Looking for the perfect big city to visit with kids this summer? Toronto, Canada’s biggest city, has plenty of activities your kids will love. Check it out yourself – with these three great ideas to get you started.
Whether you’re considering a quick weekend trip or a week-long vacation, Toronto is an incredible city to visit with kids. These three things to do with kids in Toronto will provide hours of entertainment for any family and can easily be done with just one parent.
Jr. Jays Saturdays at the Ballpark
One of the best ways to spend a day in Toronto with your kids is at the ballpark. Toronto is home to the Blue Jays and on Saturdays all games with a 1:07 pm start time are designated Jr. Jays Saturdays. Before the game, the Jays set up outdoor activities for kids of all ages including batting cages, crafts and a pep rally. Once inside the stadium, kids are treated to a variety of events on the 200 level concourse.
After the game, kids are invited to run the bases. Parents are allowed to accompany their kids on the field so being solo is no problem as long as your kids line up together.
The Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is a great solo trip no matter what time of year you choose to visit. Currently the zoo is home to a whole lot of babies including two panda cubs, four white lion cubs, a polar bear cub and a baby rhino. The zoo is quite large and even on busy days it is easy to avoid the crowds. Areas like the Giant Panda Exhibit, the Polar Bear Exhibit and the Children’s Zoo tend to get busy but due to the layout of the exhibits the crowds do not tend to be overwhelming.
The Toronto Zoo staff are in abundance and well placed throughout the zoo. I can tell you from experience that if you lose a child the staff will immediately stop everything and radio across the zoo until your child is found. The staff members in the restaurants are also incredibly helpful. They will carry trays and help get your kids seated without being asked.
The zoo has had a busy winter and currently has many babies on display including a baby polar bear, baby giraffe and a baby gorilla.
If you are headed to the zoo after May 1, bring your bathing suits. The zoo has a large completely enclosed splash pad that is easy to visit alone with kids. Children of either sex are welcome in the family change rooms and the splash pad is designed so that it is easy to see your kids. I find it helps to match mine in bright colors but it’s usually unnecessary as I love running through the splash pad getting soaked with them.
Toronto Islands
Photo credit: Centreville Amusement Park
Located a quick ferry ride from downtown Toronto, the Toronto Islands are an incredible escape from the hustle and bustle of the city core. Centre Island, the biggest of the three, is home to Centreville Amusement Park, a small amusement park with 30 rides.
Centreville’s greatest features are that kids under 4 feet tall can ride almost every ride and most of the rides do not require an adult rider. It’s easy to spend the day at the park alone with any number of kids. Centreville is also set up in a small enough space that it is not exhausting for young kids to walk the park.
On Centre Island, you’ll also find a splash pad, wading pool, Franklin’s Children garden complete with frog pond and Far Enough Farm, a petting zoo. Admission to these activities is free. It’s easy to see why tourists and Torontonians rush to the Ferry dock on sunny mornings to escape to the islands.
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