Summer Backpacking In Toronto and Vancouver

Adventure and excitement is abound in Canada during the summer. In Toronto and Vancouver, in particular, a wide variety of outdoor activities as well as a pristine natural environment, beckons backpackers. Keep costs down by staying in a hostel –there are plenty to choose from! Most of the Toronto hostels are only a short walk from the harbour for spectacular views, and many of the hostels in Vancouver are right next to the city’s bustling nightlife. Check if they offer a free breakfast. If you’re travelling alone they’re also a great place to meet other backpackers.

Toronto

Toronto islands

The islands of this archipelago are great for peace and relaxation. The unspoilt wilderness offers hiking trails and bike paths, camping areas, picnic regions and snack bars. Here, you’ll find plenty of room to absorb the stunning views of the Toronto Skyline, the Rogers Centre, and the CN Tower. In addition, you will not be disturbed by traffic noise because the islands are, apart from emergency vehicles, a car-free zone. While there, you should take a trip to Centre Island and visit the Centreville amusement area Far Enough Farm.

Enjoy the Idyllic Riverdale Farm

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Right in the heart of Toronto lies the lovely Riverdale Farm. The charming place is located at the projection of the Don Valley Ravine, and it offers a fascinating look at the operation of a traditional Canadian farm. The farm shop sells freshly baked goods, and there’s a popular farmers market every Tuesday. Riverdale Farm is a living history in the core of the gorgeous Cabbagetown. Footpaths meander through vegetable gardens and former lodgings of goats, cows, pigs and chickens. Here, you can watch the milking and feeding process or, better yet, try yourself.

Harbour Front

Take a trip to Toronto’s Harbour Front. The superb 96-acre strip of ocean shore was transformed miraculously into one of the hottest places in Canada. Old, crumbling warehouses and dilapidated factories have been renovated and are now remarkable art studios, cafes, bars and shops. You can reach the area easily by foot or public transportation. The waterfront is a great setting to spend a day browsing or indulging. You should also check out the excellent cultural focal-points that host 4,000 events and concerts  a year, right in front of the ocean.

Vancouver

The Grouse Mountain Resort in Vancouver

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Vancouver is a metropolis of numerous contrasts, where natural beauty and human-art blend seamlessly. In the downtown area of Vancouver you can catch the most striking mountain panoramas, and in Gaston awaits a vibrant nightlife. The Grouse Mountain Resort  is a perfect location for avid explorers. In winter it’s the best environment for skiing and snowboarding, in the summer you can go hiking, mountain biking and rafting. A cable car takes you all season long to the resort. Thus, you can indulge in a fabulous theatre in the sky and the endangered wildlife anytime you feel like it.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge

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This extraordinary spectacle is only for people who do not suffer from vertigo or fear of heights! The magnificent construction, in North Vancouver, has attracted
courageous visitors since 1889. The 125 foot-long plank bridge swings in 62 feet above the gorge of the canyon. If you muster the braveness to cross it, you’ll be rewarded with some enchanting views. Treetop adventures, bridges of all sizes, mysterious trails and the giant tree-crowns of the rain forest will make you fall in love with this outstanding region.

Stanley Park

Stanley Park covers 405 hectares of pristine rain forest adjacent to Vancouver and is excreted in English Bay. Here, highlights include the 7.6 miles long ocean wall, the totem poles of Point and a wide range of hiking trails as well as charming lagoons. You can take a shuttle bus that runs through the park or explore the territory own your own. Be sure to bring binoculars as you will encounter a wealthy amount of rare fauna and flora along your journey.

• Check out Winter Activities in Canada for more great ideas.
• Montreal is a short 5-hour drive from Toronto, check out Summertime Things to do in Montreal.

Toronto