Summer has to be my favourite season. The days are warmer, the nights are livelier, and everyone is outdoors enjoying the city. I feel like I’ve been waiting all year for summer! I have my hot new one-piece swimsuit with beach bag in tow and I’m ready to make the most of it!
Toronto really comes to life in the summer time. Every weekend there’s a street festival, food fair, or community get together. The whole city is vibrant with people and good energy. It’s the perfect time to discover and rediscover the hidden gems of Toronto.
Every time summer rolls around, I become filled with ideas of all the summery things I want to do, but when Labour Day sneaks up, I’m always left thinking I missed out and didn’t get a chance to do it all. So this year, I’ve put together a bucket list of all the classic summer activites I want to do in Toronto. Keep reading to see what on my list…
The Classic Summer Bucket List
20 Fun Things To Do Before Summer Ends
1. Get ice cream from an ice cream truck – This is such ultimate classic summer thing to do! When I hear the ice cream truck jingle, it brings back so many childhood memories.
2. Watch an outdoor movie in the park – Sugar Beach, Regent Park, Corktown Common, Christie Pitts and Canoe Landing Park all have free movies playing this summer. More details here.
3. Brunch on a patio – I’ve kind of already done this one, but I could always do this again! A few of my fave patio brunches are Colette, Portland Variety, and Le Sélect Bistro.
4. Summer cocktails on the patio – I need to make this a weekly ritual, there’s nothing like sipping on a drink and watching the sunset with a good company.
5. Go to an outdoor concert or music festival – One of my favourite festivals is the Jazz Festival at the Beaches!
6. Take a road trip to some where new – road trips are synonymous with summer, and there are so many great escapes around Toronto that are just a few hours away like Blue Mountain, Niagara Falls and Muskoka.
7. Watch a parade – I can’t remember the last time I watched a parade. So this is a must for me!
8. Boat ride on the lake – I live just 5 minutes away from the lake and never enjoy it, this year I’m going to make sure I go for a boat ride whether it’s a canoe or yacht!
9. Go berry picking – Berry season in Ontario is amazing and I’ve been wanting to do this for the last couple of years.
10. Have a bonfire with friends and make s’mores – What’s better that getting together with some friends and having a bonfire?
11. Leisurely bike rides – Since I got my bike last year I mostly use it to commute (yass to free parking downtown!!), but this year I’d like to spend a little more time doing some leisurely biking. I’ve been wanting to check out the bike trails Toronto Island and in the Don Valley.
12. Visit the local pool – I haven’t gone to the local pool in ages!
13. Go food hunting – Which is basically finding a delicious pic of something to eat on Instagram and then scoping it out for real.
14. Go to a Jay’s baseball game – I’ve only been once in my 4 years in the Toronto and I definitely need to go again!
15. Picnic in the park – Nothing like spending a day enjoying the greenery and eating with good food with great company.
16. Watch the fireworks – Growing up me and my friends would watch fireworks every year at the Celebration of Light Fireworks Festival in Vancouver. But since I’ve move to Toronto, I haven’t actually seen a full fireworks show.
17. Take a hike – Growing up in BC, I love to hike, and Ontario is filled with so many beautiful National Parks that just happen to be free this year to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday!
18. Have a beach day – It’s not summer without a day at the beach, sand between your toes, and the sound of water lapping on the shore.
19. Discover at least 5 new Toronto neighbourhoods – It’s sad to say, but I mainly stay in my downtown Toronto bubble. I live, work and eat and play, all in my own neighbourhood which is great, but I know Toronto has so many other great neighbourhoods and I need to discover and explore.
20. CNE – And even if you think the CNE is over rated, it’s a must for a classic Toronto summer bucket list.
Looking back at this list, I know what you’re thinking, I’m a big kid at heart right? But I think as adults we forget to do all the the fun things in life and I think that’s what summer is all about. So have a little fun this summer!
Summer Outfit Details:
This white hot summer one-piece is the A Mari usque ad Mare Tank Bather courtesy of Tuck Shop Co. It was designed in celebration of Canada’s 150th with a maple leaf pattern in a mix of gorgeous pastel colours. This little number made me fall in love with one-piece swimsuits again. Gone are the days when wearing a one-piece swimsuit meant you were either a serious swimmer, sun-averse, or body-conscious. They have a certain sex appeal to them and are oh-so flattering, and now I can’t get enough of them!
I’ve paired the tank bather with some Levi’s vintage cut of shorts from Aritizia for a little more coverage and accessorized my outfit with some classic aviators courtesy of Made Eyewear, and my fave straw tote from Joe Fresh (which has been on many summer adventures with me, including being a pillow and my dog carrier), and finished it off with pair of double strap slide sandals from LC Lauren Conrad (also seen here).
What at the top of your Summer Bucket list?
Let me know in the comments below!
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Amber Killmon
June 25, 2017So many great ideas!! I’m totally using this to inspire some fun this summer. I just have to find a park that has movies nearby.
redheadmomblog
June 25, 2017These are definitely some great ideas for getting things done on your bucket list. I would love to do some of these things.
My Teen Guide
June 23, 2017Thank you for these suggestions. There are still a gazillion things we want to do as a family this summer, and I hope we do find time to complete our “must do-must see, must experience” list.
Emily, Our house now a home
June 21, 2017I love all of these! My must have on any summer list is plenty of beach time! I grew up in Southern California and always had sand between my toes and salt water in my hair. Now that I live in Wisconsin and have kids of my own we still spend our days lazing by water, only it is a lake now. Still a perfect way to spend the lazy days of summer!
Frosted Events
June 21, 2017These are all sounds a fun activity during this summer I love food hunting and Picnic at the park with my family.
Kelly Hutchinson
June 21, 2017When it is warm outside, there is nothing like having a meal and drinks on a patio. We have several restaurants with great patios for this.
Cat Forsley
June 21, 2017AMAZING lashes xxxxx
and respect babes
Ashley Whipple
June 21, 2017Sounds like you have a fun summer planned! A music festival and berry picking both sound like lots of fun.
Oyinkan Ogunleye
June 21, 2017Bryant Park always has movies in the park during the summer and who doesn’t love an outdoor brunch?
Liz Cochico
June 21, 2017These are fun things to do during summer. Swimming, biking, hiking and food hunting are our favorite things to do.
Marysa
June 20, 2017This is a fun list! I make a list with my kids, but I never even thought to make one for myself. Sounds like a lot of fun.. there really are a lot of things I’d love to do over the summer.
thebinderladies
June 20, 2017OMG I’m totally going to do some of these! I love the idea of watching a parade and going berry picking! That sounds like so much fun!! Thanks for the awesome ideas to get me thinking about this summer!
Joely Smith
June 20, 2017I love lists like this and am always making them myself. Totally using yours – you have some excellent summer must do items on here! Thanks for the inspiration!
Jennifer Van Huss
June 20, 2017This is a great list!! My kids and I always make on in June and see how many we can check off by the end of summer!
Ricci
June 20, 2017LOVE your summer bucket list!! I have already marked a few items off my list but I still have a LOT to go!! I think finding the perfect summer snow cone just may be the next item I tackle!!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle
June 20, 2017This sounds a lot like my current summer bucket list. I have one every year.
Candy Kage
June 20, 2017Sounds like a great summer bucket list. Hope you have started crossing of most of them and enjoy your summer.