In the last two years, it's been trickier to access Harbourfront Centre, thanks to a big revitalization project. But this shouldn't deter us from attending all its great on-going free activities and events such as Natrel Rink and HarbourKIDS Fest during February Family Day, to name a few.
Here are a few tips to better enjoy your visit:
About parking: This weekend, I checked the three closest parking lots around Harbourfront, including Harbourfront's underground parking lot on the premises, the one just north of Harbourfront (entrance off Lower Simcoe Street), and the one north-west of the Centre at Rees and Queens Quay. They were all $15/day during the weekend. Therefore, Harbourfront's underground lot, at the foot of Lower Simcoe, is your best bet.
About public transportation: The Queens Quay streetcar will be reinstated only by June 2014. Until then, you can catch the 509 Harbourfront bus at the north-west corner of Bay and Front street (off Union Subway Station), going southbound on Bay, then east on Queens Quay, with a stop by Harbourfront Centre. (You will have to go to the corner of Lake Shore and Simcoe Street to catch the 509 back to Union Station.)
Instead, I suggest you walk from Union Station to Harbourfront Centre (it will take you less than 10 minutes) and use this as an excuse to enjoy the following features around Air Canada Centre (just south of Union Subway Station).
About fun things around Union Station: Read about Air Canada Centre's bas-relief sculptures on its facade Bay Street and Lake Shore Blvd. (school-age kids will enjoy finding the theme linking the series of bas-relief), then proceed west of Air Canada Centre and southbound on York Street to reach Harbourfront Centre. Also read about Air Canada Centre's Wins, Losses and Ties sculpture. (Hockey fans will enjoy this one.)
Craft activity: If you're going to Harbourfront Centre during the construction, make it worth your trouble by taking advantage of Miss Lou's Room weekend free craft activities.
Cool combo: Combine your visit with a stop at Toronto PawsWay (with free admission) just west of Harbourfront, across the small white bridge.
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