Lost in Toronto: Visiting the Toronto Islands in the Winter

Last week was a little hard for me. It came as no surprise as this is normally the time of the year where I start to hit a wall. December and January are filled with holidays and celebrations but once February comes around, I crash hard. Of course it doesn’t help that we’re still in lockdown and we’re nearly approaching the one year mark of when the world as we knew it changed.

I’m the type of person that allows myself to experience the emotion for a day or two and then it’s time to pick myself right up and get back to it. In other words, I don’t allow myself to get stuck or dwell for too long.

Feel it. Accept it. Then change it.

In an attempt to snap out of a ‘blah’ week, I decided to take a vacation day at work and headed to the Toronto Islands on Friday. I had recently seen several social media posts with people skating on the lake with the city in the background and figured this was a great way to get outside and get some exercise and mental clarity.

Well, it was well worth the trip and definitely cured my winter blues. Here are a few things to consider if you want to make your way out there this winter!

Getting There:
The Toronto Islands are only a short 10 minute ferry ride from the downtown core. Currently, there is only one ferry that is operational during the winter months. The ferry goes to Wards Island (the residential part of the islands), but it also connects to the other islands as well. Tickets must be purchased in advance online and can be purchased here.

I suggest looking at the ferry schedule, especially in the winter months so that you aren’t waiting for too long. With that said, there is an indoor waiting area which comes in handy on a cold day. Masks are mandatory on the ferry and in the waiting area.

Know Before You Go:

Dress Warm. It can get quite cold on the islands and there aren’t any places to warm up in. Consider wearing long johns, a toque, gloves and many layers!

Pack Snacks and Beverages. Due to Covid-19, there is nothing currently open on the islands therefore be sure to pack snacks and/or a hot beverage and water to keep hydrated.

Things to Do:

The Ferry Ride
Honestly, for me part of the fun is the ferry ride there and back. One minute, you’re in the heart of downtown Toronto with buildings towering over you, the next minute you feel like you’ve teleported to a small town. A portion of the lake is covered in ice and it’s stunning. The ice breaks as the ferry pushes through it and it’s winter magic. If for no other reason, I would recommend just going for the ferry ride there and back. While I was on it I felt like I was traveling again. It felt nice.

Go For a Walk
While there are endless things to do in the summer, in the winter the Toronto Islands are pretty quiet. My first goal was to walk for a while and enjoy the scenery. It really felt like I was completely removed from the city. It was exactly what I needed - a mini vacation to get lost in my thoughts and to take in the sights. There are several beautiful bridges, lots of trees and paths along the water. The city views are spectacular. Even in the winter, it is beautiful. If you walk along Wards Island, you can see all of the charming homes, each one unique with its own character.

Ice Skating
I thought I had experienced the best skating in the city but boy was I wrong. There is no skating like Toronto Island skating. After a two hour walk, I decided to head over to a piece of the lake that some locals have cleared off in certain areas for ice skating. I should start by saying that you should take all of the proper precautions when skating on an actual lake. Without a doubt it can be dangerous but many locals that live on the island have been doing it for years and most take all of the safety measures seriously. You can find a blog on ice conditions as well as safety tips here which I found helpful.

I brought my skates but told myself that I would not skate if I was alone. While I love a good adventure, safety is super important and no fun in the world is worth my life. Luckily, I saw several groups of people including a few families. I identified a few people close to me (a man with ice picks who clearly knew what he was doing). I politely said hello, told them I was alone and if we could do a ‘buddy system’. They warmly agreed and assured me that they would keep an eye on me. Gotta love Canadians eh!?!? I put on my skates and the next 30 minutes we’re pure bliss.

There are two spots that I identified as ‘skating areas’, although I’m sure there are many more. One is a lagoon area located between the farm and the church. The other (which I skated on) is closer to the ferry (about a 7 minute walk). Unfortunately there are no landmarks or clear ways to mark it but I recommend keeping a lookout for people skating, especially hockey players. If in doubt, consider asking a local.