Hometown Challenge: My favourite photos of Toronto

If you’ve been following this blog lately, you’ll know that I recently completed the Travel Challenge, where I posted 10 of my favourite photos taken during my international adventures. Unfortunately, 2020 was a bad year for travel so beyond the ones from my timely pre-pandemic trip to Cambodia and Vietnam, most of the photos in my album over the past several months have been from exploring locally around Toronto. If this homebound year has taught me anything, it’s that there is actually plenty to see and photograph nearby, and that I need to take the time to appreciate what I have at home. Here are my selections for the Hometown Photo Challenge.

1 – Exploring nooks and crannies at Hanlan’s Point.
2 – Beach day on Centre Island.
3 – Early evening bike ride to Sunnyside Park.
4 – Smelling the flowers at Allan Gardens.
5 – Overlooking the city from atop Casa Loma.
6 – Autumn afternoon at High Park.
7 – Beginning of winter at Coronation Park.
8 – Street art on Graffiti Alley, Queen West.
9 – Sweet stroll at Sugar Beach.
10 – Holiday lights at Distillery District.

36 responses to “Hometown Challenge: My favourite photos of Toronto”

  1. Aww, I love this! I already did a photo post of Edinburgh last year but I might have to do this (how I’ll narrow it down to 10 I have no idea!) and write a bit of background behind each one. 🙂

    P.S. it seems so weird to me that Toronto has a beach! Even though I know it has a quay haha.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I remember your Edinburgh post from last year! Such a beautiful city.

      Yes, there are actually several small beaches around Toronto along Lake Ontario – not the cleanest place for a swim but it’s nice to be near some kind of waterfront anyway. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  2. My cousin lives in Toronto for work, and it’s been over 14 years since I last went there. I’d hoped to go last March and was close to booking tickets, but sadly, COVID-19 happened…looks like Toronto has changed a LOT since I last went, and I’d love to return to see it from a different perspective. Thanks for sharing the beauty of your hometown; I just might have to make a similar post for mine (Los Angeles)!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, please do one for LA! We could do with some views of California sunshine 🌞

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Already wrote it, will be published later this month!

        Liked by 2 people

  3. Beautiful pictures! I love how you said a homebound year makes you appreciate where you are and all it has all the more 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! This year was the perfect time to rediscover my home city.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Great pictures – you almost make this westerner want to visit TO!! Haha, just kidding, I actually love Toronto 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I realized that most of the photos I selected were of nature scenes. That’s what I miss most about being out west, but I suppose we have a few gems out here too amidst the concrete jungle.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. I’ve never been to Toronto, but it’s on the bucket list, especially now after seeing your pics! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  6. An interesting series of photos about Toronto showing the complexity of its urban structure. It is a good working ground for the photographer.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s been fun rediscovering the city this year. Thanks for reading!

      Like

  7. Some lovely shots! Particularly like the gruesome Trump gallery.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks! That photo was my favourite angle of Graffiti Alley.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Toronto looks like a really nice city. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s a decent looking city if you get it at the right angles 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  9. so many beach photos! strangely my primary memories of Toronto was that it was stinking hot when I was there (1999 – must have been a heat wave it was sept and it was over 35 for five days straight) and a record shop i found!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I don’t think many visitors realize that Toronto has quite a number of parks and nature reserves, especially if they stay in the downtown core of glass skyscrapers and concrete! It does get very hot in the summer though 🥵

      Like

  10. I love seeing the city through the eyes of a local expert!! I can’t wait to visit!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for reading! Hope you get to visit soon.

      Like

  11. I’ve been to Toronto twice on business trips so love seeing these photos. Would love to return and see a different side of this beautiful city.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hope you get a chance to make a return visit someday soon. Thanks for reading!

      Like

  12. I so want to go to Casa Loma. I’ve heard so much about it. Through COVID I’ve been working with our Toronto team and can’t wait to visit the city to meet them and see all these things in person.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. If you make it here one of these summers, you can consider checking out Casa Loma during an event called Doors Open where several sites around the city are open to the public for free!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Toronto is such a photogenic place. Love all these places 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is! Thanks for reading 🙂

      Like

  14. […] this month, Jess from I’ve Bean Travelling did a photo challenge in which she shared her favorite photos of her hometown, Toronto. Inspired by […]

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  15. jasonlikestotravel Avatar
    jasonlikestotravel

    I love this addition to the challenge. Certainly looks like a nice place to have to had spent lockdown 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Perhaps you should do one for London when you’re done with the travel challenge!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. jasonlikestotravel Avatar
        jasonlikestotravel

        That sounds like a good idea, I might just do that! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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