The post Dive Into These 5 Indoor Water parks in Ontario appeared first on Active Parents.
]]>Tip! We also recommended these hotels that have great water slides and/or pools for when you want a smaller-scale wet and wild adventure.
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Indoor Water parks in Ontario
Waves Indoor Water park
Waves Indoor Water Park is located inside the Americana Hotel. It has affordable waterpark day passes that include a full day of fun with water slides, a pool, a water play centre, a toddler splash area and more! We love the beach entry (gradual entry) for little kids and grandparents. Private cabanas are available to rent.
There is also an arcade, a surf shop, an outdoor playground, and places to play. Day passes are $39.95 per person for a full day or save 50% on weeknights. Details here.
Good To Know:
- No outside food or beverage permitted
- On-site restaurant & snack bar
- Life jackets are available for free usage (first come, first served)
- Towels provided onsite
Waves Indoor Waterpark is located at 8444 Lundys Lane, Niagara Falls. Check our Waves reviews on Tripadvisor or book your visit on Expedia, Trivago or Hotels.com.
Fallsview Indoor Water park
Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is 125,000 square feet of action-packed water fun. It has a massive play area, a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket, 6-storey high waterslides, a full-sized wave pool, year-round outdoor activity pool and sundeck, plunge bowl, two oversized adult-only Jacuzzis and a children’s play area.
Drier options for play include the jungle beach playhouse. Day admission prices start at $32.99 per person entry. There is also a $35 parking fee.
Good To Know:
- No outside food or beverages are permitted
- There are on-site restaurants and a snack bar
- Life jackets are available for free (first come, first served)
- Towels are not available on-site, so bring some from home.
Fallsview Waterpark is located at 5685 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls, Ontario. Read Fallsview Waterpark reviews on Tripadvisor or book your visit on Expedia, Trivago or Hotels.ca.
Great Wolf Lodge Resort
Great Wolf Lodge is one of the biggest indoor waterparks in Canada. Families come from all around the province to stay and play here. You must be an overnight hotel guest to use the waterpark, they don’t offer day passes.
Their waterpark features a 4-story interactive fort treehouse complete with slides and toys for all ages. Little kids will love all of the waterslides in various sizes. If you’re looking for high-speed thrills, check out wolf tail which is a thrilling waterslide the teens will love. Don’t miss the frog pond with its obstacles and tube slides for water lovers of every age.
Need to get some R&R? Just grab a tube and float your cares away on the lazy river. Warm up in the whirlpool hot spas – they have one indoor and one outdoor!
Good To Know:
- 7 onsite restaurants and snack areas to keep you nourished
- Pool towels available onsite
- Life jackets are available for free (first come, first served)
Great Wolf Lodge Niagara is located at 3950 Victoria Ave, in Niagara Falls
Read Great Wolf Lodge Niagara reviews on Tripadvisor or book your visit on Expedia, Trivago or Hotels.ca.
Plunge! Indoor Aquatic Centre at Blue Mountain
I was late to the party when it comes to knowing Blue Mountain had an indoor water feature. While not technically big enough to be an indoor waterpark, it is still a fun place to visit if you’re in the Blue Mountain area. Slip slide down the water slide and enjoy their indoor and outdoor pools. Your family will love the rope swing, dumping bucket and basketball nets, too.
Visit Plunge all year for water park fun. Starting at $16 for a day pass, per person.
Good To Know:
- No outside food or beverages are permitted
- No towels are available, so bring some from home.
Plunge is located at 220 Gord Canning Drive, in the Blue Mountains.
Read Plunge! reviews on Tripadvisor or book your visit on Expedia, Trivago or Hotels.ca.
Adventure Bay Windsor Indoor Waterpark
Perfect for a weekend getaway to beat the blahs in winter. Adventure Bay Family Water Park features over 35,000 square feet of wild water adventures for guests of all ages. Attractions include 5 waterslides, “FlowRider”, a surf simulator, a wave pool and an activity pool, a lazy river, tot kids zone, and Splash Zone with slides and giant water tipping bucket. Interactive water play features include bubbling jets and geysers, aqua-cannons, tipping cones, and mini bungee swings!
Day passes start at $16.50 per person.
Good To Know:
- Outside food & drink permitted in specific dining areas
- No towels onsite
- Life Jackets are available for free (first come, first served)
Adventure Bay is located at 401 Pitt Street West in Windsor.
Read Adventure Bay reviews on Tripadvisor or book your visit on their website here.
Hotels With Awesome Indoor Pools and Waterslides (Almost As Good As An Indoor Waterpark)
You don’t have to go to a full-fledged waterpark to find wet and wild fun! We love these hotels with great waterslides and added family-favourite features.
Chelsea Hotel in Toronto
This hotel is beautiful and family-friendly. Their heated pool is perfect for both kids and adults to enjoy. Plus, their Corkscrew Waterslide loops outside the hotel! You have to be a guest at the hotel to swim. Pool and waterslide hours are limited right now, so check their website for open dates and times.
The hotel also has a teen lounge with old-school arcade games, flat-screen televisions, a foosball table and a pool table. Adults are invited to enjoy it too! Also check out the Kids Centre, complete with dress-up, educational and artistic activities to keep kids having fun.
Read Chelsea Hotel reviews on Tripadvisor or book your visit on Expedia, Trivago or Hotels.com.
Mississauga Meadowvale Hilton
We have stayed here with kids and without and it is an ideal hotel for anyone. Our last visit was a quick Family Day staycation and the kids still laugh about how fast their mom zoomed down this curly water slide. The pool’s open hours have been carrying recently so be sure to check it will be open when you plan to stay.
London’s Lamplighter Inn
Look at this indoor lighthouse! The Maplighter Inn is a very popular getaway for families and an equally-popular hotel for travelling sports teams. A visit is high on our must-do list. Read our review here.
Best Western Leamington
*Please contact the hotel before you book. Their pool has been under renovation in 2023.
In addition to the mini indoor waterpark and long water slides, this hotel offers an indoor climbing structure, basketball court, badminton, ping pong and more! You can read our review here.
Read Our Latest Articles
Catch up on what we’ve been covering! Here are our latest reads, hot off the presses just for you. Never miss an article when you subscribe to our weekly newsletter filled with kid-friendly fun and events.
- African Lion Safari: Ontario’s Wildest Safari Adventure
- Safari Niagara: Where Wildlife Meets Family Adventure 2024
- Happy Rolph’s is a Free Animal Sanctuary Kids Will Love
- Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm Opens May 31!
The post Dive Into These 5 Indoor Water parks in Ontario appeared first on Active Parents.
]]>The post Family Vacation: Sherkston Shores Cozy in the Quarry Cottage appeared first on Active Parents.
]]>Where To Stay at Sherkston Shores
Sherkston Shores by Sun Retreats offers a variety of ways to stay and enjoy a few days or weeks on the grounds. My family was invited to spend a September weekend at Cozy in the Quarry, an AirBnb available for you to book all year long. It was modern and offer us the ideal amount of space. Cozy in the Quarry has 2 bedrooms. The main bedroom has a double bed and ensuite washroom with shower. There was lots of storage in the closet and drawers.
My kids has the second bedroom with bunk beds. The bottom bunk was a double and the top a single, with a very cool staircase to the bunk. The stairs doubled as drawers which the kids loved. The girls has their own washroom as well – another perk! I don’t wan tto share a bathroom with two teenagers!
The cottage living spaces were clean and minimal which made for a lovely calmness while we were there. The house came with lots of board games and TVs in almost every space. My kids were in paradise. The kitchen came with those essentials you always forget, like salt and paper and cooking spray. Again, everything was clean and minimal, so even though we cooked all of our meals there, clean up was so quick and easy. Perfect for a vacation.
My favourite part of the cottage, and where I spent the majority of my time when at home, was the backyard. There is a large covered deck with comfortable patio furniture and an outdoor TV. It also had a cozy hanging chair that my girls claimed as their own. Walking down the steps is the outdoor dining area, a BBQ (that comes with propane!) and a campfire pit. We played some cornhole while were barbequed our meals and soaked up some sun on the grass.
I enjoyed this rental so much, I’ll be checking my calendar for 2024!
Beaches and Water Activities
Mother Nature gifted us another beautiful late summer weekend so we took in all of the water fun Sherkston Shores offers. We swam in Lake Erie and laughed non stop as the waves tried to take us out. It was a windy day, so normally it’s not rought. The sand was light and warm and the beach was so clean.
After the lake swimming, we dipped into the waterpark – which was amazing! Multiple pools, water slides, wading pools and a massive splash pad. There is a beach bar, lots of loungers and shuffle board to play between swims.
My one regret is that we didn’t make time to swim in the quarry. The 27-acre spring fed Quarry is a popular spots for swimming, water sports, fishing (catch-and-release), and has sandy beaches for a relaxing warm summer day. The quarry is almost 70ft deep in the deepest part (the middle) and offers great snorkeling I’m told. Scuba Divers can explore the remains of a 100-year-old mining operation on the quarry floor. If you have scuba gear make sure to pack it for your visit to Sherkston Shores.
If you want to add more excitement to your water adventures, you can rent these items for an additional cost: (https://www.sherkstonadventuresports.com/ )
- Kayaks and canoes
- Water balloons
- Aqua trikes
- Paddle and surf boards
- And fishing equipment
Family Fun Is Front and Centre
Sherkston Shores and Cozy in the Quarry were build for families. Everything from the rentals to the grounds to the amenities have family fun as their goal. I mentioned before that I have multiple friends who have been going for years and who have recommended it every summer.
Kids scooter and bike everywhere when they’re not riding shotgun in golf carts driven by their parents. Didn’t I mention the GOLF CART?! Yes, renting with Cozy in the Quarry includes a golf cart for booting from one attraction to another. This was no doubt my husband’s favourite part.
Lots of kids were playing soccer on their fields, zooming around of wheels and having a great time at the multiple playgrounds dotted through the huge resort.
More Fun on Dry Land
When you want to take a break from swimming in the lake and the pools, your fun is only beginning! We played many rounds of mini golf in our short stay. We also spent more than a few quarters in the arcade because who can resist an arcade?! It’s like Las Vegas to us. There are also tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts and a ball hockey arena, too. Bring your sports equipment and you will never be bored.
For an additional fee you can also jump into some thrilling activities including:
- Aerial ropes challenge and rock climbing
- Bungee tampoline
- Axe throwing
- Archery
You can find more info and current pricing details here.
Dining and Restaurants:
You can make this an official vacation by skipping the kitchen and dining at on-resort restaurants. There are two to choose from, one being a casual family spot and the other is a poolside patio bar that offers small nibbles to enjoy throughout the day.
Seasonal Highlights:
There’s no doubting that you will get the biggest bang for your vacation buck if you visit Sherston Shores during the hot summer months. We stayed in mid September and still enjoyed everything the resort had to offer, so don’t count out the end of summer weeks.
Tips for Staying at Cozy in the Quarry at Sherkston Shores:
- Bring all of your own food, but if you forget something, no need to stress because Sherkston has a grocery store in site. They really have thought of everything.
- Pack everyone’s favourite pillow and blanket. Linens aren’t included, but you’ll get a packing list when you book.
- Bring a friend! Cozy in the Quarry sleeps 7 people, so next time my kids can each bring a friend.
- Do everything! We should have brought scooters and more sports equipment because the amount of FREE fun is unmatched.
Contact Information and Booking Details:
Learn more about Cozy in the Quarry and other properties available at Sherkston Shores to rent.
Guest House Properties in Niagara https://www.guesthouseproperties.com/
Sherkston Shores https://www.sunoutdoors.com/ontario/sun-retreats-sherkston-shores
Looking For More Family Getaways?
We love sharing about great destinations to visit with your kids, and weekend getaways are no exception. Read on for some first-hand reviews and write ups of places we’ve visited together.
- Dive Into These 5 Indoor Water parks in Ontario
- Our 10 Favourite Things to Do with Kids in Niagara Falls, Ontario
- Family Vacation: Sherkston Shores Cozy in the Quarry Cottage
- Glamping in Ontario at Four Corners Algonquin
- C Hotel By Carmen’s
- Family Weekend Getaway at Best Western Leamington
- 8 Reasons Your Family Has to Visit London Ontario Soon!
- A Fun (and Cheap) Staycation in Mississauga
- 12 Recommendations for Family Camping in Ontario
- Should You Use A Disney Travel Agent When Booking Your Next Vacation?
- Plan An Easy Peasy Staycation in Burlington
The post Family Vacation: Sherkston Shores Cozy in the Quarry Cottage appeared first on Active Parents.
]]>The post Centreville – A Full Day of Toronto Adventure For Families appeared first on Active Parents.
]]>Centreville Opening For 2024
Centreville is opening for weekend fun in May, and on Monday, May 20 for Victoria Day. COme June, they are open daily until the end of August, then it’s back to weekends only in September.
Our day started off with a thrill because my kids love riding the GO Train. Right now, the GO Train has a special Kids GO Free promo where children 12 and under ride for free. The short walk from Union Station to Jack Layton Ferry Terminal is easy and full of big-city sights and sounds, but the Ferry ride to Centre Island was my favourite part. It’s about 10 minutes long, and that’s way too short. The views of the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario are picturesque and the lake breeze is invigorating.
Taking The Ferry To Centre Island Is One of The Best Parts
The best advice I can give you for this leg of our journey is to pre-buy your ferry tickets. The lines to buy at the terminal were long, and we walked up to the ticket gate like Beyonce – immediate access y’all! But don’t stress, everyone gets a seat, which seems impossible, but we were the final 4 passengers on a return ferry, and we still had seats.
The Rides at Centreville Amusement Park
Once we got to Centre Island, we let the kids take the wheel! The girls grabbed a map of the park and planned our route to their favourite rides. The first stops were the Bumble Bee Ride and the classic Antique Cars.
Eventually, I got to pick a ride, and you know I chose the iconic Sky Ride! The cable cars take you on a quiet, birds-eye-view ride over the top of the entire amusement park. It’s a perfect way to point out all the great spots you still have to check out, and to catch some more Lake Ontario views, too.
The girls rode almost every ride in the park, some multiple times! The lineups were quick, the longest they waited was about 10 minutes for the Toronto Island Mine Coaster, one of the most popular rides at the park. My kids were 9 and 11 when we went last, but they’re short, and they didn’t need an adult to ride with them on anything they went on.
Centreville’s website lists every ride and the age/height requirements, so you can see which rides your kids can ride alone, and which they need a parent to ride with them.
The Splash Pad at Centre Island Centreville
When the sun is at its hottest, the entire family will enjoy cooling down at Water Play! My girls, like all kids, ran around trying to guess which water jets would be the next to fire out water. Water Play was great for all ages, we saw babies being walked by their parents, and big kids like mine enjoying a soak.
What Rides Are At Centreville?
Hop on a train, coast in the bumper boats, and relax on the swans. Check the Centreville website on the day you’re planning to visit. They have a scrolling ticker at the top with their hours and any ride closures and park updates you’ll need to know. This makes it easy to circumvent any disappointment when you arrive.
How Much is Centreville?
To visit Centreville you will need to pay for 3 things: your GO Train ticket, your ferry ride to Centre Island and your park admission. Take advantage of the online discount and skip the line at Centreville by pre-purchasing your tickets in advance. Each Pass entitles one individual to enjoy unlimited rides for the day. There are height restrictions in place for various rides. Each ride also takes tickets, which you can see info on here.
GO Train Fares:
Adult weekend tickets are $10.00 for a one-day pass (on a Saturday, Sunday or Holiday) and $15 for the entire weekend of GO Train travelling. Children under 12 ride free. You can see your exact fare here on the GO Transit website.
2024 Centreville Online Day Pass Prices:
Under 4′ = $31.64 +tax
Over 4′ = $40.71 +tax
Toronto Island Ferry Prices 2024:
Safe yourselves time and line ups and buy your Toronto Island ferry tickets in advance. Adults are $9.11, kids under 14 are $4.29 and youth 14-19 are $5.86 with ID.
Read Our Latest Articles
Catch up on what we’ve been covering! Here are our latest reads, hot off the presses just for you. Never miss an article when you subscribe to our weekly newsletter filled with kid-friendly fun and events.
- African Lion Safari: Ontario’s Wildest Safari Adventure
- Safari Niagara: Where Wildlife Meets Family Adventure 2024
- Happy Rolph’s is a Free Animal Sanctuary Kids Will Love
- Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm Opens May 31!
The post Centreville – A Full Day of Toronto Adventure For Families appeared first on Active Parents.
]]>The post 8 Reasons Your Family Has to Visit London Ontario Soon! appeared first on Active Parents.
]]>Read More: Looking for more day trip suggestions? Click here.
We spent an adventure-packed 3 days and 2 nights in London this summer and we found some activities and destinations we think you’ll love!
Ads are how we pay our bills and keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Summary Of Things To Do With Kids In London
- Our Accommodations – Best Western Lamplighter Inn
- Stop #1: East Park – London’s Place To Play!
- Stop #2: Boler Mountain Treetop Adventure Park
- Stop #3: The Factory – Canada’s Largest Entertainment Complex
- Stop #4: The Children’s Museum
- Stop #5: The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
- Don’t Miss: Storybook Gardens
- Where Did We Eat?
- Our Final Reviews and Some Tips
Our Accommodations – Best Western Lamplighter Inn
The Best Western Lamplighter Inn is a popular hotel for families and sports teams visiting the London area and it’s been on our bucket list for ages. We’ve stayed with Best Western hotels in the past and have always been very pleased with our stay.
Lamplighter Inn is popular with families because of its unique hotel pool. The surround is filled with greenery and rocks and even includes a koi pond. At the base of the “cliff” that holds the water slide you’ll find a waterfall that the kids all loved. The waterslide is built into the large artificial rock face that slides past the indoor lighthouse. Choose a room that has a balcony facing the pool so you can enjoy the view, particularly at night when the pool is lit and the overhead lights are turned off.
Please note that the slide is currently only open on weekends, so watch your booking dates if the slide is a top priority.
Our room was a double-double (2 double beds) on the 2nd floor. We had a pool view and balcony which was great. The room included a small refrigerator, a large TV, a desk and the usual fixings for coffee and tea. The beds were comfortable, too!
The Best Things To Do In London, Ontario With Kids
Stop #1: East Park – London’s Place To Play!
Our first destination started off with a bang when we pulled up to East Park. The waterslides couldn’t be missed and got lots of oohs and ahhs from the kids. The park has 7 waterslides featuring a single and double tube, the original mat slides and 2 different speed slides including the famous 55’ high bullet slide. Are you excited yet? The waterpark also has a wave pool and accessible splash pad with a 2-and-a-half-story climber and dumping bucket that everyone loved.
Go For The Go-Karting!
Go to London, Ontario for the go-karting! My kids are ultimate go-karting fans and they loved whipping around the racetrack. Kids over 10 could ride alone, or choose to be the passenger with someone over 14 years old. The track is 1800 feet long and has twists and turns to challenge the drivers. Each race was about 10 minutes long and the karts were quick! Lots of opportunities to pass and overtake others, or to play it safe and just enjoy the ride.
Two Mini Putt Courses To Play
I love mini golf and East Park has 2 courses to choose from. Their traditional mini golf course was our favourite because it has edges around the greens. Their modern course doesn’t have the edges so you need some real skill to keep that ball from rolling out of bounds. My aim isn’t that good, so I stuck with the traditional course.
If you’re really into golf, you can practice your swing at the driving range or at the 18-hole easily walkable golf course.
Batter Up!
Baseball fans and newbies can don a helmet and grab a bat because there are 4 batting cages pitching baseballs and softballs. We each batted a few rounds and loved it. The pitching machines use tokens and we saw a few families coming just for the batting.
Bumper Cars, Rock Climbing Wall, Arcade And A Jungle Gym
Move the fun indoors and enjoy the hilarity of bouncing off one another in the bumper cars. Challenge all of your muscle groups with the 40-foot climbing wall and play to win at the arcade. Kids can burn off any leftover energy in the jungle gym.
Prices And The Summer Extreme Day Passes
We had “Summer Extreme Day Passes” that gave us all-day access to the water park and to mini-golf. Putt and splash till your heart’s content! The passes are $55 per person or $200 for a family of 4. If you get to East Park early in the day they are well worth it. We stayed till after 7 and had a great time bouncing from one activity to another.
Here’s what the pass includes:
- all-day access to the pool, splash pad and water slides
- all-day play mini golf on both courses
- 1 go-kart ride
- 1 rock climb
- 2 rounds at the batting cages
- 1 small bucket of balls for the driving range
- all-day access to the jungle gym
- 3 rides on the bumper cars
Stop #2: Boler Mountain Treetop Adventure Park
This was by far our most-talked-about adventure in London, Ontario. Boler Mountain is your ideal destination if you love being active outdoors. We saw kids enjoying their mountain bike summer camp, riding trails and working up a sweat with huge smiles on their faces. Lots of runners and hikers came in to make good use of the wilderness trails and we were there to climb high up into the treetops.
We opted for the Adventure Park ticket which included full access to 3 levels of ropes courses and “The Big Zip”. The Big Zip is an 1100-foot zipline and it’s the cherry on top of your adventure!
Our 3-hour visit started with getting our climbing gear on and secured and taking part in a training session. Once we learned how to safely climb and zip, we were off! This was hands down the best thing we’ve done this summer. It was a full-body workout and our whole family was filled with excitement, nerves and adrenaline the entire trek. Each section of the aerial course gets the slightest bit more challenging and at the end of each level, you’re rewarded with an awesome zip ride to the next section.
We completed 2 of the 3 sections and then took our turn on The Big Zip! We’ve shared lots of footage of our trek and zip on our Instagram page.
Stop #3: The Factory – Canada’s Largest Entertainment Complex
100 Kellogg Lane use to be the home to the Kellogg’s Company until 2014, where in its heyday it produced various types of cereal including popular brands like Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes. Today it’s the uber-modern home of Canada’s largest entertainment complex. The Factory is a destination in and unto itself, You can spend all day here!
Trampoline Park
Put on your special socks and bounce, jump, and catapult yourself around this glowing trampoline park
Aerial Ropes Courses
Challenge yourself with two indoor aerial ropes courses! How far will you get and how high can you climb?!
Ninja Course
We spent lots of our time taking on each section of the ninja course! If you’ve seen ninja Warrior competitions on TV, your kids are gonna want to play here!
Arcade
Throw a couple of bucks on your arcade card and enjoy everything from Skee-Ball to blasting zombies to a four-person air hockey table!
Escape Room
Put your thinking caps on and work together to see if you can escape one of the 4 rooms at The Factory.
And Coming Soon…The Children’s Museum
in 2023, The Children’s Museum in London Ontario will also call 100 Kellogg Lane its home. Make sure to take a look through the massive windows into the warehouse. I think you’ll be surprised to see what’s growing there! Learn more about The Factory here.
Stop #4: The Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum in London, Ontario is another essential destination, especially if you have kids under 10. But don’t let that stop you, my girls are 12 and 14 and loved every bit of our visit! It was the best children’s museum we’ve been to in Ontario. It was originally opened in 1975 and sees 100,000 visitors annually, so you can take their word for it, too!
The building – a former public school – is 3 floors of hands-on education and entertainment for kids (and adults!) Learn about nature, space, olden days, dinosaurs and more. I would plan for a few hours when you visit, and you can easily make it a day-long destination.
In 2023, the Children’s Museum will move to 100 Kellogg Lane and the new location is rumoured to have a rooftop playground!
Stop #5: The Canadian Baseball Hall Of Fame
Our final stop took us to a quaint little town just outside London called Saint Mary’s. If you’re in the London area, or even Stratford for that matter, a stop at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is one you should add to your itinerary.
In recent years, the CBHoF has been renovated and expanded, but that still doesn’t allow their entire collection to be on display at once. We had a tour and learned so much about baseball’s history in Canada. Did you know that you don’t need to be a Canadian to be in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame? It’s true! And did you know that Jackie Robinson played for the Montreal Royals? You can see historical artifacts dating back to the first games in the 1800s, game-used equipment from the greats, and a ton of material you’d never see anywhere else. Baseball fans, you gotta go.
Don’t Miss: Storybook Gardens
We might not have made it to Storybook Gardens on this trip to London, but we’ve been in the past and I always recommend it to families with young kids. Storybook Gardens is whimsical and magical and sized right for little visitors. They have rides, shows, a splash pad, train rides, and an awesome pirate-themed playground.
Admission in 2022 is $8.75 per person and you can buy tickets for a few of the rides that are extra. Check out their Friday Family Fun Festivals for discount admission plus special character visits and performances. Storybook Gardens website.
Where Did We Eat in London Ontario?
Eating is essential, and boy did we do some eating! We want to tell you all about it, too.
After our playtime at The Factory, we marched upstairs to The Clubhouse for dinner. It’s a classy cross between a sports bar, a hunting lodge and a golfer’s paradise. There are more TVs than I could count, plus mini golf, golf simulators and a bocce ball court. Our server was a delight and we recommend the artichoke and asiago dip, the Impossible burger, and the cod tacos.
Dinner at The Squire Pub and Grill was beyond delicious. They over-delivered in all the ways possible. We ordered their Squire Burger, The Clubber Lang Wrap, Five Fingers and a Ceasar salad – and we ate until we were stuffed! Even though we were starving when we arrived, the portions were so large all of us took home a doggy bag! We highly (HIGHLY) recommend a visit.
Breakfast at The Early Bird was something else! And this is a very popular joint in London, Ontario. Everything from the food to the decor was over-the-top in all the right ways. No wonder this spot was featured on Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here! The breakfast portions were massive! So much so that we skipped lunch! The girls ordered the Cinnamon Roll Waffles – and they were to die for. They could have shared 1 order it was so big! I ordered the thickest French toast I’ve ever seen, and nestled in between was blueberry cheesecake – yup! Cheesecake! Topped with lemon honey, which I’m now a super fan of.
Our Final Review
Wow! London Ontario has been on my list of places to visit for years now, and it did not disappoint! The city is full of nature, architecture, great places to eat and so much to do for families (as you just read!). Any one of the activities we did would be worth a day trip on its own, but you can also have a ton of fun without ever leaving the Best Western Lamplighter Inn!
Best Western Lamplighter Inn is located at 591 Wellington Rd S., London, ON. Book your stay on Expedia, Trivago or Hotels.com.
Some Tips For Visiting London Ontario
- Leave yourself some time to enjoy the pool for a few hours. We didn’t spend as much time there as we would have liked because we filled our itinerary with so much more!
- Get the gloves at the Treetop Adventure. You’ll need them eventually and be happy you have them!
- Summertime visitors to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame can also add a swim at The Quarry to round out the day.
- Spend all day at East Park, it’s got so much to offer and we barely scratched the surface.
We love answering your questions and hearing your feedback, so please comment below!
Read Our Latest Articles
Catch up on what we’ve been covering! Here are our latest reads, hot off the presses just for you. Never miss an article when you subscribe to our weekly newsletter filled with kid-friendly fun and events.
- African Lion Safari: Ontario’s Wildest Safari Adventure
- Safari Niagara: Where Wildlife Meets Family Adventure 2024
- Happy Rolph’s is a Free Animal Sanctuary Kids Will Love
- Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm Opens May 31!
The post 8 Reasons Your Family Has to Visit London Ontario Soon! appeared first on Active Parents.
]]>The post 3 Indoor Treasure Hunts For Every Age appeared first on Active Parents.
]]>When the weather won’t cooperate or you’re looking for some indoor fun, indoor scavenger hunts for kids are the perfect solution! These creative and interactive games not only keep the little ones entertained for hours, but also foster teamwork, problem-solving skills, and imagination. From simple picture hunts for toddlers to elaborate clue-based quests for older kids, the possibilities are endless.
Gather some everyday items, create a list of clues, and let the adventure begin! Whether it’s a rainy day or a playdate, indoor scavenger hunts guarantee giggles, excitement, and cherished memories for the whole family.
Looking for inspiration to create your own indoor scavenger hunt? Scroll down to the bottom of this article and find our top tips for crafting your own hunt with your kids in mind. It’s easy and fun, and can even be educational. Perfect for a P.A. Day or homeschooling!
Have More Fun At Home
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Unleash the Adventurous Spirits: Indoor Scavenger Hunts for Kids!
This first hunt asks kids to find a common item but with a twist. You’re not just looking for socks, it must be a pair of matching socks. We love keeping kids on their toes with these scavenger hunt ideas!
Bigger Kids, Harder Hunting
Those middle size kids will find this one just challenging enough. They need to use their senses to hunt for the right item to match the list.
Treasure Hunt For Big Kids
These scavenger hunt ideas will get your kids thinking critically and logically. This list is open-ended, meaning not item specific, and encourages your kids to find items that match the description. We love when play includes some sneaky learning.
5 Tips For Making Your Own Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Creating an indoor treasure hunt for kids can be an exciting and engaging activity. Here are five tips to make the treasure hunt fun and successful:
- Plan a Theme: Choose a theme for the treasure hunt. It could be pirates seeking hidden treasure, detectives solving a mystery, or explorers on a mission. Align the theme with your kids’ interests to make it more engaging.
- Design Clues or Riddles: Craft a series of clues or riddles that lead from one to the next and eventually to the treasure. Tailor the difficulty of the clues to suit the ages and abilities of your kids. You can incorporate simple puzzles, wordplay, or images to make it more interesting.
- Set Up the Hunt Area: Determine the area where the treasure hunt will take place. It could be different rooms in the house or specific locations within a room. Hide the clues strategically, making them challenging but accessible. Consider places that are safe and suitable for the age of the children participating.
- Include Challenges and Activities: Introduce mini-games or challenges along the way. For instance, a task could be to hop like a bunny for 30 seconds or answer a riddle correctly to get the next clue. These activities add variety and fun to the hunt.
- Prepare a Reward: The treasure at the end could be a small prize, a collection of treats, or even a fun activity the kids enjoy. It’s the “treasure” that adds the excitement and sense of accomplishment to the hunt.
Bonus tip: Consider involving a mix of family members to participate in the treasure hunt or to assist younger children. This can make the activity more enjoyable and foster a sense of teamwork and shared fun.
Remember, the goal is to make the indoor treasure hunt an entertaining and memorable experience for the kids. Be creative, consider their interests, and tailor the difficulty level to ensure everyone has a great time!
Read Our Latest Articles
Catch up on what we’ve been covering! Here are our latest reads, hot off the presses just for you. Never miss an article when you subscribe to our weekly newsletter filled with kid-friendly fun and events.
- African Lion Safari: Ontario’s Wildest Safari Adventure
- Safari Niagara: Where Wildlife Meets Family Adventure 2024
- Happy Rolph’s is a Free Animal Sanctuary Kids Will Love
- Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm Opens May 31!
The post 3 Indoor Treasure Hunts For Every Age appeared first on Active Parents.
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]]>In this guide, you will find:
- French classes near me
- Spanish classes near me
- Enrichment programs near me
- Tutors are in this guide
What Are The Benefits of Enrichment Classes?
Participating in language and enrichment classes can significantly benefit adolescents. These classes foster cognitive development, enhancing problem-solving skills, memory retention, and creativity. For instance, the process of acquiring a new language encourages multitasking abilities and increases neural adaptability.
Language courses also promote cultural awareness and global comprehension, instilling values of tolerance and empathy. Adolescents gain exposure to diverse perspectives and traditions, nurturing open-mindedness and a broader worldview. Language acquisition equips them with practical advantages, such as increased employability in our interconnected world and improved communication skills across borders.
Additionally, enrichment classes spanning arts, sciences, and technology expand horizons, allowing students to explore their passions beyond traditional subjects. Engaging in these courses not only equips them with important life skills but also improves their overall educational experience.
Help Us Improve This Guide
We invite you to add your class to our free guide for language classes and enrichment programs for kids. You deserve more exposure and the opportunity to reach a wider audience of potential students and learners. Listing your program is free. You can add it to our directory here.
French Classes, Language Programs and Enrichment Classes For Kids
Find More Guides Here
We want to help you find everything you need. Here are our most recent guides, and you can find all of our lists right here.
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]]>The post 12 Recommendations for Family Camping in Ontario appeared first on Active Parents.
]]>Whether you’re a seasoned camper or a newbie, Ontario’s diverse landscapes offer something for everyone. From pristine lakes and sandy beaches to rugged forests and majestic mountains, you will be delighted in nature. In this list, Shelley is sharing her insights to help you plan a memorable Ontario camping trip with your kids. So pack your gear, grab your family, and let’s head out to discover the natural wonders of Ontario!
Read More:
- Looking for a less rustic getaway? We love these staycations in Ontario.
- Our glamping experience in Algonquin was amazing – read about it here.
- Get out on the river with a rafting adventure perfect for the whole family.
Camping & Glamping in Southern Ontario
Are you counting down the days until the summer holidays? Many sites open their reservation systems in March for the summer months. Finding the right campsite and/or accommodations takes research and patience and that’s why we are sharing a list of the best places for camping in Ontario with kids. You can pitch a tent, rent a yurt or stay in a cabin, container, or trailer. There are all types of sites and accommodations for all types of adventurers.
Ontario Parks Camping
Ontario Parks camping allows reservations 5 months in advance of the arrival date. The website has a park locator with 100 parks that offer car camping. That means you can drive right up to your campsite, without needing to hike or canoe into it. Most campsites open in May or June and close on Labour Day or Thanksgiving weekend.
New to camping? Check out the Ontario Parks Learn to Camp service and book an Ambassador for a free workshop.
The Pinery – An All-Time Family Fave
The Pinery is a popular Ontario Provincial Park in Grand Bend. It has 10 kilometres of sandy beaches along Lake Huron and offers canoes, hydro bikes, paddleboats, and kayaks available to rent. And many people we spoke to recommend the onsite ice cream store.
The Pinery has dog beaches, too. Plus, more than 300 bird species make it an appealing park for birders.
Camping fees vary depending on the site and facilities. There are slightly discounted prices for seniors and persons with disabilities. Tent camping sites with an electrical hookup start at $43.79 a night, and without an electrical hookup start at $38.70. Standard yurts cost $114.13 a night. Check out other provincial parks for deluxe yurts, rustic cabins, camp cabins, and cottages.
Parks Canada oTENTik Camping
Don’t own a tent? Not to worry, Parks Canada has an excellent Learn to Camp program. Parks like Point Pelee National Park have oTENTik accommodations. The reservation launch date is March 21 at 8 am. Just book, show up and enjoy the comfort of these tent-like structures that sleep 6 on foam mattresses. They also come with a table, chairs, electrical outlets, and a gas BBQ.
The cost to book an oTENTik is $128.00 per night. Additionally, park entry is $16.75 per family. While you’re there your family can walk the boardwalk, birdwatch, ride the shuttle, enjoy the beach, have a picnic, or rent a kayak or canoe.
Ontario Camping With Conservation Authorities
Conservation Halton Camping
Conservation Halton offers group tent camping at Kelso and Rattlesnake Point Parks. We can confirm that there are no rattlesnakes at Rattlesnake Point Park! There is a $10 booking fee, a site fee (it is $119 for a site for up to 10 people, $145 for up to 20 people, and $220 for 30-70 people) and an entry fee per person ($7-10 per person, free under 5).
Conservation Areas are ideal for camping with kids. Here you can enjoy the beach, hiking and mountain biking trails. And be sure to try kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding on the Kelso Reservoir at Kelso. At Rattlesnake Point you can enjoy hiking and rock climbing at Rattlesnake Point.
Hamilton Conservation Authority Campsites
Hamilton Conservation Authority has trailer camping at Fifty Point Conservation Area. They also offer tent and trailer camping at Valens Conservation Area in Cambridge. Reservations are accepted up to 11 months in advance of the date of arrival at Valens and starting Feb. 8 for cabins. Therefore you can book right now!
Tent camping fees are $44 per night for non-electric sites and $51.00 per night for electric sites. “Drumlin cabins” sleep 2 people ($135 per night), 5 people ($135 per night), or 6 people ($160 per night). The cabins have heating, beds with mattresses, a flush toilet bathroom, a kitchenette and a dining table. Outside you will find a BBQ, 2 picnic tables and a fire pit.
Take advantage of walking trails, picnic areas, the beach and canoeing and kayaking at Valens.
Grand River Conservation Authority Camping
Grand River Conservation Authority has 2,200 campsites across 8 of its parks and the reservation system opens on March 1. Rockwood Conservation Area has serviced ($50.44 plus HST per night) and unserviced campsites ($42.48 plus HST per night) for tents and full-serviced sites ($56.64 plus HST per night) for trailers. There is a reservation fee of $11.50.
Pro tip: bring money for the showers. Washrooms have flush toilets and coin-operated showers.
Kids will enjoy swimming at the beach and playing mini golf. Rockwood is the perfect place to spend time outside hiking, canoeing or kayaking exploring glacial bluffs, potholes and caves.
(Less Rustic) Camping in Ontario With Kids
Are quiet, natural and rustic not your jam? Are you looking for water parks, entertainment and extra activities? We have you covered for that, too.
Bissell’s Hideaway Resort in Ridgeville – 1 hour from Hamilton
Bissell’s Hideaway offers tent camping, trailer camping, Rustic Plus Cabins or Yurts. Family camping rates are $100 per night for weeknights, $105 for weekends, and $110 for holidays. Yurt rentals and Rustic Plus Cabins start at $175 per weekday night and require a 2-night minimum stay.
Yurts have 3 double bunk beds and a double futon and can sleep 4-8 people. Inside the yurts are lights, electrical outlets, a ceiling fan and a microwave. There’s a water source outside. Rustic Plus Cabins sleep 4-6 people. While they do not have bathrooms, they have electrical outlets, lights, a water source, a bar fridge and air conditioning. Yurts and Rustic Plus Cabins all have picnic tables, firepits and WIFI.
Bissell’s has a splash pad, a 1-acre swimming pool with a water slide, a playground, mini golf, volleyball, basketball and a fishing pond.
Camp at Bingemans in Kitchener
Bingemans has tent and trailer campsites, log cabins (for 4 people), container cabins (for 5 people) and luxury container cabins (for 2 people). Book a 7-night stay and 1 of the nights is free! Peak season campsite pricing starts from $55 per midweek night for tents with no-hook-ups up to $80 per weekend night for pull-through trailer campsites.
Campers enjoy the Oasis pool and discounts on other attractions like mini golf, bowling, the arcade and Big Splash Waterpark. The Big Splash Waterpark pass provides access to the rides, a splash pad and a heated wave pool. For the most economical Camper’s Big Splash Pass, purchase the Twilight pass to go after 4 pm. Be sure to check out the entertainment and special events too.
KOA Campground in Niagara Falls
KOA Niagara Falls is en route to Niagara Falls. It has tent and trailer campsites, Camping Cabins and Deluxe Cabins. A search showed pricing of $78.33 per night for an individual tent site with water, electricity and a grass tent pad. The price drops to $68.33 per night for an individual grass tent pad without hookups.
Guests walk or bike around the campsite, take a wagon ride, splash in the kiddie pool, swim in the heated pool or soak in the hot tub. And don’t miss jumping on the jumping pad, playing mini golf, basketball or at the playground. You can even watch a movie at the outdoor cinema. Curious to know what other families think of this KOA? Read below!
Want even more Options For Camping in Ontario?
Search Camping in Ontario for campsites and filter results by site services and facilities. The site lists 385 campgrounds for Southwest Ontario alone. There are separate categories for Niagara Falls & Wine Country, Hamilton, Halton & Brant, and Huron, Perth, Waterloo & Wellington, etc.
RV Life Campgrounds has information about and reviews for 494 RV parks and resorts and campgrounds in Ontario.
Good Sam has information and reviews for 334 campgrounds in Ontario.
Summer adventures await! Whether in your backyard, at a local park or playground, or at one of the campsites listed here. And, don’t forget to pack the SMORES!
Read Our Latest Articles
Catch up on what we’ve been covering! Here are our latest reads, hot off the presses just for you. Never miss an article when you subscribe to our weekly newsletter filled with kid-friendly fun and events.
- African Lion Safari: Ontario’s Wildest Safari Adventure
- Safari Niagara: Where Wildlife Meets Family Adventure 2024
- Happy Rolph’s is a Free Animal Sanctuary Kids Will Love
- Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm Opens May 31!
The post 12 Recommendations for Family Camping in Ontario appeared first on Active Parents.
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