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A truly magical place for children, Canada’s largest museum makes a special effort to have plenty of hands-on exhibits. The much-loved Dinosaur Gallery and mummy cases are strictly “don’t touch,” but the Hands-On Bio-diversity Gallery enchants and educates youngsters with interactive exhibits (see Royal Ontario Museum).

Budding hockey stars can test their skill whacking pucks and guarding goal at this shrine to the sport, which houses more hockey memorabilia than you can shake a stick at (see Hockey Hall of Fame).

This summertime waterfront amusement park is full of fun activities for kids: waterslides, pedal boats, and the inventive Go Zone playground, to name just a few (see Ontario Place).

Exhibiting animals in their natural habitats is the policy of this zoo, which aims for meaningful education over theme-park spectacle. Seven geographic areas are represented in pavilions filled with over 450 species; large outdoor enclosures allow animals to roam freely (see Toronto Zoo).

No need to reign in the kids at this science-based learning playground. Instead, let them charge through the more than 800 hands-on exhibits encompassing everything from sports to medicine, computers to electricity (see Ontario Science Centre).

This agricultural education center and working farm in the middle of the city is home to many barnyard favorites – pigs, goats, sheep, horses, and chickens. Post-and-beam barns date from the 19th century. Kids are allowed to pet most of the animals and help at feeding time.

This amusement park north of the city has 400 attractions, including 50 rides, a water park, and live shows. Thrill rides for older kids, tamer rides for little ones.

The kid-friendly attractions and events at this lakefront center ensure it’s always busy. Kids especially love watching artisans at work in York Quay Centre’s Craft Studio, the ice-skating rink (see Skating), and open-air concerts.

This theater presents excellent productions that are always a hit with children. The façade of the original building, built in 1881 as a stable for streetcar-pulling horses, can still be seen.

A highlight of this Toronto island is Centreville, a bustling amusement park. Some 30 old-fashioned rides include “swan” paddle boats, an 1898 carousel, and pony rides (see Centreville Amusement Park).