As a native Torontonian, I can think of no better place to live and raise my kids, and my husband, a transplanted Westerner, reluctantly agrees. Toronto is clean. Toronto is cheerful. Toronto is culturally diverse. Summers are hot and humid, Spring & Fall are typically lovely. Winters can be harsh, but usually there’s no major snow on the ground until December, so bundle up and enjoy the outdoors! Not your thing? There’s plenty to enjoy inside.
The Art Gallery of Ontario
Newly renovated, with spaces designed by noted architect Frank Gehry, The Art Gallery of Ontario is home to some pretty impressive collections. But on weekends? It’s all about Off The Wall: The Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre. The AGO’s youngest visitors (aged 2-10) are encouraged to draw, sculpt, and create their own masterpieces in the over 1800 square feet of play space. Watch out, Group of Seven!
The Royal Ontario Museum
Located in the tony Yorkville area, The Royal Ontario Museum is host to such a variety of exhibits - from the Chanel boutique to the many hands-on exhibits and a most impressive collection of dinosaur skeletons. Kids and parents alike will enjoy the mummies, the real, live, bat cave (not of the Christian Bale variety), shrunken heads, samurai warrior armor, the lunar meteorite, as well as the hands-on Gallery of Biodiversity where you can try on field gear and handle specimens of flora and fauna.
Riverdale Farm
Open every day except Christmas, Riverdale Farm is one of our favourite places to visit. Set your toddler free to run with the herd of other kids in this tiny working farm in the middle of the city, then watch a cow being milked, count the goats, spy on the chickens, and enjoy freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies. Riverdale Farm is maintained by the city, is always free, and there’s a weekly farmer’s market on Tuesday afternoons from May to October. In summer months, the park outside the farm has a city-run wading pool open – freezing cold but clean and fun for a splash.
Centre Island
During the summer months, Centre Island is another of our favourites, though you can visit year-round. After a ten minute ferry ride, from the dock it’s a quick stroll to Centreville – a little amusement park perfect for pint-sized patrons. I loved it as a child and love that my daughter loves it now too. Toddler-appropriate rides are plentiful and there’s a little farm to explore as well. If you’ve had your fill of Centreville (or it’s past Labour Day), rent a bike (standard, tandem or quad) and explore the greenspace at your own pace.
Do The Zoo:
World-renowned and well worth the trip to the ‘burbs, The Toronto Zoo offers a splash pad in the summer, and very excited polar bears during the frosty months. It is a little isolated but there are good transit links to and from downtown. The Children’s discovery zone offers icky things your kids can touch, plus a fantastic sandbox where they can dig up dinosaur bones. The grounds are huge and this is truly a day trip. Pack a picnic lunch and don’t miss the majestic giraffes in the African Savannah, which is our favourite walk.
Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel – your guide to family travel with babies, toddlers and young children. Connect with her at www.havebabywilltravel.com or www.twitter.com/hvbabywilltrvl
