DK Travel : Toronto : Ontario Place

Ontario Place

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This internationally acclaimed cultural, leisure, and entertainment complex, designed by Eb Zeidler (see Galleria) and opened in 1971, is centered on three man-made islands along the Lake Ontario waterfront. The park is filled with family attractions, from rides to concert venues; snack bars and restaurants are dotted throughout the complex. Taking full advantage of its lakeside setting, Ontario Place offers fantastic water activities, with the city’s only downtown waterpark, featuring gigantic waterslides, flume rides, and wading pools for toddlers. The complex is open from late May to late September.
For Molson Amphitheatre concert listings, call its concert line at 416 260 5600 or view them online at www.molsonamp.com For three days in June and July, Ontario Place hosts the annual Festival of Fire, extravagant fireworks set to music

Top 10 Attractions

1. Cinesphere

With a six-story-high screen and 24,000 watts of digital sound, this IMAX theater makes movie-watching a spinetingling experience. For best viewing, pick a seat in the middle of a row. The theater, housed in a Triodetic dome, was the world’s first permanent IMAX venue when it was built, in 1971.
2. MegaMaze

Navigate seven mazes in this multilevel indoor-outdoor labyrinth. Mirrors, lasers, and sound effects add to the challenge of finding your way out.
3. Soak City

This waterpark features four heart-stopping rides. The Hydrofuge shoots riders through a tunnel into a giant bowl, where you spin in circles before landing in a pool of water, while the Rush River Raft Ride takes riders on an exhilarating, 873-ft (266-m) plunge. Children who do not meet the age and height restrictions can have lots of wet and wild fun in the splash pool.
4. Pedal Boats

Rent a pedal boat on Adventure Island to explore the many lagoons and bays. Kids can try the Mini Bumper Boats, in Centre Plaza.
5. Thrill Zone

Three Thrill Zone sites offer the latest in interactive, virtual game hardware. Challenge yourself with Alpine Ski simulators, driving simulators, Wave Jet, Sega Rally, and a large variety of coin-operated video games.
6. Free Fall

Hold on to your hat – and clench your stomach – on this drop tower ride. A platform seating 10 people rises 20 feet (6 m) above the ground before plummeting, for two minutes of hair-raising fun.
7. Miniature Golf

Two well-designed nine-hole golf courses built into the landscaped hillside offer great family fun.
8. Wilderness Adventure Ride

Against a backdrop modeled on the Northern Ontario landscape – deep canyons, forests, and wildlife – this animated flume ride, the world’s largest, features a 40-ft (10-m) splashdown.
9. Molson Amphitheatre

A sensational line-up of international and Canadian musical acts, from rock and hip-hop to country, blues, and jazz, is presented at this large outdoor concert venue.
10. Go Zone

At this play area, kids can climb the huge H₂O Generation Station, steer electric cars through a realistic course at OP Driving School; and dodge the Atom Blaster’s 12,000 foam balls, shot in all directions from canons and volcanoes. Microkids is a play area just for toddlers.

Practical Information

Hit a snack bar for a beavertail – deep-fried pastry dusted with cinnamon sugar. Full-service restaurants offer patios and great lake views. Buy a Play All Day Pass for unlimited use of most rides. Check out the Festival Stage for free live children’s entertainment. Molson Amphitheatre box office, at the Main Gate, is open 11am–8pm daily; until event start time on show days. Ticket prices include grounds admission. 955 Lake Shore Blvd W 416 314 9900 www.ontarioplace.com Open early Jun–Labour Day: 10am daily (closing varies); last 2 weeks in May & 2nd–4th week in Sep: 10am–6pm Sat–Sun Adm: $13, plus ride and attraction fees