What do you recommend in YOUR city?

babygirl says on Dec 2, 2008, 19:31:

Toronto!

To start, there's so much to do with kids and I'm all about coupons and 2 for 1 specials. This stuff is not cheap and at the end of the day sometimes kids just want to do kid stuff.

Here's a link to an e couponing program through Attractions Ontario that can save a ton of money.

http://www.attractionsontario.ca/index.cfm?DSP=Chapter&ID=19

Ontario Place: (Downtown)
A waterfront park, with rides, entertainment, water park, imax theatre, cultural festivals, pedal boats

Casa Loma: (Downtown)
A neat castle that often has activities for kids

ROM (Royal Ontario Museum): (Downtown)
The BEST dinosaur permanent exhibit and other great stuff too. Kids never want to leave the dinosaurs or the bat cave, so be forewarned.

Ontario Science Centre:
Self explanatory but really cool, educational but fun

Metro Toronto Zoo:
It's HUGE, be prepared to walk all day

Fort York: (Downtown)
Right downtown, really neat to take a tour

Pioneer Village:
Well, it's a Pioneer Village, so much fun with the kids

St Lawrence Market: (Downtown)
A giant flea market of food stalls, cheeses, some arts and crafts but mostly food. Great place to grab a bit to eat and kill a couple hours walking around and it's indoors.

All of the above is accessible using TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) or Go Transit (commuter trains & buses).

Day Trip:
Niagara Falls! Of course. Niagara always has super kids deals on motels, hotels, restaurants, eg: kids eat free.

http://www.tourismniagara.com/coupon_directory.html?&no_cache=1

The falls are actually so beautiful and usually they have fireworks every Friday night over the falls in the summer time. In the winter, over the Christmas holidays there is a festival of lights which is a great way to end the day. We used to put the kids in their pjs and drive the festival route. 9 times out of 10 the kids were fast asleep by the time we got back home. ;) Even off season there are quite a few hotels with indoor water parks and there's even a Great Wolf Lodge. The main strip is built up so much, it's kind of tacky but when you need a break from tree hugging with your kids I can guarantee they'll be excited with all the action and lights.
Oh don't forget about the history and the forts! (Can you tell I love forts?). Fort Erie (which is in, yes you guessed it, Fort Erie) and Fort George which is in Niagara on the Lake. On your way to Niagara on the Lake you can check out Laura Secord's house and General Brock's monument too.

Dining: My opinion is you're better off eating at a burger joint or getting a pizza because there really isn't anything worth righting home about considering value for $$.

Parents: The Niagara Region has some great estate wineries.


I can't think of anything else right now but it's a start. It would be so great if others posted about their cities! Maybe we might be inspired by one another? Regardless it's a great reference too to have. I've been known to book a random long weekend trip just to get a change of scenery and it's always nice to have insiders tips.

Canadian Girls Kick Ass!

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on Dec 7, 2008, 12:52:

I can't recommend much just yet in Antwerp since Amelia is only just becoming a toddler now.. sorry! (Or perhaps we don't get out enough?)

Poor but snappy

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babygirl says on Dec 7, 2008, 19:44:

Oh don't you worry, it will come soon enough ;) How many times did I have to take my daughter to Marineland in Niagara Falls? Who knows, BUT if you go off season just to see the aquarium and whales and dolphins, she was free and I only paid $10 to get in. Nobody was there, we got to interact with the dolphins and we saw a baby killer whale that was a week old. AND a little 4 year old girl was very very happy.

God, I just don't stop do I?

Canadian Girls Kick Ass!

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