Best Beach in Pickering

"Located at the foot of the Scarborough Bluffs on the east side of the city, Bluffer’s Park Beach is one of the most scenic in the city thanks to those towering bluffs that create a dramatic backdrop. The soft sand beach here is popular for its length, the beautiful views you have while you’re here and the access to nearby hiking trails and bike paths. Facilities include drinking fountains, change rooms, washrooms, and a picnic site."

"Located at the bottom of Brimley Road (one of the steepest hills in the city), the beach at Bluffer's Park is one of the nicest in the city. Bounded by the Scarborough Bluffs to the north, the park is both scenic and well-manicured (as far as Toronto beaches go). Arrive early on summer weekends if hoping for a parking spot."

"Bluffer’s Beach is about a half hour drive east of Toronto, located at the bottom of the Scarborough Bluffs. Bluffer’s beach has a nice sandy beach that leads to sparkling blue waters that are Blue Flag certified. There are also picnic spaces, so make sure to bring some snacks!"

"Woodbine Beach is a 15.2-hectare park in the Beach neighbourhood with clean sand and grassy areas that is popular with beach volleyball players, health buffs working out on outdoor fitness equipment, and families strolling along the seemingly endless boardwalk. It is the entry point for 3 km of glorious beachfront that runs eastward towards the edge of Scarborough. It is adjacent to the Donald D. Summerville Outdoor Olympic Pool and has a wheelchair-accessible plastic boardwalk that allows access to the edge of the water."

"Although technically different beaches, I group these three together based on their close proximity. Woodbine is the city's best spot for beach volleyball and people-watching. Kew takes some of the overflow and rewards those looking for a more serene experience, while Balmy is the quietest of the three, and thus ideal for those seeking seclusion."

"Located at the foot of Woodbine Avenue, this beach straddles Beaches Park, Woodbine Beach Park, and Ashbridge’s Bay Park. It is by far Toronto's busiest beach. Picnic areas, a full-service restaurant, a beach volleyball, concession and ample parking at Ashbridge’s Bay Park are key amenities."

"Although not a certified eco-friendly beach, water levels at Sunnyside Beach near Lakeshore Boulevard are tested daily so you will know if it’s safe to swim here and if the water meets provincially established safety standards. It’s typically not too busy here, which makes it a grandiose destination. If you go exploring, you will likely notice cyclists and rollerbladers zooming along the nearby Martin Goodman Trail, which is part of the Waterfront Trail System."

"On the West End of Toronto, on the shores of Lake Ontario, is a lakefront district that was the "bee's knees" in the 1950s. Although it no longer has the amusement park that made this area hopping back in the day, it does have a beach and park area around Ontario's Humber Bay. The waters of Humber Bay are popular for boating and dragon boating clubs are a popular past time with Torontonians."

"Spend some time at the waterfront, enjoying the stunning views at Sunnyside Beach this summer. Whether you want to walk the boardwalk, go for a jog, play some volleyball, take a quick dip or even rent a kayak — Sunnyside has it all."

"For a rather freeing beach day, you’ll want to head to Hanlan’s Point Beach, a clothing optional area perfect for nudists or anyone looking to bare it all under the sun. Found on the western shores of the Toronto Islands, you’ll need to board the ferry to get here. Expect a bike trail, fire pit, volleyball and tennis courts, and a lighthouse to keep you entertained all day long."

"If you’re a GTA native or have been living in the area for a while, you probably know that Hanlan’s Point has a secret: there’s a nude section to this beach. But, if you don’t feel like bearing that post-quarantine body quite yet, there’s also a large expanse of beach that requires bathing suits."

"There are beaches on the island but know in advance that Hanlan’s Beach is a nude beach. You can catch a ferry to and from the island."

"It is somehow is super relaxing and quiet while also being in the middle of a bustling waterfront. Sugar Beach has white sand and cute pink beach umbrellas with white wooden chairs that are very instagrammable. However, seating is limited so you might want to bring your own towel to lie on just in case!"

"Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, you can’t swim at Sugar Beach, but it’s a great spot to spend the day relaxing outside. With pink umbrellas and white wooden chairs, Sugar Beach has a whole vibe that simply screams summertime!"

"A post shared by Nissa Mounichy (@nissavirginie) on Apr 24, 2019 at 3:45pm PDT. This sweet spot is known for its white Muskoka chairs, pink umbrellas, and amazing skyline views. Definitely worthy of an Instagram selfie this spring."

"Located on the southeastern shore of Toronto Island Park away from major park facilities and activity areas, this is one of the quietest beaches on the Island. Ward's Beach is sheltered a bit by the Leslie Split, so its calm water is ideal for swimming. There is usually enough wind here for kites and wind boards, though."

"Image Source Located on the southeastern corner of Toronto Island Park, this stunning beach is away from the crowded places and offers peace like no other!. Looking for some nice beaches near Toronto?. This is surely the one to pick when you wish to relax and unwind with your loved ones on a serene beach."

"Ward’s Island Beach is a beautiful hidden gem with calm and clear waters. Take Ward’s Island ferry to get to the beach. Where: Located on the shores of Lake Ontario on Toronto Islands, Toronto"

"The beach is located on the southern shore of Toronto Island Park, in an area also known as “Manitou Beach”. Centre Island Beach has very calm, shallow, and slightly warm waters because the rock breakwater was built to provide a barrier from the open lake. This beach is an ideal place for the entire family to go for a walk, swim, relax, picnic, and enjoy the scenery."

"Also located on Toronto Island, Centre Island Beach is commonly referred to as “Manitou Beach” after the Algonquin tribes that originally settled there. The beach has a rock wall that keeps larger waves out, while its relatively shallow waters can often bring warmer temperatures."

"*NOTE: Centreville Amusement Park and Far Enough Farm are closed in summer 2020. A day on Centre Island is a must for your summer bucket list. The beach is small but clean, with shallow water and a sandy floor—perfect for young children."

"What was once the Gibraltar Beach Sand Dunes is now a nice stretch of sandy shores between Centre Island and Hanlan’s Point on the Toronto Islands. This Blue Flag-certified beach is under the radar and is accessible from the main ferry to Centre Island or the Hanlan’s Point Ferry at the docks. The islands are actually connected, so you can walk from one to the other."

"If you are looking for the big shopping mall experience in Midtown Toronto, this is the place to head. You’ll find 70 retailers, including a wide range of brands such as Sephora, Indigo Books, Reitmans and more. It’s located across the street from the Canada Square Complex and it is connected to the Eglinton subway station via a lower level tunnel."

"Venture over to Brookfield Place to admire its innovative modern art exhibits, including a giant rabbit and a rainbow of giant bouncing balls. Shop under the airy glass ceiling while checking out the 54 retailers, including the Source, Roots Canada, and Creme de la Creme. Pick up an array of glittery and bejewelled greeting cards at Papyrus before wandering over to Lindt Chocolate for some creamy hazelnut treats."

"When it comes to architecture shots around Toronto, one of the most photographed interior spaces is Brookfield Place. Located in the heart of Toronto’s Financial District, Brookfield Place is an office complex that houses the Hockey Hall of Fame. This is also where you’ll find the Allen Lambert Galleria, a 6-story atrium with soaring ceilings and curved steel arch beams."

"If you’re a big fan of architecture like me then you’ll love the next indoor photography spot in Toronto. It’s in Brookfield Place. This shopping mall/business centre is home to the Allen Lambert Galleria, a glass and steel pedestrian walkway that will have you craning your neck up in awe."

"Located in North York, Shops at Don Mills is more of a lifestyle centre than a typical mall. It comprises 72 retail stores over more than 500,000 square feet. Attracting upscale shoppers, its most popular stores include Anthropologie, Oak & Fort, Michael Kors, and well-known food stores and restaurants, such as McEwan’s Gourmet Market and Joey’s."

"For those unfamiliar with the dish, it’s essentially a pot over a burner into which you drop raw ingredients to cook in a flavourful broth (a brother which serves as the base for over 30 other soups, needless to say its delicious). From there, you can choose from 30+ types of meat and 30+ types of vegetables—not to mention dipping sauces."

"On the first floor of the same mall-esque structure as Dim Sum King, you’ll find Little Sheep. Specializing in All-You-Can-Eat Mongolian Hotpot, this do it yourself eatery is perfect for the hungry diners among you!. You’ll have the chance to fill your pot with all of the sauces, meats and vegetables your heart desires."

"As its name might suggest, King’s Noodle Restaurant is renowned for its bowls of noodle soup. With almost 50 varieties to choose from, options range from barbecued pork to pig’s feet and wonton for the more avid Chinatown diner. Even in the packed storefronts of Spadina Avenue, you cannot miss the restaurant’s exterior thanks to the authentic fried and barbecued ducks hanging in the window."

"If you’ve been to the area before, you may have noticed the full barbecued ducks and pigs that have been hanging in the window of this Chinatown institution for decades. The meat isn’t just for show, King’s Noodle House serves the best Cantonese barbecue in the city!. Try their barbecue roast duck congee with Chinese Churros on the side!"

"King’s Noodle first caught my attention when it was featured on Bizarre Foods Toronto with Andrew Zimmern as a must-visit at the heart of Chinatown. Decades of serving up steaming bowls of fresh noodles and Chinese BBQ duck have honed their culinary skills to master-level techniques."

"After winning the first MasterChef Canada title, Chong joined forces with judge Alvin Leung to open R&D in Chinatown in 2015. It’s one of the few contemporary, polished and more upscale eateries serving modern Chinese fare in the city. “We still have traditional Chinese dishes – we just take the extra step to do it our way,” says Chong."

"After winning the first MasterChef Canada title, Eric Chong joined forces with judge Alvin Leung to open R and D in Chinatown in 2015. Toronto is home to a big Chinese community and is full of fantastic Chinese restaurants. However, R and D is one of the few contemporary, polished and more upscale eateries serving modern Asian fare."

"Nugateau is an all-eclair patisserie known for authentic French baking techniques and high-quality products with no artificial flavourings. Nugateau has a brilliant selection of creative flavours like Roseabelle (Raspberry Rose & Mascarpone Cream, Raspberry Compote, White Chocolate Glaze, Dried Raspberry and rose petals, Candied Almonds) and Belleviolette (Cassis cremeux,Violet glaze, Fresh Blackberry) meaning their eclairs are guaranteed to delight."

"A post shared by Nügateau Patisserie (@nugateau) on Mar 5, 2020 at 10:15am PST. While this french pastry shop is mostly dedicated to eclairs, cakes are to be found on the menu, and they’re made with just as much care as the tinier offerings. Made with no artificial flavourings, each of these works of art is decorated so elaborately that you almost won’t want to eat it."

"After a period of celebrating the jack-of-all-trades, it is nice to see some specialization in the dessert world. Nugateau is a bakery that uses French baking techniques to result in fantastic eclairs, and only eclairs. This doesn't mean that creativity is out of the window."

"If you’re looking for the best baklava in town, most locals will point you in this direction. Located in Scarborough, you’ll find a huge assortment of Middle Eastern sweets on display. Everyone has their own favourites but their baklava, knafeh, and mafrouka are superb."