Just because summer has officially come to an end doesn’t mean certain activities have to abruptly stop.
Case in point: drinking outdoors.
We don’t know about you, but a glass of Aveleda wine, a comfy sweater, and a surrounding backdrop of fall colours seems pretty perfect to us right about now.
With that said, we don’t want you settling for your backyard (if you even have one), so here are five of the best places in Ontario to enjoy a glass of wine outdoors this fall.
1. The Scarborough Bluffs on a Sunday
We admit it; Scarborough gets a bad rep among many Toronto young professionals. But that’s because they’ve yet to visit the Scarborough Bluffs. For those still in the dark, the Bluffs are the picturesque product of the accumulation of sedimentary deposits over 12,000 years ago.
Trust us, you won’t believe you’re just a short drive from the heart of the city.
Although the edge of the bluffs would make an ideal wine-sipping point, it remains unstable and fenced off (so don’t even try it). We recommend bringing a blanket and bottle of wine and enjoying it on the beach below, surrounded by the bluffs and the beautiful boat-filled Lake Ontario.
Oh, and go now before it gets too cold.
2. A Grand Bend Beach During Sunset
If the Scarborough Bluffs don’t feel like the GTA, Grand Bend doesn’t even feel like Ontario. Don’t let its ‘party town’ reputation deter you – it’s actually an ideal (and super romantic) spot to savour a civilized glass of wine.
Why?
It may have something to do with the limitless Caribbean-blue Lake Huron (which resembles more of an ocean) and the truly spectacular sunsets. So spectacular, in fact, that a Grand Bend sunset was once named among the 10 best sunsets in the world by National Geographic.
So pour a glass of wine, get Instagram open, and head down to the beach.
3. Algonquin Park at Lunchtime
Don’t write off a weekend camping trip just because the lake may be too cold for swimming.
Some of the most picturesque fall colours are found a few hours north of Toronto in Algonquin Park. Most of the established campgrounds remain open until Thanksgiving Weekend, but if you miss that boat, the Mew Lake campground remains open year-round. In addition to all your gear and food, don’t forget a few bottles of white wine for lunchtime.
We can picture it now: a fully stocked picnic table surrounded by brilliant fall colours, a still-warm sun, and a chilled bottle of Aveleda white. It doesn’t get any more ‘Great Canadian Outdoors’ than that.
4. A Spontaneous Saturday Picnic in High Park
If heading to Algonquin seems a little too ambitious, picnic season can still live on in High Park.
On the next sunny Saturday, forgo those errands (they can wait for one of the cold, gloomy days ahead), head to the St. Lawrence Market early for some fresh picnic eats, stop by the LCBO – which is practically next door – and head across the city to High Park for a picnic that cuts no corners.
After taking in the fresh autumn air, food, and the wine, walk it off through one of the park’s ample hiking trails, complete with all its fall-colour glory…hopefully holding someone’s hand.
5. The Roof of Your Building in the Evening
Enjoying a glass of wine outdoors in the fall is just as good in the evening too – even if you can’t see the leaves.
On one of those warm(ish) fall evenings, take in that comforting smell of the fall leaves and the city skyline on the roof of your building with a blanket, a significant other, and a bottle of wine. Do so after making dinner at home – as the temperature drops with the sun, a full dinner outside may, sadly, be a tad aggressive.
It may be one of the last times this year you can enjoy the lights, sounds, and skyline of the city from outside (the Polar Vortex is coming), which means you should definitely do so with a glass of wine in your hand.
Want to know more? Find out from our friends at Aveleda Wine.
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