Toronto: Harbourfront
The main purpose of this trip was to see Eric Church at the Scotiabank Arena. However, it coincided with Canada Day weekend so we made a proper time of it. See what else we got up to here and here.
Le Germain Hotel Right next to the Scotiabank Arena, this was a perfect location for me. The hotel “believe[s] that pets are just as entitled to the superior comfort of Le Germain Hotels as anyone”, and so Rita was keen to try it out. The fun began at check-in where I had to sign their pet policy, conveyed in the POV of Rita. When we got to our room, her bed, bowls and treats were sitting ready for her. Other perks of the hotel were valet parking (I felt very posh ringing down to the front desk asking for my car to be brought round) and the spacious shower with glass screen into the bedroom. Molten Brown toiletries and as-late-as-you-want check-out times make up for the lack of views over the city. Nearby are the Roundhouse Park, for pee stops in view of the CN Tower, and the Aroma Coffee Bar, which welcomes dogs on the patio.
Kajama Cruise A cruise around Lake Ontario sounds lush, but how about on a pirate ship with a sea shanty-singing crew? The Kajama departs several times throughout the day for 2-hour excursions (30 minutes boarding, exploring the boat and grabbing a drink, and 90 minutes sailing). Dogs are allowed and adored by the crew. Rita received lots of admiring comments, and befriended many fellow passengers too. You can follow along with an audio tour MP3 available on their website, or simply enjoy the music and occasional chatter from the head of crew. They hoist the sails shortly after departure, and to do so ask for assistance from passengers, and of course I volunteered! It was pretty fast, hard work!
Rita with her new friends Glenn and Dean
The ship itself was rescued by the Tall Ship Cruises after drifting at sea for 2 weeks off the coast of Sweden when its captain had a heart attack and died. It now offers dinner cruises, and is fully equipped with restrooms and a bar. This is a fantastic and unique way to obtain an entire view of the city and a peaceful way to enjoy Lake Ontario.
Eating Against The Grain is a must-go!! Towards the east, it’s right next to the more recently developed Sugar Beach area and is extremely dog friendly! They even have a “Pawtio Menu”! Rita ordered the Pup Patty and a biscuit for dessert, while I opted for a variety of their snack items; edamame beans, yam fries and hummus dish. They were all simply delicious! The staff members were very friendly and fussed over Rita. Dogs are allowed anywhere on the patio, and we sat in the calmer area to the side, amongst some beautiful flower planters.
Their sister restaurant Goodman Pub & Grill, further along the harbourfront, is also dog-friendly and has a variety of vegan (or not) bowls to choose from. Their outdoor seating features glass-enclosed cubicles for days when you need a little shelter, and they brought out a bowl of water for Rita.
The Harbourfront The Harbourfront is a lovely area to stroll through and perhaps grab a Beavertail or sit and admire the view across the Lake. We enjoyed discovering the various art pieces. On Sunday, we managed to catch Pantayo, a kulintang ensemble, performing as part of the “Summer Music in the Garden” festival at Toronto Music Gardens. It was a lovely setting, with the stage placed under a graceful weeping willow. The crowd was really engaged, and for the last song a lady in the front row shared some Indian dancing with us, which matched the music perfectly.
Photo courtesy of @lesychyn (as my phone ran out of battery!)
Cherry Beach This spacious off-leash area meets the shores of Lake Ontario, making it the perfect spot for your dog to have a run and a swim! There are a few trails, bench seats, a couple of beaches and a large area for playing chase. Rita and I played some fetch in and out of Lake Ontario, then had a sit down to dry off.
