When you walk off the Centre Island ferry, 10 minutes past the Centreville Amusement Park, you access Centre Island Beach (also known as Manitou Beach). Very popular with the families thanks to the proximity to the playground, the splash pad, Franklin Children's Garden and the long wave breaker which cuts the waves and ensure younger kids can swim in quiet waters. From the wide deck high over the lake, it looks like we are by the ocean, and around the snack bar section, it feels like many popular ocean cities! That's where you'll find the Toronto Island Bike Rental renting regular bikes and those 2, 4 or 6-seaters we see along the paved trails. I tried them for the first time last year with teenagers and they had a blast! (Read this blog about my successful outing with teens in Toronto Islands.)
If you walk approximately 15 minutes eastbound along the boardwalk, you'll reach Ward's Beach. Walk less than 10 minutes west of Centre Island Beach and you'll reach Gibraltar Beach. Both beaches offer more waves on a windy day, a fact bigger kids will appreciate.
