TORONTO WITH KIDS

Fun Things to Do in our City (and nearby):

If you have some free time and are looking for some ideas on things to do (especially with kids) in our awesome city, here are a few:

• Wychwood Barns Greenhouse – They have awesome plants from all over the world (think Papaya, Fig, etc). The Greenhouse is open to the public and has plenty of watering cans and dirt lying around, so the kiddies can get dirty and experiment. It feels like an oasis in there.

 

 

• Dufferin Grove Farmers Market on Thursday afternoons – try the outdoor pizza oven pizza!  The park has an amazing children’s garden and often in the summer on Thursday evenings one person or another has a bonfire going.  Such a great spot in the city!

 

 

• Bloordale Strip (if you have some “kid free” time) – Zebu store (lots of Canadiana stuff!), Homebaking Café (such a great and cute cafe!), Ransack the Universe store (amazing finds, real wood restored furniture and treasures and toys from the 80s), Haven Café (on a little side street off the main strip), Burdock Resto + Bar, 3 Speed and SO much more!

 

 

 

• Bloor Gladstone Library – You are probably thinking why hang out in a library?  In addition to being a great rainy day activity, this library is just different.  It is a retrofitted library and the building is part modern (with full multi media capabilities) and part cozy traditional. It also has an amazing children’s section with a mini “submarine” water theme activity centre.  Its great!

 

 

 

 

 

• • Evergreen Brickworks – Saturday mornings at the Brickworks are awesome. In addition to the great farmers market, the there is  a wonderful outdoor children’s spot full of amazing “treasures” and Canadiana activities – think: YURTS, greenhouses, wheel barrels, hay, crafts, fire-pits, logs to play on and more.   On Wednesday nights starting in May, the children’s garden will also be hosting Libretto pizza nights, where you can bring your kids and friends and have pizza made by Libretto in the outdoor pizza oven as well as some beverages (they are licenced), all while the kids play outside and are entertained by the Brickworks staff.  Sounds like a great combo!  The Brickworks also has a bustling “container” marketplace on Saturday mornings with awesome local food being cooked, funky retailers, with bon fires and muskoka chairs surrounding.

 

• Trinity Bellwoods Park – splashpads, guitars, greengrass and good coffee. What could be better.

 

• Spadina House – The Spadina House gardens have the most amazing apple orchards and flower gardens right in the heart of the city! There is also a huge grassy area for great secluded picnics and running around.

 

• Kensington Market – Kensington in the summer is so much fun.  Especially on pedestrian Sundays.  Check out Jumbo Empanada for great vegetarian and non vegetarian Chilean empanadas on the patio in the sun and the new Scandinavian coffee shop, FIKA, on Augusta with the secret garden patio in the back. They have couches, hammocks and awesome coffee and treats!  If you have kids, they can play in the backyard while you chill with your coffee.

 

• Brunch Ideas with Kids – Free Times Café Saturday Mid-day music brunch and Sunday Bella’s Brunch, Dakota Tavern Blue-grass brunch, Wychwood Barns Farmers Market, Brickworks Farmers Market on Saturdays (take your brunch to the children’s garden picnic tables.  There is so much to do there for the little ones and so much fun play that I promise, you’ll be able to finish your brunch without having to get up).

 

• Ward’s Island – such a great nearby beach for parents and little ones and SO accessible.  You can be there in minutes from your Toronto home. Just go to Union Station and take the streetcar to Queens Key.  Your kiddies will love it and I promise you will love it too!  And if you forget or don’t have time to bring lunch, they have the cutest island café on wards (the blue building beside the ferry docs) with great ice-cream and wood lawn chairs for an after beach treat!  Check out some of the pics at the bottom of this page.

 

DAY TRIP IDEAS:

• Horton’s Sugar Bush – Ring in spring with a trip to the sugar bush. This family run spot, is authentic, warm and quaint.  They greet you with a wagon ride to the “sugar shack”, where there is a bon fire going all day. 
• From there you can take a little hike through the trees to see where the syrup is collected, see a demonstration of how maple syrup was made and end with freshly made pancakes and fresh maple syrup by the fire.  A super way to spend a March day.  I do recommend going at the beginning rather than the end of March (it is WAY) less busy and there is still some snow on the ground which makes it so special. 

 

 

 

 

• Scandinave Nordic Day Spa – A great spot to renew, rejuvenate and reconnect to nature.

 

• Rockwood Beach – Toddler and child friendly beach with great views of Canadian natural landscapes (rock formations, evergreen trees). Think Algonquin like views, but only 30 minutes from the city and perfect for a day trip with toddlers. It does get busy though, so people that like secluded quiet spots, this beach is not for you.   You can rent canoes though for a paddle with your family and their is even a spot to get ice-cream for a mid afternoon treat.

 

A LITTLE FARTHER (BUT WORTH IT!)

Algonquin Park – If you want to go to Algonquin, but just can’t get it together for camping, there is an amazing hostel just outside the park gates.  I know what you are thinking: hostel! I don’t wan to stay in a dirty communal hostel like I did in my late teens.  This hostel is different though.  Yes, it has a communical kitchen, but the kitchen is rustic, clean and set in a beautiful log algonquin cabin.  In advance of the trip, I too was questioning how much I would like it. I ended up loving the communal aspect of the cooking. Everyone who stayed there made their own food, but you cooked communally in the same space. There was also a bon fire going just outside the cabin during dinner time.  We met people from France, Israel, Canada, Italy. It felt like we were away, while really only 3 hours away from our hoses.  There was also a sauna cabin, veggie and pollinator garden, and cottage cabins if you wanted to stay in your own cottage.  Was really great.

Wolf-Den Veggie and Pollinator Garden

 

Other TDOT Pics:

 

Dundas West Festival!

Here is my son Benny listening to this girl with an AMAZING voice sing “Dear Future Husband” by Megan Trainer.  I think he fell in LOVE!