Toronto with kids (3 days)

[red sky]

My daughter (11) is swimming in Markham in a few weeks and my wife, son (9) and I will be traveling with her. We are going to stay for a few days after the competition and are wondering if CP has any good suggestions on things to do or see in the surrounding area. We will have 3 days or so afterwards and will likely need to rent a car. Niagra Falls is on our list.

My wife is panicking because we haven't planned anything so help me help her please!

[activeStick]

Toronto is AMAZING in the summer, with a street festival happening seemingly every weekend. Taste of Danforth (Greek neighborhood) for example, is running Aug 11-13. The same weekend, there is Taste of Vietnam happening. Chinatown (Spadina and Dundas one) is holding a street festival Aug 19-20.

Salsa on St. Clair is a Latino-themed festival with food, etc. and runs July 8-9. Caribanna is Aug 3-7.

July 7 - 23 is Summerlicious (set prices for lunch and dinner at participating restaurants around the GTA).

Jays games are always fun! $1 hot dogs on Tuesdays and every Sunday is Jr. Jay's Day for the kids, where there are lots of stuff for the kiddies to do at the game, and kids are also allowed to run the bases before the game (no to parents though!).

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/tickets...r-jays-sundays

Honda Indy is at Exhibition Place from July 14-16. There's also Wonderland you could go with the family which is always fun!

Trinity-Bellwoods park is a very nice park where people go, lay down a blanket and have a picnic, play frisbee, do whatever. Check that out if you and your family would be interested in something like that. It's at Queen and Shaw.

Since you're going up to Markham, if you like Chinese food, tons of solid options up there for Chinese food (it's a city similar to Richmond, BC with a high concentration of Chinese immigrants).

[troutman]

Canada’s Wonderland
Hockey Hall of Fame
Ontario Science Center
CN Tower
Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto Island Park
Toronto Zoo

[bc-chris]

back when i was a kid we lived in southern ontario.

some things that were always super fun to do were...
royal ontario museum & planetarium (i absolutely LOVED going there)
canada's wonderland
jays games
the cne (but that is later in august)
the toronto zoo

if i was to go back now i'd definitely want to visit the hockey hall of fame

***edit - something you might want to look into - getting a "city pass". when my wife and i went to seattle we got one and it was a great way to save a bunch of $ and see lots of attractions.

https://www.citypass.com/toronto

[red sky]

Thanks all. How does the zoo compare to Calgary?

[Underdog]

Lots of good options already listed, I'll just add this...do not underestimate Toronto traffic. It's no joke.

[Sliver]

Casa Loma, guy.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Lots of good options already listed, I'll just add this...do not underestimate Toronto traffic. It's no joke.

Someone was telling me that it's the worst in North America? That shocked me.

[White Out 403]

Canada's wonderland is fun as hell. I thought I was gonna die riding the behemoth. Wonderful time.

[LChoy]

Originally Posted by red sky

Thanks all. How does the zoo compare to Calgary?

We had a season pass for many year. The zoo is much bigger than Calgary, although Calgary has the unique dino park.
Avoid the Canadian Domain, and see the brand new orangutan space.
Africa is the largest domain and probably the biggest draw. The waterpark is fun too but have to go early to grab a time.
Enjoy your visit

LChoy

[bluejays]

I grew up in Markham, so know the pool you'll be at. Go up the street to main street unionville for a nice simple stroll while your daughter is swimming. If you're coming to Toronto you have to take advantage of the food. Simply put it's one of the best places for food in the world because of the different cultures. You don't have to go full gourmet but just hole in the walls are fine - shawarma, thai, greek, smoked meat, all great. Actually there's a place about 10 minutes away from where you'll be called Sumalicious where the guy used to work at Schwartz and opened up a place in Scarborough. Just as good as Montreal. You'll also be what's seen as downtown Markham so go down the road to the still developing "downtown" where the movie theatre is. Good asian food all around. If you need any other advice, PM me. Happy to help.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I grew up in Markham, so know the pool you'll be at. Go up the street to main street unionville for a nice simple stroll while your daughter is swimming. If you're coming to Toronto you have to take advantage of the food. Simply put it's one of the best places for food in the world because of the different cultures. You don't have to go full gourmet but just hole in the walls are fine - shawarma, thai, greek, smoked meat, all great. Actually there's a place about 10 minutes away from where you'll be called Sumalicious where the guy used to work at Schwartz and opened up a place in Scarborough. Just as good as Montreal. You'll also be what's seen as downtown Markham so go down the road to the still developing "downtown" where the movie theatre is. Good asian food all around. If you need any other advice, PM me. Happy to help.

Adding Sumilicious to my list of spots to check out - thanks!

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Adding Sumilicious to my list of spots to check out - thanks!

While you're there there's a Thai restaurant in that same plaza called Jatujak. Really good restaurant as well. Sumilicious is just smoked meat hole in the wall but it's great (closed on Mondays if I recall though).

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by troutman

Canada’s Wonderland
Hockey Hall of Fame
Ontario Science Center
CN Tower
Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto Island Park
Toronto Zoo

Ontario Science Centre has reciprocal admission with Telus Spark. So if you have a membership in Calgary its free.

We stayed in Markham for a wedding and my kids liked the Legoland discover centre, yours might be a bit old for that unless they're really into Lego.

[8 Ball]

The Hockey Hall of Fame is amazing, I would highly recommend.

[InglewoodFan]

Ripley's aquarium is better than I thought it would be.

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[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by InglewoodFan

Ripley's aquarium is better than I thought it would be.

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Came to suggest this. If you either need a break from heat/smoke, or it’s a crumby day. The aquarium is awesome.

[bluejays]

Hockey Hall of Fame is a bit of a bust, I have to say. Most of us like the sport but just looking at gameworn jerseys isn't much of a cup of tea.


I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet but a Blue Jays game is a good idea for a few hours of family entertainment. Niagara Falls for sure. You could cross the boarder in to Buffalo for some shopping. Sister has two young kids and they did the Science Centre recently and it was fun for them (though younger than yours). Generally you guys in Alberta have the mountains and great trails and Toronto really doesn't have the calibre, so just wandering around downtown to see the people and cultures can be okay for a small bit too. CN Tower is a tourist trap. Aquarium is worth it, so I've heard. Wonderland is a full day for the kids too, and probably a must.

[you&me]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Came to suggest this. If you either need a break from heat/smoke, or it’s a crumby day. The aquarium is awesome.

Me too - my kids loved it, mostly because it's so unique relative to anything else that has a comparable venue in Calgary (yes, the CN tower is taller, the zoo is bigger, etc).

If possible, I would make Niagara Falls a day trip and minimize the amount of time spent there. The falls themselves are cool and something you (/your kids) should definitely see once, but the rest of the town is a dump and it feels like everywhere you turn is out to extract money from you, even more so than Vegas.

I'd see the falls and GTFO, then spend any extra time at Niagara on the Lake on the way back to Toronto... It's a beautiful little town.

[Whynotnow]

St Lawrence Market. Eat your way around.

We enjoyed the HHOF so your mileage may very.

The aquarium at the base of CN tower was a fun walk through that we did just before closing.

Canadas Wonderland exceeded expectations if you like rides.

Jays game is great.

Ferry out to Center island, rent bikes, grab some lunch, fun time.