TORONTO has several clean water beaches.  On the downtown eastside, CHERRY BEACH is the easiest one to get to by bike.  Go to the foot of Parliament Street, cross under the Gardiner Expressway, hang a left, and you’re on the Trail; it’s marked in blue and green paint stripes.  Both the Trail and the underpass handle a lot of heavy traffic – bikes, walkers and rollerblades on the Trail; trucks and autos of every description on the road.  Keep to the right, pass on the left, pay attention.  You’re entering TORONTO’s Port Lands industrial and recreation area – an odd combination, but it works as long as everyone obeys the signaling system.

For go-karting, golf, a licenced patio, drive-in movie show, and some of TORONTO’s best skyline views, check out Polson Street and its boardwalk.

    CHERRY BEACH and CLARKE BEACH PARK are especially serene in the early morning, but things liven up as the day goes on.  There’s a reasonable amount of free parking, newly renovated washrooms, food trucks, cold drinks, clean sand, sparkling water, and on weekdays – relative peace.  There’s TTC bus service straight to Cherry Beach from PAPE subway station.  Take the #72.  The Martin Goodman Trail continues east for several kilometres to the Beach neighbourhood.