Heading to Canada with kids? Scroll to find out the top 10 Toronto family activities you’ll definitely want to check out.
This post about Toronto family activities was co-written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Guest Post written by Sam of Sam Sees World.
Toronto is the largest city in all of Canada and is a great travel destination for families. There are activities that will appeal to all types of travelers and all types of children.
Whether your child prefers museums, zoos, games or running around there is something for everyone. The best part about these activities is that they are something everyone can enjoy!
They are kid-friendly but not only for kids, which is great for getting everyone involved.
The city of Toronto is an amazing place to visit. It has a great location along the shores of Lake Ontario, it is extremely safe, and it is accepting of everyone.
Therefore, if you are looking for a safe city that celebrates a plethora of different cultures, orientations, and traditions, this is the best place for you!
The combination of all these factors and more make it a great place to travel to with your family. So, if you are traveling to Toronto with your family here is a list of the 10 best things to do!
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10 Best Things for Families to do in Toronto
1. Dive Deep at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Ripley’s Aquarium is by far one of the coolest things to do in Toronto. It is an activity that everyone can enjoy and participate in too!
This indoor aquarium is located right downtown on the waterfront and showcases freshwater and saltwater marine life from all around the world.
The aquarium holds some pretty impressive sights inside. Such as the underwater tunnel you can walk through that gives you a 180-degree view of the marine exhibit. It almost feels like you are under the water with them!
Make sure you look around; a big shark or stingray could be right over your head.
Midway through the aquarium is the Discovery center for kids which has some touch pools, a playground, a few animal exhibits and more.
2. See over 5,000 Animals at the Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is the largest zoo in all of Canada. Due to its size, it is separated geographically, and the whole zoo is comprised of over 6 miles of trails!
Six miles of trails means that it is so big that its nearly impossible to see everything in just one day.
The best part about this zoo is that its main goals are education and science. The aim is to teach people of all ages to respect and protect wildlife.
Another great aspect of the Toronto Zoo is that it is made for families! It is stroller friendly, there are large paved paths, and you can rent strollers or wagons at the entrance.
In addition, there is a play area for kids, a merry-go-round, animal rides, and a summer splash pad.
3. Go to the Top of the CN Tower
The CN Tower is the most famous piece of Canadian architecture due to its prominent and towering presence in the Toronto skyline.
The tower is 1,815 feet tall and traveling all the way to the top of it is open to the public. If you have an adventurous family who loves a good thrill, you will really enjoy going to the top of the CN Tower.
The elevator ride to the top takes less than a minute and then you are high above the grounds and free to see the city from above. The views are amazing and offer a really nice way to see just how big of a city Toronto is.
If you have older kids and are looking for some more adventure, then you can even try the EdgeWalk. This is essentially hanging off the edge of the tower with only a harness! However, children must be over 13 and over 75lbs to participate.
4. Let Out Some Energy at Canada’s Wonderland
Canada’s Wonderland is a great place for families of all ages. It is one of the best and most popular attractions in Toronto, and for great reason.
There are rollercoasters and more mature rides in one area of the park for families with older kids. A waterpark with a wave pool, waterslides and lazy river which fits all types of families.
As well as an area for younger kids with a Planet Snoopy and KidZville. This area has smaller rides that are less intense than the older section and friendly characters to communicate with.
5. Visit Casa Loma
Every child, and family, wants to feel like royalty and in the Casa Loma castle in Toronto, this dream can become a reality.
Not many people know about the 20th-century castle in Toronto but it is a beautiful site and popular filming location.
Visitors are allowed to roam freely around the huge castle to areas like the library, the many bedrooms, the underground stables, the great hall and more!
It is a really fun place to explore with family because it is a really unique site to see in Toronto.
Casa Loma is open during all seasons and even changes and hosts special events depending on the seasons.
For example, they host a Halloween horror night in October and decorate beautifully for Christmas in December.
6. Eat and Play at the CNE
The CNE – Canadian National Exhibition – only takes place for the 18 days leading up to Labor Day, but if you are visiting during these days, going to it is a must.
The exhibition is located right on the waterfront and welcomes around 1.5 million visitors each year! It is a great place to enjoy some old fashion family time while engaging in some super fun activities.
The CNE offers carnival games, rides, a chairlift across the grounds, concerts, amazing food and beverages, and even a Mardi Gras parade.
This is a great place to spend some time doing different activities and enjoying each other’s company!
Also, the food here is amazing, it is super unique and tasty and a great place to try something new.
7. Go to the Ontario Science Centre
The Ontario Science Centre is the perfect combination of education and fun.
Your kids will be having so much fun they won’t even realize that they are learning about science. It is one of the top places to bring children for this reason.
The exhibits range from space to the human body to physics to the rainforest. All the exhibits are very hands-on and in the physics exhibit, children can even participate in some experiments.
Children can also listen to a heart murmur and feel a tornado!
The interactivity and education of the Ontario Science Center provides is unlike any other.
8. Run Wild at High Park
High Park is a 400-acre park with a plethora of activities for families. It’s by far one of the best parks in Toronto.
For one, you can walk through the winding trails surrounded by the tall trees. Or you can head to the huge playground which was partly designed by kids!
The park also has a small zoo filled with some really unique animals like capybaras, bison, and reindeer.
This offers a really nice family experience that is suitable for all ages. You can even stop at a grocery store before heading to the park and have a nice picnic in a grassy area.
9. Go for a Walk on the Waterfront
The Toronto waterfront is a newly developed hot spot in the city. The is a lovely pier along the water that offers a stunning view of the Toronto skyline from a distance.
The waterfront also has many activities available to the public such as art exhibits, gardens, and restaurants.
If you are visiting Toronto in the summer months you can also head to the famous Sugar Beach.
Although the water from Lake Ontario is quite cold, it is nice for cooling off in the humid summer weather that Toronto gets.
The Waterfront is also a great place to capture some nice family photos with the Toronto skyline and CN Tower in the background.
10. See a Sports Match
One of the absolute best things about Toronto is the multitude of professional sports teams it hosts. As a result, there is always some sort of sporting event that you can go see!
These sporting events are really fun to attend with kids if they are a little bit older. There is lots of cheering, good snacks, and a fun atmosphere!
If you are a baseball lover, you can watch a live Toronto Blue Jays game. If you are a basketball lover, you can watch a Toronto Raptors game.
However, the best sporting event to see in Toronto is an NHL hockey game!
As you may know, Canadians are crazy about hockey, therefore, the games are absolutely amazing.
Even if you are not a hockey fan, seeing a Canadian hockey team like the Toronto Maple Leafs play in their home stadium is a sporting event you will not soon forget.
Watching a sporting event is a really special way to bond with family and teach your children about a new sport in a different city.
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Where to Stay in Toronto with Kids
THE WESTIN HARBOUR CASTLE
The Westin Harbour Castle is conveniently located on the revitalized Toronto waterfront. This enables families to explore the best of the downtown area like Rogers Center, the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium.
They also have a Westin Family Kids Club to keep children entertained.
HOLIDAY INN TORONTO YORKDALE
The Holiday Inn Toronto Yorkdale is right across from Yorkdale shopping centre.
With over 280 stores, restaurants and services including subway access and GO BUS shuttle to the airport, they are the ideal location for your trip to Toronto with kids.
DELTA HOTELS BY MARRIOTT
The Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto is near Union Station, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena, and the Toronto City Centre Airport.
Families will love being near the funky Queen West shopping area and perusing the eclectic shops in Queens Quay. It’s also near art and theatre.
And kids eat free!
Samantha Karen is the founder of the travel blog Sam Sees World. She is a millennial traveler on a mission to seek the new and unknown so she can document her experiences and inspire others to travel this wondrous world.