– EAST VILLAGE (DE)TOURS FOR ACTIVE FAMILIES

If family times means being on the move, exploring new sights and finding new experiences to enjoy together, East Village is sure to become your favourite weekend destination. Moments of awe, thrills, laughter and discovery await kids and parents around every corner, all within walking—or peddling—distance. Check out our selection of family favourites.

With so much to do and see in East Village, everyone’s bound to work up a family-sized appetite. Luckily there are many kid-friendly options to fill all types of bellies. The ‘kidz menu’ at Luke’s East Village, located at streetlevel of the Central Library, features a peanut butter and banana bagel, while Good Earth Coffeehouse’s mac & cheese is a local hit with the little ones. And of course, things are bound to get extra sticky when your tykes smother their French toast pie in too much maple syrup at Chix Eggshop!

1 // CENTRAL LIBRARY

Home to almost 500,000 books, hundreds of computers and laptops, a Teen Space with video games, and a bookscalator, this space is more of a cultural and community hub. Little ones will enjoy the Children’s Library, with play structures and reading nooks for them to climb, crawl and explore. Rest assured, there’s definitely no shushing in this library!

2 // THE BOUNCE GAMES PARK

This colourful little corner of East Village has something for everyone, from a full-size basketball court to ping pong tables and hopscotch squares. If you’re not into Snakes & Ladders or Twister, try Mirror Me, and before you leave, take a family selfie in front of the Bounce’s fun, bright murals!

3 // THE HIVE IN EAST VILLAGE

Positively buzzing with excitement, The Hive is our summer apiary, a collection of 5 beehives that hold thousands of honeybees. If you can’t make it to one of MOB Honey’s interactive workshops in the sunny months, you can still check out the transparent enclosure to uncover fun facts about these amazing superorganisms!

4 // JACK AND JEAN LESLIE RIVERWALK™

Are you a family of cyclists? Walkers, runners or strollers? No matter your mode of transportation, your family will love getting some fresh air along the RiverWalk pathway. Keep an eye out for geese, beavers, kayakers and fly fishers along the river, and for public art, lounge chairs and cool buildings on the East Village side.

5 // CROSSROADS PLAYGROUND

Both the young and young at heart can have some good, old-fashioned fun at our neighbourhood’s popular playground. A roller slide, balance boards, an oversized xylophone and bongos encourage creativity and imagination, while adults can relax at the bistro sets laid out next to the community garden.

6 // ST.PATRICK’S ISLAND

While there are countless ways to enjoy time at St. Patrick’s Island, here are our top picks: wade in the water at Trout Beach, roll down the grassy hill at the Rise, have a barbecue at Picnic Grove, scramble up the climbing rocks at the playground, find the osprey nest on the Bloom sculpture, roast marshmallows at the Rise fire pit. Now that’s an action-packed day!