Parkbus — Local services in Toronto

Disappointing experience.

I joined the guided tour to Inglis Falls recently and was really disappointed. For a tour that costs around $100, I expected something much better organized and safer.

Transportation: The biggest issue was the bus. It was a traditional yellow school bus that was clearly not meant for long-distance travel or highway speeds. The suspension was so bad that we were bouncing in our seats the whole way. What really worried me, though, was how fast the driver was going, like he was driving a Ferrari. The school bus was overtaking regular cars, and it felt genuinely unsafe. Quite a few of us, especially those sitting at the back, were nervous during the ride, and it definitely took away from what was supposed to be a relaxing day trip.

I understand the vehicle was chartered from a known transportation provider, but a school bus like this is designed for short trips, not a 3-hour ride on rural highways.

There was no climate control either, obviously, since it was a basic school bus meant for short student commutes. But that felt minor compared to the safety concern.

The Tour: We stopped at Moreston Heritage Village at Grey Roots Museum. I know it was only a short stop before the hike, but we were left there with no explanation. The guide, Jeff, didn’t give any context at all, and when someone asked, he didn’t seem to know. I only found out afterward that the village is actually a historical site with buildings from different periods in Grey County’s past. It felt like a missed opportunity to learn something, especially on a “guided” tour. For most of the hike, the guide just walked ahead. I appreciated the volunteer, though. She seemed to try her best to fill in the gaps.

Overall, I appreciate what Parkbus is trying to do - connecting people to nature without needing a car. But this particular tour wasn’t well executed. I’ve also noticed that the owner’s responses to other negative reviews often deflect criticism rather than acknowledge the issues or show a willingness to improve, which makes me even less confident that things will change. That said, I’m sharing this so others know what to expect. Safety ands basic context shouldn’t be too...

Parkbus is a great initiative that I highly recommend to anyone who would like to visit parks in Ontario such as Algonquin, Bruce Peninsula, Killarney, etc. I have used Parkbus on two separate occasions to Algonquin and Bruce Peninsula. There are three stops in Toronto (including one downtown - there are buses that also leave from Ottawa to some of the parks) and the bus leaves you at various locations in the park depending on where you want to go. On both occasions, I was dropped off exactly at the camping ground and had to walk at most 300 metres to get to my campsite.

Everything is well organized and the service runs on time. The buses are clean and make a stop on the way to the park. The schedule is perfect for weekend trips during which you can stay one or two nights at a park. However, you can also buy a one way and stay as long as you want. You can then purchase a return ticket at a later date.

Parkbus offers the opportunity to volunteer with them (which I have done) and it even does a raffle on some occasions to provide free park maps, t-shirts and energy bars.

The concept of Parkbus is socially and environmentally conscious. It operates on a non-profit basis and provides safe and reliable transportation for everyone. It avoids the need to drive, rent a car, pay for gas and parking. It also offers discounts to students and seniors.

Overall it is a great service that I recommend to anyone. Personally, I would much rather take Parkbus...

We explored Lions Head that was organised in conjunction with ActiveDays and we had such a great time! We had a bit of a rocky start because we could not find the pick up location (not the fault of the coordinators, i just can't read a map properly) but they were nice enough to wait for us. Once we got to the drop off point, we were given the option to go on a guided hike or go off on our own. We chose the guided hike with Ameer(sp?) leading the group and he was an awesome guide! He pointed out important plants to look out for (poison ivy) and the history behind the niagara escarpment. The hike itself varies between easy and intermediate, some parts are steep and slippery, but if you have a decent level of fitness and stamina, this hike should be no problem for you. We started our hike at around 12:30 pm and ended at around 6. Halfway through, we had lunch on lion's lookout overlooking the gorgeous Georgian Bay and afterwards, we speed-hiked to go down to the shore and chill by the beach. We really lucked out with the weather as it was supposed to rain but it was instead very sunny! This is our second hike with Parkbus but first with ActiveDays and we really can't recommend it enough. Thanks Carly, Ameer and the ActiveDays...