There's so many things to do with kids in Toronto, from kid-friendly museums, galleries and Toronto attractions to amusement parks. If you are bringing children to Toronto, here are some tried and true ways to keep them entertained.
1. The CN Tower
Photo Courtesy Tourism Toronto
Want to be on top of the man-made world? At 1,815 feet the CN tower is the tallest free standing structure in the world and it is located in downtown Toronto. You can take the children up a glass elevator to the 1,122 foot glass floored outdoor observation deck for a bird's eye view of the city. Visit our CN Tower visitors guide for details.
2. Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Image: finest-images, © ROM 2007. All rights reserved.
A discovery gallery at the Royal Ontario Museum and other interactive exhibits mean everyone's senses get a workout and kids stay interested.
The ROM's central location makes it an easy trek for the family.
The ROM's central location makes it an easy trek for the family.
3. Centre Island / Centreville Amusement Park
Photo courtesy John Walthour
Located on Toronto’s Centre Island, Centreville Amusement Park is reminiscent of simpler times and features pony rides, antique ferris wheel and carousel. The short ferry ride to get to the island is an adventure for children in itself. This park is ideal for children younger than 12 as it has many rides that entertain but don’t scare.
Centre Island has loads of green space and bicycle paths plus wading pools for little ones to burn off energy.
Centre Island has loads of green space and bicycle paths plus wading pools for little ones to burn off energy.
4. Riverdale Farm
Image courtesy Friends of Riverdale Farm
Especially suitable for kids under 10, the Riverdale Farm is 7.5 acres of greenland set in the heart of Toronto. This replica of early 20th century Ontario farm life lets kids step inside a world where cell phones, fast food and TV do not exist. Riverdale Farm is in Old Cabbagetown, a beautifully gentrified and historic part of town, well worth visiting afterward.
5. Stay at the Delta Chelsea
Toronto's Delta Chelsea Hotel features family-friendly accomodation, including a separate indoor family pool with 130-foot corkscrew waterslide. Toronto's Delta Chelsea Hotelalso offers theatre babysitting, a creative kids' corner, and Camp Chelsea -- a free service that gives parents a little time off.6. Hockey Hall of Fame
Photo Courtesy Tourism Toronto
Not everyone is a hockey fan (a fact that Canadians find hard to believe), but the Hockey Hall of Fame is an outstanding facility, full of interactive exhibits that put kids or adults in the heat of NHL action. The Broadcast Pods let you call the action of some of the most famous hockey games, including the 1972 Canada / Russia series: "Henderson shoots, he scores." Also featured is a replica NHL dressing room (excluding the smell), a trophy room, and of course a gift shop.
7. Ontario Science Centre
Photo courtesy Ontario Science Centre
Learning can be fun, and the first step to convincing your kids of this may be a trip to the Ontario Science Centre. They can touch a tornado, listen to a heart murmur or crawl through a cave in this educational and interactive facility. It's a little out of the centre of town but worth the trip. Find out the latest exhibits at the Ontario Science Centre.
8. Ontario Place
Open from May to September, Ontario Place is definitely a day's worth of family entertainment. It boasts the largest outdoor soft play climbing structure in the country, pedal boats, a water park, the largest IMAX movie screen in Toronto and much more.9. The Toronto Zoo
See more than 5000 animals from all over the world on 710 acres of the beautiful Rouge Valley in Toronto. The Toronto Zoo is well laid out with six different zoological zones each filled with animals from a particular area of the world. There can be a lot of walking, so bring comfortable shoes and don’t miss the award winning African Safari, the Gorillia Rainforest and the Interactive Kids Zoo.10. Paramount Canada's Wonderland
Canada's Wonderland is a bit of a trek out of town but if you're into theme parks, it's a sure-fire way to amuse kids for a day. Canada's Wonderland is big, has loads of thrill rides, family rides, live shows, and a waterpark -- like a mini-Disneyland. One admission gets you onto all the rides.Canada's Wonderland is a twenty minute drive from downtown Toronto and about an hour by public transport.
