to the beach or hike the trails that line the top of the bluffs.
Caledon area
The Town of Caledon is in its natural prime during the Fall season, and an obvious tourist stop for anyone from the big city. You can enjoy the Fall colours pretty much everywhere in Caledon, but our all-time favourite is Forks of the Credit Scenic Route, a winding road that is renowned for its beauty – and its notorious turns. Heading north on Highway 10, you turn left off of the arterial road right onto Forks of the Credit Road (just north of Olde Base Line), which takes you through twists and turns along the Credit River straight into the village of Belfountain. Take LOTS of pictures, and it you have time, visit the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park.
Get in the Picture: Make lasting memories for your family
There's no better time to make memories than in the Fall. Another family tradition of ours is to hire a professional photographer to capture our family, with the Fall acting as the background that no studio can offer. We print some of them and hang them in the living room, and for us it's an amazing way to look back and see how we've grown and changed as a family.
Have a Happy Pumpkin/Apples/Sweater Weather Season!
Comments