Whether you’re looking forward to having the kids back in school or you’re planning on continuing distance learning and homeschooling, summer is coming to a close faster than you realize. This year, summer has been very different—we haven’t been able to enjoy all of the fun and games we usually get to indulge in.
But, as things reopen, we’re able to safely enjoy more of the things we love about summertime.
Thankfully, there’s still time to get out with the kids and experience everything Toronto has to offer during the summertime.
Here are our picks for the can’t-miss things to do in Toronto this summer.
The Toronto Zoo
While tickets may only be available for purchase online, the Toronto Zoo is open for business. Masks are required at all indoor pavilions and at certain outdoor animal viewing areas. You are also required to purchase a timed ticket. And if you’d rather stay in your car, the Scenic Safari program is still running!
Timed tickets: Adult $27.99 | Senior $23.15 | Child $18.30 – visit website
Head to the Park
Are your kids missing the slide as much as ours? Last week, the City of Toronto announced that the play structures in parks are now open for use. Be sure to take precautions—bring your hand sanitizer, practice proper social distancing, and go to another park if it is busy—but let the kids have some fun on the swings and the slides!
FREE – visit website
The ROM
Get ready to explore everything the Royal Ontario Museum has to offer—dinosaurs, mummies, gems, and more! You need to purchase a timed ticket online before you head out, and be sure to bring your mask along with you as they are required while in the ROM.
Tickets: Adult $23.00 | Child $14.00 | Senior $18.00 – visit website
Visit the Drive-in
What’s more fun than the drive-in movies during the summer? This summer, the drive-in is a great way to safely enjoy a movie during COVID-19. If you’ve never taken your kids to the drive-in before, this summer is the perfect time to give them an experience they’ll never forget.
Prices differ based on location – see our list of 19 Drive-ins in Southern Ontario
Pirate Life
Set sail on your very own pirate adventure with Pirate’s Life. Your kids will actually become pirates alongside the crew! Dress up in your pirate costumes beforehand, and decorate your masks for a pirate party. Climb aboard the 45-foot Island Rogue and live the pirate life on the “high seas” of Lake Ontario.
Tickets: $27.00 – visit website
A Family Road Trip
Pack the kids and some snacks up for a road trip! Plan your destination and all stops along the way ahead of time to ensure everything is open and operating. Once you’re out on the open road, you can leave your thoughts of masks behind (at least for a little while). We love the idea of visiting an outdoor destination—after weeks of physical distancing we’ll take any chance to get the kids outside!
See our list of the 9 natural wonders of Ontario
Free Weekends at the Gardiner Museum
All summer long, the Gardiner Museum is offering free admission on weekends (and they are still holding Family Days on Sundays!). From 11:00 am-3:00 pm, you can bring the kids to the museum and participate in fun, creative activities. Make sculptures out of clay, paint your own ceramic tiles, or join in on a scavenger hunt. Be sure to book your tickets before you go as they are limited.
Tickets (during the week): $15/adults | $9/students – visit website
Pick Your Own Fruit (or Veggies)
While a lot has changed this summer, farms are opening up—with measures in place to ensure physical distancing is maintained, of course. So head out there and grab some strawberries, blueberries, peaches, or whatever else you can get your hands on. Remember to always call ahead to plan your visit, to be sure crops are ripe for picking and that the farm is open for the 2020 season.
See our list of 10 Pick-Your-Own farms near Toronto
Go Camping!
Grab a tent, a few sleeping bags, and get the kids sleeping under the stars. Whether you book a space at a local park, pop your tent in the backyard, or find a place to go glamping, there are lots of great options for camping this summer.
See our list of the best places to go camping in comfort in Ontario
