Flights from Sudbury to Toronto

Quirky Corktown

As you fly into Toronto from Sudbury, you’ll likely notice the towering condos and office buildings dominating the skyline. But once you get away from downtown, a more low-key side to the city emerges, excellent for exploring on foot.

In this old Toronto neighbourhood of Corktown, the grid falls away to make way for concrete overpasses, dead-end streets, and narrow laneways. This neighbourhood’s structure arose in the 1800s, when Corktown was settled by an influx of Irish immigrants from County Cork, reportedly giving the neighbourhood its name.

Today, you can read the history of this now diverse neighbourhood along the Corktown Underpass. The paintings, making up the Frozen Moments series, are part of a permanent street art gallery, depicting the past, present, and future of Corktown, along four pillars of the Adelaide Street underpass. Following Corktown’s history from First Nations people to the Irish settlers, and into recent urban developments, these murals are part art, part history.

The Corktown Common is a reinvention of remediated industrial land. This oasis of lush marshland, meandering trails, and hilly greenery also acts as an eco-friendly flood prevention system. Recycling and sterilizing stormwater for the park’s use, the area’s ecosystem provides an improved home for the area’s frogs, ducks, and birds. Sit beside a water fountain, or settle in for a picnic to unwind during your trip from Sudbury.

Corktown’s quirky shopping scene is full of pop-up shops, local fashion goods, and the occasional apothecary. These unique shopping offerings are balanced with a wealth of cafés and new restaurants to keep you full as you fill up your shopping bags in this off the grid neighbourhood.

A Roncy good time

With a quick streetcar ride from Toronto’s downtown core, you can experience the small town feel of Roncesvalles Village on your visit from Sudbury.

Toronto’s tastiest places to eat reside in Roncesvalles. Featuring everything from artisanal ice cream to Polish Paczki doughnuts, Roncesvalles restaurants are sure to please your palate. Refined and retro fare are combined in equal proportions, creating a uniquely delicious neighbourhood.

If all this food has you thirsty, settle in for a pint (or experimental cocktail) in one of Roncesvalles bars. Live music adds ambience to many of these establishments, with the sounds of jazz playing throughout Roncesvalles.

As you wander through Roncesvalles, the area’s parks all beckon with expansive green spaces and historical buildings. Hang out in the neighbourhood’s backyard, High Park, to enjoy 400 acres of easygoing Roncesvalles activities.

From the animals at the High Park Zoo, to the entertainment of the outdoor amphitheatre, there’s always something exciting happening in High Park. See a slice of Old Toronto in the Colborne Lodge, built by High Park’s founders. This historic 1837 house was once home to John Howard and Jemima Meikle, with many of Howard’s watercolours still decorating its walls.

Before leaving the area make sure to explore Roncesvalles’ retail offerings. Locally made accessories and clothing are a Roncesvalles specialty, so you can outfit yourself for the rest of your Toronto trip and your return to Sudbury.