Top 8 Water Activities in Toronto: Sail Away in the Six
Toronto summer is a vibrant and exciting time of year. Although it is not unbearably hot, like many cities in the world, it’s still the best time of the year to enjoy some water activities in Toronto. Whether you are a fan of exciting activities or just like to relax by the sea, Toronto has great activities for you.
However, we shouldn’t forget that it owes a huge part of its fun to extensive waterfront areas along Lake Ontario, which is one of the main attractions of the city. Most of Toronto water sports are held by this lake.
Want to enjoy your summer splashing water on your body? Get ready to know Toronto water activities.
10 Best Water Activities in Toronto
From exploring the beautiful waterfront to enjoying festivals and events in the city, there is no shortage of things to do in Toronto during the warmer months. If you are a fan of sun and sea, experience the following water activities in Toronto
1. Swimming at Blue Flag Certified Beaches
For most people, nothing is more enjoyable in summer than swimming. To make it more fun and safe for beach lovers, the international non-profit Blue Flag program awards beaches annually. To receive this certification, beaches must meet strict criteria related to water quality, beach management, environmental education, and safety services.
Meanwhile, 8 out of 11 beaches in Toronto are currently Blue Flag certified, indicating excellent water quality and beach safety. Here is the list of top Blue Flag-certified beaches in Toronto:
- Bluffer’s Beach
- Kew-Balmy Beach
- Woodbine Beach
- Cherry Beach
- Hanlan’s Point Beach (Toronto Islands)
- Ward’s Island Beach (Toronto Islands)
- Centre Island Beach (Toronto Islands)
- Gibraltar Point Beach (Toronto Islands)
2. Surfing on Lake Ontario
One of the best water activities in Toronto is surfing on Lake Ontario, which is a unique experience for wave riders. However, it is not considered the best summer activity for wave riders as the Lake Ontario waves are more sizeable during fall, winter, and spring months due to strong winds.
Some of the top surf spots on Lake Ontario include:
- Prince Edward County – Known for offering ocean-like waves with the right swell conditions.
- Toronto area – Ashbridges Bay, Bluffers Park, Cherry Beach, and Hanlan’s Point Beach are popular city surf breaks.
- Niagara region – Spots like St. Catharines Municipal Beach and the Niagara River mouth can produce rideable waves.
- Other spots like Frenchman’s Bay, Sandbanks, Wolfe Island, and Presqu’ile Point.
3. Visiting the Toronto Islands
Whether you want to go to the beach or try canoeing and kayaking, Toronto islands have something for every taste. In addition to having blue-flag beaches, Toronto islands offer yoga sessions by the sea for those who want to experience something new and more relaxing on the beach.
Additionally, for those who like to explore the natural splendour of these islands, guided tandem kayak tours can help them paddle on the sea and investigate bird sanctuaries within the islands. That’s how they can learn more about the history and wildlife of this destination.
4. Sailing with Pirate Ship Cruises
If you are looking for water activities in Toronto for families, Pirate Ship Cruise (called tall ship Kajama) is definitely your best option.
The pirate ship cruise is 1.5 hours long and includes 30 minutes of pre-boarding activities, such as getting pirate names, face painting, and temporary tattoos.
It will be a perfect experience for families and kids of all ages. For instance, it has family-friendly shows filled with music, laughter, water cannon battles, and treasure hunts to spark the imagination.
Since the talented crew creates fun stories for each trip, your kids can experience the most amazing time on this cruise.
Additionally, this cruise operates on a “pay what you can afford” sliding scale pricing model, with suggested prices of $45, $40 or $35 per ticket, and it’s free for children under 3.
5. Stand-Up Paddleboarding Rentals
SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding) is one of the popular water activities in Toronto during the summer months. There are several locations where you can rent this board, including Cherry Beach, Woodbine Beach, Kew Beach, Ontario Place, and the Toronto Islands.
However, you should note that renting SUP is not possible for everyone. It has some requirements, like previous paddling experience, age restrictions, and footwear policies that may apply at certain rental outfitters for safety reasons.
If you don’t have any experience, you can still try SUP by taking SUP lessons. There are also some guided tours that can protect you from possible harm.
6. Visiting Corktown Common Park
Located in the southeastern part of Toronto, in the West Don Lands neighbourhood, Corktown Common Park is one of the best parks in Toronto. It is divided into two sides: one side is the dry part, with playgrounds, sports fields, and a diversity of plants and flowers.
On the other hand, the “wet side” acts as a soft, resilient edge allowing the Don River to naturally flood into this section of the park during major storm events.
While Corktown Common does not have areas for Toronto water sports like swimming, boating, or fishing, its unique water features focused on play, ecology, and flood prevention make it an engaging park for exploring water in an urban context.
Furthermore, the water used in this play area is recycled greywater that is collected, treated, and reused throughout the park for irrigation, conserving potable water. Accordingly, the marsh and wetlands showcase how the park sustainably manages and utilizes water resources while the splash pad provides a refreshing way to cool off.
7. Renting a Mini Powerboat
The Toronto Harbour Nautical Centre (formerly Harbourfront Centre Sailing & Powerboating) offers rentals of small powerboats suitable for new or inexperienced boaters in the inner harbour area of Toronto.
You must be over 18 to rent a mini powerboat. However, no prior boating experience is required, and staff provides a full safety briefing. That’s why mini powerboats are great water activities for beginners.
8. Toronto’s Water Parks
If you want to experience Toronto water activities in a more fun way, you can choose one of Toronto’s water parks.
Among the water parks in this city, Wet’n’Wild Toronto is one of the largest and most popular outdoor water parks. It features over 45 acres of water slides, a large wave pool, a lazy river, and a kids’ play area.
You can also choose to visit Canada’s Wonderland, a must-visit destination for water park enthusiasts in Toronto. It includes a large water park area called Splash Works with thrilling water slides and attractions. Additionally, it features the Leviathan rollercoaster, a wave pool, and a lazy river.
Bottom Line
In summary, Toronto offers a wide array of exciting water sports for residents and visitors. From cruising on the waterfront to swimming at the beaches, there are fun water activities in Toronto to cool off and have fun in the water.
So, grab your swimsuit, sunscreen, and sense of adventure, and dive into the refreshing water activities that Toronto has to offer.
FAQs
1. Are There Any Indoor Waterparks Near Toronto?
While there are no indoor waterparks in Toronto itself, the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark in Niagara Falls is a popular indoor option near the city. It features water slides, a wave pool, a hot springs area, and more.
2. What Water Activities Can You Do on the Toronto Islands?
The Toronto Islands offer opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding rentals, beaches like Hanlan’s Point, boating/sailing tours or rentals, fishing charters, and even surfing lessons on Lake Ontario.
3. Where Can I Find Blue Flag Certified Beaches in Toronto?
Toronto has 8 beaches currently certified by the Blue Flag program for meeting high standards of water quality and environmental management – Bluffer’s Beach, Kew-Balmy Beach, Woodbine Beach, Cherry Beach, Hanlan’s Point, Ward’s Island Beach, Centre Island Beach, and Gibraltar Point Beach.
