Toronto - Pitstops for Kids

Everything you need to know about visiting Toronto

July 6, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

There is really so much to like about Toronto. Toronto is the capital city of Ontario and it offers a wealth of fun activities. Plus, it is known for its diverse population. Within this guide, you will learn all about visiting Toronto and having a blast.

When To Visit?

To ensure that your trip is enjoyable, you’ll want to visit Toronto at the right time. Thankfully, Toronto is amazing throughout the year. You can visit in fall, late spring or early summer and have a great time. During these periods, you’ll have little to no trouble walking through the city. You should also think about visiting during September. After all, this is when the city hosts the Toronto International Film Festival and others.

Transportation

It is also pertinent to make sure that you’re going to be able to travel from attraction to attraction. Thankfully, Toronto offers plenty of transportation options. Renting a vehicle is a good idea if you’ve got the money and want extra freedom. However, you can also rely on the local transportation. There is an underground subway system. Or, you can take advantage of the buses and streetcars. If you want a little more privacy, you can always rent a taxi or an Uber. Either way, you shouldn’t have any problem traveling through the city.

The Weather

A lot of people are not fond of cold weather. Others hate hot weather. With this in mind, you need to learn a little more about the weather that Toronto experiences. July tends to be the hottest month. The average high is right around 70 degrees. January is the coldest. If you do not want to experience the extremes, you’ll definitely want to stay away during these times. Visit somewhere in the middle and you’ll enjoy your trip even more!

Before You Go

Before you head for Canada, you’re going to need to make sure that you have everything you need. You’ll need to pack the right clothing and you’ll need the required documentation. While it depends on where you’re traveling from, you’ll probably need a visa and an ETA. You can fill out the Canada ETA application online pretty easily. Getting your visa shouldn’t be too difficult either. With that being said, you should not let these speedbumps hold you back!

Finding Lodging

Unless you’re going to be sleeping on the street or with a family member, you’ll need to rent lodging in Toronto. Most of the major chains will have several locations in Toronto. If you want to get away from the crowds, you’ll probably want to avoid the downtown area and Malton. You can find some great motels at good prices on Younge Street. This is a good option for tourists, because you won’t have to walk far to reach the major attractions.

Top 10 Toronto kid-friendly activities for families

July 12, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

We love Toronto kid-friendly activities! Don’t let this bustling center for business and commerce intimidate you! Families visiting Toronto will find much to do with kids, and much to love amid the busy streets and lively waterfront. Plus, Toronto public transit is very intuitive and affordable: with only two major subway lines, you won’t get lost! Leave your car at the hotel, and ride, boat, or walk to all of the following top Toronto attractions. Don’t forget to buy a Toronto CityPASS or Go Card to save cash while you play!

Tip! Save up to 43% on Toronto’s 5 best attractions at CityPASS. Shop Now!

Click on the arrow on the right of the first image to play the slideshow.

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Photo credit: Pit Stops for Kids, Bobolink, waterfronttoronto.ca

Toronto on Dwellable

A walk through Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market

July 10, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

The historic St. Lawrence Hall houses the St. Lawrence Market, a farmer’s market nirvana teaming with the freshest local produce, fruits, berries, and homemade jams, syrups, and crafts. Families will also find stalls selling local meats, desserts and pastries, fresh sandwiches, and just about anything else you can imagine. The St. Lawrence Market is a great place to spend a rainy or cold day in Toronto, or the best spot to pick up a picnic or to-go lunch to eat along the Waterfront or over on Centre Island.

There are two levels within the market building, plus tents selling wares in nice weather outside. If you get there early (before 8 am), you can usually see trucks dropping off the day’s produce from Ontario farms. The main floor level sells aisle after aisle of produce, berries, fruits, and meats, as well stalls with bakery goods and ethics foods (we saw Indian, Thai, and Chinese foods while we were there). Seating is scarce, so you’re better off taking food to go.

While you could certainly spend the better part of an hour sampling the fruit, veggies, hams, bacon, and cheese upstairs, don’t leave without checking out the downstairs section. This part of the market is primarily reserved for rare or speciality items, making it both educational and fun for kids (and adults). Check out row after row of exotic spices (most of which you may never have heard of!), gourmet cheeses and meats, speciality candies, and local homemade goods such as pure maple syrup. There are a few fabric and toy stalls as well, and random offerings of trinkets here and there, but St. Lawrence is primarily about the food!

Hours of operation:

Check the website for up-to-date hours, as they change seasonally. During the time of our visit (early summer), St. Lawrence is open weekends from 5 am to 3 pm.

Directions:

The market is located at St. Lawrence Hall at the corner of Front Street and Jarvis.

Toronto on Dwellable

Toronto Islands: Centre Island activities kids love

July 8, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Visible from Toronto’s Waterfront and harbor, the Toronto Islands are easily accessible, easy to navigate, and easy to see in one day. Pick a sunny day of your Toronto family vacation to check them out! While a few islands are largely residential (or home to sailboat slips) or wildlife refuges, Centre Island is all about family fun. Here’s where to start for Centre Island activities kids love:

Franklin Children’s Garden and Park:

The first thing you’re likely to encounter after getting off the ferry on the islands is the Franklin Children’s Garden, Centre Island’s main picnic and playground park. This interactive garden–featuring Franklin the Turtle from the books series by Paulette Bourgeois–allows kids to explore in any manner they’d like. The garden is divided into sections, where kids can garden themselves, listen to storytelling, or play on hands-on sculptures from the Franklin series.

Gibraltar Point Lighthouse:

The Island Lighthouse is the oldest landmark in Toronto. Sitting on Gibraltar Point, it’s light has shone for over 150 years, guiding ships and boats into the Harbour of Toronto. The light is a good destination for a family bike ride: it allows kids to have a fun goal and the route is completely flat. If you’re riding bikes as a family on the islands, you can find them at Centre Island beach, or you can rent in the city and bring bikes across on the ferry.

Centreville:

With 600 acres of amusement park fun, Centreville is no doubt the prime destination for families on the islands. Centreville is from the old-school of amusement park fun: its 30 rides are all young-kid friendly and have been around for decades. In addition to carnival-ride fun, Centreville has a petting zoo, green spaces, over a dozen food vendors and restaurants, and entertainment. Don’t expect big theme park thrills, but rather low-key fun.

Centre Island Beach:

A short walk from the ferry docks, Centre Island Beach can get crowded on summer days…get there early to stake out a spot! Public bathrooms and showers are available, as are changing rooms and several food vendors (including pizza). The bike rental shop is near the pier. While there are a few other swimming beaches on the islands (including a clothing-optional beach…you’ve been warned!), Centre Island beach is most popular due to its proximity to the ferry and the rock breakwater, which is ideal for young kids. The water here is shallow and calm, and clean to swim in due to its position away from the harbor. Remember, however: Lake Ontario is pretty chilly!

Tip! Save up to 43% on Toronto’s 5 best attractions at CityPASS. Shop Now!

Getting there:

Access Centre Island one of two ways: 1. grab a ferry from the ferry terminal at 9 Queens Quay West ($6.50/adult, runs year-round and every 15 minutes in summer) 2. take a Toronto Harbour Tour (LINK), which drops families off if desired at the mid-way point of the tour, picking up on the hour ($15-$25). From the ferry drop-off, it’s easy to find Centre Island activities by signage, or grab a map!

What to do on the Toronto Waterfront with kids

July 5, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

The Toronto skyline sits comfortably on the shore of Lake Ontario, which families should put to good use while visiting this urban, multicultural city. If you’re spending the morning at Rogers Centre or the CN Tower, or even St. Lawrence Market, pair it with an afternoon and evening along the Toronto Waterfront. This part of the city is currently undergoing a revitalization project (as of 2013), but don’t let construction deter you. Here’s what to do on the Waterfront with kids:

Harbourfront Centre:

Access the Waterfront from Kings Street (at Sincoe or John), then explore the harbor side walking and biking path that connects to Harbourfront Centre. To one side, you’ll find the ice skating rink (which is converted to a pond with paddle boats in summer) and outdoor concert facility, and to the other, a large collection of waterfront shops and restaurants. Adult-sized bikes can be rented at convenient coin-operated kiosks in several locations (also throughout the city), or bikes can be rented at local shops. If you have bad weather, duck indoors to peruse the shops, but otherwise, stay by the harbor to check out the historic ships (you can go into the largest to see free exhibits inside), watch the ferry boats, and see planes land at the unique Centre Island airport.

Harbour Tours Toronto:

If you feel like going out on the water yourselves, you have two options. Ferries depart from the main ferry terminal at 9 Queens Quay West on a regular schedule for Centre Island for only $6.50 per person, or you can opt to take a ride with Harbour Tours Toronto. This harbor and islands tour also departs regularly (it was every 30 minutes at the time of my visit in early summer), will drop off passengers on Centre Island if desired (and pick them back up!) but otherwise cruises between the Toronto Islands and through the harbor on a one hour tour. Tickets are steeper at $25 for adults and $15 for kids (with online booking discounts available), and for the price, families get a somewhat silly, entertaining for kids narration from a guide, plus many photo opportunities as the glass window and open-air boat tours the harbor. Along the way, I learned quite a bit of history about the islands as well as what they’re used for today (recreation, residences, and wildlife preservation, depending on the island) during my tour.

Tip! Save up to 43% on Toronto’s 5 best attractions at CityPASS. Shop Now!

Sugar beach:

Located on Lower Jarvis Street, south of Queens Quay, Sugar Beach is in comfortable walking and biking distance of Harbourfront Centre and offers beach atmosphere for families without the time or inclination to head over to Centre Island. Imported white sand and playful pink beach umbrellas make Sugar Beach a great place to let kids play in the sand, and a creative water feature allows for cooling off. (Swimming is not allowed in the harbor.) There are plenty of restaurants nearby, as well as picnic tables, and event space for seasonal festivals and entertainment.

Roundhouse Park:

Created in the 1990s, Roundhouse Park is located above the Waterfront by approximately two blocks, en route to the CN Tower (head up Simcoe). A great place to let kids loose before waiting in line for the tower or taking in an event at Rogers Centre, Roundhouse Park is the home of the Toronto Railway Historical Association, which operates a live steam miniature railway, displays engines and other train cars, and replicas of early train station offices. Kids can see a full roundhouse featuring a fully restored locomotive turntable, and adults can grab a brew at Steam Whistle Brewing. There are additional green spaces and park squares with benches and room to run around, though this is open to streets. Roundhouse Park is a great last stop of a fun family day at the Waterfront before heading back to a downtown hotel or getting on the subway.

Toronto hotel with kids: Intercontinental Toronto Centre

July 3, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Walking into the wide, high-ceilinged marble lobby of the Intercontinental Toronto Centre, you might worry that your kids won’t exactly fit in, so to speak, at this elegant hotel. Rest assured: as soon as you reach the check-in desk and see the friendly ‘kids’ check-in’ station, you’ll know you’re in the right place. While the Intercontinental is attached to Toronto’s sprawling conference center and event space, it’s not an all-business hotel. The location is absolutely perfect for families: you’re so close to the CN Tower, you can practically reach out and touch it, you’re adjacent to subway lines, and you’re within two blocks of the waterfront. The perfect Toronto hotel with kids, the Intercontinental’s placement on Front Street also gives families direct access to many restaurants as well as nearby St. Lawrence Market.

This said, the area around the hotel does get busy with party-goers and late-night bar crowds on weekends, but from within the hotel, we never heard a peep of noise. Our room on the 14th floor overlooked the train station, which is fun for kids, and had sweeping views of downtown and the CN Tower (I had to crane my neck up to see it, it’s so close). Parents can park their car in the underground parking and forget about it, opting to walk or take subways nearly everywhere. Within walking distance: the Watefront and Harbourfront Centre, Rogers Centre, the CN Tower, Sugar Beach, ferries to Centre Island, St. Lawrence Market, Roundhouse Park, and plenty of dining.

Pool and Spa:

We had a great time in the pool area, which is located adjacent to the award-winning spa. The heated indoor saline pool includes a fun waterfall feature kids love, and a spacious hot tub. There’s also an attached wading pool for not-quite swimmers, also saline and heated. The pool area is very relaxing, with oversized lounge chairs and complimentary tea and water. This is a great option for families who need to relax and let kids burn off some energy after being out of the day and before dinner plans. There’s a two-rooms exercise facility as well that’s above average.

Room rates and amenities:

At the time of our visit, our king bed room (with optional rollaway) started at $249/night. In-room amenities include a coffee maker, robes, shower/tub combo, and mini-fridge. The fridge was stocked, but there was room to store a few small items. (Remember, parents can always ask for mini-bar fridges to be cleared out should they prefer.) WiFi was $13 for a 24-hour period. Service from bell staff and front desk staff was very friendly and efficient during our entire stay.

Dining:

The Intercontinental does have a full restaurant off the lobby, as well as room service, but there are numerous other options. Directly across the street on Front Street is the underground food court attached to the CBC offices, with many low-cost options for families needing a quick meal. On the street level are many hot dog stands and a few food trucks as well. Front Street also boasts the Loose Moose and Cedar Creek restaurants, both of which we found to be fun for families while offering a lively atmosphere.

Directions:

The Intercontinental is located at 225 Front Street. From the airport, families can easily take public transit for under $3 per person (take the 192 Rocket to Kipling Station, then grab the subway. From Kipling, get on the Bloor-Danforth line to Spadina Station, then get on the Yonge-University line to St. Andrews Station. A taxi will cost you $55.

Disclaimer: as I disclose whenever applicable, I stayed at the Intercontinental as a guest of the hotel, for the purpose of review. This compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.