—By Michele Sponagle—
Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, representing 200-plus ethnicities and 170 spoken languages. It’s not surprising that its cultural offerings are abundant and diverse.
Visitors will find almost 60 museums alone, with plenty of opportunities for families to have fun while learning a thing or two — and all at a bargain price. With a strong American dollar and weak Canadian loonie, travelers can stretch their vacation budgets by as much as 40%.
Top Attractions for a Toronto Family Road Trip
So, what attractions should you include in your Toronto itinerary for your next family road trip?
Consider these standouts:
1. Royal Ontario Museum
Courtesy of Royal Ontario Museum
Locals call it “The ROM” and appreciate its world-class collection of artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens, with more than 18 million in total spread over 40 galleries and exhibition spaces. Given its size, a bit of pre-planning for your visit will ensure it’s a good time for the kids. Allow at least two to three hours, depending on their ages.
Head for WonderWorks, a gallery designed for youngsters ages 3 to 8. There, they’ll experience hands-on exhibits, like the foam noodle wall. Also make sure you show them “Gordo — a Barosaurus and Canada’s largest dinosaur on display — as well as the giant totem poles, Egyptian deities, and a fragment of a meteorite that fell in 2000 in northwestern British Columbia.
2. Toronto Zoo
Toronto Zoo / Photo by Yichen Wang on Unsplash
Since opening in 1974, the Toronto Zoo has built a reputation for its focus on animal conservation and public education. Its vast collection of 5,816 animals, not including invertebrates, represents 495 different species small and large — from a worker leaf cutter ant to Samson, a male hippo weighing 2.25 tonnes. Kids have ample chances to interact with many of them.
Meanwhile, Wild Encounter programs introduce youngsters to some of the zoo’s most adorable residents, from kangaroos and camels to ring-tailed lemurs and giraffes. Meanwhile, Serengeti Bush Camps feature sleepovers for families in bush tents, interactive walking tours, campfires snacks and behind-the-scenes experiences, promising a truly wild time for all.
3. Bata Shoe Museum
Bata Shoe Museum / Photo by Darren Rigo
This unique, niche museum displays thousands of shoes, selected from its collection of nearly 15,000. Exhibits trace more than 4,500 years of shoe history, from Ancient Roman sandals to modern sneakers designed by contemporary artists. Kids will find the exhibit of celebrity footwear fascinating, from Elton John’s platforms to tennis player Serena Williams’ Nike Air Jordans.
Featured exhibits are always changing. You may see the spotlight on the role of footwear in solving crimes, the role in socks, or basketball shoe design. One thing is for sure, this museum has sole!
4. CN Tower
Courtesy of CN Tower
You can’t miss the city’s most iconic star attraction. It has been part of the Toronto skyline since construction wrapped up in 1975. It stands at 1,815 feet and 5 inches tall. Take in the views in 58 seconds as the glass-fronted elevator soars to the main observation level. Once there, take in 360-degree views of the city below, Lake Ontario, and planes landing and taking off from the Toronto Island airport just offshore. You could see Niagara Falls on a clear day.
Kids love challenging themselves to walk across the glass floor on the lower level of the observation deck. For older kids (13 and up) and adults, the ultimate challenge is EdgeWalk. While harnessed, participants can walk their way along the outside edge of the tower. It holds the Guinness World Records as the highest external walk on a building in the world. Not for the faint of heart, but oh so thrilling!
5. Art Gallery of Ontario
Courtesy of Art of Gallery of Ontario
Founded in 1900, the AGO is one of North America’s largest art museums spread more than 480,000 square feet. Youngsters may get bored going through all the gallery spaces after a while, but there’s still plenty of fun for them on-site.
The Hands-On Centre (open Wednesday to Sunday) allows kids to explore their creativity through play and art making. On designated days, the AGO Art Cart invites them to join in to learn how to draw, sculpt and explore art in new ways. Throughout the year, AGO hosts courses and workshops with themes like cartooning, animation, and painting — great opportunities to let young talent shine.
6. Museum of Illusions
Courtesy of Museum of Illusions
Seeing is not always believing. This museum shows how the brain interprets reality, and the results are captivating. Visitors can discover 70 visual and educational exhibits featuring holograms, immersive rooms (perfect for selfies!), stereograms, and optical illusions — all designed to trick the mind. While the effects are fascinating, there’s an educational component that incorporates mathematics, psychology and science.
Learning has never been this fun. Allow at least an hour to get through all the exhibits. Kids under age 4 get in free.
Final Thoughts
Aside from attractions, Toronto is known for its colorful neighborhoods, such as Chinatown, Little India, Little Italy, and Kensington Market— all great spots to enjoy international cuisine, from tacos to Vietnamese sandwiches.
Take the time to roam these unique areas and discover new ways to appreciate Canada’s largest city. Though big, it’s surprisingly easy to navigate with signage that clearly identifies the neighborhood you’re in. And you’ll find that Torontonians are pretty friendly and always happy to point you in the right direction, whether you’re looking for the best ice cream in town or a family friendly place to have breakfast. Bienvenue and welcome!
For more information about visiting Toronto, see DestinationToronto.com.
—
About the Author: Michele Sponagle is a prolific Canadian travel journalist who has
visited more than 70 countries. Based in a small town near Toronto, she
has fished for piranha in the Amazon, tracked polar bears on foot in
Canada’s far north and traveled over the Maasai Mara in Kenya in a hot
air balloon. She’s always up for an adventure. Her work has appeared in
many major media outlets, from Washington Post to Good Housekeeping and
The Globe and Mail.
