One of my favourite things about being a Realtor in Swansea is that I get to say with complete confidence: “This is such a great area to live in!!!” I can say this with complete confidence because I really mean it – I adore Swansea and it’s been my home for over 10 years!
Here are some reasons why this neighbourhood is worth putting on your proverbial shopping list. First, it’s so easy to run errands along Bloor Street West. Second, it’s riddled with fantastic green space, such as Rennie Park, High Park and the Humber trails – we’re (hashtag) blessed!
All of my children have attended our local schools and all were able to walk back and forth — two of the three still do! We play tennis at Swansea Tennis Club in the warmer months, play shinny and skate at Rennie Park in the winter, and toboggan down the local hills whenever there’s even a strip of now to speak of.
Girls’ night out or date nights start with a walk to our favourite local spots, like Cellar and Smoke, Aztek Mine, Food & Flame… oh and my newest fave stop for sushi is Usagi, located just across from High Park. In one elongated word, it’s deeee-lish!
So when a new adventure came to our neighbourhood, guess who was all in? Yes, that’s right: me! But is an escapade ever as fun if it happens alone? No! Think Bonnie & Clyde, Thelma & Louise, T Swift & her new boyfriend… well, maybe not. But in this case, I needed a partner in crime, so I grabbed one of my kids and threw him into a life jacket. (He loved it, I swear).
As quick as that, I’d booked our spot to experience the Humber River like never before: at night, on a Glow-In-The-Dark Paddle!
Located right on Toronto’s Humber River near the Old Mill, Toronto Adventures offers all sorts of water-based fun and frivolity. One of their most popular tours, Glow In The Dark Paddles, gives you the chance to experience the Humber as you’ve never seen it before — after the sun sets!
The company’s 25-foot Voyageur Canoes are lit up with SUBMRG’s Under Glow Lighting System, which casts a halo of light all around the vessel! We had an experienced guide take us on a 1.5-hour tour of some of the coolest spots on the Humber River before reaching Lake Ontario to check out the Toronto skyline after dark!
We cruised through the marshes as the sun slowly dipped and all around us were glowing shadows and light – it was so crazy. By some amazing happenstance, we found ourselves cruising towards the downtown skyline on Thursday, August 31st.
Now, if there’s something that stands out about that night… you are correct! That happened to be the night that Toronto enjoyed a Blue Moon! As we paddled towards Lake Ontario, we watched the moon rise out of the water and felt ourselves becoming very small in the cosmic order.
There had been quite a bit of chatter throughout the first part of our paddle, as we saw various wildlife along the shores, underneath our canoe, and swooping in the air. But the canoe settled into awe-struck silence as we took in this once-in-a-lifetime view of this night-sky sighting.
Eleven people can fit in this canoe – so, if possible, I suggest filling it with people you enjoy being with on the water… at night! You may also want to select friends or family members of similar canoeing skill levels. I know how to swing a paddle, but our vessel was mostly filled with rookie paddlers. Although we didn’t refer to them as ‘dead weight or ‘the anchor,’ we did think of them as ballast. Not a huge deal, except most of them decided not to paddle and just sat back and enjoyed the ride—so this ended up being an expected but decent upper-body workout!!
(Camera night settings are tricky!)
There are still a few nights left to book your paddle – and I definitely recommend you do so… keeping in mind my previously mentioned pro tips!
Now go get your glow on!
When:
June – October 2022
Difficulty:
Beginner>Intermediate!
Event Duration:
1.5 -Hours
Location:
Toronto’s Humber River!
Wouldn’t it be lovely to have Humber River nearby to increase your outdoor rec options?! Here’s a fab listing in sweet Swansea that we just SOLD!
We call it: A Princely Penthouse, Steps To The Shops Of Bloor West Village.
This rare-to-market boutique penthouse is situated in beautiful Swansea! Housed in a boutique building dubbed The Brulé, this spacious, sun-kissed offering boasts 2 large bedrooms, 2 washrooms, and 2 parking spaces. Oh, and we’re not done! Enjoy an oversized terrace, with two separate entertaining areas overlooking the treetops surrounding the Humber River. Imagine a magical outdoor space to start a quiet morning or to dine al-fresco under the stars!
Here’s another property we SOLD in Swansea – we called it: A Stylish Family-Friendly Townhouse In Desirable Swansea.
This 3bed 4bath townhome truly is an urban oasis! It offers 2100+ square feet of functionally designed space, a secure private garage, plus a patio garden off the family room and a terrace off the entertainment level – all of which overlook an idyllic woodland ravine! For those seeking a quiet respite from the ravages of everyday living, this west-facing residence offers a bucolic setting unusual for a central city address!
And here’s A Vintage Bungalow Perched On The Slopes Of Morningside Avenue, that we sold last year!! It’s just east of South Kingsway where Morningside Avenue rises over the Waller Avenue ravine.
We also sold A Sun-Soaked Swell Dwell In Swansea, which was a bespoke semi-detached dwelling – originally constructed in 1900 – has been substantially transformed over the decades into a charming residence that marries modern conveniences with unique features.
Now more than ever, it is essential to plan a well-researched, data-driven, tactical strategy if you are in the market for a new home. Especially in changing times, when the pandemic has prompted many to shift their focus and objectives. Have yours changed? Please know The Urbaneer team is here to help!
May we be of assistance to you, or someone you love?
The Urbaneer Team
Steven Fudge, Sales Representative
& The Innovative Urbaneer Team
Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage – (416) 322-8000
– we’re here to earn your trust, then your business –
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