Hello and welcome to Weekend Coffee Share #45! I’m glad you’re here. Please come on in, help yourself to a cup of coffee, or tea, or hot chocolate at my coffee station and let’s chat.
It was a week of mostly sunny skies and unusually warm temperatures for this time of the year. Daytime highs ranged from 11C to 17C (53F to 63F). Daylight Saving Time ended on November 7. I was outdoors most mornings, cycling and hiking along nature trails.
This Fall I’ve been to at least a dozen beautiful parks in Toronto. Each park has interesting architecture, unique history, and varied terrains. The diversity of trees planted throughout these parks, in various stages of growth from young to mature, provide a brilliant display of Fall colours against the deep green grass.
Here are photos from some of my cycling and hiking trips. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Trinity Bellwoods Park
Trinity Bellwoods Park is a beautiful 14.6 hectare (36 acre) public park with full amenities in downtown Toronto. A mix of bike trails, paved walkways, staircases, and hills attract me to this park for a good bike and hike excursion.
Trinity Bellwoods Park was once the home of University of Trinity College (Trinity College in 1852). Of the college itself, only the stone and iron gates now remain.
Queen’s Park
Queen’s Park is an urban park in downtown Toronto. The park was named in honour of Queen Victoria and opened in 1860 by Edward, Prince of Wales.
The shape of Queen’s Park is similar to an oval. The north portion of the park includes many big trees, benches along paving stones, pathways, picnic tables, and three bike trails on flat terrain. I like to cycle here then take a walk in the park.
The south portion of the park is the site of the Ontario Legislative Building, which houses the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (provincial government). This portion includes the majority of the monuments and memorials in the park, and the Queen Elizabeth II rose gardens.
High Park
High Park is located in the west end of Toronto. The park offers quiet walking with beautiful scenery, gardens, long hills, ravines, steep staircases, and winding trails through woods.
John and Jemima Howard deeded their 165 acre country estate, which they had called High Park, to the City of Toronto in 1873. What a beautiful and generous gift they left for Toronto’s residents.
I can easily spend a full day in High Park to explore nature and watch wildlife. The park’s varied terrains are fantastic for hiking. There are also five bike trails, a Nature centre, Hawk’s Hill (to watch hawks), a zoo, and other attractions in High Park.
Fall Colours
Aside from parks, here’s a gallery of Fall colours that greeted me this past week. I’m thankful for good health, beautiful parks, winding trails, stunning Fall foliage, and gorgeous views everywhere I look.
It will be cooler this weekend and the seasonal decorations have started in the downtown core. I look forward to seeing the holiday displays.
Linked with #LifeThisWeek, #SundayStills, #ThursdayDoors.
How was your week?
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Natalie the Explorer 
Your photos show a world with such clear skies. We have few truly clear days. I like all your colors and am happy knowing that you get to wander around in such a beautiful place. Happy weekend, Natalie!
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Ally, We have a good amount of sunshine and days with clear blue skies every year. November has been atypically warm to date. I try to be outdoors and enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great weekend!
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Natalie that Autumn foliage is just fantastic – so many beautiful shades – and I bet it was even more beautiful in real life. Thanks for sharing it with those of us who are in Spring.
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Leanne, Autumn colours in Canada are stunning IRL. Spring is a beautiful season with promises of new beginnings. I bet you’re enjoying the nice Spring days.
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Beautiful! You inspire me to take a trip to Toronto sometime in our travel trailer!
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Thank you, Betty, for your comment. I’ve seen RVs along Toronto’s Waterfront trail. Autumn is a good time to visit the city.
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Wonderful pictures of Inviting Places, you could make that a tag line! Your pictures often beckon. Have been out for a while, between vacation (posting here) and an annual major administrative task. But I think i am at a point, where I can post and read, etc. I have officially announced my retirement at the end of June, and will switch gears to filling pulpits on Sunday only but not serving a church. Besides giving me more family time, I find I want to spend more time writing and baking.
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Congratulations, Michele, on your upcoming retirement! Sounds like you already have a good plan in mind (family, writing, baking, etc.). I look forward to reading your post.
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Michele, just caught your news as I was scrolling through comments. Congratulations on your news about retirement. Denyse
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Thank you Denise, I haven’t forgotten you or your blog. It has been a busy season, preparing for my vacation, my husbands hunting trip and then heavy administrative responsibilities. I am easing back in to a place where I can spend more time reading, commenting and writing posts. Thank you for your congratulations and noticing. Hope to have something to contribute soon. Best and blessings, Michele
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High Park looks like a fantastic park to explore. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos, Natalie! I’m enjoying our lovely foliage. It was slow to arrive, but it’s stunning right now.
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Jill, High Park is a fantastic park to explore year-round. I can imagine the glorious autumn foliage in your state. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Those fall colors! Those blue skies! Green grass! Trails! Wow! (why yes, I have had my caffeine this morning. Why do you ask? 🙂 )
Seriously, your pictures are gorgeous, and I look forward every week to seeing Toronto through your eyes. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Janet, I like your coffee already 🙂 Today was another beautiful day to be outdoors and enjoy autumn colours. Have a great weekend!
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Thanks for sharing a stunning array of fall color, Natalie. I’ve seen nothing but Christmas decorations for sale here, from the home center to the grocery store. Except for the turkeys, you wouldn’t know that our Thanksgiving is still two weeks away.
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Dan, Retailers seem to start holiday sales sooner every year. The minute Halloween is over, Christmas stuff are on display. Canadian Thanksgiving is in October so we have more time between Thanksgiving and Christmas to “recover”. I hope Trinity Gates and the two buildings in my blog post are suitable entry for Thursday Doors this week. Have a great weekend!
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I am so glad you shared them with Thursday Doors, Natalie. Retailers here have been advertising “Black Friday” sales since last weekend.
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It really is fall in your part of the world! We’ve stepped into winter here. Wonderful fall colours. Thank you for sharing 🙂 Have a great weekend!
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Maria, Today was another beautiful Fall day here. Winter will come soon enough. I enjoy the Fall season while it lasts. I look forward to reading your blog post. Have a great weekend!
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Enjoy fall while it lasts 🙂 Thank you 🙂
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Gorgeous autumn colours! Lovely pictures as usual – thanks for your virtual tour of Toronto at this time of year. (I have to say when I saw ‘fall’ and ‘cycling’ in the title I thought at first you had had an accident….!)
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Barbara, Thankfully no cycling accident to write about in this post. Whenever I see cyclists who go too fast, I think what’s the rush? Slow down and enjoy the beautiful autumn colours while they last. I look forward to reading your blog post. Have a wonderful weekend!
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What a lovely park! And with the leaves all turning, a burst of colour!
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Autumn colours beckon me to be outdoors. Today is another beautiful day.
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I love the Fall colours, Natalie and my husband and I have always travelled in Fall to Europe or the USA/Canada to enjoy the magnificient natural beauty. What a lovely bike ride you had. Enjoy your week and joining you for #weekendcoffeeshare
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Hi Sue, Mother Nature gives us a beautiful palette every autumn here. I’m glad you and Mike have seen them in Europe, Canada and the USA. I look forward to reading your blog post. Have a wonderful weekend!
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It’s fab weather their for the enchanting scenery
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Thank you Larry for your visit and comment. Fall has been beautiful here.
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I’m loving all your autumnal colours and walks Natalie, how lovely!!! Have a great week and i’ve joined your link up today.
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Thank you Debbie for joining my link up. I look forward to reading your blog post.
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What beautiful parks and I am loving all these beautiful fall colors. We were pretty lucky to have a nice week of weather and I am loving these warmer fall days that all feel like a bonus!
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Same here, Joanne. I enjoy the atypically warm Fall while it lasts. Winter will come soon.
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Thank you for this beautiful tour of your city! 🍁 🍂
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Thank you Ka for your visit and comment. I greatly appreciate it.
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I love Ontario in the fall. The colours are so beautiful.
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Me too, Shari. Lucky me to see these beautiful Fall colours every year.
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Thanks for the intro to more of Toronto’s beautiful parks. Glad you were able to get and about in the nice, colorful weather.
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Thank you, Trent, for following along. November has been above average weather-wise. I enjoy it while it lasts. I look forward to reading your coffee share. Have a great weekend!
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What a beautiful park, those trees are stunning. I always love old buildings. The architecture is so amazing.
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Older architecture is interesting, isn’t it? Plus the history behind each building. Thank you Kirstin for stopping by. I look forward to reading your coffee share. Have a great weekend!
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It certainly feels like the fall colours are more vivid this year and they have lasted longer than usual.
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November has been pretty good so far. Fingers crossed for a mild winter. I look forward to reading your coffee share. Have a great weekend!
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Fantastic autumn colours, Natalie! Sounds like you’ve had some very nice weather too. Here we don’t have much colour but I was happy to find some brightly coloured bramble leaves today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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Susanne, It’s been atypically warm with more sunshine hours this November for us over here. Fall colours came a little bit later than normal but they came and were glorious. I look forward to reading your coffee share. Have a great weekend!
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Hi, Natalie – Thank you for this uplifting post. I love fall colours) and the feel of crunch fallen leaves beneath my feet. Thank you for taking us to your nearby parks with you. I greatly enjoyed it.
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Hi Donna, I went out for a walk this morning for the feel of crunch fallen leaves beneath my feet! It’s been a beautiful month. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great weekend!
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A fascinating variety of places to go through! Lovely fall colors! Snowing, here, now. Most of the leaves fell to the wind gusts on Friday. I hope that the weather is better there! Thanks for the lovely photographs and the tour of venues,
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Lizl, I hope you don’t have too much snow to shovel. This morning was cool and sunny here then some showers in the afternoon. Thank you for joining me. Have a great weekend!
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I don’t think I will ever tire of autumn colours! It’s so beautiful. Thanks for the tour to all the places you’ve been
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Thank you Sanch for joining me. I love autumn colours here and feel fortunate to see them every year. I look forward to reading your coffee share. Have a great weekend!
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Stunning fall colors, Natalie! And so wonderful to have blue skies on your hikes and bike rides. I believe Queen’s Park was closed and cordoned off when we were there two summers ago. Or part of it anyway. We did spot the legislative building up close. It would have been nice to walk Maya in that park. I’m still amazed at the diversity of parks and nature you can find in Toronto. Such a pleasure!
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Hi Liesbet, This Fall season has been atypically warm and sunny in Toronto. As a result, I’ve done more cycling and hiking than anticipated. It’s been wonderful. I know a few dedicated dog parks in downtown Toronto for Maya to run around and lots of green space on long trails for you to walk her while enjoying nature. Have a great weekend!
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Wow, what beautiful colors and what great places to cycle and walk. So very beautiful. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
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Thank you, Patrick, for your comment. Fall has been beautiful here. I hope you have a great weekend!
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Those parks look/sound amazing and beautiful. Our weather here has actually been quite nice (not too hot/not too cold)… just the right temperature to sit out and on my back deck, which I thoroughly enjoy… though it really is too cold first thing in the morning and by md-late afternoon it can get a bit toasty out there on some days.
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Thank you Tena for your comment. It’s getting cooler here although when the sun shines, it feels great to be outside. I hope you have a relaxing weekend with the nice weather you have there.
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Could be better…Could be worse 🤷🏻♀️. Just waiting for it to warm up so I can go outside as I like to.. Currently temp reading is showing 46/47.
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Such beautiful photos with wonderful Fall colors on most if not all the trees!! I’m so happy you are able to still enjoy some wonderful weather. You have some amazing parks too!! 🤩 My son and I are visiting with my daughter this weekend. So fun! ❤️
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Diana, Your weekend plan with your son and daughter sounds like a lot of fun. I hope you take lots of photos and enjoy every minute of it. Thank you for stopping by. Keep smiling!
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Natalie, what a feast of Autumn colours for us all ad wow, I love your variety of parks in Toronto! The steps at High Park look fun to climb and the lake is incredibly serene. We have also been blessed with equally calm, sunny and surprisingly warm days. Lots of opportunities for refreshing and invigorating walks!
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Annika, I’m glad to hear you’ve also had a good autumn. Walking among the magnificent trees and colourful leaves is one of my favourite activities this season. Sounds like you’ve been doing the same. Keep calm and nature on 🙂
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These views of Toronto remind me so much of Sacramento, Natalie. I do miss being able to ride straight to the bike trail and see the sights and the river beside it. We have plenty of trails here but nothing close enough to ride to. Your first shots of Trinity Bellwood are so gorgeous! I’m glad you got to enjoy a long Autumn and got to be out and about. It is pretty much full dark here at 4:30 now but at least I have light in the morning at 6. Winter is upon us and those holiday decorations are imminent. I’m ready!
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Hi Terri, Sunrise at 7:10 AM and sunset at 4:53 PM here today. The holiday decorations are nice to see and they brighten up the dark evenings. I look forward to seeing them, especially throughout December. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Those fall colors are brilliant.
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Thank you for your visit and comment. I’m glad you liked these Fall colours. May I ask how you found my blog?
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Looks like you are having a balmy Novemeber. Thank you for yet another lovely tour.
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Thank you Antoinette for stopping by. November has been good so far. I look forward to reading your coffee share post. Have a great week!
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A lovely series of architecture & fall images, Natalie. Thank you for sharing sights I can only encounter online!
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Thank you Ju-Lyn for joining me virtually. Our planet Earth is beautiful. So many wonders to see and so little time. Have a great week!
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I know, right? I am very grateful for BlogFriends like you who take me travelling.
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I’m glad I get to know you and see Singapore via your blog. I hope one day we’ll meet IRL.
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One day soon, Natalie! I can’t wait to return to Toronto to visit – meanwhile I will enjoy your stunning city through your eyes!
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Beautiful autumn photos and stunning colours Natalie. I love the colours of autumn and especially loved seeing your photos now while we are having a dreadful burst of winter here during spring.
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Thank you Jennifer for stopping by. Early spring is a transition time and sometimes winter makes an appearance. The first two weeks of November have been good here weather-wise. I plan to go cycling again today.
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What a lovely collection of fall colors! I love autumn even in LA. We may not have changing leaves, but the weather is a little more bearable versus the late summer months.
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Autumn is more mellow with less heat and humidity. I love autumn in Canada. Have a great week Julie!
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I am so glad you have the abundance of spaces that attract you (and many!) to ride, walk, view and experience, Natalie.
Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week, I am sharing my self care stories for the last time in 2021. Where DID that year go?
Hope to see you then too, on or off prompt!
Denyse.
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Denyse, I feel fortunate to live in Canada with a lot of nature around me. I love all the recreational rails that are for cyclists and pedestrians only. I hope you had a good visit with your Dad. I look forward to reading your post next week. Have a great week!
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Love the Fall colours, Natalie.
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Thank you, Jo. I welcome the clear blue skies any time. The Fall red/ orange/ yellow colours are seasonal bonus! I haven’t been receiving notifications when your post goes live. I don’t know what happened. I may have to re-subscribe to your blog. Have a great week!
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No worries. There have been a few difficulties since I started Still Restlessjo 🤗💕
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Your fall colors are gorgeous!
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Thank you, Beth. I feel fortunate to see these beautiful Fall colours every year.
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