Toronto has all the elements of a world-class city: iconic skyline, ridiculously good food, stellar museums, a rich culture of migration and immigration. And while most big cities are defined by relentless ambition and a “never sleep” mentality, Toronto diverges a bit. It leans more into an arms wide open, welcoming vibe. It’s kid-friendly and downright nice. Almost “Midwestern nice” which made our whole family feel even more at home in this cosmopolitan city of ~3.3 million.
Even though it’s a cool city, it can be daunting to navigate and we’ll just say it – unrealistic – to totally “go with the flow” in a city as grand as Toronto, especially if you plan to visit for only a handful of days with kids (and grandparents). To help you plan an epic trip to Toronto, we’ve done some of the hard work for you.
Here’s a list of our favorite kid-friendly sights around Toronto. After spending a week in the city, exploring several neighborhoods, waterfront parks, museums and more, these are the hot spots that made our first visit to Toronto extra memorable. We’ll also mention that the adults enjoyed these sights just as much (and sometimes even more) than the kids.
What To Do in Toronto with Kids
Get Up Close to Sharks, Rays and More
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is one of the most-visited family attractions in Toronto and after checking it out ourselves, we totally get the hype. It’s awesome!
Inside there are over 50 exhibits including four touch pools. Our favorite exhibit was the Dangerous Lagoon. In this exhibit you stand on a slow-moving glidepath walkway and are surrounded by a huge, acrylic tunnel. It’s like you are standing in a submarine, gliding through the sea. As the path moves you will see sharks, green sea turtles, stingrays and all kinds of fish swimming around you. It’s by far the most remarkable aquarium exhibit we’ve ever experienced. We also learned that this tunnel is the longest underground viewing tunnel in North America. See, we told you Toronto was a cool city. We also loved the floor-to-ceiling jellyfish exhibit and the stingray touch pool towards the end.
We spent 2 hours at the aquarium. We didn’t have to constantly compete with huge crowds because we arrived early in the day and decided to check it out on a Tuesday (weekends tend to be more crowded). After we entered the aquarium, several busloads of school-aged children were dropped off which caused some congestion at times but on the whole, it was less chaotic than we expected it to be. Also, if anyone gets hungry there is a café about halfway into the exhibits alongside a bunch of interactive things for kids to check out and burn off some energy on (like a slide and tunnel). Restrooms can be found throughout the building.
Tip: If you plan to visit Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, we cannot stress the importance of purchasing tickets online in advance. We purchased Flex Ticket General Admission tickets because no reservation time is required. We were able to arrive at any time we wanted during the day we purchased the tickets for. This was very important because it took our family a bit longer than anticipated to get out the door in the morning. Timed tickets reserve your entry time for the date you select and might be a few bucks cheaper. With either ticket, once you are in you are welcome to stay as long as you like. Visit the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada main website for the most up-to-date ticket information.
Visit a Horticultural Gem for Free
Located in Toronto’s Garden District, Allan Gardens Conservatory is a series of connected Victorian-era greenhouses. It’s an excellent spot for plant and architecture lovers. We still can’t believe this spot was FREE to visit!
The main conservatory is called the Palm House. It has been open since 1910. This is an excellent spot to check out on a rainy day or if it’s cold out. It’s open 365 days a year and there’s a children’s conservatory too although we loved the tropical house the most. The surrounding gardens are also worth a stroll around. We spent some time watching the dogs run around the designated dog park and had fun sitting under a homemade wigwam that was set up from a previous outdoor exhibit. The Allan Gardens Conservatory is near Toronto’s city center and accessible via public transit. If you drive here, like we did, be prepared to park on the street (for a fee) and walk. We discovered the parking lot on the property but it is extremely small – no more than maybe 5 parking spots and most were designated accessible parking spaces.
Browse food stalls at St Lawrence Market
Browse food stalls and nosh on any type of food your heart could desire – be it cheese, sweets, fruit, lobster and more. This is the most famous market in the city and as such it can be very crowded. It’s made up of two separate buildings. The South Market was our favorite. It’s a huge brick building with a cast-iron ceiling said to be inspired by London’s St. Pancras train station. The North Market was renovated in 2025 and it’s more an upscale antique market. If you only have time to check out one building, opt for the South Market. Pro Tip – both have free, public restrooms available for use but there’s almost always a line for the Women’s facilities.
Hike at the largest urban park in North America
Beyond Toronto’s stunning architecture and soaring skyscrapers, you’ll also find green spaces and access to nature all around Toronto. For the best nature views and hikes, head to Rouge National Urban Park. You will find this National Park on Toronto’s easternmost edge, in the Scarborough neighborhood. It’s also where you will find the Toronto Zoo.
We spent half a day hiking here and were amazed at how far removed from the city we felt while out on the trails. We found most trails to be easy and accessible – perfect for kids of all ages. We loved being able to comfortably use our stroller on the Tallgrass Trek Trail, especially because it wasn’t a very shaded trail. Even though we enjoyed our family time at this National Park, we made several mistakes along the way. You can read all about them and hopefully learn from our mistakes too, in this blog post.
Explore Toronto’s Old Town
The old part of Toronto is called the Distillery District. The buildings here were once an operational distillery but have since been revitalized into a cultural hub in Toronto. This was our first stop when we arrived in Toronto, and it made for an excellent introduction to the city. We spent a few hours wandering the charming, cobblestone streets, taking photos, ducking into boutiques and shopping for postcards. There were a lot of fun photo opp spots including a huge Coca-Cola mural, the heart sculpture on Gristmill Lane and several art installations.
Also, since no cars are allowed in this part of the city, we felt very safe and unhurried as we explored this district; stopping frequently to snap photographs. It was also lightly raining when we arrived so being inside for parts of the time was perfect. I imagine if it was a nice summer day there would be even more activity or entertainment to be enjoyed, especially because this part of the city is known to be a venue for live music and festivals.
Eat at Fat Pasha
The remarkable mix of cultures in Toronto really came through in the food scene. Ethnic cuisines were integrated more here than in other big cities we’ve visited. Luckily our little one is down to taste anything, so we were able to eat at some phenomenal restaurants. If you aren’t visiting with picky eaters, dinner at Fat Pasha is one of the greatest things you could do in Toronto.
Specializing in Israeli-inspired dishes, Fat Pasha serves colorful, bold plates created by Chef Anthony Rose. We started with a dipping sauce trio – ask for recommendations if you are unsure of what to try. The standout dish for us was the 1/2 roasted cauliflower made with skhug, tahina, halloumi, pomegranate seeds and pine nuts. The food is of a high level of cooking yet approachable and served in a comfortable, casual setting. We recommend a table on the back patio. Book reservations to secure a table. High-chairs available upon request.
*If you’re traveling with picky eaters, a great place with eats for everyone is Mill Street Brewpub. They have local classics like poutine, a vegetarian section on their menu and chicken tenders with a side of fries for those less adventurous eaters. Plus, it’s located in the Distillery District.
Ride the ferry to Centre Island and spend the day exploring
The Toronto Islands is an archipelago or a collection of small islands and islets. These islands are car free and are connected so it is possible to walk between all three. The islands make for a fun escape from the city proper. Here you will find bike paths, picnic areas, beaches (including a clothing optional one), the Centreville Amusement Park, lighthouses and a boardwalk. But perhaps one of the best things the islands offer is a spectacular view of Toronto’s Skyline. If all you plan to do is take the ferry across to snap some photos with the city as your backdrop, it’s worth doing.
We dedicated half a day to visiting Toronto’s Islands because we knew this place was going to pack a lot of punch into its 1.28 square miles. The Toronto Islands are technically made up of 15 different islands but the three main ones and the three that you can reach via ferry are: (1) Ward’s Island, (2) Centre Island and (3) Hanlan’s Point.
Ward’s Island is the residential part of the islands and offers visitors a glimpse of creatively decorated cottages. You will also find the least busy of the island’s three beaches on Ward’s Island. Hanlan’s Point is known as “Canada’s Coney Island” and is where you’ll find the beaches. Centre Island is where the amusement park and the Far Enough Farm are. The islands are connected so it is possible to walk between all three. You could also bike the trails that stretch across the archipelago. It’s 4 miles across. We chose to take the ferry to Centre Island because that is where most of the main attractions are, including the majority of children’s activities.
The best things to do and see on Centre Island
Far Enough Farm – this farm is fully functional and always free to visit. Kiddos can interact with lambs, cows, pigs, goats and other animals. It is like a small petting zoo and is one of the oldest attractions in the city. Most people spend 1-2 hours here. We spent about 20 minutes because there weren’t many animals out when we went.
Centreville Amusement Park – this is a small park but wildly popular among families visiting the islands. There is no fee to enter the park. You only need to purchase tickets if you are going on rides. You can pay for a day pass or pay to go on just the rides you want to. We visited a few days before the park officially opened so we did not go on any of the rides. I guess that means we will have to do a return trip!
Gibraltar Point Lighthouse – the oldest lighthouse in the city. It’s a historic landmark and rumored to be haunted by the ghost of its first keeper.
The Boardwalk – this is 1.5 miles long and runs from Centre Island to Ward’s Island. If you are looking for something relaxing to do on the islands, this is it!
Cherry Trees – in 2011, 30 Japanese cherry trees were planted on Centre Island and these are lovely to see when in full bloom (typically late April to early May). We just missed their blooms on this trip.
Franklin’s Children’s Garden – the garden is based on the characters from the Franklin the Turtle stories. There is a turtle pond and splash pad in this park.
Olympic Island – this is where you will find the absolute BEST view of downtown Toronto from the islands.
You can get to Olympic Island from a bridge just east of the ferry terminal (about a 5–7-minute walk) or via a bridge that is by the swan ride at the amusement park. This spot tends to be a little less crowded, but it always depends on when you visit (a weekend during peak season and everywhere on the islands will be congested and crowded). It’s a big open green park space right along the waterfront. Fun Fact: play on the grass is encouraged all over the Toronto Islands.
How to get to the islands
The cheapest and most popular way to travel to the Toronto Islands is by ferry. The ferry is operated by the City of Toronto and is how we chose to travel to the islands. Another option is a private water taxi or tender.
Ferry tickets can be purchased in Toronto at the terminal or bought online. Strollers, wheelchairs and bicycles are allowed on the ferry.
Ferries depart the city from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal which is commonly called the ferry terminal or “the docks.” You will find the terminal at the foot of Bay Street in the Harbourfront district. The closest intersections are Bay Street and Queens Quay. Another landmark by the terminal is Harbour Square Park East. Parking near the terminal is limited and pricey.
It was so much fun boarding the 10-minute ferry from Toronto mainland to Centre Island. It felt a bit like waiting in line at a theme park. The air was buzzing with anticipation and a faint smell of sunscreen. Kids of all ages were playing, different languages were being spoken, and the sense of community was palpable. While the ferry ride was very short, it was one of my favorite moments on our trip to Toronto.
How much does it cost to get to the islands? The ticket price is for round trip fare. You don’t need to show your ticket on the way back to the city. Here are the ticket prices at the time of our visit (May 2026): Adults $9.57 CAD for adults, $6.15 for students and seniors, $4.51 under age 14 and free under 2. For the most up to date ferry ticket prices and information, visit: https://torontoisland.com/ferry.php
Know before you board the ferry
It does get cold on the ferry ride so bring a sweater or blanket.
For the best photo of the city skyline and waterfront you will want to make your way to the upper deck.
Centre Island is the most popular of the three ferry destinations, so the ferries travel to this destination the most.
Wheelchairs are available for use when you reach Centre Island during peak tourist season. We needed one for someone traveling with us and found out that these are available free of charge but not all the time. Safe to assume wheelchairs will be available if Centreville Amusement Park is open.
What About the CN Tower?
We’ll admit it: we did not travel to the top of Toronto’s most iconic landmark, the CN Tower. But we did think long and hard about it. So many told us that a CN Tower visit was essential to any Toronto Trip but in the end we decided that wasn’t the best option for our family. A trip to the top would have granted us the chance to walk outside the tower at 1,168 feet above street level. What ultimately deterred us from this experience was:
- The cost of the tickets. This is not a cheap sight to visit with general admission tickets costing $47. That cost only goes up if you decide to pony up for the Edge Walk (which we hear is thrilling) or dinner at the 360 restaurant – which other families we know raved about.
- The crowds – this spot crazy popular among tourists. The thought of having to content with hundreds of folks vying for the same selfie spot was a turn off.
- Lastly, we didn’t’ want to have to wait an hour to get through all the lines – security, ticket and elevator. We would have waited and likely arrived with some cranky passengers.
Instead, we opted to enjoy views of the CN tower from the street. One of the best spots we found to take photos with the CN Tower in the background was Rees WaveDeck.
The Rees WaveDeck is part of Toronto’s “Blue Edge” meaning it’s a public space that provides lakeside access to the city’s waterfront.
Our Top Tips for Traveling with Kids (Especially Young Ones)
While we are still new to traveling with a kid especially internationally (Toronto was our first, official international trip as a family) we have learned a thing or two about how to best travel with kids. Here’s our top three tips for traveling with kids that will make travels more fun and run a bit smoother too:
Set your expectations a teeny tiny bit lower than if you would if traveling without kids.
Set your expectations a teeny tiny bit lower than if you would if traveling without kids. You’re going to run into the unexpected – like your little one just having to touch a cactus at a botanical garden and having to get checked out by a medic which derails the rest of the plans for the days. Things happen or maybe you picked a place you thought the kids would really enjoy and it turns out they just aren’t ready for it quite yet (insert any history museum without interactive exhibits here).
Don’t overpack the day.
You likely won’t be able to visit two museums, a hip restaurant and check out a whole neighborhood in one day. We chose one activity for the morning and one for the afternoon which seemed to work well. We didn’t feel pressured to see and do everything nor did we feel rushed. Our daughter was able to linger at the places and spaces she wanted.
Pick one place to stay for the entire trip.
Instead of moving from city to city and hotel to hotel we booked an Airbnb in Nobleton, a suburb of Toronto. We stayed for the full week. The spot we chose had excellent amenities including an indoor playroom/gym and an outdoor pool with playhouse. It was also within walking distance of parks. Yes, it meant we were stationed outside the city but staying at the same place for the entire trip helped our daughter adjust to being away and helped her sleep better at night. 10/10 worth booking accommodation in the burbs.
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning a family trip, especially an intergenerational trip, we propose Toronto! We found the joy of an epic vacation with our family in this Canadian city and had no problem creating an itinerary to appeal to the entire family.
Being our first time in Toronto, we wanted to do a lot of the “greatest hits” – the St Lawrence Market, aquarium, selfies with the CN Tower. Thankfully, several sights were all a stone’s throw of one another, so we were able to visit them all, as well as Centre Island, and Rouge National Urban Park. Because we visited Toronto in the last week of May, most sites were on the quieter side, without any long lines. And seeing as we stayed at an Airbnb in the burbs with a large, heated saltwater pool, everyone got a full day of relaxation consisting of zero museums or cultural/historic site stops. We don’t typically build in time to relax when traveling but I’m so glad we did on this trip. It was the perfect way to share what we loved the most about Toronto with each other and recharge before the drive back to Wisconsin.
-Alyssa, Justin + our little international traveler (officially)
P.S. While we will never leave our home city, Milwaukee, we did find ourselves casually browsing the real estate listing prior to our departure.
Disclaimer: Parks and Planes strives to accurately describe and document details as experienced during the date and time of the visit. Please travel safely when following this itinerary and visiting recommended sites and places mentioned in this blog post. As always, all opinions, photos and content are our own. We only recommend places and products we love!
