North York Outdoor Activities

Since 1994, the bike enthusiasts at Cyclepath have delivered prompt service and knowledgeable advice alongside an extensive inventory of bicycles and parts from top industry brands. Patrons can peruse the racks of bikes by Norco and Devinci or check out the lineup of parts and accessories by Shimano, Axiom, and Topeak. Cyclists in need of service and repairs can employ the expertise of the in-house mechanics. These cycling savants provide owners with a free estimate and a full run-down of the work that’s needed, ensuring that customers can stay within their budget or realize that it might be time to trade in for a penny-farthing, which costs a penny.

In a natural wharf provided by the Toronto Islands, Harbourfront Centre Sailing and Powerboating offers avenues to a world of unbroken horizons and wave-splashed winds. Along with education and licensing services and boat rentals, the knowledgeable navigators curate special events, such as a swashbuckling Tall Ships festival for Canada Day and annual voyages to prove the harbour is round.

From the warm-water fish habitat at Humber Bay Park to the jaw-dropping clay precipices of Scarborough Bluffs, Toronto's scenic waterfront lends itself to exploration. Power- or sail-boaters with appropriate licensing and a completist's perspective on panoramas might pursue membership for multiple voyages. With rental options for all experience levels, Harbourfront Centre Sailing and Powerboating provides a sense of freedom otherwise accessible only to boat owners and their boats' wise-cracking GPS systems.

Some consider it therapeutic. Others find it a challenging exercise. Either way, the driving range is an oasis where golfers send shots soaring toward a variety of targets spread across the 300-yard fairway from the two-tiered structure peppered with 57 stalls. Launch Golf Centre remains open throughout the year, allowing players of all stripes to work on full drives in spring, mid-iron approaches in summer, or using putters to swordfight snowmen in winter. During cold months, players can opt for heated hitting zones as they thwack golf balls into the snowy tundra. The centre also offers table service for food and drinks while players are honing their skills. For players looking to improve their skill sets with the help of an expert, six teaching professionals conduct lessons and clinics to smooth the path toward lower scores.

Links 4 Less bridges the gap between drop-in golfing and club membership. Card bearers can pack their clubs and set a tee-time with any of the club's participating golf courses, giving ample opportunities to test new drivers and spiraling golf cart stunts on different surfaces. Each course offers Links 4 Less members a discounted rate for both weekday and weekend rounds, as well as 9- and 18-hole challenges.

Surrounded on all sides by graffiti art and exposed brick, 416 Skateboards' indoor skate park gives skaters space to launch themselves off of wooden ramps, leap from one ledge to the next, slither down a railed incline, or practice walking down stairs. Between battles with gravity, guests can consume pop, hot dogs, and chips at the snack bar. A staff of seasoned instructors—including Tom DiMaio, an avid skater who holds certification in first aid and CPR—stands by, ready to help novices find their footing during one-on-one and group lessons and summer camps.

The Kajama's white masts billow in the wind as its sharp prow cleaves the waters of Lake Ontario. The three-masted, gaff-rigged 164-foot schooner casts the same striking silhouette as it did 80 years ago during its first incarnation as a trade ship that sailed from Spain to Norway. Today, Great Lakes Schooner Company has restored the German-built schooner to its maiden-voyage splendour. Though they've preserved the boat's 1930s charm, they also retrofitted the Kajama for its daily tours with such amenities as a licensed bar and galley where cooks bring selections from their menu of pub fare to life.

Though it serves as the crown jewel of the fleet, the Kajama is flanked by four other large and small ships. Panoramic lake views and a retractable top-deck roof characterize the Obsession III, whereas the Challenge boasts two LCD TVs and a full-service bar. Tall Ship Cruises Toronto rents out their fleet for corporate cruises, charter tours, weddings, and pirate-school reunions, all of which launch from the scenic downtown harbourfront.