Welcome to Toronto, where skyscrapers meet street food and toddlers meet tantrums. Whether you’re a local family looking for a weekend escape or visiting the 6ix for the first time, these are the places we keep coming back to.
1. Toronto Island: your kids’ new favourite playground
Start with a ferry ride (a boat ride, so the kids are already won over). On Centre Island, Centreville Amusement Park has gentle rides and a carousel, and Far Enough Farm next door has goats, sheep and pigs.
Pro tip: bring the stroller. Little legs tire fast, and piggybacks on the ferry are less charming than they sound. Read the full Toronto Island guide.
2. Ripley’s Aquarium: underwater wonders
Sharks, jellyfish and maybe even a Nemo. Don’t miss the moving walkway through the shark tunnel. It’s like a lazy river, but cooler.
Fun fact: your kids may be so mesmerized that you get five whole minutes of quiet. Maybe. Read the Ripley’s guide.
3. High Park: nature, playgrounds and… peacocks?
Grenadier Pond for a calm walk, the giant castle playground for burning off energy, and a free zoo with peacocks, bison and capybaras. Don’t ask why, just enjoy it. Bring a picnic or grab a bite at the Grenadier Café. Read the High Park guide.
4. The ROM: where dinosaurs roam, and so do strollers
Ancient mummies, towering dinosaur skeletons, and a hands-on discovery gallery where kids can touch real fossils. It’s stroller-friendly, and the dim lighting in some galleries is a nap-time bonus. Read the ROM guide.
5. The AGO: free art for kids
Kids are always free, and there’s a hands-on art centre, giant sculptures and model ships. Grange Park’s playground is right out back. Read the AGO guide.
6. Casa Loma: channel your inner knight or princess
Secret passages, towers and grand staircases, made for make-believe. If your kids aren’t into history, tell them a superhero lives here and watch their interest skyrocket. The tower climb is steep, but the view is worth it. Read the Casa Loma guide.
7. Sugar Beach: giant pink umbrellas
You can’t swim here, but the soft sand, pink umbrellas and harbour views keep kids busy building sandcastles (and knocking them down). Grab a coffee and pretend you’re somewhere tropical.
8. The CN Tower: feeling tiny
Ride the glass elevator, then brave the glass floor and look straight down. Let the kids squeal with delight, and try not to scream yourself. Read the CN Tower guide.
9. St. Lawrence Market: snacks on snacks
A peameal bacon sandwich for you, fresh fruit or pastries for the kids. Go early to beat the crowds and grab the best seats for a snack break. Read the market guide.
10. Sankofa Square: city sparkle
The square at Yonge and Dundas (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square) has bright screens, music, fountains and free events. It’s a fun spot for some urban people-watching without committing to anything.
Toronto, sorted
Whether you’re dodging peacocks in High Park or pretending to be royalty at Casa Loma, Toronto delivers family fun in every corner. Grab your stroller, your snacks and your sense of humour, and don’t forget a free scavenger hunt for each stop.
Bonus: if all else fails, ice cream in Kensington Market works wonders.