Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around Toronto - 2021
2021's Best Places for Kids in the Toronto area!
The best places to take kids in Toronto, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Our Top 20 results page is an annotated list of the winners, both of the top 20 slots and of the category winners. But there is LOTS more to do in and around Toronto! After browsing the list below, check out our packed daily calendar, see what's happening this weekend, sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, and be sure to visit our Everything that's Free page! Plus we have comprehensive lists of birthday party venues, indoor play centers, classes, summer camps, and lots more!
1. Toronto Zoo
Your Toronto Zoo is committed to connecting people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction and we are excited to be welcoming back you and your families. On your next visit be sure to catch a glimpse of our endangered Amur tiger cub in Eurasia Wilds. To further enrich your visit, why not add on a Wild Encounter to get up close and personal with some of our animals! For more information, including hours of operation, or to book your next visit online, please visit our website.
2. Centreville Amusement Park
Centreville Amusement Park, located on the Toronto Islands, is the ultimate summer destination for families with young children. With over 30 rides and attractions this amusement park offers up a full day of family fun. Getting to Centreville is almost as exciting as the park itself. Everyone will enjoy the scenic ride across Toronto Harbour on the Centre Island ferry!
3. Ontario Science Centre
The Ontario Science Centre delights, informs and challenges the communities we serve, enriching people's lives and understanding through engagement with science of local, national and global relevance. Since 1969, the Ontario Science Centre has welcomed more than 51 million visitors, with an interactive approach that was the model for Science Centres around the world. It is the public centre for innovative thinking and provocative dialogue in science and technology, aiming to inspire a lifelong journey of curiosity, discovery and action to create a better future for the planet. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario.
4. Balls of Fun
Balls of Fun is North America’s ONLY children’s ball gym. Located in Mississauga, this 7,000 sq. foot gym is designed for children 6 months – 8 years of age. The gym space has two structures (with 7 slides), gym equipment, nets and a ton of balls to help children learn how to bounce, catch, throw, kick, and dribble. This is also a great space to practice ball sports with your children like soccer, basketball, and volleyball. This ball gym provides a large clean and safe space for children to run, play, socialize and have a ball! Book your play time and active parties at ballsoffun.ca.
5. Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is Canada’s largest museum showcasing art, culture, and nature from around the globe and across the ages. The ROM is home to a world-class collection of 13 million artworks, cultural objects and natural history specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. Explore special exhibitions, as well as the Museum’s permanent collections of dinosaurs, South Asian art and culture, gems and minerals, ancient Egyptian treasures, biodiversity, and much more.
6. My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Toronto area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them #3 in best places to take kids this year!
7. African Lion Safari
African Lion Safari is dedicated to the conservation of declining wildlife species. We strive to ensure that all guests have an enjoyable and educational day, as well as an opportunity to gain a better appreciation of the animals in our care. You'll get closer than you ever imagined to over 1,000 exotic birds and animals from around the world including majestic lions, graceful giraffe, and a crash of rhino!
8. Wet 'n' Wild Toronto
Wet 'N' Wild has SAFE, CLEAN, FAMILY FUN to cool off every summer! With tons of heart-pumping water slides and Big Surf, our half a million gallon wave pool, there is plenty to do all day. Looking for something relaxing? Try Muskoka Soakah - our lazy river! Take the little kids to the Jr. water slides so they can have fun like the big kids. Don't want to get wet? Make this summer the best yet at Wet 'N' Wild Toronto!
9. Toronto Botanical Garden
Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) displays a series of contemporary themed gardens spanning nearly four acres. The TBG offers a complete range of indoor and outdoor learning experiences for all ages including courses, lectures, workshops, special events, garden tours and an extensive horticultural library. Children’s programs for schools, community groups and individuals take place year-round in either The James Boyd Children’s Centre or outdoor Teaching Garden located within Edwards Gardens.
10. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Toronto
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto is an indoor, family experience with over 3 million bricks under one roof. Enjoy the Ultimate Indoor LEGO® Playground featuring 2 LEGO®-themed rides, a 4D cinema, Master Model Builder workshops, and more! Also check out Toronto’s iconic attractions made out of LEGO® in MINILAND.
11. Varley Art Gallery
The Varley Art Gallery of Markham features frequently changing exhibitions from the permanent collection as well as historical contemporary exhibitions drawn from local, national and international sources. New ways of seeing and appreciating art are enhanced through a broad range of dynamic hands-on art-related activities, including group tours, school programs, studio art classes, workshops and lectures, and family activities, designed to appeal to audiences of all ages and interests.
12. Royal Botanical Gardens
Designated as a national historical site, RBG is revered world-wide for its extensive 400 acres of display gardens. What makes RBG unique is that it also protects and stewards over 2300 acres of environmentally sensitive lands and diverse ecosystems that connect the Niagara escarpment to Lake Ontario.
13. Casa Loma
Visit Canada's Majestic Castle, Casa Loma and step back in time to a period of European elegance and splendour. The former home of Canadian financier Sir Henry Pellatt, Canada's foremost castle is complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and beautiful 5-acre estate gardens. Self-guided multimedia tours are available in English, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Korean and American Sign Language. Audio Descriptive Tours for the visually impaired are available in English and French.
14. Chudleigh's Entertainment Farm
Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm was first opened to the public in 1967. In the beginning, it was a place where families could pick their own apples and savour a few hours of country life. Since then, visiting the farm has become an annual ritual for generations of kids and kids at heart throughout the region around our Milton, Ontario home. And it’s a fun way to learn more about how food is grown.
You can still pick apples here during the harvest season, and there’s no better way to lose yourself in nature and get close to where our food comes from. But today, there’s enough to do at Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm to fill a whole day with happy memories.
15. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Epic battles of Steel and Steed - a two hour tournament and dinner with feasting, fighting, horses, knights, and more!
16. Mirvish Productions
Mirvish Productions is a Canadian theatre management and production company, based in Toronto, Ontario Canada. From Mamma Mia to Henry V, Mirvish Productions has brought some of the greatest plays and musicals from around the world to their Theater stages for the people of Toronto to enjoy. Come to one of their four theatres in Toronto to experience the wonder!
17. Reptilia
Reptile Zoo Toronto - Reptilia Reptile Zoo and Education Facility is Canada's largest fully indoor reptile zoo displaying over 250 reptiles.
18. High Park Nature Centre
The High Park Nature Centre is a charitable organization that provides year-round outdoor education & stewardship programs for all ages in High Park, downtown Toronto’s largest city park! Our programs are designed to inspire a sense of wonder, knowledge and respect for High Park’s natural systems; restore human connections to local plants and animals; and engage participants in different activities that support a sustainable future for High Park for generations to come.
19. Black Creek Pioneer Village
Immerse yourself in the 1860s and explore an authentically re-created country village of the Toronto region. At Black Creek Pioneer Village, visitors discover 40 historic buildings, 70 rare and heritage breed animals, 10 gardens growing flowers and plants from heirloom seeds, and exciting programs that engage people of all ages. They meet costumed educators who demonstrate and involve visitors with trades and crafts common in 1860s’ Ontario, tap their toes to music of the era, laugh at the hysterical antics of the History Actors, and have fun engaging in hands-on activities throughout the village!
20. Ontario Planetarium (Closed)
The Ontario Planetarium is an innovative new way to bring world-class space and science shows to you at festivals, parks, malls, resorts, fairs and other events and locations, all for a fraction of the cost of a fixed facility like a big-city museum or science centre. Our planetarium’s mobile dome and accessories can fit in a compact car, yet can seat 35 guests when inflated. Using modern LCD projection technology and the latest astronomy software, The Ontario Planetarium projects moving, photorealistic 3D space and science imagery on its dome.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in three categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator
Winged CanvasWinged Canvas is a visual arts school specializing in virtual learning for kids, teens, and adults with a variety of classes, camps, and mentorship. Our teachers are professional artists who are passionate educators. We also host creative events and custom art workshops for schools that supplement the Ontario Arts Curriculum. Now you can attend our art classes from anywhere in the world!
Winged Canvas was founded in 2014 by artist Fei Lu in Markham, Ontario. For 7 years, we had classes, camps and events at multiple studios, working with local schools and community partners. In 2020, Winged Canvas transformed into an online art school and YouTube channel with a mission to make art education easily accessible to everyone.
Top Sports Educator
YMCA of Greater TorontoThe YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity offering opportunities for personal growth, community involvement, and leadership.
Top STEM Educator
Ontario Science CentreThe Ontario Science Centre delights, informs and challenges the communities we serve, enriching people's lives and understanding through engagement with science of local, national and global relevance. Since 1969, the Ontario Science Centre has welcomed more than 51 million visitors, with an interactive approach that was the model for Science Centres around the world. It is the public centre for innovative thinking and provocative dialogue in science and technology, aiming to inspire a lifelong journey of curiosity, discovery and action to create a better future for the planet. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario.
