Toronto Dad Blogger & Big Green Egg Enthusiast
Believe it or not, Toronto is home to a thriving BBQ scene, with plenty of family-friendly spots that cater to both adults and kids. Whether you’re looking for a casual weekend meal or planning a special family outing, these BBQ joints offer something for everyone. From slow-cooked brisket to kid-approved sides, here are 10 of the best BBQ spots in Toronto that will satisfy your cravings while keeping the little ones happy.
Toronto is home to numerous fantastic playgrounds that cater to children of all ages. While it’s been a few years since I was taking our boys to these adventure lands, I know there are a lot of new parents looking for help on where to go. Here’s a guide to some of the best playgrounds for kids in Toronto.
If you live in Ontario, you know that the LCBO is on strike. That means no wine, beer, or spirits for now from Ontario’s number one place to stock up on booze. As this is not a political blog, I am not going to get into the strike and who’s right, who’s wrong, and the 56 different opinions out there. I hope it gets solved soon. I want people to go back to work. I want people to be able to easily get their alcohol again. I also certainly never want to see Ontario Premier Doug Ford BBQ again.
On Monday the leader of the Province posted a video that featured an interactive map that shows where you can buy booze while the LCBO is on strike. Again, not what I want to focus on. The whole thing stinks in my opinion, but as a backyard BBQ guy, all I could focus on was the actual grilling. Have a look for yourself.
I have lived in toronto for just over 12 years. Part of that was without kids and part of that was with kids. Why do I mention that? Because the very same city you thought you knew, can be seen very differently when you have on your parent glasses. Something you previously thought of as a tourist trap, or a place that looked boring, now has a jolt of life brought to it because you are experiencing it through your kids. I admit once we had kids and moved back to Toronto, I started seeing everything like I was new to the city again.
Toronto has so many things to offer and so many places to experience. Why not grab the family and check out any (or all) of the 150 fun things to do in Toronto listed below.
Can you believe we are coming up on 8 years of living in Parkdale? It’s crazy how time flies when you are having fun.
For those that don’t know, Parkdale is a neighbourhood in the west end of Toronto and is one of the oldest parts of the city.
This west-end neighbourhood that we call home, boasts a rich immigrant history, with waves of Polish, Afro-Caribbean, Filipino, and Vietnamese immigrants have called it home. Today, Parkdale hosts one of North America’s largest Tibetan expat communities—and if you walk around, has the restaurants to prove it.
Many years ago, Parkdale was a part of the city I rode my bike through as quickly as I could on my way to work. It did not have a great rep. Funny enough, many years later it is where I ended up living. And I am very happy it worked out that way.
Today I wanted to quickly list some family-friendly activities in Parkdale. Whether you have little kids, big kids, or no kids, I think they all work.
You noticed I called them “bike riders”. They are not cyclists in my eyes. To me a cyclist rides for exercise, sport and the love of having a fine tuned machine as their mode of transport. I also bet they follow the rules of the road.
Since the summer began, the amount of “bike riders” in our area has increased dramatically. Duh. It’s nice out. It’s better than being stuck on a streetcar and it’s great to get that breeze in your face. But….
It’s also a time for more annoying and somewhat dangerous experiences when walking.
The cross walk at the end of our street is a 3-way intersection with our street being a one-way. There is a bike lane of the main street we connect with. It’s just houses really.
So what happens is, bike riders like to cruise through the intersection without ever stopping. Honest. I watch and actually make a point of noting when a bike rider stops. It has not happened in many weeks. Hell I will take a slow roll or yield.
You have heard all the scary stories, read about all the crazy prices and for many, gave up on the dream of owning a house in Toronto.
It’s all true and with the banks starting to raise the roof so-to-speak on mortgage rates, it’s not going to get any easier.
As we just hit the first anniversary of buying our first Toronto home, I wanted to share a positive story that it can happen in a quick time frame. For us it was being at the right place at the right time. I want to share a story to show it is possible to buy a house in an area that meets your needs as well as staying under budget. Everything lined up for us and we could not be happier a year later.
But the adventure to get there? It was a roller coaster that I am glad we don’t have to go through again this year.
There are so many variables that go into the makeup of who your kid becomes. As much as you try to control the narrative, manipulate each path taken and add your two cents to each decision, there are aspects you just can’t control.
One such variable that shapes a kid and sets them on a path is where they start school. I am not talking daycare or preschool or babysitting, I am talking full day, school. Where your kid starts going to school can have a huge impact on their love of school, how they learn, how they develop and who they become. It is the starting point for who their friends are, what types of teachers they like/dislike, the start of real stress and worry and really, the start of them becoming an individual person.
Every year I secretly look forward to a list that Sarah over at Solo Mom Takes Flight does. Basically she plans out my summer for me when it comes to entertaining the kids. Well it dropped finally and I love it. But after reading it, I had a lot of my own suggestions that did not make her list, so, I figured, let’s go for 100.
Don’t get me wrong, so many of Sarah’s ideas are great and if you follow her on Instagram, you know she loves visiting every part of Toronto. I can only strive to do the same.
Every thing she suggested made me think of a few more. I started remembering when I had the kids all summer a few years ago and all the places we went. It’s exciting.
Toronto is such a great city, especially in the summer. You never have to leave. You can find something fun to do every day and in all price ranges.
So, thanks for the inspiration Sarah. Please visit her blog and read about where in the world she is with her kids.
