things to do in toronto

When looking for the ideal destination for your next family vacation, Toronto offers a huge range of attractions and entertainment – from zoos and aquariums to amusement parks and museums. Toronto is also considered one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.

Toronto is a fun family vacation destination for all ages. It’s home to one of the tallest freestanding towers in the world, the CN Tower. It is also the site of the world’s largest underground shopping mall, PATH. You’ll also want to know that Toronto is where you’ll find the longest street in the world: Yonge Street!

Toronto makes great use of its waterfront, creating a lively venue for food fairs, musical concerts and kids’ events. There is so much to explore, see and do with the family when in Toronto. Here are just some of the must-see attractions for your fun family vacation in The 6:

CN Tower

Take in panoramic views of the city from the world’s tallest, freestanding structure from the 1,465-foot-high Sky Pod or from the 1,136-foot high observation deck, reached by glass elevators.

The Harbourfront Centre

The Harbourfront Centre is a year-round facility right by Lake Ontario. The centre features concerts, dance performances, author readings, films and kids’ shows every weekend and many weeknights throughout the year.

Ontario Science Centre

The Ontario Science Centre’s vision is to inspire a lifelong journey of curiosity, discovery and action to create a better future for the planet. With more than 600 activities in our 10 exhibit halls, there is something for all ages.

Ripley’s Aquarium

Canada’s largest indoor aquarium showcases more than 16,000 marine animals, and features exhibits like the Rainbow Reef, Canadian Waters, Ray Bay and Planet Jellies.

Royal Ontario Museum

With more than six million items in its collection, the ROM rates among Canada’s largest museums, and a must-visit for families.

Toronto Zoo

With more than 5,000 animals, six indoor pavilions and daily zoo keeper talks, the Toronto Zoo is a must-see attraction for families.

While the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, and the Royal Ontario Museum are must-see family attractions, venture out further to the Greater Toronto Area for many more family-friendly activities, such as Canada’s Wonderland.

Canada’s Wonderland

Canada’s Wonderland is Canada’s largest theme park and it’s just 25 miles north of downtown. It’s the most visited seasonal amusement park in North America! The park is home to the most exhilarating collection of rides and roller coasters including Leviathan, Behemoth and Wonder Mountain’s Guardian. I used to be a thrill-seeker when I was a teenager. But when my kids asked me to go on the Behemoth with them, I reluctantly agreed. I screamed the entire way!

There is so much to do with the family when visiting Toronto – just make sure you get a chance to experience all the attractions during your visit! When looking for the ideal destination for your next family vacation, Toronto is the place to be!

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Tourism Toronto via Mode Media Canada. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Tourism Toronto.

Wondering what to do this weekend with the family?

Discover the Toronto Zoo!

Growing up in Scarborough, yearly summer visits to the Zoo were tradition with my family. Now that I have a family of my own, we visit the zoo regularly as well.

But did you know you could get a yearly membership and tour the zoo year-round?

Memberships are an amazing idea because the zoo is so huge – it’s one of the largest in the world! – and there is so much to see, you really can’t do it all in one day.

With a membership, you can explore one area at a time. Divided up into seven different geographic regions, each region showcases animals and plants from that area of the world. One visit, tour Africa, another Eurasia (which is currently under construction). Enjoy free Zoomobile rides and discounts at the gift shop.

I had the pleasure of attending a “Discover the Hidden Zoo” event in May to get an exclusive sneak peak of what really happens at the Toronto Zoo.

My family and I received an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience at the Indian Rhino exhibit which was quite incredible. We rode the Carousel and actually touched the sharks and stingrays at the Stingray Bay exhibit.

The Toronto Zoo is a world class leader in species preservation, conservation, education and research. Hundreds of species are endangered and the Zoo is helping to save animals in risk. The Zoo is successfully breeding endangered species. Every year, animals born at the Zoo as part of organized conservation programs are reintroduced to protect parts of their original habitat.

But most of all, the Zoo is fun for kids! The Zoo offers a KidZone and Splash Island, perfect for little ones.

For more info, visit www.torontozoo.com and find them on Facebook.