PSL. If you see those three letters and immediately recognize what they mean, then you know your favourite season is upon us. Fall. The season of sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes (that’s the PSL by the way), colours in nature that take your breath away, and the crisp bite in the morning air as summer makes way for a new start. In a word, it’s spectacular.
Fall has always been a point of pride in Toronto. As vacations wrap up and kids go back to school, the city settles into a wonderful transition, with new activities and events filling up the calendar, marking a time that somehow always manages to feel like the start of a new year, even more than January 1st. In celebration of this postcard-perfect season, we’ve rounded up some enticing ideas to help you welcome the autumn months. So pick up a PSL and enjoy.
Get spooked in the Distillery District.
Stroll the cobblestone streets of the Distillery District, guided only by the light of your lantern and your guide, who will reveal the spine-tingling history of one of Toronto's most haunted neighbourhoods. Haunted Walk covers the area’s gruesome ghost stories, chilling accidents, and bloody happenings, including the fiery battles of the War of 1812.
Visit a local farm or pumpkin patch.
Go beyond the city limits and explore myriad orchards and farms where you can pick apples and wander through pumpkin patches, discovering the heady perfume of local produce. Head to a name synonymous with the tastiest apples at Chudleigh’s Farm, "where bliss grows on trees" for more than three generations. (You can also pick up one of their classic apple pies to go.) Sample award-winning fruit wines and cider at Applewood Farm & Winery, have your pick of pumpkins at the Downey's Farm pumpkin festival, or get lost in a corn maze at Cooper's Farm, featuring a 10-acre labyrinth.
Capture a rainbow of colours.
Get a front-row seat to the breathtaking colours of Fall with a stroll through the neighbourhood or a hike further afield. All over the city you can see the brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow that give Toronto its fairytale appeal. From Cedarvale Ravine to Mount Pleasant Cemetery, the Niagara Escarpment to Rouge National Urban Park, there’s a distance, difficulty level, and itinerary to suit every taste.
Fill up on comfort food.
Fall is synonymous with comfort, so treat yourself to a little comfort food like the poutine at Rudy Burger. Their new midtown location on Eglinton serves up a classic poutine made with real Quebec cheese curds and housemade gravy on fresh cut thick fries, available on its own or as a combo, with a mouth-watering cheeseburger. Or tuck into a tempting plate of spaghettoni cacio e pepe at Oretta Midtown.
Nest at home with friends.
Embrace the urge to hygge and invite some friends over to get cozy and comfortable while you play chef. Experiment with seasonal produce, like butternut squash. This simple recipe for butternut squash soup combines the winter squash with fresh herbs. But if you’re feeling particularly inspired, try this version which received top honours in a round-up of favourite comfort foods from Chatelaine magazine’s test kitchen.
Whether it’s with these inspiring activities, or one of the many events scheduled at Shiplake communities all season long, one thing is for sure, Fall is set to feel like a warm embrace, in a cozy sweater, with the scent of pumpkin spice.
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