Family outings: Need some inspiration?

Sandbanks Beach, one of the three beaches in Sandbanks Provincial Park

Go to the Activity of the week section of torontofunplaces.com, the website supported by Nathalie Prézeau, author of 482-page guide on family outings Toronto Fun Places, now it its 5th edition.

Family outing suggestion of the week

Dear readers,

Every week, I'm suggesting a weekly family outing on www.torontofunplaces.com. Check it out! 

You're presently on the previous version of my blog (hosted by Blogspot). I now post my updates, photo galleries and fun bits on the Toronto Fun Blog on my website. Enjoy!

Bragging alert!

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Outing suggestion for the week of March 3rd: Legoland

This week's outing suggestion on torontofunplaces.com:

A block buster combo: The Lego Movie + Legoland Discovery Centre!

About Santa Claus Parades!

Toronto Santa Claus Parade 
Sunday November 17 at 12:30 p.m.

See our post about this parade and six others in our post:
7 TIPS & 7 parades on torontofunplaces.com.

Try Nuit Blanche with kids!

Sleepless in Toronto

Your Nuit Blanche probably won't be sleepless if you're with kids (those days are over!) but you can start at 7 p.m. before the crowds kick in, and enjoy as many eclectic activities as your family can bear. Warning, my friend's four kids were still going strong at midnight!

After attending most of the past Nuit Blanches, I can tell you it is hard to predict what awaits you. Activities can last anywhere from two minutes to half an hour. There can be a massive crowd, or hardly anyone. They can be very creative or very disappointing.

The unknown is actually part of the fun. Control freaks will want to avoid this experience.

My recommendations for Nuit Blanche 2013 with kids:
I had a look at the 2013 activities I'd want to visit with kids 14 years and under and came up with a 3.1 km circuit (it takes approx. 15 minutes to walk one km, excluding the time you stop to admire the installations).

It starts at King Subway Station and ends at Queen's Park Subway Station.

The funny thing is, it starts with an elephant in a courtyard and ends with an elephant in a trunk!

Nuit Blanche in previous years

Points of interest:
• Get off King Station, walk to Yonge, go south and take the first little street (Melinda Street) to reach the statue of an elephant mom with her two babies in the courtyard (not part of Nuit Blanche but a cute urban sight in Toronto). 
• Then continue on Jordan Street towards King Street to see Project #43: a cathedral built out of garbage bins! (A couple of years ago, we saw a church made out of camping equipment!)
• Walk across King Street and through Scotiabank (check the superb life-size painting of a fall on the wall on your left by the entrance) and exit into Adelaide Street and walk across the courtyard to reach Cloud Gardens.
• Project #20 is supposed to involve some campfire but I just wanted you to see the lovely fall and layout of this park. (Comment after Nuit Blanche: it actually involved holograms of people set in place of the water fall!)
• Walk to Nathan Phillips Square where there's a lot to see: the intriguing Crash Cars Project #2, Project #1, a sculpture made out of over 3,000 bikes.

Nuit Blanche in previous years

• Then there's Project #9, involving more bikes, on a path leading to University Street.
• Then, if you walk south to Queen and start to walk northbound along University Street up to College, you'll see many projects part of what they call the Parade, starting with the Queen of the Parade, Project #15, at Queen. I can't wait to see along the way Music Box, Project #14, the Paper Orbs, Project #17, the Ferry Wheels, Project #25 and the Clown Factory, Project #42. The 12-foot Monster Child, Project #64, at the foot of Queens park, is also intriguing.
• The Elephant in the trunk (Project #69) would offer a nice finish to this great urban family outing.

Enjoy!

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Nuit Blanche in previous years

Nuit Blanche in previous years

40 new FREE family activities next Friday and Saturday in Toronto Public Library branches

September 27 and 28 will be busy days!  

Toronto Public Library has partnered with Culture Days and the Neighbourhood Arts Network to offer 40 FREE programs at branches across Toronto on Friday September 27 and Saturday September 28. 

Culture Days free activities in Toronto Public Library branches.

See this link Culture Days for the full list of places, addresses and times.

I've noticed lots of quality family activities there! Such as a Ballet Jorgen Canada performance in the auditorium of North York Library on Friday Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. (call 416-395-5639 to register), and Shannon Thunderbird's interactive sing and dance event at Annette Street Branch, Saturday Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. (come early, limited to 80 participants). Both are artists represented by Prologue to the Performing Arts, providers of great shows in the schools throughout Ontario.  

Culture Days activities include storytelling, ambitious craft making, hip hop, Tamil folk drama, Indian martial arts, belly dancing workshops... Check it out!

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last-minute family outing suggestions, updates and fun bits.

Legoland Discovery Centre in Vaughan Mills

A true block buster!

It took me one visit to the new family attraction at Vaughan Mills to resume my love story with the most wonderful toy in the world. Lego fans will truly feel they get their money's worth at Legoland Discovery Centre.

Last week, I spent some time with a friend who felt bad that as the summer was closing she had not found the time yet to do something special with her 11-year-old son. 

I convinced them to come with me to Legoland. Our young builder gave the place two big thumbs up, and so did we!

What to expect

Past the admission desk, we waited in a small lobby for a staff member dressed in a white overcoat to lead us into the Lego "factory" where we learned everything about the manufacturing process of the world famous bricks.

The factory is a prologue to the line-up of activities which lie ahead: laser ride, small 4D movie theatre, workshop room,  large indoor playground, twirling ride, sections with tons of blocks to indulge in our own creations (including one with Duplo blocks for younger kids), racing tracks to test our constructions, small karaoke zone, cafeteria and more. 

The attention to detail of this attraction is not unlike what you'd expect at Disneyworld. (Check their washrooms!)

Toronto cityscape at Legoland

Our personal favourites

We LOVED the superb Miniland for which the local building team recreated Toronto's landmarks (and a few more from other cities). Every time the night fell over the city, it allowed us to admire the pretty city lights. We were even treated with small firework displays projected on the walls of the attraction. So lovely! 

Rogers Centre

The 4D movie theatre presented three different 10-minute films (an electronic board by the entrance advertised the title and hour of the coming presentation). 

The shorts are accompanied by modest wind and water effects. Don't miss the movie Clutch Powers which is, in my opinion, at par with Pixar's Toy Story. (Moms will appreciate the moment when our free-falling heroine tries to save the situation... while holding on to her little Lego wig.) 

Merlin's Apprentice Ride at Legoland

We were surprised to discover that the pedals on Merlin’s Apprentice Ride had a function. You need to push them to go up and down. 

The Kingdom Quest Laser Ride lasts all of four intense minutes (and you can hop on it as much as you want). Our young companion scored 27 000 points, far beyond his mom who got 10 000 and me with my pitiful 4 000 points. 

In the store of the Discovery Centre, it is possible to buy Lego bricks by the colour and by the weight. Isn't it great? I've seen kids helping themselves directly from the monochrome containers to build a creation which was then weighed. It costs $14 per 100 grams (a big handfull).

Good to know

All kids must be accompanied by an adult. All adults must enter with a child aged 3 to 12 years old. (The Centre offers a monthly Adult Night allowing fans 18 years and older to enter without a child.) 

• Adults can accompany their kids on every ride. 
• There's no in & out priviledge. Visits usually take 2-3 hours. 
• Socks are mandatory in the playground.
• The colourful cafeteria sells $4 sandwiches and snacks and beverages (cold or hot). Outside food is not allowed on the premises. 

Super washroom at Legoland

Moms TIPS

Buy your tickets online in advance. It will allow you to avoid the line-up.

• The small lobby where everyone waited to get in the movie theatre was full when we opted to watch a show yet, we all got in. 
• Allow five minutes per 12 people ahead of you in the line-up at Merlin's Apprentice Ride.
• About birthday parties: You need to make reservations (six weeks ahead of time) for a minimum of 10 paying kids. It's $25 per child but free for the birthday kid and one adult for every five children. This buys you the exclusive use of a room for an hour, a meal, the cake and unlimited access to Legoland activities. 
• To avoid tantrums at the end of your visit, let your kids know what to expect in the Lego store. You might want to negotiate that you're willing to go only if they promise not to ask for anything at the store. Or you could give them a small allowance. I noticed many options under $10. My friend opted to give her son a lump sum with the permission to top it off with his own money to buy what he wanted. 

INFORMATION

Legoland Discovery Centre

www.legolanddiscoverycentre.ca

1-855-356-2150

Where: Vaughan Mills, 1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Vaughan. (4A section is the closest to the entrance leading to Legoland (near bowling attraction Lucky Strike Lanes). 

When: On Labour Day weekend, open Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm, Sunday & Monday from 10 am to 7 pm.  At other times, open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 7 pm. (Last admission two hours prior to closing time.)

How much: $18/3-12 yrs, $22/13 yrs +, free for kids 2 years old and under. (Annual pass to be considered if you plan to attend more than three times in the year.) 

Related blogs:
TOP-10 Lego ideas on Pinterest
I-SPY a jackhammer guy
CN Tower at Legoland

Test drive at Legoland 

Toronto City Hall

Air Canada Centre

The ROM on Bloor Street West

CNE Tips for moms: About admission

Admission DOES NOT include rides!

(Note: Fees updated for 2014)
General admission to the CNE is $18 (14-59 yrs), $14 (5-13 yrs and seniors), $50 for a family of four, free for kids 4 years and under. This does not include the rides.

But general admission gives you access to: 

• All the bandshell concerts

• All the chefs' presentations (Celebrity Stage, Direct Energy Centre)

• The daily Mardi Gras Parade departing from Princes' Gate at 6 p.m.

• All the exhibits and events throughout the site including the Canadian International Air Show (2014: August 30, 31 and September 1 starting at 1 p.m.).
• Free shuttle all around the site.

Deal alert! 

During Free Till 3 on Tuesday August 26, ground admission will be free for kids 19 years and under from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and they will be able to buy 8 rides for $20.

During Kid's Toonie Mondays on August 18 and 25, ground admission will be $2 for kids under 13 and it will cost them $22 for 30 tickets for the rides. 

Other posts on the CNE:

CNE on torontofunplaces.com
CNE Tips for moms: About rides
CNE Tips for moms with animal lovers

CNE Tips for moms with artsy kids
CNE Tips for moms with big kids

CNE Tips for moms with girlie girls

CNE Tips for mom: About food

TOP-3 day trips to the beach (during Civic Holiday long weekend or any other warm summer day)

Not too late to plan a day trip!

Cobourg Beach

Despite the fact that it is my job to do research on family outings, I never get to plan a big family holiday. This has never bothered me because I know from experience the wonderful effect of a simple day trip on my family (and not to forget how much easier it is on my wallet).

Here are three great options to enjoy the pleasure of old-fashioned beach fun (but there's more in the guide). Pack the beach toys (shovels, buckets, several sizes of containers), swimsuits and beach towels, water, sunscreen and a cooler packed with a picnic. Allow some ice-cream money and you're good to go.

Cobourg Beach 
(1hr from Toronto)
We've had great days at this beach. Wide and long, with great sand which is perfect for little engineers' projects and cool waves for active kids. (Super splash pad and great retro snack bar by the entrance as a bonus.)

Frenchman's Bay Park in Pickering 
(40-min. from Toronto)
Hidden gem in Pickering. It might change in the coming years. The municipality has big improvement projects for the place. Until then, you can enjoy the beautiful sand and the intimate feeling of this secluded beach.

Frenchman's Bay Park, looking west

Frenchman's Bay Park, looking east

Centennial Beach in Barrie 
(1hr from Toronto)
This is one long beach with plenty happening all around (playground, splash pad, snack bar, tall fountain by the water) with a long paved bike path to explore the horse-shoe shaped bay. 

Centennial Beach in Barrie

Beating the crowd at Centennial Beach

Great ideas from other moms:
10 tips for the perfect beach picnic
How to keep your cooler colder
10 beach games for your family

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for last minute ideas, tips and fun bits for parents!

What's in it for families at the Fringe Festival?

In the back alley south of Bloor near Brunswick.

Lots of Fringe benefits 
(Updated July 6, 2014)

The Toronto Fringe Festival 2014 seems to be spread all over the map with 150 performances in oer 25 venues (in 2013, it was 148 shows in 35 venues), which can be confusing for families who are new to this theatre festival. 

Don't worry! All the kids shows (presented in the fringekids! section on their website) are performed in one place: the Palmerston Library located at 560 Palmerston, two blocks west of Bathurst, just north of Bloor West. (PARKING: Municipal parking lot right across from the library.)

Inside Honest Ed's

In 2014, from July 3 to July 13, eight different family shows are offered almost daily, starting at different times between 11 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. In their listing, the Fringe specifies the age recommendation, the length, and the genre. (ADMISSION: $5/kids, $10/adults) Buy online at fringetoronto.com to save time and ensure you have seats! (Find the listing under Palmerston, select, and scroll down again to click on the specific show you want.)

While you're there
New in 2014, is the FringeKids! Club with a line-up of free outdoor activities and $15 per kid workshops. Note that the Club, located at Huron Street Public School (541 Huron Street) is a 20-minute walk from Palmerston Library.

You might want to check my free excerpt with map from Toronto Urban Strolls 2 (BLOOR WEST Cool Stroll) which covers Bloor West around Palmerston Library, which is located between #15 and #16 on my map, in the middle of Koreatown.

At Hodo Kwaja (656 Bloor W.)

My stroll includes plenty of cool murals, Honest Ed's wacky store (two blocks east of Palmerston), walnut-shaped cakes (at Hodo Kwaja, two blocks west of Palmerston), great coffee... (cause moms are people too).

One block west of Hodo Kwaja, the tinest coffee shop in Toronto, Sam James Coffee bar  (688A Bloor W.)

For butterfly lovers (Part 1)

The Imax movie Flight of the Butterflies

Were you the kind of kid to chase butterflies during your childhood? Then you might want to read about this summer long project (in four parts) inspired by the monarchs movie currently playing at the Ontario Science Centre’s until Labour Day weekend! 

A couple of years ago, I finally got to visit Presqu’ile Provincial Park with a friend and our two teens during their annual Monarchs & Migrants Weekend, an event involving monarchs tagging which always takes place on Labour Day Weekend. 

Wondering what this has to do with the movie Flight of the Butterflies ? Now that I have seen it, I know for a fact that taking your kids to see the Imax film now will greatly enhance your family's experience at Presqu'ile on Labour Day weekend! 

We were all so thrilled by the opportunity to tag beautiful monarchs during this event that I want to entice you to consider it this year as a “grand finale” activity at the end of your summer. 

About the movie 

I don’t want to say too much about what we learn in the Imax documentary. It would spoil the fun of discovering the marvels of monarchs migration through the story of Canadian zoologist Frederick Urquhart’s journey. He is the one who developed the butterfly tagging system and got the answer to a very good question: Where do the butterflies go for the winter?

Fred Urquhart in National Geographic, 1976

If you’re too curious, visit this link for an excellent summary of Flight of the Butterflies, but resist spilling the beans to your kids! 

Allow them the pleasure of seeing the mystery unfold through the eyes of a scientist (a fantastic story of perseverance and human passion spreading over 40 years) and through the adventures of Dana the butterfly. 

Expect fantastic panoramas of green and blue hues with splashes of orange, and 150-foot wide butterflies filling the giant screen. 

The movie is truly relevant to Torontonians as it features scenes shot at the Scarborough Bluffs, in Toronto’s suburbs and over the CN Tower.

About Ontario Science Centre
General information: Ontario Science Centre
Movie: Flight of the Butterflies hours (book your ticket online at no extra charge to secure your seats!)
Current exhibition: Game On 2.0, until September
(I've seen many dads glued to a video game from the 80's!)
Membership: If you want to visit more than once, I strongly recommend you get a $130 family membership (good for free admission for a year for 2 adults and up to 4 kids, and members pay only $5 for parking).


To be continued in Part 2...

For butterfly lovers (Part 2)

(About butterfly gardens)
For butterfly lovers (Part 3)

(Scarborough Bluffs)
For butterfly lovers (Part 4)
(About butterfly tagging at the end of the summer!)

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Woofstock this weekend!

The family outing suggestion this week 
on torontofunplaces.com

Woofstock, June 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. around St. Lawrence Market and St. James Park.

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