AllThingsMomSydney 2018 World Tour

The Top Ten Family Activities in Toronto

The Top Ten Family Activities in Toronto is a special guest post from a friend of mine, Ashleigh. Ash is also a South African expat but her family went left to Canada while ours went right to Sydney.

Travelling and visiting a new, major city can be SO expensive, especially if you’re visiting as a family. This post has been put together by Ashleigh in consideration of everyone’s budget. So this is such an excellent idea!! I often try recommend free or budget friendly places to visit so this is right up my street. Love it. Thank you Ash for this carefully crafted post!! 

If you’re new to the AllThingsMomSydney 2018 World Tour or just hopped on board, be sure to check out Cape Town, Birmingham and Chicago. 

 

Welcome to Toronto

Hi, I’m Ashleigh and I am the author of  A Life of a South African in Toronto.  My family of three (including a lively preschooler) moved to Toronto just over a year ago and we are all absolutely in love with our new home.

As our relocation was pretty recent, and money is always a consideration when you are starting afresh, I decided to make this post about our favourite 10 family adventures, economy style. If you are visiting Toronto with kids, I’m sure your wallets will appreciate a few days off from expensive tourist hotspots and sightseeing.

I hope you enjoy this post on the Top Ten Family Activities in Toronto!

It’s important to note that the weather in Toronto, as you all are well aware, can be rather extreme. Therefore, the availability of these activities will differ according to the time of year you come.

 

The Top Ten Family Activities in Toronto

Without further ado, here are our top 10 in no particular order:

1. A day in High Park

This is probably my son’s absolute favourite thing to do in the summer. High Park is the largest green space in Toronto. It has so many great features for kids including a small free zoo, a trackless train, an amphitheater, public swimming pool, mini waterfalls, multiple playgrounds, a restaurant and a splash pad (kids play area of water fountains). And then there is the breathtaking Canadian flag flower display.

Food wise, if you like pastries, you have to stop at any of the amazing bakeries in Bloor West Village on the way. Grab some snacks before heading to the park.

2. Movies in the park

Multiple parks offer the opportunity to watch a movie free of charge under the stars in the summertime. Some even offer free popcorn! So pack your picnic basket, a blanket and enjoy watching classics on the big screen while enjoying the outdoors.

 

3. Centre Island

You will find Centre Island mentioned as a must-see in most tourist blogs and it’s definitely worth a visit.

The island is open in the summer and the ferry ride is fairly cheap. How much you spend on the island, however, is up to you.

Offering beautiful beaches, green spaces and a kids’ carnival setup with rides (which can push up your budget), this is hands down a spot you need to see.

 

4. Tennis court ice skating

In the winter there are many outdoor skating rinks for all to enjoy.

For us though, we find it really “cool” that they turn all local tennis courts into free rinks. Our little one absolutely loves popping down the road for an after daycare treat with daddy for a quick skate during the wintertime.

 

5. Subway adventure

We especially enjoyed this when we first arrived and the public transport was new and exciting to us. Day passes for the TTC (Toronto`s public transport system) are not terribly expensive.

kids under 12 travel for free!

The ride in the subway alone is all that’s needed to get a smile on my little one`s face.

The trick here is not to plan too much. Simply find the closest subway – hop on and then hop off along the way. Walk the high streets or neighbourhood and explore.

6. Hit one of the Festivals

Festivals are huge in Toronto. They happen anywhere and everywhere (and for any reason).

The best part of these festivals is that the majority offer free entry. Most of them are tailored for children and offer all sorts of free entertainment for the kids including face painting, magic shows and demonstrations.

Some examples of annual festivals in the city are: Taste of Toronto, Taste of Danforth (celebrating Greek food and culture), Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto Santa Claus Parade and Brickfete (LEGO fan festival). I’ve added a link to the full list of annual Toronto festivals.

 

7. Christmas Market

Usually from mid-November until just before Christmas, the Distillery District is the place to be.

The lights are nothing short of spectacular, the Christmas displays have you smiling, the activities for kids are endless and not only can your little ones get their pics taken with Santa – so can your pets! No matter how cold it is outside, the Distillery District Christmas Market is sure to warm the soul and get you into the Christmas mood!

 

 

 8. Kensington Market

One of the first places we went to when we moved and quickly became a favourite spot to take any of our visitors is Kensington Market. This had to be on the list of The Top Ten Family Activities in Toronto.

Pedestrian Sunday turns this little neighbourhood into a family friendly zone.

Once a month, during the summer, all streets are closed to traffic allowing safe browsing and plenty of live entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. The location is pretty out there with eclectic restaurants, food vendors and several vintage clothing shops.

 

9. Canadian Opera Company’s Free Concert Series

I am going to be completely honest here – we’ve never actually been to any of these free concerts, but my mother-in-law found this gem when she was visiting us over the winter time.

Every Tuesday she looked forward to heading out on the TTC to the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheater and watch artists from around the world perform live for free! Varieties of shows include vocal, piano, jazz, dance, chamber and world music.

Maybe not the best choice for smaller children, but if your kids are old enough to appreciate it this should be on your list of things to do. You can find a full list of their upcoming concerts on the Canadian Opera Company’s website.

 

10.  The Beaches

Now this is one really awesome neighbourhood. The Beaches is located east of downtown Toronto, it is known for its sandy beach and laid back high street.

Enjoy a day of volleyball, rollerblading, swimming in the Olympic size pool or simply soaking up the sun. After you’re done at the beaches, hit Queen Street East and explore the stores and restaurants the high street has to offer!

 

 

♦

 

If you’re an expat in Toronto or a South African thinking about making the move to Canada you have to check out Ashleigh’s blog. You can find her over at   A Life of a South African in Toronto