Travel Canada’s capital cities: Toronto, Ont.

Whether you’re planning a family road trip or a weekend staycation, check out our list of things to do in Canada’s capital cities.

Favourite indoor activity: There
is tons to do at the Royal Ontario
Museum (ROM) and the venerable
institution has recently lowered
its prices. Kids love the bat cave,
the dinosaur skeletons and their
biodiversity aquarium. rom.on.ca

Favourite outdoor activity: Take
the ferry over to Toronto Island
and go on the fabulous rides at
Centreville Amusement Park, stroll
through Franklin’s garden, or head
to the beach at Ward’s Island for a
swim. centreisland.ca

Best-kept secret: The tall trees at
Dufferin Grove Park provide ample
shade on a hot summer day to enjoy
the playground and wading pool,
play in the huge sand pit, and enjoy
other activities. dufferinpark.ca

Great place to eat: Take the
glass elevator to the top floor of
the Dragon City Shopping Mall in
Chinatown and enjoy great dim sum
at Sky Dragon Chinese Restaurant.
dragoncity.sites.toronto.com

Great place to stay: Ask about the
Delta Chelsea Hotel’s Family Fun
Package. This downtown hotel has a
Family Fun Zone that includes a Kid
Centre, and a 150-foot “corkscrew”
waterslide at their indoor pool.
deltachelsea.com

Worth the drive: The African
Lion Safari near Cambridge is a
drive-through wildlife park where
you can see more than 1,000 exotic
birds and animals. Or stay at the
Blue Mountain Resort on the shore
of Georgian Bay, where you can try
their alpine roller coaster, go hiking,
biking or swimming. Visitors to
Niagara Falls will love Great Wolf
Lodge, which besides its enormous
indoor waterpark, has this year
added a MagiQuest interactive
treasure hunt.
lionsafari.com; bluemountain.ca;
greatwolf.com

Diana Ballon is a Toronto-based freelance writer who loves
to travel with her husband and two kid

Originally published in ParentsCanada, July 2012