The Bat Vekoma Boomerang
coaster at Canadas Wonderland
by Loozrboy

There are tons of places to visit and things to do for kids and families in Toronto, one of the most beautiful cities in North America. Although you can find almost everything you can think of in Toronto, sometimes it can be too difficult to find the right activity for your little ones. Here are several attractions and activities that will definitely entertain your kids during your stay in Toronto.

Centre Island

Ferries depart from 9 Queens Quay West

Centreville Carousel by Ryan

Every fifteen minutes, a ferry leaves from the Toronto Ferry Docks and takes its passengers to an oasis of peace, fun, and laughter. This destination is the perfect place for a day trip with young children. The Centreville Theme Park is the most popular attraction of this wonderful island, and with its more than thirty rides and attractions, it’s a dream come true for every child. The park is designed to amuse kids as much as possible for the whole day. When visiting Centre Island, you definitely shouldn’t miss Franklin Children’s Garden, a delightful park inspired by the famous series of books by Paulette Bourgeois. Both the garden and the amusement park have free admission. If your loved ones like animals, be sure to visit the Far Enough Farm petting zoo.

Fantasy Fair

500 Rexdale Blvd (inside the Woodbine Shopping Centre)

Fantasy Fair
Bumper Boats Attraction

If it’s too hot or raining outside, take your kids to Toronto’s largest indoor amusement park. Your little ones will have the opportunity to enjoy nine full-sized family rides, a three-level play village, midway games, an arcade, and free novelty (puppet/magic) shows. Most of the rides are kid-friendly, without any restrictions, and what’s even better is that many also allow adult accompaniment. If you’re planning to visit Fantasy Fair, be sure to take your kids to The Playvillage, which is a gigantic play structure that accepts all kids under sixty inches in height.

Ontario Science Centre — Kidspark

770 Don Mills Road

Whales Tohora Skeletons
of Sperm Whales by
Ontario Science Centre

OSC’s Kidspark is one of the best places for your children can play, learn, and explore the secrets of the world. Young scientists spend a lot of time here with their experiments and investigations. Splish, splash, drip, bubble, ripple, and pour in the new expanded water area, build a roller coaster and float balls in mid-air, and much more! Kidspark also offers many different workshops and special activities. Your kids will love Kidspark and will want to come back to conduct their new experiments.

 

Canada’s Wonderland

9580 Jane Street, Vaughan, Ontario

Looping Coaster at Canadas
Wonderland by Oliver Mallich

Canada’s Wonderland offers loads of attractions and activities for everyone. Planet Snoopy is the most beloved area where little riders can fly, whirl, dive ,and swoop through the best attractions. Furthermore, your kids can meet and play with their favourite heroes and cartoon characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Scooby Doo, and Dora the Explorer.

Zoos in the GTA

The Toronto Zoo

361A Old Finch Avenue

Zebras at Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is one of the best and largest zoos in Canada. It’s very popular, thanks to its extensive educational resources and noteworthy conservation activities. You probably won’t be able to see everything in the Toronto Zoo in one day due to its extremely huge area. However, there are many great places to visit in the zoo —especially for kids, such as the Zellers Discovery Zone, Kids Zoo, and the Splash Island Water Playground. A must-see is the incredible ten-acre Tundra Trek with an amazing five-acre polar bear habitat. Parents with younger kids appreciate the Toronto Zoo’s Family Centre, which is a private area for feeding and changing babies.

African Lion Safari

1386 Cooper Road, Cambridge, ON

Watusi in African Lion Safari

This family-owned wildlife park has a completely different approach to exhibiting animals. Visitors are “caged” in their cars and drive through “safari style” while the animals freely wander about in large habitats of two to twenty hectare reserves. But African Lion Safari is not only about watching animals in “safari style:” it also offers many great attractions, like Misumu Bay Wet Play area, Jungle Playground, a train tour, a lake cruise, and many other interesting activities.

Reptilia

2501 Rutherford Road, Vaughan

Kids in Reptilia

This unique indoor reptile and amphibian zoo is located in the city of Vaughan, just north of Toronto. Reptilia is a perfect place if you want to spend a day with your kids, have great fun, and learn something interesting at the same time. There are constant little shows during the day, which you are free to attend. The staff is very friendly and willing to answer all your questions. Don’t forget to visit the Kids Zone and let your little ones dig for treasure in a sandbox that promises to have little surprises waiting for them.

Lionel’s Pony Farm & Petting Zoo

11714 McCowan Rd., Stouffville, Ontario

Kids Having Fun at Lionels Farm

Lionel’s Pony Farm & Petting Zoo is one of the best-kept secrets in the GTA. It’s a great little petting zoo that is always very clean and has a large variety of animals and birds. Kids love Lionel’s Pony Farm not only due to its many great attractions, like the play castle and pony rides, but mostly because they can actually feed the animals. The petting zoo is open free to the public.

Water Parks

Soak City

955 Lake Shore Boulevard West

Soak City

If you and your kids love to splash about and have fun in the water then this is the right place for you! The only downtown Toronto waterpark offers loads of attractions for people of every age. Small kids can splash about in the children’s Waterplay Area. Enjoy a spectacular view of Lake Ontario while pottering about in a giant Lounge Pool. Daredevils will appreciate the crazy water slides like the Pink Twister and the Purple Pipeline or the Rush River Raft Ride.

Wild Water Kingdom

7855 Finch Ave. West, Brampton, Ontario

Wild Water Kingdom by Ivan Macri

Canada’s largest waterpark is a challenge for the toughest thrill seekers. Gain speed and whip through the dark tunnels on The Abyss and The Night Rider. Young ones can splash around in the Adventure Playground or the very popular Dolphin Bay. When tired out from the water slides, grab a drink and relax in the Caribbean Cove, which is a 6,000-square-foot swimming pool surrounded by a soothing environment and waterfalls.