Saturday was Doors Open Toronto, which is an annual event where various buildings around the city which are not usually open to the public, are made free for people to explore. This was the first year that I've taken advantage of this marvelous day, and believe me I took more photos than I care to bore you with!
My roommate Sarah and I have taken to spending our Saturdays going for walks and exploring the neighbourhoods around our apartment. So we decided that Doors Open would be the adventure of the week!
Sarah has little Toronto walking maps that she received as a gift, and this one matched our route perfectly.
Our first destination was an area called Wychwood Park. It is a private community, where the streets and amenities are paid for by the residents of the area (but the public is still allowed to enter). The neighbourhood began as a gated community in the late 19th century, and the majority of the houses are built using Arts and Crafts style architecture. Now, this area is very affluent with the houses being worth millions of dollars. But it's beautiful to walk through and feels almost like a small town, not a part of the city.
Our first part of Doors Open Toronto began at The Tollkeeper's Cottage, which is a tiny museum that tells the story of the tollkeepers in the 1800's in Canada, when private companies would build and maintain roads and charge toll fees to travelers.
Our last destination was to the Spadina House Museum, which was originally the home to one of the earliest wealthy families in Toronto. The Museum depicts the the life of the family during the 1920's to 1930's, and has really beautiful and vast gardens and grounds.
Going out on this adventure has made Sarah and I aware that there are some many things that are considered "touristy" that we never experience because we live here. So we have vowed to make the most of this wonderful city that we live in and go on more exploratory adventures. And don't worry, I will keep you updated on all those adventures!
xoxo Lo
