Toronto : Downtown

The original purpose of this trip was to see The Dixie Chicks at Budweiser Stage, but it happened to coincide with Rita’s “Gotcha Day” Anniversary, so it had to be extra special!

The most convenient accommodation to the concert was Hotel X, also incredibly pet friendly! Their “Very Important Pet Enhancement” costs $100 per stay, and includes a bed and food/water bowls. There is a path bordered by a grassy area in front of the hotel for quick toilet outings, and the Inukshuk, Trillium and Coronation (with an off-leash area) parks are just across the road for walks. What’s more, the hotel has its own designated pet photographer! Of course we availed of this – keep reading!

Upon requesting a view of the CN Tower for our photoshoot, we received a free upgrade to a suite(!) with king bed, living area, desk and full bathroom with shower and bath, and I took advantage of this by having a long soak on Saturday night whilst admiring the downtown views out of the floor to ceiling window.

Dogs aren’t allowed to be left in the room alone, but the hotel partners with PAWKEE pet-sitting services, which can be arranged via the concierge. Unfortunately they were booked up on the Friday night, so I used Leash & Paws, which I talk about in my previous post.

Other features of the hotel which I just didn’t have time to check out were the rooftop pool and indoor tennis courts! There were also novelty suites available, like a golf swing suite and a special Kurios themed one for Cirque de Soleil fans. Each floor has its own collection of photographers from different parts of the world (Floor 12 was Arizona!) and you can check out the photographer’s Kandy Gallery off the lobby.

After a wild night with The Chicks, I thought it was appropriate to have brunch at The Morning After. Their dog-friendly patio felt lively yet relaxing, with a bar area and soft couches to sit on. There was a bowl of water for Rita too. The food on offer matches the “cool vibe” of the environment. My “Spill The Tea” Pancakes, topped with cashew matcha cream, berries and sesame seeds, was beautifully served and I was enchanted by my “Unicorn Latte” (available as a flying version, with a touch of alcohol) accompanied by a side of Lucky Charms.

While waiting for my brunch table, I visited two nearby doggy shops. Wagsup is a small boutique with a fantastic selection of unusual toys. Canadian, camping trip, fast food or sea creature-themed, you are sure to find it at Wagsup! We picked up some canine toothpaste and bakery treats. Cosmopawliton is a lakefront boutique with a range of food, treats, toys and bathing products. Both of these stores offer grooming services too.

After brunch, we headed North-West towards Trinity-Bellwood. Here we encountered two doggy shops right next to each other: Helmutts, which contains all your pet essentials, and Timmie, which stocks current canine fashion and the latest gadgets for your pooch. They also have their own branded toys and bakery section. Rita had a hard time choosing but we came away with a rope toy and some cookies. Trinity Bellwood Park is a 36 acre city park, complete with children’s playground, tennis courts and an off-leash area! I let Rita have a run around but it was a warm day so she was happy to lie down under a tree with me. The off-leash area is unfenced but marked with a notice. There is a raised decking area and plenty of picnic tables so you can relax and watch your pooch make new friends.

Next stop for us was Greenhouse Juice, where I picked up a Ginger Spice smoothie. Dogs aren’t allowed inside, but I could tie Rita up and keep an eye on her as I went in to order. There are a couple of benches outside for you to sit and enjoy your healthy tonic!

As we wandered down Queen St W, we passed a store with a “dog event today” sign outside. I poked my head in, and encountered what looked like a high-end skincare store with a marble aesthetic. Sensitivitia’s philosophy is to harness the healing power of hemp seed oil to restore your skin and wellbeing, and this doesn’t stop at humans! Alongside their bath salts and facial serums are products for dogs. Rita enjoyed the treat samples so much, I bought her a bag of hemp and beef liver “bites” and a bottle of “paws” wellness tincture. Into the bargain was a shower of attention from the staff!

I can’t say the next spot was a pleasant walk, but it’s definitely worth a visit. Graffiti Alley is exactly how you’re imagining it; smelly with bags of rubbish lying about and “don’t go alone in the dark” vibes. However, the street art is spectacular. Now designated as legal spot for such artwork through StreetARToronto, the nature of this sight means it’s always changing, so you’ll likely want a return visit.

Toronto’s streetcar system allows dogs, and so like the diligent blogger she is, Rita couldn’t pass up an opportunity to try it out. We took it from Spadina Ave. back to our hotel. To be honest, the online route map looked pretty complicated and didn’t seem worth the effort of figuring out for the one journey I was taking, so I just got on a tram that was going in the general direction I wanted. This plan worked, with only one change! If you’re wanting to travel across the city with your dog, this is much more convenient than battling the traffic and locating car parking. Some points to note: the ticket machine on the streetcar only takes coins, and dogs aren’t permitted during weekday rush-hours.

The highlight of our trip was a photoshoot with Posh Pets Photography, exclusive to Hotel X guests. We opted for the “Mini Getaway” session, which included over a hour’s shoot and 8 digital photos. Karen and her husband Dean came directly to my room, where we started with some in-suite snaps. Then we went across the road to Trillium Park and Inusuck Park, where Karen knew the best backdrops. The whole time we were chatting and laughing and getting to know each other. Karen was so patient with Rita and Dean ensured my hair was sitting well! We finished our session back at the hotel lobby with some cosy shots next to the fire, and of course Karen had to get one with the star of the day herself. A few days later, I had a Zoom call with Karen to pick my favourites, and the finished photos were in my inbox within a week. They beyond exceeded my expectations, but I’ll let you be the judge!

Toronto: Canada Day

Summer begins in KW!