What are 10 more Toronto Hidden Gems you must check out? In recent years, Toronto has really become a world-class tourist destination. Its unique historical and geographical background, combined with being home to several waves of immigrants throughout the years, has really provided a kaleidoscope of unique hidden treasures for everyone to enjoy. Continuing from our previous post on Hidden Gems in Toronto, we would like to share some of our favourite hidden gems in Toronto we like to explore.
Planning a visit to the City? Be sure to check out our -> 12 of the Best hotels in Toronto for Families
10 More Hidden Gems in Toronto You Must Checkout
Table of Contents:
R C Harris Water Treatment Plant
The first on our list of Hidden Gems in Toronto is tucked away at the far east end of the Beaches. Considered to be one of Toronto’s most cherished buildings, The R C Harris Water Treatment Plant. Aptly named after Roland Caldwell Harris, Toronto’s longest-running Commissioner of Public Works. Serving 1912 to 1945, R C Harris was known for his keen sense of foresight, famously building an extra rail deck into the Prince Edward Viaduct, 48 years before trains were introduced.
Also known as The Palace of Purification this Cathedral-like Art Deco building sits powerfully atop a hill facing Lake Ontario. Its interiors are equally as beautiful with a marble entryway, massive hallways and soaring ceilings. The massive fields behind the building hide giant filtration pools.
Considered to be cutting-edge at the time. The plant is still in use today the plant provides clean drinking water to over 40% of Toronto and York region.
Exhibition Grounds
Every year over a million people attend the CNE, Canadian National Exhibition. What many may not know is the grounds that the Ex is hosted on, has a long history with Toronto. Home to Fort Rouillé, one of the original settlements in the area, the grounds have a history predating Toronto itself. Many of the buildings are designated heritage buildings including the Firehall, Post office and Press building.
The Princes’ Gate at the main entrance sets the stage. A massive neoclassical triumphal arch, built-in 1927 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the confederation of Canada. As mispronounced by many, the Princes’ gates are actually in dedications to two Princes (Edward, Prince of Wales and Prince George, Duke of Kent), not a Princess. The gates have tons of symbolism built-in, including the Ontario coat of arms and the 9 columns representing the 9 provinces at the time of construction.
Just west of the gates is Hotel X, the newest addition to the grounds. It incorporates the foundation of one of the barracks of New Fort York into one of its grand ballrooms. Also known as the Stanley Barracks the fort was used by the British from its construction in 1840 to 1870 when it transferred to the Canadian military up until the 1950s. Only the Officers’ quarters still remain, acting as a maritime museum.
The architecture of the site’s many buildings reflects the city’s booms and busts as can be seen from many of the beautifully extravagant Beaux-arts of the 1920s to simple and sleek Art deco to functional and minimalistic modernist of the 1970s. There are tons of hidden gems and amazing things to see, like the Hall of Names
Toronto Sculpture Garden
This tiny park located at 115 King Street East, opposite St. James Cathedral is a hidden gem overlooked by many. Existing since 1981, this tiny parkette has been home to over 80 temporary pieces of public artwork. Now managed by the City of Toronto, the Toronto Sculpture Gardens hosts 2 projects per year. The works are budgeted $30,000 and are specifically selected to engage the local community and address issues of the urban context, materials and scale
Rainbow Tunnel
Another Hidden Gem in Toronto that many pass every day. Clearly visible from the Don Valley Parkway, one of the busiest highways in Canada, the rainbow tunnel has an interesting history in itself.
Originally painted by a Norwegian teenager in the 1970s to commemorate a lost friend and to provide some colour to brighten up dreary Toronto days.
Over the years the tunnel has been repainted several times as the city has tried to have it removed. Until 2013, when an arts organization called Mural Routes revamped the tunnel and officially opened it up to the public.
The Rainbow Tunnel can be reached from Moccasin Trail Park. Just a short walk from the parking lot, along the beautiful Don Valley.
Dollhouse
Toronto is filled with many unique and interesting houses. We have a greek themed house, Wood Cake house, tiny houses and even Terracotta house.
One of the most unique of these houses is Leslieville’s Crazy Doll House. Located in a non-descript neighbourhood in Leslieville, is a house whose front yard is filled with a kaleidoscope of dolls. This tchotchke home is owned by Shirley Sumaiser. The unique front lawn started as a small hobby to fill her time after her husband had passed away over 20 years ago.
What can be seen now is the product of over two decades of collecting and rearranging her collection. The front lawn arrangement changes often and often reflects the season with Christmas and Easter themed displays.
Bamboo Forest
The campus of the University of Toronto has one of the best examples of the integration of the old and new. In 2005, the university opened the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, the new building seamlessly merges with the Rosebrugh Building next door.
The Rosebrugh Building, a heritage site built in the 1920s, shares its eastern wall with the Donnelly Centre. The Rosebrugh Building’s beautiful Romanesque revival arches provide a stunning backdrop for this indoor Bamboo Forest. The multilevel atrium is built almost entirely out of glass to provide the maximum amount of sunshine, creating a bright and airy atmosphere.
This stunning forest is a Hidden Gems in Toronto, built using Japanese-inspired design, it integrates study and collaboration places, with the lush greenery that surrounds it. This bamboo forest is a true hidden gem.
The Vog Vault
Located along Queen West is this Hidden Gem in Toronto. Located inside the John Fluevog Shoe store is a bank vault. Inside the vault is a recreation of a vintage photograph of John Fluevog, with a twist.
But who is John Fluevog? John is a fashion icon, whose roots start in the 1970s, in Vancouver’s historic Gastown. This Canadian designer has become one of the premier shoe designers in the world. John was known for being a visionary in fashion and design, always having a keen eye for upcoming trends and often creating his own.
In the 1980’s John expanded his empire, by opening stores in many major North American cities including Boston, New York and his first Toronto store on Queen Street. Into the 90’s and early 2000’s John opened stores in New York, Chicago, Montreal and many more. By the 2010’s John Fluevog was was named one of the Most Innovative Companies in the Fashion Industry by FastCompany. John had expanded way beyond shoes, into eyewear, an online FlueMarket and even his own exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver.
In 2015, John was given the unique opportunity to take over a space that was previously used by a bank. Including the bank’s vault. So after 26 years at his original Queen Street location, John moved his Toronto store to its new location. The bank’s vault has been created to act as a recreation of a photo of John in the 70’s, that is actually found in all of his stores around the world.
Riverdale Farm
Riverdale Park is better known for its Eastern half, with its epic tobogganing hill or being one of the best places to see the skyline and catch a sunset in the city. What many don’t know, is Riverdale Park also has a less Western half as well. Facing east, Riverdale Park West doesn’t get as much sun as Riverdale East and doesn’t face the city skyline. However, something many don’t know is that Riverdale Park West is also home to a full working farm.
One of our Hidden Gems in Toronto to take our little one, this hidden gem actually sits on the grounds of John Scadding’s original farm. The city eventually purchased the lands from John in 1856 and the farm converted to a zoo.
The zoo became what is now known as the Toronto Metro Zoo, moving to its current location in Scarborough in 1978. The land in Riverdale was converted back to a working farm. These days the farm is a great place to bring your kids and learn about how life at a farm is like.
The Don Jail
Also part of the city’s 1856 land purchase from John. The city was moved John’s cabin to the Exhibition Grounds in 1879, and the Don jail built in its place. The Don Jail has a long and interesting history with the city. The Italianate-style structure stands as one of the oldest standing structures in Toronto.
Acting as the main jail for Toronto, the jail suffered from overcrowding and was shut down in 1976. The Don Jail was also the site of several hangings until capital punishment was finally abolished in 1962.
In 2009 the old jail was renovated in partnership with Bridgepoint Health to create a campus of wellness. Then in 2013, the Don Jail was reopened as the administrative wing for The Bridgepoint Active Health Centre.
Sunnyside Pavillion
Another Hidden Gems in Toronto, hidden in plain sight. The Sunnyside Pavillion stands as a beautiful reminder of the city’s rich history with the lakefront area. Due to its proximity to the city, Sunnyside was a popular beach destination for Toronto.
In 1913, the Toronto Harbour Commission began major construction to improve Toronto’s Waterfront from Ashbridges to the Humber. In 1922 the Sunnyside Pavillion was opened. It to provide bathers with a place to change before taking a swim in Lake Ontario.
The attached pool, known as ‘The Tank’, was built in 1925. It considered the world’s largest outdoor pool at the time. The Sunnyside area was also home to an amusement park. It ran from 1922 until 1955. When it was demolished to make way for the Gardiner Expressway.
Over the following decades, the area fell into disrepair as the city lost its connection with the lake. Until the 1970s when several environmental groups organized clean-ups and renewed interest in the lake. In the 1980s Sunnyside Pavillion went over a major restoration including updating the cafe, tea garden and boardwalk.
These days Sunnyside acts as a cultural and athletic hub hosting many dragonboat and volleyball events throughout the year. Sunnyside is also one of the best places to catch the sunset, as the sun sets over the Humber River and Bay in the west.
Great hidden gems in Toronto. We’ve only been once to Toronto and visited the CN Tower in the evening.