Best of the City
Recreation
The best dance spots, roller rinks, beaches and more
Pitching lesson
Home Run Baseball Academy
695 Westney Rd. S., Ajax, 905-426-8825
Diamond devotees swing for the fence at this Ajax jock spot staffed by brothers (and former Jays) Rob and Rich Butler. Hefty MLB-approved machines deliver near-Halladay-calibre pitches at 70 miles per hour. Pitching tunnel rental $50 per hour, entire practice facility $175 per hour.
Big splash
Wild Water Kingdom
7855 Finch Ave. W., Brampton, 416-369-9453
Only in the suburbs will you find 100 acres devoted to 16 snaking waterslides, a massive wave pool, river rafting, beach volleyball, minigolf, batting cages and bumper cars. In other words, no end of stimulation for your little bundle of ADHD. For serenity-seeking adults, however, there is also the brilliant Caribbean Cove, a simulated tropical resort with faux palm trees, rock waterfalls, a 6,000-square-foot turquoise swimming hole and—this is key—a full bar. Day pass $30.
Near-death Experience
Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland
9740 Jane St., Maple, 905-832-8131
Forget the Drop Tower, Time Warp and the Great Canadian Minebuster. Wonderland’s fan favourites have nothing on the park’s latest attraction, a rollercoaster addict’s three-minute ticket to sensory overload. The petrifying Behemoth climbs 230 feet before taking a 125-kilometre-per-hour nosedive at a 75-degree angle—subsequent twists are child’s play by comparison. Day pass $55.
Free dancing
Cherry Beach
ilovepromise.com
Sand dancing, anyone? Funk, house, techno, reggae and hip hop are the preferred beats at Cherry Beach Sundays, an afternoon party run by event promoters David Macleod and Irving Shaw. A rotating list of DJs and a motley crew of acrobats and fire breathers entertain blissed-out dog and Frisbee types, toddlers and their ex‑raver parents. Free. 3–11 p.m., June through Labour Day.
Excuse to wear white
Lawn bowling at Wells Hill
46 Melgund Rd., 416-536-8857
No longer reserved for blue-hairs, lawn bowling is encroaching on bocce’s territory as a pet pursuit of the irony-besotted 30-something set. This 80-year-old club, in the shadow of the Wychwood Library, offers sessions for newbies, equipment and a season’s membership for less than the cost of a month at the gym. $60.
nude beach
Hanlan’s Point
Toronto Island, ferry info line 416-392‑8193
The site of Babe Ruth’s first professional home run has since gained notoriety for a different kind of pastime. Hanlan’s sandy stretch is bordered by rows of trees that allow the textile-averse to enjoy the calm waters and lake view in relative privacy. The customary crowd—men on the make—still calls the west shoreline home, but families and sun worshippers are gaining ground, drawn to the laid-back vibe. Return ferry $6.50; umbrella rental $10.
Party venue
Great Lakes Schooner’s tall ships
West Pier, Lower Simcoe St., 416-260-6355
Soon-to-be-hitched bachelors and merry-making birthday girls are leaving strip clubs and cocktail lounges in their wake and chartering tall ships instead. The 96‑foot, three-masted schooner Challenge can harbour you and 71 of your closest friends for a lavish afternoon or evening of partying complete with uniformed crew, service staff, DJ, fully stocked bar and flat-screen TVs. From $1,395 for five hours.
Roller rink
Scooter’s Roller Palace
2105 Royal Windsor Dr., Mississauga, 905-823-4001
Don your short shorts and feather your fringe for Thursday’s Nostalgia Night at Mississauga’s home base for wheelie wingdings. Beginners arrive early for a lesson and stay until the black lights come on, the disco balls start spinning and the rink’s nimble habitués glide around the terrazzo floor to hits from the ’60s and ’70s. The less agile enjoy their flashbacks from the snack bar over air hockey. $7.
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Illustrations by James Braithwaite
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