It's that time of year again — the flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and the motorcycles are cautiously emerging from their winter dens. The past few years have seen a number of both long-standing and short-lived motorcycle shops relocate or close their doors for good. This cycle-shop-shuffle can leave motorcyclists, new and old, wondering where to get their fix. Thankfully Toronto's motorcycle community is flourishing and though the landscape has changed, there are still plenty of options to buy gear out there. Here's the skinny on where to get kitted-up in Toronto.

Hiking boots in Toronto are easy to find if you know where to look. And it's a good thing. In the GTA we're lucky enough to have access to plenty of hiking trails and provincial parks, all within relatively close proximity to Toronto's limits. Whether you're portaging deep into Algonquin Park or simply hiking the Humber River, the most important piece of gear to own is an appropriate pair or hiking boots or shoes.

Hiking boots range in design from low cut to high cut, lightweight to waterproof. Here are my picks for 8 stores in Toronto to find the perfect hiking boots.

Public tennis courts abound in Toronto, but which ones are the best? With more than 100 city-run courts to choose from it's worth whittling this down to a shorter list. Sadly, many of the tennis courts feature rough, unpainted surfaces that tear through balls, and some have chain-link nets that can alter the flow of any game. With court numbers and access in mind, here are my picks for the top 10 public tennis courts in Toronto.

Every month, a group of my friends get together to try out a different type of fitness class in Toronto. As fitness enthusiasts, our monthly fitness outing is a great excuse to catch up and discover a different way to work up a sweat at the same time. For our latest fitness outing I convinced the girls to try one of Michael DeCorte's Jock Yoga classes.

A former bodybuilder and marathon runner, DeCorte understands why many tend to pass off yoga as a gentle stretching class because it won't give them the workout they desire. After completing his formal teacher training at Downward Dog in 2008, DeCorte developed Jock Yoga to challenge this assumption by offering an intense full-body workout through the use of fundamental yoga postures.

Toronto Airsoft provided me with my first opportunity to fire a handgun.

OK — so, I was firing tiny plastic pellets, not bullets or steel BBs, and I was practicing in a controlled range — but nevertheless, I felt immensely badass.

While the idea might twist the panties of a few concerned anti-violence crusaders, Toronto Airsoft has recognized and tapped into the growing airsoft community in Ontario.

Garden centres in Toronto are a gardener's best friend. Every great urban gardener will tell you that sourcing your plants and gardening supplies from a quality garden centre is key to your planting success. So what makes a good garden centre? A few key ingredients are imperative; a large selection of plants and/or other gardening essentials, helpful and knowledgeable staff, and a well-organized store, so even novice gardeners can find what they're looking for. With these criteria in mind, I scored the city in search of the best spots to get your garden on.

Check out my list of the top 10 garden centres in Toronto (in no particular order).