Family Friendly Getaway to Toronto

A weekend trip to Toronto can be exciting for the entire family. I had forgotten how fun it is to wake up in a hotel in a big city, go down for a swim and then take off for the day on a walking trip that will present all kinds of surprises and wonders for your children. Being in a city can be extremely family friendly if you plan strategically. Staying in a hotel that is centrally located is a must. The Fairmont Royal York is located perfectly for exploring the CN Tower, St. Lawrence Market, the shops of Queen Street and the ROM – Royal Ontario Museum. A clever feature offered through their in-room dining is a picnic lunch provided in a re-usable backpack they will provide you and your family with sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, drinks and water for you day outing.

We decided we wanted to walk in order to take full advantage of stopping along the way to explore and discover the unexpected. With map in hand we set out for the day heading towards Queen Street to poke around the shops before making our way to the ROM. The ROM is a wonderful museum and something I greatly appreciate bringing up a young family in a city without a proper museum. From the dinosaurs and ancient Egyptian exhibits to the featured exhibition – Dead Sea Scrolls – our boys loved the displays and interactivity at Canada’s largest museum of world cultures and natural history. The ROM has an excellent website that can greatly assist with your planning both at the museum and around the city, including information about Toronto, dining information and a comprehensive list of accommodation options.

Before heading to the museum we had discovered that there are Toronto City Passes that you can be purchased. For $59 for adults and $39 for children you receive a pass for 5 attractions in the city which include the CN Tower, Casa Loma, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Centre and the Toronto Zoo. Our boys were excited to go up the CN Tower and even though we were floating in the clouds it was a lot of fun…for them any way. Standing on the glass floor is not for the faint of heart. From there we experienced the Toronto street cars and made our way to Casa Loma. The legacy of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, a prominent Canadian financier, Casa Loma is an impressive mansion worth a visit. The wonderful view experienced from climbing the turreted towers and exploring the tunnel connecting the castle to the stables are a few of the features that make this a great place for kids to explore.

The only problem we had on our excursion to Toronto was a lack of time. We really needed a few more days to explore the other attractions and to further enjoy Canada’s largest city. We will be back!

To plan your family friendly trip to Toronto, it can be helpful to visit the Tourism Toronto website located at SeeTorontoNow.com