15 fun day trips from Toronto to add to your spring bucket list
Fun day trips from Toronto can be two hours or less from the city and offer plenty of natural beauty and activities to enjoy for the day. There is no shortage of nearby destinations that meet that criteria, and the warm weather and longer days make spring the perfect time to go.
Here are my picks for fun day trips from Toronto to do this spring.
Forks of the Credit
It won't take you more than one hour to drive to this provincial park that's part of the Bruce Trail. The waterfalls are the area's main pride and joy. One of the trails will bring you to the bottom of the Cataract Falls while the lower falls are best viewed from the overarching bridge.
Doube's Trestle Bridge
Located an hour and a half away, the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail follows a former railway bed over a 650-foot bridge. Doube's, also known as Orange Corners Trestle Bridge, is set a hundred feet above a lush valley making it the most photogenic point on the trail.
Eramosa Karst Conservation Area
This natural gem in Hamilton has several hidden caves and crevices to discover along its trails. More karsts, which are passages caused by dissolving rock, are found here than in any other single area in Ontario.
White Water Walk
Head to Niagara for your next day trip, not for the falls or the downtown tourist traps but for this stunning boardwalk beside a rushing river. There are multiple viewing platforms along the walk where you can marvel at the Niagara River in all its natural glory.
Goodwood
This tiny town just over an hour outside of Toronto is a must-see for die hard Schitt's Creek fans, having served as the filming location for much of the show, and later, head to the nearby Secord Forest and Wildlife Area just outside of town for an easy and beautiful hike.
RBG and Hendrie Valley
The RBG and its surrounding nature sanctuaries offer an easy day excursion an hour from the city. With elevated boardwalks and lookouts, Hendrie Valley is one of the most scenic spots in the botanical garden.
Tiny Marsh Provincial Wildlife Area
If you love a laidback day trip free of crowds, and that's exactly what you can expect at Tiny Marsh in Simcoe County. The spot is, however, brimming with wildlife. Hike the longest trail that leads out to a large dike in the middle of the marsh or explore the area aboard a canoe.
Lynde Shores
This scenic conservation area in Whitby is a wonderland for wildlife lovers, with scores of waterfowl, shorebirds and deers calling the 272 hectares of natural land home.
Island Lake Conservation Area
This quiet expanse of nature is just an hour away from the shouts and sirens of the city. It isn't hard to waste away a day here either with hiking, wildlife watching, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing all available by the picturesque lake.
Puddicombe Estate Farms and Winery
This beautiful property near Hamilton has wine tours and tastings, fruit picking, and scenic train rides through the vineyard and orchards. It's everything you'd want from a visit to wine country in half the travel time.
Pigeon River Headwaters
Just under two hours east of the city, this nature conservation area near Port Perry is home to a three-and-a-half kilometre hiking trail that leads you through lush wetlands along rustic boardwalks.
Turkey Point Beach
Wait for the first scorcher of the year to visit Turkey Point Beach on Lake Erie. Once you're done acquiring tan lines, Long Point Eco-Adventures offers kayaking, paddle boarding, biking and axe-throwing.
German's Woollen Mill ruins
The Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail, which extends 18 kilometres from Cambridge to the town of Paris, features remnants of a long-abandoned yarn and wool mill. A bike is the best way to tackle the trail as the ruins are located about halfway in.
Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge
Ferris Provincial Park is home to this 300-foot suspension bridge, so you'll only have to spend a few hours in the car to get there. It extends just 30 feet above the quick rushing waters of the Trent River and is surrounded by incredible views.
Kelso Conservation Area
This spot is a well-loved day trip destination located only 40 minutes from Toronto. The myriad of reasons to visit include the sandy beaches, hiking trails through the escarpment and the epic cliff lookouts.
@iffdiscover at Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge
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