Taking a tropical vacation during spring break can be expensive. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars for a week on the beach, there are ways to enjoy the break on a budget here at home in Toronto.
Here are 10 things to do for $10 or less:
1. Go for an evening skate
Nathan Phillips Square features free DJ skate nights every Saturday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
2. Listen to live music
Try one of 150 beers from 30 different countries for less than $10 at the Bier Markt and enjoy live music every Thursday to Saturday from 10 p.m.
3. Play board games
Snakes and Lattes provides an evening’s worth of unlimited board game fun for $5.
4. Go tobogganing
There are some great downtown hills at High Park, Christie Pits, Bickford Park, and Sir Winston Churchill Park.
5. Catch a sports game
Head to Real Sports Bar & Grill beside the Air Canada Centre, grab a drink and watch a live game on one of their 199 HD TVs.
6. Admire ice sculptures
Celebrate the beauty of winter for free at the Bloor-Yorkville annual IceFest from Feb. 22 to 23.
7. Enjoy a heated patio
Sit down for a drink or an appetizer at Sky Yard’s toasty rooftop overlooking the city at The Drake Hotel.
8. See a movie
On Tuesdays, a movie ticket at the Carlton Theatre costs $5. With a student card, it’s $4.
9. Cheer on the Toronto Marlies
Advance tickets for a game can cost as little as $10 at Ricoh Coliseum.
10. Wander through museums
Bring your student card to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) to get in for free every Tuesday. The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is free on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Enjoying a new activity each evening of the week could cost less than $70. With so much to do in the city, there is no need for an expensive escape.
This story was first published in The Ryersonian, a weekly newspaper produced by the Ryerson School of Journalism, on February 12, 2014.
Shannon was the Managing Editor LIVE at the Ryersonian and graduated from the Ryerson School of Journalism in 2014. She has worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Rogers Sportsnet and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Before studying journalism, Shannon played tennis for Team Canada.