Family Activities in Toronto to Plan Now
Ripley’s Aquarium and the ROM
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada sits at the base of the CN Tower, and its Dangerous Lagoon moving walkway carries kids underneath sharks and green sawfish; adult tickets run roughly $40 to $45 CAD (ripleys.com ). A short walk away, the ROM’s dinosaur and Egyptian galleries hold their attention just as long, with adult admission from about $26 to $30 CAD (rom.on.ca ). Book a Ripley’s Aquarium ticket on GetYourGuide to lock in a timed slot before you land.
The Ontario Science Centre, at its new address
The Ontario Science Centre runs from its interim home at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, opened in June 2026, with KidSpark, an Innovation Station, and a space exhibit across roughly 86,000 square feet. Admission is $15 CAD per visitor and free for children 2 and under, Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00, closed Mondays (ontariosciencecentre.ca ). A permanent building at Ontario Place is targeted for 2029.
The Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo in Rouge Valley holds thousands of animals across a large site; adult admission is roughly $33 CAD, with children age 3 to 12 around $23 CAD (torontozoo.com ). Budget most of a day, since the grounds are large enough that a rushed visit skips entire zones.
Little Canada and High Park
Little Canada’s indoor miniature-model attraction is fully weatherproof, a useful fallback on a rainy afternoon. High Park’s free zoo, playgrounds, and Grenadier Pond cost nothing and pair well with a picnic in warmer months.
Toronto Islands, ferry only
There is no bridge to the Toronto Islands, and Centreville Amusement Park on Centre Island is seasonal and reachable only by the City ferry ($9.57 CAD adult return) or a private water taxi. Build in ferry queue time; summer weekend lines can run long between 10am and 3pm. For downtown anchors on the same trip, see the Toronto attraction tours guide .
Buy Ripley’s and ROM tickets online before arrival day; both sell timed entry that keeps a family from waiting in a walk-up line with tired kids.
Free options for a lighter budget day
High Park’s free zoo, playgrounds, and Grenadier Pond cost nothing, and Riverdale Farm is free as well, both good choices for a day between paid attractions. The Canada Strong Pass gives free ROM admission to ages 4 through 17 and 50 percent off for ages 18 to 24, but only from June 19 through September 7, 2026, so check the current window before planning a trip around it rather than assuming it runs year round.