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We recently had a chance to make a quick trip to Toronto. Having never been there, we were at a loss for how to spend our few days. After some research and chance exploration, we came across some family-friendly excursions! Here’s what we enjoyed the most in Toronto with our elementary school-age child and for ourselves:
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
This impressive indoor aquarium houses over 20,000 sea creatures from 450+ species. Its stunning exhibits and hands-on activities are designed to appeal to visitors of all ages. We loved that it’s entirely indoors — a perfect outing on hot summer days or during winter.
One highlight is the famous Dangerous Lagoon tunnel, where you ride a slow-moving walkway with sharks, rays, and sea turtles swimming all around you – an absolute thrill for kids. Interactive exhibits are everywhere: children can get their hands wet in touch pools to gently feel stingrays and horseshoe crabs, and the Discovery Centre offers a play area with an aquatic-themed playground and even a mini submarine. Daily dive shows (like watching divers feed the rays in Ray Bay) add extra excitement. Regardless of age, there are activities here for all your kiddos!
Pro tip: Ripley’s can get busy, so buy tickets online in advance and consider visiting first thing in the morning to avoid peak crowds. Strollers are welcome (large wagon-style strollers are not permitted, but the whole space is designed so you won’t miss anything if you follow the path).
Toronto Railway Museum
For train-loving kids (and parents!), this modest museum in the downtown Roundhouse Park offers a family-oriented and informative look into Toronto’s railway heritage. The museum is partially indoors (a restored 19th-century roundhouse freight shed) with plenty of outdoor fun in the surrounding park. In summer months, the whole site comes alive: a miniature train ride chugs along a loop of track in the park, delighting little ones as it whistles by real vintage rail cars.
Inside the museum gallery, you’ll find interpretive and interactive exhibits on Toronto’s railroad history – including a cool train simulator that lets visitors “drive” a virtual locomotive, a big hit with older kids.
Pro tip: The mini train and outdoor tours are seasonal (typically May to October). In winter, the museum’s indoor gallery remains open with slightly reduced hours, so you can still visit – just bundle up if you explore the rail yard. There’s no café on-site, but you’re steps from lots of family-friendly eateries in the area.
The CN Tower
Stepping into the CN Tower’s elevator, your family is in for a literal high adventure. This iconic tower, once the world’s tallest, delivers awe and excitement for all ages. A swift elevator ride shoots you up 112 stories in just about a minute, with glass panels in the elevator floor and walls so kids can watch the city shrink below as you ascend (thrilling or a little scary, depending on the kid!). At the main LookOut level, floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panoramic view of Toronto and Lake Ontario that will take everyone’s breath away.
Of course, the superstar feature for families is the Glass Floor – a section of the observation deck where you can stand on a see-through floor 342 m (1,122 ft) above the ground. Kids love this, often conquering their fears by lying down or jumping on the glass (which is engineered to be extremely safe – it can reportedly hold the weight of 14 hippos!). Nearby, interactive screens and displays point out landmarks and share tower trivia, adding an educational touch. For an extra thrill, you can go up to the SkyPod (447 m high) – on a clear day, even the kids might spot Niagara Falls in the distance.
Pro tip: Go early or on a weekday if possible — lines can get long, though the timed tickets help. Children 3 and under are free. A bundle deal is offered for admission to the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium for better pricing!
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Canada’s largest museum might sound serious, but the ROM is incredibly family-friendly, with engaging exhibits, interactive activities, and amenities tailored to children of all ages. This huge museum covers natural history, world cultures, art, and science, so there’s something to interest every kid (and adult!). The museum thoughtfully provides resources for families: it’s stroller-friendly with elevator access to every floor, offers family washrooms with changing stations, and has quiet corners and benches when you need a break.
One of the best features is the ROM’s commitment to interactive learning. The brand-new WonderWorks hands-on gallery was designed especially for kids aged 3–8 to explore in a playful, interactive environment (by the way, children four and under get into the museum for free!). Here, children can touch and play with everything – they might dig for dinosaur bones, examine fossils and minerals, or even try on costumes. It’s a perfect space to let little ones burn off energy while learning. And older kids aren’t left out: throughout the ROM, you’ll find “please touch” stations and live demonstrations.
Beyond the dedicated kids’ areas, the Bat Cave is a perennial favorite – an immersive walk-through cave with over 800 model bats and spooky sounds, giving kids a thrill without being too scary. The James and Louise Temerty Dinosaur Galleries are world-class, showcasing hundreds of fossils including gigantic skeletons like T. rex and Triceratops. Don’t miss the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity, where kids can see a real coral reef aquarium and touch tables of specimens (from snake skins to tiger fur). For those into ancient history, the Egyptian mummy displays and medieval armor will spark plenty of imagination, and the ROM often provides scavenger hunt sheets or discovery backpacks to make the visit into a game.
Pro tip: The ROM is huge – don’t feel pressured to see it all in one go (we certainly didn’t). Pick a few galleries your kids will love and take your time.
Toronto Zoo
Spanning 710 acres, the Toronto Zoo is an outdoor adventure and one of the best things for families to do in Toronto. It’s Canada’s largest zoo, home to over 5,000 animals, and is divided into regions like Africa, Australasia, and the Tundra Trek, so your family can “travel the world” in an afternoon. The Zellers Discovery Zone is especially a family favorite, featuring the Kids Zoo, Splash Island (a 2-acre water splash pad), and the Waterside Theatre for daily animal shows.
Despite its vast size, the zoo is well-equipped for families. The paths are stroller-friendly (you can even rent strollers or wagons on-site), and the whole facility is wheelchair accessible. There are picnic spots and snack bars, nursing areas for infants, and even a first aid center. To cover longer distances, we hopped on the Zoomobile, a guided tram that loops around the park – a fun ride for kids and a relief for tired legs. Keep an eye out for scheduled Keeper Talks and feedings, where zookeepers let visitors see animals up close and answer questions in an interactive show-and-tell format – these are both educational and entertaining, especially for older kids curious about wildlife.
Pro tip: Plan a full day at the zoo if you can — it’s large, and rushing through can be tiring. Bring refillable water bottles (there are filling stations) and sunscreen. The zoo allows you to bring your own food, which can be a big plus — picnic tables are throughout.
Parents Night Out at Don Alfonso
Once the kids are tucked in, parents can escape for an extra-special date night at Don Alfonso, a Michelin-starred and internationally acclaimed restaurant. Located at the top of the Westin Harbour Castle with panoramic and breathtaking views of Lake Ontario, Toronto’s harbor, and the city skyline, award-winning chefs serve up Italian cuisine inspired by the Amalfi Coast (explore their various menus here, diners can choose between a sophisticated prix fixe or an elaborate tasting menu).
As the only North American outpost of the famed Don Alfonso 1890, it was a treat to enjoy the moody yet inviting ambiance, which really set the mood for a romantic evening. Top-tier service by the staff rounded out a relaxing and indulgent night after keeping up with our little one the last few days. Can’t recommend this spot enough!
Each of these Toronto attractions offers a unique family experience that we really enjoyed. In a warm and kid-welcoming city like this, your biggest challenge is fitting all the fun into one trip! Enjoy your family adventures in Toronto and let us know what your favorite part was!
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