I had four days off work over the Canada Day long weekend and I had made no plans to go away. I was disheartened that I had to spend it in the city. I was just in one of those moods where I felt like there was nothing to do. My boyfriend scoured the Internet to try to find ideas for a Toronto adventure. Ideas abound, that's for sure, but nothing felt quite right.
That is until he said: "Let's go kayaking."
I smiled. "Brilliant idea!"
Early on Saturday morning we made the short bike trip from our apartment to the Humber River at Old Mill subway station to meet the Toronto Kayak and Canoe Adventures group. I was a tad nervous at first, as I was only in a kayak once (about a hundred years ago). After the instructor’s quick lesson, I was quite confident and ready to paddle.
We set off to explore the Humber River. Within minutes of starting we saw more wildlife than we’d usually see in a day in west end Toronto. We spotted blue herons, red winged black birds, ducks and a few little turtles.
Our guide led us into a marsh that is a protected bird sanctuary. I was aghast that I could be so close to such beauty and serenity, right in the heart of a hustling and bustling city. The sounds of our paddles rhythmically dipping into the water in combination with the birds’ songs were amazing. Our wildlife sightings continued. We saw egrets, cormorants and many butterflies - not to mention the many other species of birds I couldn't identify.
I certainly learned a valuable lesson that Saturday. Getting in touch with some greenery and local wildlife doesn’t mean having to leave the city. With a little bit of searching, you can find a nature adventure in your own backyard.
What local adventures have you found when you couldn’t get away for a long weekend?
Read more:
30 fun things to do with your kids this summer
6 ways to foster a love of nature in your children
Create a backyard nature habitat with your kids
