TORONTO ISLAND

FRANKLIN THE TURTLE AND HIDE-AND-SEEK
The Franklin Children's Garden has been completed, named for the Franklin the Turtle books by Paulette Bourgeois.
Little kids can go there, see pond life (yes, including turtles), learn to plant seeks, listen in on story time, play hide-and-seek in vine tunnel and a tree house and climb up a spiral walkway called the Unilever Snail Trail to the highest point on the island. Also, you'll find bronze statues of Franklin, Rabbit, Goose, Bear and Snail.

TO AND FRO
The ferries in this year of 2006 run steadily to the island pretty much all day long and with no price rise from last year. From the city dock at the foot of Bay Street and behind the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, the ferries go to Ward's Island (at the east end where most the islanders live), Centre Island (with its kiddies amusement park, petting farm and canoe rides) and Hanlan's Point (as the west end for ball parks, tennis and a clothing optional beach.
Ferries to Centre Island and Hanlan's Point run every half hour from mid to late morning until 6 p.m., with actual crossing beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing until 10:30 or so. They run later on weekends. Ferries to Ward's Island start at 6:30 and run to 11:30 p.m., running every half hour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Round-trip fares (in Canadian dollars) are $6 for adults, $3.50 for ages 65 and above and for students, $$2.50 for ages 2 to 14.