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Family outings

Family outings in Toronto

Toronto is a very green city, lined by Lake Ontario and cut through by wooded ravines. Between the islands a ten-minute ferry ride away, the City's free farms, the big museums and winter skating rinks, every season has its classics. Here are our picks, checked against official sites.

Verified on 30 October 2026

Parks, beaches and nature

The City runs hundreds of parks, with playgrounds, wading pools in summer and rinks in winter. Both municipal farms are free, a real treat with toddlers.

Good to know

  • Riverdale Farm, a city farm right in town, is open daily and free; spring is the season of newborn animals. Source
  • The city ferry links the Jack Layton terminal, at the foot of Bay Street, to the Toronto Islands in a few minutes: beaches, bikes and picnics facing the skyline. Source
  • High Park combines playgrounds, trails, a free animal display and, in spring, cherry blossoms, very busy at weekends. Source
  • Rouge National Urban Park, on the east side of the city, is reachable by transit: trails, a beach and camping, run by Parks Canada. Source

Addresses

  • High Park

    Park

    1873 Bloor Street West

    The big west-end park: Jamie Bell playground, free animal display, Grenadier Pond and cherry blossoms in spring.

    Website Source

  • Toronto Island Park

    Park

    Îles de Toronto

    Beaches, bike paths and picnics; ferry from the Jack Layton terminal (9 Queens Quay West).

    Website Source

  • Centreville Amusement Park et Far Enough Farm

    Park

    Centre Island

    Small amusement park for young children on Centre Island, with Far Enough Farm, owned by the City; open in the warmer months.

    Website Source

  • Riverdale Farm

    Park

    201 Winchester Street, Cabbagetown

    Free urban farm, open every day, a stone's throw from Cabbagetown.

    Website Source

  • Evergreen Brick Works

    Park

    550 Bayview Avenue, Don Valley

    Former brickworks turned nature hub: Saturday farmers' market, Don Valley trails, children's activities, winter rink.

    Website Source

  • Toronto Zoo

    Park

    2000 Meadowvale Road, Scarborough

    The city's big zoo, a municipal agency, with thousands of animals; admission charged.

    Website Source

  • Scarborough Bluffs et Bluffer's Park

    Park

    1 Brimley Road South, Scarborough

    White cliffs on the lakeshore, beach and picnic areas; perfect for half a day.

    Website Source

  • Parc urbain national de la Rouge

    Park

    Est de Toronto, Scarborough

    One of North America's largest urban parks, run by Parks Canada: easy trails for children and a lakeside beach.

    Website Source

Go further

Museums and culture

Toronto's big museums are designed for families, with hands-on galleries and youth programmes. Several have free slots or reduced youth prices.

Good to know

  • At the Royal Ontario Museum, admission is free for under-4s; the WonderWorks gallery is mainly for ages 3 to 8. Source
  • The Art Gallery of Ontario is free all year for Ontarians under 25 with a free annual pass, and for everyone on the first Wednesday evening of the month with a booking. Source
  • The City's history museums, including Fort York National Historic Site, offer tours and children's workshops during school holidays. Source

Addresses

  • Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

    Museum

    100 Queen's Park

    Dinosaurs, mummies and natural history; WonderWorks gallery for little ones.

    Website Source

  • Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

    Museum

    317 Dundas Street West

    Major art museum with family workshops and weekends; free for Ontarians under 25.

    Website Source

  • Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

    Museum

    288 Bremner Boulevard

    The big aquarium at the foot of the CN Tower, with its shark tunnel; ideal on rainy days, book a time slot.

    Website Source

  • Bata Shoe Museum

    Museum

    327 Bloor Street West

    A small, quirky museum of footwear from around the world; Toronto Accueil runs family activities there.

    Website Source

  • Casa Loma

    Museum

    1 Austin Terrace

    Gothic Revival castle with towers, secret passages and gardens; spectacular displays at Christmas and Halloween.

    Website Source

  • Hockey Hall of Fame

    Museum

    30 Yonge Street

    The temple of hockey, with the Stanley Cup and interactive games: an introduction to the national sport.

    Website Source

  • Fort York National Historic Site

    Museum

    250 Fort York Boulevard

    An 1812 fort in the heart of the city, re-enactments and family activities in summer.

    Website Source

  • LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Toronto

    Museum

    Vaughan Mills, Vaughan

    Indoor attraction for ages 3 to 10, at Vaughan Mills mall, north of the city.

    Website Source

Libraries and French books

Toronto Public Library has about a hundred branches, storytimes and a French children's collection in many neighbourhoods.

Good to know

  • The library card is free for people who live, work or study in Toronto, children included; it also gives access to e-books and museum passes. Source
  • Several branches have French collections for adults and children (Pape/Danforth, Brentwood, Don Mills, Richview, S. Walter Stewart), and more than sixty have a French children's collection. Source
  • The library offers French e-books and audiobooks for children and teens, as well as French book clubs and storytimes. Source
  • We found no public lending library at the Alliance française de Toronto: for books, rely on the public library and the French schools' libraries. Source

Addresses

  • Toronto Reference Library

    Library

    789 Yonge Street

    The big central library, near Bloor-Yonge station; digital space and French collection for adults.

    Website Source

  • Lillian H. Smith

    Library

    239 College Street

    Branch known for its children's collection, near the University of Toronto and Chinatown.

    Website Source

  • Pape/Danforth

    Library

    701 Pape Avenue

    Branch with a French collection for all ages, in the east end.

    Website Source

  • Bibliothèque publique de Toronto, réseau des succursales

    Library

    Toute la ville

    About a hundred branches: find the one in your neighbourhood and its storytime schedule.

    Website Source

Activities, sport and workshops in French

French also lives outside school: classes and workshops at the Alliance française, youth theatre at TfT, parent-child groups at the Centre francophone. For sport, City programmes are affordable and in high demand.

Good to know

  • French-language EarlyON (ON y va) centres offer free activities in French for ages 0 to 6 and their parents in several parts of the Greater Toronto Area. Source
  • The City of Toronto offers swimming, skating, sports and summer camps; registration opens on set dates and spots go within minutes. Source
  • Drop-in skating is free at the City's indoor arenas and outdoor artificial ice rinks. Source
  • Toronto Accueil runs a Café Poussette, family activities and neighbourhood visits for French-speaking families. Source

Addresses

  • Alliance française de Toronto

    Activity

    24 Spadina Road

    French classes for young children, children and teens, shows and cinema; campuses on Spadina, in North York and Mississauga.

    Website Source

  • Théâtre français de Toronto (TfT)

    Activity

    The largest French-language theatre company outside Quebec, with youth shows and surtitled performances.

    Website Source

  • Centre francophone du Grand Toronto, enfance et famille

    Activity

    20 Lower Spadina Avenue

    Parent-child groups, workshops (crafts, baby massage, cooking), a children's sports club, in French.

    Website Source

  • Centres ON y va (EarlyON francophones)

    Activity

    Free activities in French for ages 0 to 6 with their parents, several sites in the Greater Toronto Area.

    Website Source

  • Harbourfront Centre

    Activity

    235 Queens Quay West

    Lakeside arts centre: free summer festivals, children's workshops and a winter rink.

    Website Source

  • Programmes de loisirs de la Ville de Toronto

    Activity

    Toute la ville

    Swimming, skating, sports, arts and camps in municipal community centres.

    Website Source

Through the seasons

Winter is long and cold, but Toronto lives it outdoors: rinks, Christmas markets and lights. In summer, the city turns to the lake and strings together free festivals.

Good to know

  • In late November, the Cavalcade of Lights opens the holiday season at Nathan Phillips Square with the tree lighting, concerts and skating. Source
  • In spring, the High Park cherry blossoms draw crowds; the City posts the bloom's progress so you can pick the right day. Source
  • On July 1, Canada Day is celebrated across the city with free activities and fireworks; in late August, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) marks the end of summer. Source
  • In June, the Franco-Fête de Toronto celebrates the French-speaking world with local and international artists. Source

Addresses

  • Nathan Phillips Square

    Activity

    100 Queen Street West

    Free winter rink in front of City Hall, under the TORONTO sign; skate rental on site in season.

    Website Source

  • Cavalcade of Lights

    Activity

    Nathan Phillips Square

    Tree lighting and music skating nights at Nathan Phillips Square, from late November through the holidays.

    Website Source

  • Distillery District

    Activity

    55 Mill Street

    Pedestrian, cobblestoned district, famous for its winter Christmas market.

    Website Source

  • Cerisiers de High Park

    Park

    High Park

    Blossoms from late April to early May depending on the weather; come early in the morning, by transit.

    Website Source

  • Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)

    Activity

    Exhibition Place

    The big end-of-summer fair: rides, air shows and stalls, from mid-August to Labour Day.

    Website Source

  • Franco-Fête de Toronto

    Activity

    Atrium de Radio-Canada, Front Street West

    The Greater Toronto Area's francophone festival, in June, at the CBC/Radio-Canada atrium.

    Website Source

  • Nuit Blanche Toronto

    Activity

    Toute la ville

    A night of contemporary art in the streets in early October; the early hours suit a family outing.

    Website Source

Go further

Getaways under two hours

Southern Ontario lends itself to day trips: waterfalls, vineyards, gardens and ski slopes. The car is easiest, but the GO train serves Niagara, free for under-13s.

Good to know

  • The GO train links Toronto to Niagara Falls; children aged 12 and under ride free across the GO network. Source
  • Ontario's provincial parks are booked online, and summer campsites go months in advance. Source
  • Plan for the season: in winter, snowy roads and short days; in autumn, the fall colours draw big weekend crowds.

Addresses

  • Niagara Falls et Niagara Parks

    Park

    Niagara Falls, Ontario

    The falls, the boat ride to the foot of the cataracts and the gardens, about an hour and a half by road.

    Website Source

  • Niagara-on-the-Lake

    Park

    Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

    Historic village, orchards and vineyards, to combine with the falls.

    Website Source

  • Royal Botanical Gardens

    Park

    680 Plains Road West, Burlington

    Large botanical gardens and waterside trails, under an hour west.

    Website Source

  • African Lion Safari

    Park

    Hamilton, Ontario

    Drive-through wildlife park, a big hit with children, near Hamilton.

    Website Source

  • Blue Mountain

    Park

    The Blue Mountains, Ontario

    Ski resort and village in winter, hiking and activities in summer, about two hours north.

    Website Source

  • Parcs provinciaux de l'Ontario

    Park

    Ontario

    Lakes, beaches and camping for the day or the weekend; online booking.

    Website Source

Go further

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Toronto will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ville de Toronto, parcs, fermes et zoos
  2. 2 Ville de Toronto, îles et ferries
  3. 3 Royal Ontario Museum
  4. 4 Art Gallery of Ontario, horaires et tarifs
  5. 5 Bibliothèque publique de Toronto, collections en français
  6. 6 Centre francophone du Grand Toronto, enfance et famille
  7. 7 Ville de Toronto, patinage libre
  8. 8 GO Transit, Niagara Falls

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