The Beach, also known as The Beaches for its three beaches, is a highly desirable Toronto neighbourhood known for its beautiful waterfront and relaxed lifestyle.
In the 1920s, when Toronto was expanding eastward, The Beaches was subdivided for development. Ever since, it has emerged as one of Toronto’s most popular neighbourhoods.
The Beaches has the largest variety of architectural house styles of any neighbourhood in Toronto. Its original frame Beach Cottages, built in the latter half of the 1800s and early 1900s, have been modernized to meet contemporary tastes and needs and become iconic to the area. There is also a new home development known as The Beach, which contains a number of heritage-inspired custom-built homes. Semi-detached and detached homes and townhomes sit on the site of the former Greenwood Racetrack, located at the foot of Woodbine Avenue. Tree-lined streets wind their way down to the lake, offering decidedly non-urban scenery and a nice change of pace from the busy city.
Colourful shops and dining experiences abound in The Beaches, with Queen Street being the most commercial of its shopping districts and Kingston Road attracting a more local clientele. In the summer, the waterfront is crowded with locals, other Torontonians, and tourists enjoying the lakeside vacation vibe.
The boardwalk, which spans the city’s waterfront from The Beach to the Humber River and is skirted by the Martin Goodman Trail and Lake Ontario, is well frequented in the summer and makes for a nice brisk walk in the fall or early winter. Ashbridge’s Bay is a beautiful spot for family picnics, windsurfing, and volleyball. The Beach also features a scenic ravine and nature trail on Glen Stewart Park, off Queen Street, which is a great place to enjoy the sights and scents of nature. For more recreation, residents enjoy Woodbine Avenue’s Donald Summerville Pool, which includes an Olympic-sized pool and overlooks Lake Ontario.
For more information about The Beaches, please contact us.
