So you want to go to Toronto, Canada eh? Read on for all there is to do, at any time of year, in this great city within driving distance of many major US regions.

On the coast of Lake Ontario, Toronto is overflowing with fun and big things for the family.  The city is home to the world’s longest street, the 1178-mile Yonge Street, the Americas’ tallest freestanding structure, the 1814-feet CN Tower, and the world’s largest urban castle, the 200-room Casa Loma.  And if these numbers are not enough to impress a family, all of the fun attractions are sure to keep the kiddies entertained.

Great Fun for the Kids

(Toddlers to Age 10)

Toronto Zoo
316A Old Finch Avenue
Scarborough, Ontario M1B 5K7 Canada
416/392-5900
Set in the beautiful Rouge Valley, this is Canada's premier zoo, known for its interactive education and conservation activities. With over 5,000 animals representing over 500 species on 710 acres, it's considered one of the largest zoos in the world. Especially fun are the Zellers Discovery Zone, which features a Kids Zoo, a dynamic, interactive children's wildlife experience; and is summer -- Splash Island, an exciting 2-acre water play area and the 750-seat Waterside Theatre. Don’t miss the Gorilla Rainforest, which houses their male baby gorilla Sadiki, born at the Toronto Zoo. Accessible by car or public transportation.

Cedar Ridge Creative Centre
225 Confederation Drive
Scarborough, Ontario M1G 1B2 Canada
416/396-4026
This unique arts facility is housed in a historic mansion surrounded by lush gardens, and offers an exciting roster of creative arts programs for artists of all ages. The Creative Centre offers regular programs and special interest workshops for both adults and children. Here, you and your children can explore a variety of media, including crafts, candlemaking, chainmaking, and more. You can also check out the beautiful Cedar Ridge Gallery or try a walking trail at the adjacent park.

Ontario Place
955 Lakeshore Blvd West
Toronto, Ontario M6K 3B9 Canada
416/314-9900 or 866/ONE-4-FUN
This attraction is located on three beautifully landscaped man-made islands on which buildings and attractions were built. Central to the complex is a public marina and a major concert theatre, both busy in summer. There’s "Soak City," a water park with various slides and pools and the charming offshore Marina Village with Lake Ontario access and Cinesphere.  While Adventure contains paddle boats, a trip to Mars ride, and a Wilderness Adventure log ride, as well as the park’s newest attraction: The Wild World of Weather.

Fun for Older Children

(Up to Age 18)

Ontario Science Centre
770 Don Mills Road
Toronto, Ontario M3C 1T3 Canada
888/696-1110
Great for the young and young-at-heart is the Ontario Science Center. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the center can take an entire day to fully explore. An interactive treat for anyone that loves to be hands-on with science, the center has its staple exhibits: the Science Arcade, where the entire family can have a hair-raising experience jolted by (safe) electric currents, and the CA Planetarium, the only public stargazing experience in Toronto. In 2003, the center opened Kidspark, a fun playzone for all children under 8-years. Teens will love the interactive Challenge Zone where they can make hi-tech art or explore 3-D wallpaper.

Beaches
Toronto's Lake Ontario waterfront contains 11 public beaches that are monitored by lifeguards from June to August. The beaches are located throughout the city, from Marie Curtis Park in Etobicoke to Rouge Park in Scarborough, with the Western Beaches, Islands, and Eastern Beaches sandwiched in-between. Be sure to visit one of their beaches for a fun - if the water is not too chilly - activity on a hot summer day in Toronto. Check out their website for directions, tips on Beach and Sun Safety, and find out how the City of Toronto is keeping the beaches clean.

Toronto Maple Leafs (Hockey)
Air Canada Centre
40 Bay Street M5J 2X2 Canada
416/872-5000 Ticketmaster Canada
The Maple Leafs are Toronto's hockey team and part of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team is immensely popular across Canada and around the world, boasting one of the sport's largest fan bases. The regular hockey season is usually from early October to early April, with a pre-season in September. For die-hard hockey fans and anyone interested in a great museum, try the Hockey Hall of Fame at 30 Yonge Street (416/360-7765). It celebrates the history of ice hockey with exhibits featuring memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup. There are also various interactive activities, such as a high-definition presentation of The Stanley Cup Odyssey which tells the story of a new country, a new game, and the single trophy that ignited a national passion. Additionally, museum guests can fire a puck at a virtual goalie, call the play-by-play or just simply explore the largest hockey memorabilia collection in the world.

By the way, the Rogers Centre (416/314-1707), formerly the SkyDome, is a sports arena in the heart of Toronto that is home to two major sporting teams: baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays and football’s Toronto Argonauts. In addition, since its opening, the venue, with the world’s first fully retractable roof, has hosted more than 2,000 events and concerts. If your family can’t catch a game or a show, you can take an hour-long tour that features the Blue Jays Hall of Fame, the press box and a museum with memorabilia from past concerts.

Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen’s Park
Toronto, Ontario Canada
416/586-8000
The Royal Ontario Museum, affectionately called the ROM, boasts an astounding collection of dinosaur bones and other fossils of creatures from the past. Kids will love watching the digital presentations that show how the skeletal structures were assembled for the exhibits. And if bones aren’t enough, there is also a fascinating collection of more than 1,000 specimens that shows the diversity of animal life on the planet. The interactive Discover Gallery features a dinosaur dig, costume area and a kid-size tipi. Lastly, any family with passion for the history should check out the traveling exhibits, Dead Sea Scrolls, for example, will be on display at the ROM until January, 2010. And a tip for inquisitive children, avoid the elevators; the east staircase by the Rotuna features two authentic, giant carved totem poles, the largest of which is over 80-feet tall.

Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People
165 Front Street East
Toronto, Ontario Canada
416/862-2222
The Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People (LKTYP) uses live performance to validate the common experiences young people encounter as they grow up in an increasingly complex world. The performances are designed to help children and youth identify with the issues they face today and to offer a platform for addressing these challenges in an entertaining way. It's the largest non-profit theatre company for young audiences in Canada and presents new Canadian plays, innovative works and classics from children's literature throughout the season. Check the theatre's website for what’s playing when you're there, and whether it is small child or older child appropriate.

Fun for the Family

Toronto Neighborhoods
Visiting the city of Toronto can be a global experience, with over 100 languages and dialects being spoken in greater Toronto. Experience delicious food in authentic Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, feel like you're shopping in Milan in Corso Italia or Little Italy, check out the specialty shops in Greektown (location for "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," smell exotic herbs in Koreatown, try on traditional clothing in Little India, eat delicious desserts in bakeries of Little Poland, or eat delicious cheese in Portugal Village. Don't forget about some of the city's other neighborhoods, such as Cabbagetown, the Historic District, the Fashion and Entertainment District around The Eaton Centre (one of the world's largest underground passageways connects many neighborhoods to this mall), and Kensington Market.

Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay West
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2G8 Canada
416/973-4000
A non-profit organization since 1991, it serves as a host for community festivities and children's events, including Harbourfront Centre camps, a reading series, an outdoor skating rink, an exhibition space, and much more. Check their website for current events.

Bata Shoe Museum
327 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1W7 Canada
416/979-7799
Right next door to the ROM is the Bata Shoe Museum. The boys of the family may not be too crazy about this stop, but a quick glance at some of the most amazing shoes in history should be arranged. The Museum has over 12,500 shoe artifacts from all over the world and across time. All shoes cannot be displayed at once, so Bata has a constant rotation of exhibits, although there is the permanent “All About Shoes” display which follows the 4,500 years of shoe history. Some noteworthy shoes: Marilyn Monroe’s red leather pumps and John Lennon’s “Beatle Boot.”

CN Tower
301 Front Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5V 2T6 Canada
416/868-6937
For a spectacular view of all of Toronto, families must visit the CN Tower. A great spot to refuel after a morning of sightseeing, have lunch at the Horizons Restaurant, located more than 1,500 feet above the city. The menu features “Toronto’s Best Burger,” plus a relatively inexpensive (but limited) children’s menu. After your meal, explore the observation decks: The Look Out Level (1,136 feet) and the Sky Pod (1,465 feet). Brave family members can walk, jump or lay across the glass floor, which looks straight down onto the streets of Toronto. The tour guide claims that, although more frightening to stand on, the reinforced glass is actually sturdier than the regular floor. Also, from the top level, on a clear day, the mist from Niagara Falls can be seen if you have your binoculars. After relishing the views of the Toronto, head back to the ground floor and experience either the 4-D motion ride, Himalamazon, or enjoy “The Height of Excellence,” 15-minute movie about the construction of the CN Tower. Both are included in the expanded admission package.

Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1G4 Canada
416/979-6648
Located in Toronto's downtown Chinatown, the AGO is the tenth-largest art museum in North America. Expanded and recently reopened to the public in November 2008, the museum’s collection includes more than 79,000 works or art spanning from the 1st Century to the present day. It includes an extensive collection of Canadian art, as well as work from renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, and Andy Warhol. The museum has an impressive collection of African art, sculpture, and contemporary art.

Canada’s Wonderland
9580 Jane Street
Vaughan, Ontario L6A 1S6 Canada
905/832-8131
A summertime amusement park containing more than 200 attractions, it includes water slides, roller coasters, and other fun rides. There's an International Festival with rides themed from around the world, and the Medieval Faire with rides such as Night Mares in which riders are "caged" in a large rotating wheel. There are also many interesting restaurants to try, such as the Traveler’s Roadside Café, International Street Starbucks, and The Orbiter. Formerly Paramount Canada's Wonderland, this popular park was purchased by Cedar Fair LP in June 2006 and recently unveiled five rollercoasters, three thrill rides and many new live events.

Details, Details...

If you are not close enough to drive to Toronto, consider Air Canada for all your flying needs.  The company recently renewed its entire North American fleet giving passengers new interiors on all aircraft featuring newer (and bigger) seats and a personal entertainment system which includes hundreds of hours of movies, TV programming and music on demand.  With options like these, your children will be more than satisfied on their journey to and from Toronto.

For more information about Toronto, visit the city's official Visitors Bureau or call them at 416/203-2600 or toll-free 800/499-2514.  Please note that Toronto is a participant in the CityPass Program which includes admission to the following popular attractions: Toronto Zoo, Ontario Science Center, Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma and the CN Tower for one price, reflecting a substantial savings off individual tickets. 

To find lodging in the area, see Toronto Hotels.