Toronto is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario and the most populous city in Canada. Toronto is an attractive place to live or visit because it is amongst the most multicultural, vibrant, and cosmopolitan cities worldwide. There are excellent options for family entertainment, sports venues, and amazing, ethnically diverse food in Toronto. On top of that, this city is very clean, modern, and safe. Toronto has a very good public transport system and on top of that many of the attractions in the city are walkable from each other. It is similar to New York in terms of being a metropolitan city that makes walking fun even for those who are not the most physically active.

We have extended family from both sides so have visited Toronto multiple times and it is always a fun experience. Below are our top 5 family-friendly recommendations for things to do in Toronto.

#1 CN Tower

At over 1800 feet, the CN Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in Canada and features an observation platform that is the highest in the Western Hemisphere. A visit to this tower ranks #1 on our list because it is not only the most visible symbol in the city of Toronto but it is also one of the most family-friendly things to do for visitors. There can be long waits to buy the tickets and get in line for the glass floor elevator ride up to the top but we think it is definitely worth the wait.

As mentioned, there are activities for people of all different ages as well as people with different levels of thrill-seeking activities. The main observation level allows visitors of all different ages the opportunity to get panoramic views through the glass windows as well as to look straight down through the glass floors. 116 stories up, thrill-seekers can do the EdgeWalk; a walk along the outside edge of CN Tower’s main pod with only a harness keeping the participants secured. This one was a little too darning for our taste but certainly a special experience for those who choose to do it. 360 The Restaurant is a great option to have a meal in a rotating restaurant while enjoying some dazzling views of the city from up high. The base of CN Tower features a cafe as well as KidZone, a free and fun area for kids to play video games on touchscreen consoles.

#2 Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

We have been to some fantastic aquariums in many cities but Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto is outstanding. There are over 20,000 exotic fresh and sea water specimens on display in Canada’s largest indoor aquarium. Aside from numerous exhibits featuring the vast array of fish and other species, there are loads of other activities in this establishment including interactive exhibits with touch features for learning, live dive shows, and a really awesome shark tank tunnel that visitors can walk through to get up close views of these large sea creatures.

#3 Fantasy Fair

When visiting Toronto with kids and family, one underrated option is to visit Fantasy Fair at the Woodbine Mall. Fantasy Fair is Ontario’s largest indoor amusement park and is a fantastic place to go for a memorable and fun experience. This park features 12 full-size rides and attractions including a carousel, a three-level playground, a Ferris Wheel, bumper cars, arcade games, and a slow-moving train that takes passengers on a ride through the amusement park. There are also some good food options like crepes, ice cream, etc. This was a very enjoyable experience for our kids and their cousins and we recommend visiting depending on time availability.

#4 Downtown Sports Venues

Depending on the time of the year, Toronto has professional sports teams that play at some really nice venues. The Toronto Blue Jays play at Rogers Centre, an excellent multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof. We did not get an opportunity to attend an actual game but did a tour around the stadium while downtown and the setting around the stadium can be as lively and impressive as the stadium itself. The Toronto Raptors (NBA basketball) and the Toronto Mapleleafs(NHL) hockey both play at the Scotiabank Arena, which is also downtown. Scotiabank Arena is a multi-purpose, one of the busiest arenas in the entire world, and is one of the most photographed locations in all of Canada. Even if you don’t go to an actual event in the arena, a walk around the venue is a neat experience and it is not far from other attractions like the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.

# Food in Toronto

Toronto has world cuisine that represents the incredible amount of diversity within the city. Locally popular foods are specialty sandwiches(peameal) Belgian fries, fish tacos, bagels, and ice cream sandwiches. However, the authentic South Asian Italian, Latin, South Asian, Middle Eastern, etc. restaurants/cafes really stood out to us. A Pakistani restaurant called Lahore Tikka House is one restaurant we would go out of our way to eat at again. This restaurant has a very authentic ambiance and the food is succulent.

While there is no shortage of excellent ice cream shops in Toronto, the family we were visiting took us to a local and popular old-fashioned ice cream shack called Tom’s Dairy Freeze. They serve burgers, fries, milkshakes, etc. as well but they are famous for their soft serve ice cream and the many flavors/toppings on the menu which can create some delicious combinations. It is a popular spot but a casual way to grab some great dessert.