Cherry Picking at Cherry Avenue Farm

I have fond memories of cherry picking with my family when I was younger. I remember climbing up the trees, finding the biggest, juiciest cherries and eating as many as my tummy would allow so I wanted to replicate this experience for Logan. Granted he is a little young to develop these memories now, but I want this to be an annual tradition. A great site to find a farm is toronto4kids. We decided on Cherry Avenue Farm and went Saturday, July 9. We intended to arrive by 10 am, but ended up arriving closer to 3 pm due to waiting on people and traffic.

Tip: There are flush-able bathrooms in the parking lot at the very end so be sure to go before entering the orchard to pick cherries because there is only a porta potty in the orchard and it was gross!

Cherry trees in the orchard

Cherries hanging from one of the cherry trees

Cherries we picked, less than $20 worth

Cost: Flexible! Spend a whole day with the family in the fresh air eating as many cherries as you would like. It costs $5/adult to $3/child and can be applied as a credit towards your cherry purchase. Cherries can be purchased at $2.25/lb.

Convenience: Cherry Avenue Farm is located in Lincoln, Ontario an hour drive away from Toronto. However, depending on when you go it could take up to 2 hours to get there with traffic.

Diapering and Feeding: We brought a blanket to sit on the ground, which can be used to change the baby in an emergency or to sit on to feed the baby. There was only a portable toilet in the cherry picking field, which I was told was gross so do not recommend moms change their babies in there.

Final Thoughts: A fun day out with family and friends, but in our experience, is more fun with older children than with infants. As there is a $5 cost to enter the field (even though they do not call it an "entrance fee"), you would lose your credit if you do not pick any cherries to take home. However, cherries are small and take awhile to pick while caring for an infant.

High Tea at T-Buds

I have been to T-Buds before so I already knew that they are a kid-friendly establishment. In fact, a few years ago, I joined a few girl friends for afternoon tea at T-Buds with their children and we all had a great time. They were very accommodating to our requests for the kids and we found many options on the menu that would appeal to a child's pallet.

Comfortable seating that welcomes you and your entourage

Wall of teas

On this occasion, we had a Groupon deal $35 for afternoon tea for two, which is a $58 value. Since I already knew I would enjoy it, this deal was a steal! Upon arrival, there was already another table. Seated at the table was a caregiver with 3 young children. 2 boys of around 7-10 years old and a toddler enjoying their lunch. We were greeted immediately and taken to our table. I had made reservations prior to and mentioned that we would have an infant with us so our table was supplied with a booster seat. Although we do not usually use it because we bring our own, I always mentally give the restaurant bonus points for supplying it. The Groupon deal was for their Classic Afternoon Tea, which comes with the below:

Warm quiche and canapé

Fresh baked plain and raisin scones served with creme mascarpone and jam, as well as petit fors and fresh fruit. The tea sandwiches we tried were cucumber and watercress with creamed cheese, seasoned tuna and red peppers with lemon zest, smoked turkey and asparagus, curried chicken with green apples and mango chutney, and cheddar cheese with sun dried tomatoes.

Flute of sparkling jasmine tea

Cost: Rating the afternoon tea only, I would say this is high-end and not your everyday meal more of a special occasion or treat. 

Convenience: Location is convenient because it is on the subway line; however, the venue itself is an upstairs restaurant in an older building with no elevator or escalator access. In fact, the stairs are quite narrow and difficult to maneuver with a stroller. We carried Logan up the stairs as I knew from previous experience.

Diapering: Single stall washroom with no change table, so not recommended for young babies. However, Logan got sleepy right at the end of our meal, which we took no longer than an hour to finish so we did not even need to change him.

Feeding: Small, cozy environment. The chairs are very big and comfy so breastfeeding would be very comfortable in them. However, same as top comment, we were not there long enough to need to feed Logan.

Final Thoughts: Good for children, but not really for infants or toddlers. The staff here are very accommodating to children and the menu has fun food for them to eat, such as crepes. However, it is a small and cozy establishment so coming with a very young baby who may cry and act out might not be a good idea. Logan yelled out a few times while we were there as it neared his nap time and we became very self conscious so keep that in mind.

Splash Pad at Gamble Park

The City of Toronto runs many recreational activities for families. One of them is outdoor splash pads. They have an interactive map that shows where each of them are located. As per City of Toronto, most of them run from May 31st to September 18 daily from 9 am to 8:30 pm.

The one Logan and I tried out today is at Gamble Park. This park is a gem located in the East end of the City on the quiet Gamble Street. The park is not very big; however, once you approach it you can tell it is customized to be suitable for preschoolers.

There is a giant black fence that runs the length of the park with big heavy duty gates on either sides ensuring that little hands are not strong enough to let themselves out and little feet cannot run onto the street.

Trees are strategically planted on the outskirts of the park to ensure plenty of running space for wobbly bodies while in the park. There are very clear signs indicating this is a dog free and smoke free park.

The strength of the water coming out of the splash pad is strong enough to shoot it up a few feet, but weak enough that if little bodies ran across it they would not get hurt by the force of the water coming out.

Cost: FREE

Convenience: There are 93 City run splash pads so there must be one near you and using the interactive map to find it is very easy.

Diapering and Feeding: Due to the placement of the trees there is very little shade. When the park is not busy, you might be able to find a nice shady spot around the perimeter of the park to sit and feed or even lay out a pad to change baby. However, if it gets busy, it would be a little more difficult to do so especially if you want to do it in shade. All the benches are situated in the centre of the park near the splash pad in full exposure of the sun.

Final Thoughts: A lot of thought was put into this park to ensure that it is child friendly. There are no basket ball courts or picnic benches to attract teenagers or couples. That being said, both the splash pad and the playground is fully exposed to the afternoon sun so little ones must be well equipped with sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, rashguard, etc.

Movies for Mommies at Rainbow Cinemas Market Square

Movies for Mommies is a weekly movie event for mommies with young children. Each week a movie is selected and played in a baby friendly environment. For example, movie is played with reduced sound and there is a change table provided. The event is not organized by the theatre showing the movie, rather by the Movies for Mommies site. You look for the location closest to you and they will show you the movie being viewed that week, the time and the theatre showing it.

Today, Logan and I went to Rainbow Cinemas at Market Square to view Finding Dory. Due to my distance from the theatre, I gave myself plenty of travel time and arrived 30 minutes before showing. I was only the 2nd mommy to arrive to a relevantly relaxed and slow theatre. After you pay for your ticket and make your way to your theatre, you will find the Movies for Mommies table. There, someone will greet you to the show. If it is your first time, you will be asked to register, once you are done you will be given:

1. Some promotional materials (not shown)
2. Free samples (shown below)
3. Membership card, attend 6 movies and the 7th one is free (shown below)

Free samples and the membership card

Once you have received your samples, you are free to purchase concessions or go directly to the movie and enjoy the experience!

Cost: Fair, you pay for the movie, which you would have paid anyways if it is a movie you wish to see

Convenience: Depending on where you reside, you may not find a theatre near you. Even for me the closest one was almost an hour away by public transit. There is only one showing so if you are adamant on baby keeping their sleep schedule, you may not be able to accommodate this activity. It took me awhile to be flexible enough for it.

Diapering: I thought the change table set up for Movies with Mommies was a little hap hazard and gross (covered in stains). My feelings are, if you are going to provide something, then do it well to leave a good impression otherwise, it is better not to have it. Rainbow Cinemas has change tables inside the bathrooms as well, but I didn't use it.

Feeding: I felt comfortable nursing Logan without my nursing cover in the environment. Event is welcome to all caregivers including parents, grandparents and friends. I brought a friend with me to see the movie who does not have children. She did not need to register.

Final Thoughts: Although the Movies for Mommies website indicates this is an event geared towards mommies, still keep in mind that babies have a certain demeanor. Logan is considered calm and well behaved, but to ask an infant to sit for 1.5 hours is difficult. I still had to step out half way, even though this is meant as an event for babies too please be considerate of other people and step out when you need to. Yes, I would go again and have recommended it to other moms already!