Mohit's parents live just outside of Toronto, Canada, and we usually visit with the kids three times a year. Our kids bring a TORNADO of energy to their grandparents' quiet house, so we usually try to plan outings each day to avoid completely tearing apart their house! Here are our top three favorite parks and playgrounds in the Toronto area:
High Park, 1873 Bloor Street West, Toronto
This park is awesome for the 8 and under set! First off, there's an awesome castle playground, which has a great toddler area, big kid area, and picnic tables and benches for parents. Second, there is a FREE mini zoo right across from the playground which features bison, deer, peacocks, emus, etc. Third, there's an adorable mini train that you can take for a tour of the entire park, which features scenic a scenic lake, forests, and pretty flowering landscapes. If your kids are like my son and still have energy for more, there are also well marked nature trails to explore.
High Park, 1873 Bloor Street West, Toronto
This park is awesome for the 8 and under set! First off, there's an awesome castle playground, which has a great toddler area, big kid area, and picnic tables and benches for parents. Second, there is a FREE mini zoo right across from the playground which features bison, deer, peacocks, emus, etc. Third, there's an adorable mini train that you can take for a tour of the entire park, which features scenic a scenic lake, forests, and pretty flowering landscapes. If your kids are like my son and still have energy for more, there are also well marked nature trails to explore.
Sunnyside and Budapest Parks along Lakeshore Boulevard West, Toronto
When we visited, we parked near Sunnyside and walked along the shore toward Budapest Park and beyond. There's lot to explore here- both sandy and rocky beaches along Lake Ontario, fountains and wading pools for summertime water play, a playground which includes fun concrete dinosaurs for climbing, and the Sunnyside Pavillion Cafe, a great stop for lunch with a view of the water. We came here during U.S. Labor Day weekend (Labour Day in Canada too!), during the annual Canadian National Exhibition, and this is a spectacular spot to watch the air show!
Jack Darling Park, Mississauga, Ontario
OK, so this one is outside of Toronto, in Mississauga (where Mohit's parents live), but we come back to this one almost every time we visit because it's got so much to offer! There is a fabulous playground on artificial turf (great when you have both a crawling baby and an energetic big sibling!), a super fun spray park, a sandy beach along Lake Ontario, and rocky shoreline to explore. This park has great public restroom facilities and extensive picnic areas, which are typically occupied by big family parties and barbecues when we visit on weekends.
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