Toronto with Toddler
 

Four-night trip to Toronto coming up this Saturday through next Wednesday. We'll have 3+ days to see the city. Traveling with our 1 year-old and his active grandmother (so ages 1 to nearly 60).

We're staying at the Sheraton Centre Toronto. Our agenda includes: Zoo, Casa Loma, ferry to Toronto Island Park.

I'll be taking my husband to dinner at the CN Tower's 360 restaurant to celebrate his birthday while we visit (grandma will babysit!).

Any tips/suggestions to make our trip even more memorable? Restaurants that are child friendly? Activities for a toddler? We'l have a car, but we're hoping to use public transportation for most things.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

The zoo is a great destination for young and old - like all zoos be ready for lots and lots of walking. In particular, everyone seems to love visiting th the polar bears - make sure you catch them above ground and underwater.

I haven't been to Toronto Island but have heard it's a great, relatively peaceful destination especially with kids.

I've been to Casa Loma a few times - it really to me was disappointing both times (not much for adults to see or do and ditto for toddlers) plus it's kind of out of the way.

You may want to consider the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) which is right downtown and always seems to be worthwhile. I believe they have a special kids area with hands-on activities for little ones.

Also, for you and Grandma, the Bata Shoe museum is very close to the ROM. Again, I've never been there but have heard that it's a great display. Both are a short and easy subway ride from your hotel.

Traffic in Toronto like any big city can be awful you may want to stick downtown rather than waste time in transit.

Fort York which is down by the harbour is also supposed to be an interesting spot to see if you're into history.

Have a great trip - there is lots to do right downtown (perhaps the Blue Jays are in town for a baseball game as well) so my advice would be to stick close by. The weather had been wonderful lately so hopefully it keeps up for you all.

Enjoy!

Big difference between a one year old who is 13 months old, and one who is 23 months old.

For the older ones, Centreville amusement park on Centre Island has little boats they can ride in, trains they can ride in, etc. !3 month olds don't care.

At Harbourfront, just west of the foot of Spadina, you'll find a little swampy area with marsh grasses, and probably ducks, etc.

Across the streeet from the hotel, on the west side of city hall, there's a small playground.

I can't imagine anything at the ROM that would appeal to a baby. Same for the Art Gallery on Ontario, which does have kids progbrams, but for older ones.

A couple of blocks west of the hotel, on Queen street West, are the CITY-TV studios. A truck is driving out of the east-side wall of the building. Kids laugh at this.

Big playground behind the Art Galllery of Ontario, half a block west of McCaul Street, south of Dundas and north of Queen. Probably got a wading pool with water; (depends on the weather) but has slides, etc., that little kids can enjoy.

Tunnels under the hotel have food courts, etc., where it is easy to manipulate a stoller.

If the kid is big enough for French Fries, buiy them from a truck in front of City Hall.

But mostly, find things for the grown ups -- junior is pretty small.

BAK

We'll have a 15 month-old. Pretty portable still but interested in the world around him.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Keep 'em coming!

Is there a grocery store near the hotel to buy milk, yogurt, and other toddler-friendly foods?

You seem to have hit the hot spots for toddlers.

Another great place to find activities for kids in Toronto is www.kiddingaroundtoronto.com. There is an updated events calendar with events, exhibits, and theatre listings.

Have a wonderful trip!

From our experience with our grand-daughter, two places that would interest a 15-month old would be the Zoo and the Riverdale Farm.

The Zoo is immense, but you only need to see part of it. Don't try to get ther by public transportation, as it will take a long time. When our grand-daughter was 15 months she was fascinated by most of the animals, but the elephants were a real hit.

Riverdale Farm is downtown (the site of the old Riverdale Zoo) and easily accessible by streetcar. It's reasonably compact and has a good selection of farm animals that will be interesting to a toddler.

The rides at Centreville on Centre Island are for kids a bit older, but the ferry ride over and back is always interesting.

I wouldn't suggest the ROM for toddlers at all, nor Casa Loma. However, you and grandmother might enjoy them. (While at Casa Loma, don't miss Spadina House next door).

On Saturday morning I would certainly include a visit to the St. Lawrence Market. You might want to have breakfast there. Again, this is easily accessible by public transit.

I can't really comment on child-friendly restaurants downtown, but any Swiss Chalet is always a good choice.

The original poster's trip has come and gone, but for others looking for child-friendly restaurants, Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants are generally a good bet.

Particularly during weekend dim sum, they tend to be fairly busy and noisy, often with multi-generational groups chatting and reading the weekend papers. In that atmosphere, a toddler's chatter won't disturb other customers.

CanadaKate