We are heading to a wedding in London but flying in and out of Toronto. We're thinking of spending a few days in TO...probably downtown but we will have a car.
What fun things are there to do with a toddler (2.5)? I was thinking either the Zoo (I'm not really a zoo fan but I hear it's a nice one), Ontario Science Centre and/or CN tower... I've been to the city a few times but never with a toddler in tow. Anything in particular she would enjoy?
Thanks!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
I'm not in Toronto but live about 2 hours away across the border. 
The aquarium is really nice! Actually top 10 in the world. I haven't been to the zoo yet but it's on the list for this summer. I've heard from Bees that it's a whole day adventure. There is also some sort of Toronto city pass that might be beneficial to you.
There is also Toronto Island that I've heard a lot about but haven't gone yet. That would be better for the summer though.
It's a fun city with a lot of good food! Have fun! Wedding in London?! I'm jealous - love London!
pomelo / 5573 posts
Centre Island is the top of our list of things to do this summer, you take a ferry across and they have a little-kid centred amusement park. I also highly recommend the zoo, it really is a great one and this summer they have baby panda bears, white lions, a polar bear and a rhino. Depending on when you come there might be a rib fest going on nearby, that's pretty fun. Also you could walk down to Harbourfront, there's usually a festival or music going on. And we have a new giant aquarium, although if you go buy tickets in advance, you can get them for a specific time and skip the line.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@erinbaderin: when is the rib fest?! We would totally plan our trip around that. 
Is it near the zoo!
pomelo / 5573 posts
@regberadaisy: They're in different cities around southern Ontario all summer. If you google Ribfest and the weekend that you'll be in town you should find one - usually there's a calendar but I can't find it this year. The Toronto one is the weekend of July 1 but there are also a lot around Toronto - Scarborough (and London) the weekend of July 30, Mississauga the 14th, etc
persimmon / 1379 posts
We are zoo members, and the kids love going--it is a great destination even in crummy weather because there are lots of indoor pavilions. Definitely an all day event.
The CN Tower is pretty fun, but not an all day event. We went with our kids (6 and 4) in March and had lunch at the lesser of the restos (not the revolving one) looking over Toronto Island and watching airplanes come and go. It was great! A helicopter zoomed by and we saw a few boats out too. It was great, but kind of pricey and not a full day activity, especially had we not stayed for lunch.
We love the aquarium too--it is such a great jam-packed location, and even though it is so often busy it doesn't feel it. It is great for all ages, and set up to maximize what you see. I was surprised by how quickly we made it through, so combining it with the CN tower is absolutely doable if you time it right!
We also love the ROM. My kids love to explore new galleries and end up in the kids area, trying on costumes. We can easily spend most of a day there.
We were Science Centre members for a few years, and enjoyed it a lot. For your child's age the main attraction would be the KidSpark area, which has a great water play zone, a mini grocery store, that kind of thing. It is always fun for the kids, and really tires them out!
Depending when you come, we also love heading to Centreville on Centre Island for a summer day out. It is a ferry ride across to an old-timey very small amusement park that is extremely fun for the kids and I think that your 2.5 would be able to ride a lot of the rides!
I have to get the kids ready for school, but I hope that helps!
pineapple / 12793 posts
The island is really great in the summer. My girls love taking the ferry and the petting zoo there is fun.
I don't really like the CN tower, I think it's expensive for not that much excitement.
The zoo is great, we're members and are there all the time. Love baby pandas!
The aquarium is awesome but very crowded on the weekends, that's a weekday activity for us.
My girls love Riverdale farm. It's a small farm in the middle of the city. I love seeing pigs against a horizon of skyscrapers. The neighborhood has the largest (i think) collection of Victorian homes in North America.
We also like wandering around Chinatown.
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
The zoo, the aquarium, Centre Island, and the Science Centre are all great options! Like @oliviaoblivia said, the aquarium is PACKED on the weekends, so try for a weekday if you can!
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
@regberadaisy: our city has a combination rib fest and craft beer festival. It's my favourite event of the year for sure!
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
@erinbaderin: @regberadaisy: @woodentulip: @oliviaoblivia: @Mrs. Oatmeal:
Oh these are awesome, thank you so much!!! we're going the end of May so hopefully we will get some nice weather. There's still snow here on the east coast
I think we will aim for the zoo and the island. We'll be in the city on the weekend, so we'll skip the aquarium - thanks for the heads up! I'm so excited to go to some good restaurants and IKEA (haha!) I wish we had more time but we will be in London for the bulk of the trip.
Are they (The zoo and island) big enough that we should bring a stroller? DD much prefers walking, but did sit in the stroller when we went to WDW last month because it was so big. I'm trying to decide if we need to bring one at all or can leave it at home.
I wish we were there for rib fest...ribs+beer would pretty much be DHs favourite thing ever haha
pomegranate / 3858 posts
@Charm54: For what it's worth, we've had great experiences at the aquarium on a Saturday morning. We just go when they open so it's quieter. My 2 cents
Agree with all the suggestions given above. We have some fun places to go! The zoo is really awesome - we were there on Saturday and had a great time (as always). Lineups for the pandas are long though.
pomegranate / 3858 posts
@Charm54: The zoo is definitely big enough to need a stroller. Lot's of walking - and the flow isn't great in some areas, so you need to backtrack. Pretty hilly in some places too. The island is quite big too and has a lot of walking trails. From the ferry to the main beach area is about a 15 minute walk or so.
pomegranate / 3858 posts
@Charm54: Also, I think London has a nice children's museum too...http://www.londonchildrensmuseum.ca/ We haven't been yet, but my parents live about an hour from London, and we were thinking about stopping in at the museum the next time we drive to my parents. Friends of ours go quite often and say it's great.
pomelo / 5573 posts
We always take a stroller to the zoo (@tinyperson: we were there Saturday too) although we don't usually use it too much. But the zoo is really big. However if you don't want to travel with a stroller you can rent one there, or they have the Zoomobile that you can use to go from area to area.
pomegranate / 3858 posts
@erinbaderin: Even if LO doesn't want to sit, it's great for lugging stuff around
coconut / 8483 posts
@Charm54: agree with other posters! We did the zoo pretty quick just before nap time (930-1230ish) and saw quite a bit. Definitely take a stroller. Lots of walking and a big hill.
pineapple / 12793 posts
@Charm54: my MIL is in London, there's a fun kids museum thing there and a fairy tale park that my LO has had fun at. Of course I don't know the names, but I'll ask if you like.
pomegranate / 3858 posts
@oliviaoblivia: Storybook Gardens http://www.storybook.london.ca/ and London Children's Museum http://www.londonchildrensmuseum.ca/
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
@tinyperson: @oliviaoblivia: that's super helpful, thank you! I will definitely check out both those places
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
@Charm54: we took the kids to toronto last year and had a lot of fun! if you want to do something indoors, I would go to the Children's Discovery Centre, the Aquarium or the science centre. My first choice would be the children's discovery centre though.
pomelo / 5326 posts
@Charm54: We love the Toronto Aquarium. We went first thing in the morning when it opened and there were no crowds.
As for London, Storybook Gardens and the Children's museum are both fun for kids, but they won't blow you away like the Ripley Aquarium in Toronto would. But if you're in London for a couple days, they're worth checking out. London also has great parks for picnicing and there are also nice beaches near by in Grand Bend and Port Stanley.
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
Love the islands 
I would definitely take a stroller. There is a little petting zoo, beaches, biked to hire, a splash pad, gorgeous walks.
The Science Centre is loads of fun, the ROM is good - dinosaurs and some hands-on stuff - Riverdale Farm is lovely but doesn't take long to get around.
The aquarium is fab, I used to go regularly and the earlier we turned up, the quieter it was. The CN Tower is right next to it so you can do them both together. I think if you eat a main course in the restaurant then you don't have to pay the entrance fee for going up the tower. Have fun!
pomelo / 5326 posts
@Charm54: London also has a Rib Fest at Victoria Park. It is July 28-Aug 1.
Oh @erinbaderin: already said that
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