Thrifting, bike tours, and museums are on the list
With flight prices to Europe skyrocketing in recent months, our neighbor to the north is becoming a popular destination for family travel. I recently visited Toronto with my teen in tow and found the city to be full of great food, unique museums, street art, and thrift shops. Did you know that Toronto has its own set of islands that you can access via ferry and bike? There’s that and so much more in this easy-to-navigate city—here are my recommendations along with a great hotel that has its own indoor waterslide!
Tour the Toronto Islands via bike.
Just a short ferry ride will take you to the Toronto Islands and our favorite way to explore this area is on a bike. We met up with our group at Toronto Bicycle Tours and headed a few blocks downtown to the ferry terminal where we loaded our bikes on board and set out for a 15-minute ride to the Toronto Islands. After disembarking, we learned a bit of the history of the islands before we set out for our tour. We stopped at points along the way to explore this car-free community. The ride was flat and easy, and they said they could accommodate kids of all ages. It was a trip highlight for both of us!
See a show at Dream at High Park.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream was on stage at Dream at High Park during our visit. After a long day spent walking around the city, we loved chill vibes of this outdoor theatre in a serene park location. Kids sitting next to us ran over to visit the nearby (free!) zoo before the show started and we wished we’d had more time to stop by ourselves. This is the perfect summer activity for families as you can bring in your own dinner or snacks for a picnic during the show. Be sure to get there early as seating is first come-first served.
If you want to grab some delicious eats nearby, we recommend Barque Smokehouse. Smoked meats are the focus with lots of shareable options available. Don’t pass up the sides as the charred broccoli salad and BBQ fries were some of our favorites.
Walk through Kensington Market for some vintage shopping.
Foodies and thrifters will love walking through Kensington Market as there is so much to see. Streets lined with craftspeople drew us in to buy so many pairs of earrings (Can you have too many? We think not.) before we stopped for boba tea and pie (Wanda’s Pie in the Sky is a must.). Our favorite thrift shops were along Kensington Ave. and nearby:
- Lost Boys Vintage
- Courage My Love
- Fashion Old and New
- Breathless Vintage
- Space Vintage
- Shoneys Clothing
Visit some of Toronto’s amazing museums.
Not many teens will list museum visits at the top of their list of vacation favorites but a shoe museum is another story. We stopped by the Bata Shoe Museum where “In Bloom: Flowers and Footwear” was on exhibit. Picture shoes of all shapes and sizes and time periods decked out in florals. You’ll definitely be inspired to up your footwear game after your visit!
Not sure why miniatures are so universally loved by kids, but all ages will enjoy a visit to Little Canada while in Toronto. Walk through this fun exhibit where you can see loads of Canadian cities and a few others as they appear from above. See if you can find your hotel on the Little Toronto model and watch for Maurice the moose to appear throughout.
Head to Yorkdale Shopping Centre for some upscale shopping.
Take a break from sightseeing for an activity that the teens are sure to love. It’s easy to hop aboard the TTC to make your way to Yorkdale Mall from the city center. Cafe Landwer is a great spot to start at as you can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine and a brunch menu that’s to die for. You’ll need the fuel for all the shopping you’re about to do!
You’ll find teen-favorite shops like Aerie, UNIQLO, and Artizia here along with everyone’s favorite store for stationery, home decor, and fine-point pens—MUJI. Department store Holt Refrew offers a great selection of Dr. Martens and other teen-friendly clothing brands. Before you head back into the city, stop by Craig’s Cookies for some sweet treats.
Take a Segway tour of the Distillery District.
The historic Distillery District is a fun spot to visit for some shopping and dining. Go Tours Canada offers a 30-minute tour via Segway that teens and parents love. You’ll get a rundown of the area’s history with specific attention to the historic Victorian buildings that still stand today. They also offer ghost tours via Segway and walking tours for those who prefer to explore on foot.
While you are there, stop by El Catrin Destileria for modern Mexican cuisine. This spot boasts some stunning decor and a massive tequila menu. Order up the guacamole topped with crickets to start and the churros to end your meal of tacos, quesadillas, or chilaquiles.
Other spots to eat when visiting Toronto.
Toronto has a top-notch food scene and you’ll definitely want to bring your appetites when you visit. Here are a few of our favorite dining spots from our visit:
- Mandy’s—Focusing on salads and smoothies, this too-cute spot was a favorite after a long day of thrifting. The Ossington Ave. location had some excellent shopping right across the street.
- Lao Lao Bar—Shareable plates are on order at this spot that features Lao dishes from satay chicken and mango salad to spring rolls and panang curry. There’s an extensive vegetarian offering if that’s your jam.
- Piano Piano—Get all dolled up and plan to spend some time enjoying your meal at the festively fancy Piano Piano. The vodka croquettes were the perfect way to start our meal with the egg yolk ravioli taking center stage for the main. Traditional options like chicken piccata and as well as a family-style menu make this a great spot for groups.
Where to stay when visiting Toronto.
The Chelsea Hotel is our go-to spot when visiting Toronto with kids. We love its central location that offers easy walkability to lots of the top tourist spots and TTC access to get you where you need to go. Kids will go crazy over the indoor pool with corkscrew waterslide as well as the property’s Kid Centre with its resident bunnies. And be warned, you may not be able to tear the teens away from the arcade.
Families can spread out in the two-bedroom family fun suite that comes with a kitchen to give you an alternative to dining out. Dining on-site is super easy with both buffet and seated a la carte options available without having to leave the hotel grounds. Be sure to try the hotel’s butter chicken as it is quite delicious!
While the teens are enjoying the arcade, parents can visit the adults-only pool and fitness room on the hotel’s top floor. This is also a great spot for viewing the city lights and fireworks if you are lucky!
Make sure to capture all the vacation fun—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
Editor’s note: This trip was paid for by Destination Toronto and The Chelsea Hotel but all opinions belong to the writer.
