Toronto: East End

I got tickets to see country artist Carly Pearce at the Opera House, so Rita and I spent the weekend in the East End.

The Broadview Hotel

A former strip club, this hotel is as interesting inside as its backstory. Rita and I were placed in Room 607, with floral wallpaper, a record player (record library available on the 4th floor), and private outdoor terrace. Although this hotel advertises as pet-friendly, its outdoor rooftop bar is not. This was a missed opportunity for Rita to appreciate the Toronto skyline. On the flip side, there is an off-leash dog park right next to the hotel which Rita dragged me to every morning. Both Rita’s and my beds were comfortable, and I was pleased with the provided toiletries and coffee-making facilities in the room. The service was impeccable and I felt like I was staying at “the funky spot in town”.

This was my bed. Rita was also supplied with a bed.

Leash and Paws

The hotel does not permit pets to be left alone in the rooms, plus as I got a VIP package for the concert, I was out for 6 hours. Therefore, I hired a dog-sitter for Rita! Spoilt, you say? Leash and Paws offers a multitude of services across Toronto, from dog walking to boarding, to preparing your dog to attend your wedding. For their hotel in-room sitting service, I had a 10 minute phone call discussing my needs a few days prior, and an available sitter was selected within a few hours. On the Saturday night, the lovely Elaine met me in the lobby and I showed her to my room, leaving her to enjoy a night in while I enjoyed a night out! She took Rita out for a couple of toilet breaks, as requested, and sent me updates during the evening via the Time To Pet app. I felt relaxed and able to enjoy my night knowing Rita was being taken care of. At the end of the visit, I received a report card summarising Rita’s night!

Walks and Hikes

From the hotel, we walked 1 hour up the Don Valley Trail to Evergreen Brick Works. There is plenty of parking too, so driving is also viable. The former quarry has been developed into a family friendly complex, with coffee shop and small garden centre. There’s a farmer’s market every Saturday too. The best part was the trail network through the old quarry. We also visited the dog park (behind the car park).

Conquering dragons along the Don Valley Recreational Trail

Rouge Urban National Park is on its way to becoming the largest urban park in North America. It’s free to enter. We parked at the Twyn Rivers Day Use Area, and from there took the Orchard Trail north and continued on part of the Cedar Trail. Here, we experienced a large heron taking off right in front of us. We then backtracked down the Cedar Trail and made our way back to the car park via the Vista Trail, which features an observation deck for more extensive views. Although not far out of the city (30 mins drive from the hotel), this park felt like part of the wilderness. There were even warnings of a bear about. There are some road crossings required at points along the trails, but they weren’t too busy when we visited. Rita enjoyed a swim in Little Rouge Creek to cool off at the end.

Scarborough Bluffs are Toronto’s answer to the White Cliffs of Dover. We got great views of them from Bluffers Park, and then travelled to Scarborough Heights Park to allow us to walk along the shoreline beneath them. It felt a bit like a tropical island, Lake Ontario was so blue and full of life. Rita also squeezed a game of fetch in at the dog park.

Niagara Region

Maple Town