11 Reasons Toronto Should Be Your Next Vacation Destination

One of my favorite activities while in the city was the Culinary Adventure Canoe Tour with amazing chef Kevin Durkee. My group worked up an appetite during our paddle over to the islands from Toronto — about a 30- to 40-minute trip that included a tour of the islands and bird sanctuaries in the area — and then we landed on Toronto Island Park.

While the chef worked his magic and put together my favorite meal of the whole trip (think the best picnic of your life, with fresh fruit, meats, cheeses, salads, bread, and homemade beet butter), we explored all the island had to offer. After a few ghost stories and a special dessert concoction that combined s'mores and the Canadian butter tart, we watched the sun set and paddled back to the city. The view of Toronto at night from the water was unforgettable.