Toronto Island Cruises
You live in a mega city, you
walk out your door on a hot day you breathe in the air of
Toronto and the noise…. You live next to the Toronto Islands
and you probably never enjoyed a Toronto Island Cruise.
Experience the tranquility, the fresh air of the islands as
you cruise through the Toronto Islands. If you have never
cruised the Islands, book one of the Toronto Island cruises
today!
The
Toronto Island is a chain of small islands in Lake
Ontario. The islands are located just offshore from the
Canadian city of Toronto, and provide shelter for Toronto
Harbour. The islands are a popular recreational destination,
and are home to a small residential community and to
Toronto Island Airport. They are connected to the
mainland by several ferry services.
The
islands comprise the largest urban car-free community in
North America, though some service vehicles are permitted.
Recreational bicyclists are accommodated on the ferries, and
bicycles and
quadricycles can be rented on one of the island.
Hanlan's Point
First we enter the Islands at
Hanlan's Point, named after the first family that
settled on Gibraltar Point in 1862. With the ferry
dock on the starboard side and Island Yacht Club on
the port side as we cruise past block House Bay towards the
old lighthouse pond, you will see day and weekenders dock
along the south west wall, a very popular spot in the
summer.
Boaters sit by their small
camp fire, play some tunes, drink beer, enjoy the country
air and yet so close to the second largest city in Canada,
makes this a perfect location for sailors passing by
Toronto. Any request on docking fees information should be
made to Toronto
Island Marina.
Toronto Island Lighthouse
The
Toronto Island Lighthouse built on Gibraltar Point,
always had a front view of Toronto as the city history
unfold. The construction took place in 1803 and went into
operation in 1809. Now 199 years old, the Gibraltar Point
Lighthouse is the oldest landmark in Toronto.
To read
more on the islands and see a sketch of the Lighthouse
Visit Robertson's Landmarks of Toronto
A Murder Mystery Remains on a Toronto Island
As with
lots of historical buildings, the lighthouse has had it
share of tragedy. Tales of murder came about after the
lighthouse keeper Radan Muller disappeared. That takes us
back to January 2nd, 1815 the day lighthouse keeper was
murdered.
The
tell tales of this story says that Radan Muller smuggled
whisky and was a bootlegger. One night some drunken soldiers
from Fort York were looking for more booze to drink and
knocked on the old lighthouse door.
When
Radan opened the door, the drunken soldiers ask for some
beers and as they were turned down they chased the
lighthouse keeper up the lighthouse stairs and killed him,
which after he was dismembered and berried at different
locations around the Gibraltar Point lighthouse.
The
soldiers were later arrested and charged with his murder but
later acquitted; therefore, to this day, it remains a
murder mystery. Rumors have it that the lighthouse
keeper is still searching the grounds of Gibraltar Point for
parts of his body.
Center Island Attractions
As we
cruise down long pond and around the narrow and very shallow
channel of Forestry Island at times you can see wildlife on
both sides of the ship. Towards the end of Long Pond on the
port side we have the old bleachers that spectators use to
cheer on the Toronto Island regatta. A little further we
have Center Island Bridge that connects to the main Island
to Centerville Amusement Park.
Along
with Centerville Amassment Park many events takes
place in the large park of Center Island.
Toronto Island is a great
place to visit on land and even better from the water.
