48 HOURS IN TORONTO
Family fun in the heart of T.O
When you are taking the kids on vacation, choosing a location that will make everyone happy can be a challenge. Toronto, Ontario is one of the most interesting cities in Canada to vacation with young children; offering endless options for entertainment, amusement and cultural adventure for the whole family. Surprisingly, for a city of 3 million people, it is very easy to get around.
WHERE TO STAY
Recently renovated, Fairmont Royal York is a historic hotel in the center of it all. The lobby has been transformed into a vibrant spot for parents to have a drink and the breakfast buffet in Reign Restaurant was perfectly delicious for hungry travelers of all ages. Families checking in can expect fluffy Fairmont robes for everyone, including the kids and the swimming pool is a popular place to cool off at the end of a long day of sightseeing.
WHAT TO DO
One of the best things about the Fairmont Royal York Hotel was its location. It was right across from Union Station so getting to the airport was a quick train ride on the UP Express - just 26 minutes from hotel to Pearson International Airport. The hotel was walking distance to the CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and of course Rogers Center, the home of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team - and we did it all.
Toronto has a bike share program that is very popular. All the bikes are adult size, so great if your kids are teenagers. $7 gets you a day pass or opt for a $15 three-day unlimited ride pass.
Blue Jays were playing at home while we were visiting the city, and we bought last minute tickets online to a game versus the Boston Red Sox. Turns out, these cheap seats are perfect when you have a fidgety seven year old who is more interested in how many people are in the grandstands, than what’s actually taking place on the baseball field. Lucky day - the Blue Jays won the game!
The next day we headed to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and this was a delight for kids of all ages. The overhead aquariums filled with beautiful coral, massive sharks, giant sea turtles and an endless number of fish species was fascinating. Our favorite areas were Dangerous Lagoon (sharks), Rainbow Reef (clown fish), and Planet Jellies (giant back-lit glowing jellyfish tanks). Allow 2-3 hours.
A perennial favorite in Toronto is a trip up the massive CN Tower. A word of advice - get in line early. In mid summer, you can wait upwards of two hours to get up the elevators. Built in 1976, the CN Tower is 1,815.2 feet tall and the ninth tallest freestanding structure in the world (it held the record as #1 for 32 years) and remains the tallest free-standing structure on land in the Western Hemisphere. A general admission ticket takes you up to two observations levels at 1,136 feet, and the +Skypod ticket takes you to the third at 1,465 feet. Be sure to walk on the world famous glass floor, looking 1,122 feet below and if you dare, try the EdgeWalk LIVE!
HOP ON HOP OFF
A fun way to see many sights without tiring little legs is the Hop On Hop Off bus. In Toronto, it is well run, the historical information is interesting and they stop at some of the city’s best attraction. When the kids are tired, stay on the bus and take in the sights. When they are ready for adventure, hop off at Casa Loma or AGO/Kensington/ China Town stops, or get off at the Eaton Center on Dundas for world class shopping. When everyone is hungry, be sure to hop off at St. Lawrence Market. This was our favorite stop. St. Lawrence Market is a nod to the city’s past with generations-old vendors, local artwork and so much incredible food. So good in fact that National Geographic ranked St. Lawrence the best market in the world. It is worthy of a family visit.