What to do in Toronto with a toddler?
 

My husband is going to Toronto for training in July, and my daughter and I are going to tag along. What can we do during the day to entertain ourselves? We will be staying at the Sheraton on Queen and will have a car. I've been to Toronto many times but have never been to the zoo, ROM or Science Center - are these all appropriate? I'm assuming the zoo will be a hit.

Also, can someone recommend a few casual restaurants in the vicinity of the Sheraton? No chains please, but perhaps Mexican, Italian or Am. Continental. Also, which is the best Greek restaurant on the Danforth?

Thank you!

ttt

Some ideas for a toddler between age 2 and 4 years old…
~Riverdale Farm –it's a working farm in the heart of the city. (In the Old Cabbagetown area on Winchester Street.) There are daily farm demos (milking, butter making, wool spinning, etc.) as well as special events all year long. At the 1858 barn, you'll find cows, horses, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, geese – the whole range of typical farm animals.
~Take a ferry ride from Yonge Street to the Toronto Islands (connected by bridges). At Ward's Island head for the Centreville Amusement Park with its animal shaped paddle boats, or rent a bike.
~Next door to the ROM you'll find the Children's Own Museum with tons of interactive exhibits geared towards kids under 8, including a "Main Street" where they can play at being shop keepers, or hang out in the workshop to sculpt, paint, and build.
~Black Creek Pioneer Village – A recreation of an 1800s farm town, the "Village" has about two dozen buildings, including a barn with sheep and pigs, stables, a one room schoolhouse, a log house, and even a stagecoach. Best of all is watching crafts and chores being performed by people dressed as Mennonite farmers and sampling period foods. North of downown at Jane Street and Steeles Ave.
The Beaches Area, running east from downtown along the lake shore has lots of cafes, and little beaches that make strolling a relaxing way to spend the day. There's an old boardwalk where you can stroll with an ice cream or bring a picnic.
~Toronto Zoo, a half hour drive north of downtown Toronto. The zoo is open every day except December 25th and has over 5,000 animals, making this one of the world's best zoos. Kids will enjoy a wagon ride and animals of Canada in the Canadian zone (take the Grizzly Bear Trail). For a small fee get a great view on the Zoomobile tram (get off and on along the route).
~Toronto Public Library, there is a small branch in City Hall across from your hotel. A cool place chill out and read kids books. The Lillian Smith branch up on College by the University of Toronto contains the Osborne Children’s Collection. Have a great visit.

Ontrio Place down on the waterfront is a great place for kids in the summer, have a water area and lots for kids factivites, even for toddlers too.

A great restaruant to try near the bottom of Yonge st at front is Movenpick.. great food and concept.

The best Greek restaurant on the Danforth has to be the Friendly Greek (local fav!)..great authentic food, affordable.

Enjoy!

The children's museum has been gone for years.

Otherwise, most of the info above is good. Zoo is a long way away for a really little kid.

Centreville is the best of the bunch.

Food -- you and girl can share a hot dog and fries from the trucks across from the hotel one day for lunch.

Nearest park / playground is along the west side of city hall, diectly north of the hotel, but it's not very good.

But ... walk west on Queen Street a few blocks to McCaul, walk north toward the weirdest building you've ever seen, and just before you get to that, turn left along the short street to the swings, slides, etc you can see.

(Weird building is B&W, on colored stilts)

BAK

These are great suggestions - thank you! It'll be difficult to decide what to do... But, we live near Buffalo and come to Toronto a couple times a year.

I thought that Toronto had a Movenpick but wasn't sure - I ate at several throughout Europe many years ago and loved them!

Movenpick is complicated...

Most Toronto real movenpick restaurants are closed, but a few Marche quasi-cafeterias, including in BCE Place, are still open and fun.

For Greek restaurants on the Danforth, my recommendation is Astoria for traditional dishes like souvlaki or mousakka and Ampeli for fish.

The Pantheon on the Danforth is a great Greek restaurant as well.

Ontario Place...definitely! Don't miss it!

Toronto Zoo is too large and too hot for a very small child.