On November 4th, 2004, Vaughan Mills Mall opened its doors to the public. Located just across the street from Canada’s Wonderland, this shopping centre features hundreds of stores, a Legoland park and even a bowling alley. It’s a great place for shopping, but how is the Pokemon Go scene over there?
Toronto Pearson International Airport is gateway to the city. Thousands of people fly in every day from the world over. If you’re from outside of North America, the urge might be high to pull out Pokemon Go and catch a Tauros before you even leave the airport. Well, it might technically be possible, but don’t hold your breath.
Opened in 1860, Queen’s Park was named after Queen Victoria. This park in the city is home to the Ontario Legislative Assembly, as well as the University of Toronto. Even if you’re not a student or a member of the government, you’ll want to visit the grounds to check out all of the statues and play some Pokemon Go.
Located 50km away from the downtown core, Ajax Waterfront Park isn’t exactly Toronto. While you can take public transportation to get there, it is kind of a pain unless you have a car. Thankfully, the trek is worth it. You’ll get a gorgeous view of Lake Ontario, large fields to host a picnic, a long bike trail along the water, and quite possibly the best Pokemon Go lures that the province has to offer.
Admittedly, I’m stretching the definition of Toronto here. If you leave Toronto proper and head north on the 410, you’ll eventually reach Gage park in downtown Brampton. Besides Brampton being technically a city that is part of the Greater Toronto Area, it’s also a city I hold near and dear.
Growing up, Gage Park was that pretty little area with the gazebo that no one ever went to. Since the release of Pokemon Go, it’s become the heart of Pokemon action in the city. Why?
Located just steps away from Drake’s upcoming Toronto mansion, Sunnybrook Park is located in an upscale neighbourhood. Besides being home to picnic areas, it also features a world class cricket field and a horse stable. Though I’ve lived in the Greater Toronto Area for my entire life, I did not set foot in this park until it became one of the hottest nests in the city.
Located just east of the downtown core, Moss Park was once the industrial heart of Toronto. In the 1960s, work began to convert this area into housing project with a large park and community centre. Today, the community centre is still there, along with a baseball diamond and tennis courts.
While the Moss Park Armoury resides just east of the park, it’s not exactly a tourist attraction. Heck, many locals actively avoid the park, as it has a reputation of being one of the sketchiest areas in the city. However, if you’re an active Pokemon Go player, you might want to bring a friend in the day time and take advantage of one of the most active nests in the area.
Attracting nearly 1.5 million visitors every year, Nathan Phillips Square is Canada’s largest city square. As a tourist, you’ll want to come by and see our unique city hall building to the north, which was actually featured in the movie Resident Evil: Apocalypse. Getting your picture in front of the now-iconic Toronto sign should also be in your list of to-dos. If you’re there in the winter, bring a pair of skates, as the pond is frozen over for skating.
As a Pokemon Go player, it’s also a solid, and quite possibly underrated, place to visit.
When it comes to the most talked-about Pokemon Go hot-spots in Toronto, nothing will ever beat the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. Located at the south end of the city, it quickly developed a reputation for being the best place to catch pokemon thanks to its tightly-packed PokeStops. During its peak, thousands of players from across the Greater Toronto Area would make the pilgrimage to the promise land in hopes of hauling back a king’s ransom.
Unfortunately, the hype got too big, causing real problems with the people who showed up to actually use the ferry. A few weeks ago, a number of PokeStops were removed and the crowds dissipated. Should you cancel your travel plans now? Not necessarily.
Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in Toronto shuttles 25,000 people per day to-and-from Toronto Island. Over the past few weeks, it’s also been the hottest place for Pokemon Go players to congregate and catch them all. What makes it so appealing is that there are four overlapping PokeStops that are constantly equipped with lures. Furthermore, its geographic location by the water makes it a prime spot for land and water-based pokemon.
The ferry terminal has been so hot that it’s appeared on the local news. Unfortunately, the news isn’t all good. Due to the increased traffic and players getting in the way of people that actually need to use the ferry, the city has asked for the PokeStops to be moved or removed entirely. Before Niantic shuts this down, Steff and I made the pilgrimage to Toronto’s pokemon Valhalla.
In Third Person 