Centre Island Beach is located on the busiest island and thus is the busiest beach with the most amenities nearby. It’s been used for public swimming since 1888. The walk from the Centre Island ferry docks to the pier at the end of the beach is approximately ¾ km (½ mi). There are food outlets, washrooms, change rooms, and lockers close to the beach. Additionally, beach wheelchairs are available for rent (for free!) at the Centre Island First Aid Station. The beach faces south with a slight eastward tilt, meaning it gets a lot of direct sunshine throughout the day, and offers a wide panoramic view of Lake Ontario (with nothing else to look at). As one of many Toronto beaches with the prestigious Blue Flag designation, it’s been recognized as one of the top beaches in the world for water quality, safety, and access since 2007. Because of a breakwater wall in the lake, the water here tends to be calmer and warmer than other places on the island, making it better for swimming. If you have kids, this is the beach to bring them to.