I don’t know if you know this about Toronto, but we have an awesome ravine system. It’s this really unique feature of our city’s geography which includes a large network of deep ravines that forms a massive urban forest that you would never suspect. It’s the largest in any city, in the world and thankfully is protected by a bylaw, that hopefully Ford won’t ruin anytime soon. Most of this land is publicly owned and there are over 85 municipally recognized “environmentally significant areas” within it.

I live close to the access point at Sherwood Park and man, I love this park. Ever since I moved to Midtown, I’ve used this park as an outlet for stress. As you walk down the main entrance there’s this huge open bowl like feature where in the summertime people sunbath and kids run around. It’s really incredible because one moment you’re walking around midtown with its skyscrapers and the next moment you hear a babbling brook. One of my favourite things to do once the leaves come out this season is to grab a blanket and lay underneath a tree just watching the leaves flicker about against the backdrop of a blue sky.  

Last summer I headed over to the west end on my day off and met up with a wellness coach for a walk around King’s Mill Park at the Old Mill Subway stop on line two. There are some really pretty marshes there and it’s just south of Bloor Street. Frankly that area I just amazing, especially Bloor Street.  If you go just a bit east from Bloor into town again you’ll land in Korea Town. Toronto is really incredible because one moment you can be eating dak-galbi and the next you can be swallowed up in a forest.

I really liked Kings Mill Park and it seemed to be less busy than High Park. I would definitely recommend it and Korea town if you ever need a spot to eat and then to relax. These two things are quickly becoming my favourite things about this city, Korean food and the ravine system.