Islands

View of the CN Tower from the lake. View of boats on the lake.

This is one of Toronto's oldest residential communities. Island residents own their homes but lease the land. The small picturesque cottage-style homes sport some beautiful gardens and more cats per square metre anywhere, except possibly the Coliseum in Rome. There island community is clustered in two areas as follows:

Ward's Island offers views of the eastern side of the harbour which is more industrial on the other side of the water.

There is a footbridge connecting Centre Island to Algonquin Island. The north side of the island has great views of the Toronto skyline.

A plaque commemorates Babe Ruth's first professional home run in a 1914 game on the Toronto Island. The ball park and bleachers, however, are long gone.

The most popular beach for families, with a wide sandy area between Lakeshore Avenue and Lake Ontario. Large changing rooms with toilets and showers are near the pier. Across Lakeshore Avenue, large trees in a grassy field provide lots of space to take a break from the sun or set up a picnic. Food and drink vendors are located at the base of the pier.

A quieter beach, with fewer amenities further from either the Hanlan's Point or Centre Island ferry docks. Washrooms are available at the far west end of the beach.

Hanlan's Point Beach is the only officially recognized clothing-optional beach in the City of Toronto. It was first approved as clothing-optional in 1894 but this approval was repealed in 1930 due to the protests of citizen's groups. The official status was restored in 2002 following a three-year pilot project, and as of 2023 the beach (and the portion designated as clothing-optional) is gradually being expanded, including a section of beach to the south that restores part of the shoreline that had eroded. Expect this beach to be the most crowded and noisiest of all the island beaches on summer weekends. The beach is accessed by trails and a boardwalk from the main pathway through the sand dunes and forest. Washrooms and a snack bar are located off the beach, along the main pathway.

An amusement park geared towards families with young kids, it has some 30 rides, an antique carousel, a petting zoo featuring farm animals and pony rides, and picturesque swan boats circling a small lagoon.

The Antique Carousel was built by the Dentzel Company in 1907 and is one of only 125 of its type still operating. The 52 animals used on the ride are all hand-carved.

A themed garden based on characters from "Franklin the Turtle" stories, it contains many bronze statues of Franklin's friends, many plants, a turtle pond, small benches and paths for kids to explore.

Traditional bicycles are $8 for the first hour, they also offer two and four seat options. Open only during the summer months.

35-minute guided tour of Centre Island and Hanlan's Point operated by Toronto Parks and Recreation. The "tram" is really a rubber-tire tractor train.

Revived by the namesake, Mississauga businessman William Meany. Meany had always enjoyed this maze as a child and he donated $200,000 towards the revival of the maze. The maze is built with fences between small evergreen trees to prevent shortcuts.

Explore the labyrinth built by the church parishioners.