Kid-friendly anniversary celebration in Toronto
August 14, 2024 6:01 PM Subscribe
We have to travel to Toronto during our anniversary in Oct and bring our 7-year old. Any ideas to make this a fun anniversary celebration?
I'm feeling glum! For our anniversary in mid-Oct, I was hoping to do a romantic two-person trip to Montreal but we need to be in Toronto with kid in tow. No family or babysitters available. It'll be a 2-3 day trip. Can you help me build an itinerary that would be fun and relaxing for us and the kid? Perhaps a few restaurant recommendations that are kid-friendly and anniversary-worthy?
I've been to Toronto many times but this will be the first time for my partner and kids. Museums, Asian foods, desserts, bookstores, hikes, etc are all things up our alley.
I'm feeling glum! For our anniversary in mid-Oct, I was hoping to do a romantic two-person trip to Montreal but we need to be in Toronto with kid in tow. No family or babysitters available. It'll be a 2-3 day trip. Can you help me build an itinerary that would be fun and relaxing for us and the kid? Perhaps a few restaurant recommendations that are kid-friendly and anniversary-worthy?
I've been to Toronto many times but this will be the first time for my partner and kids. Museums, Asian foods, desserts, bookstores, hikes, etc are all things up our alley.
Best answer: My idea of fun is not super fancy but Haidilao hot pot came to mind for one of your meals, if it would be new for you all. My kids loved hot pot at that age.
Roselle for desserts, and if you head that way you might want to eat at and walk around the Distillery district based on your family’s tastes. For a meal with a view, The Rooftop at the Broadview Hotel is nice…Canoe is great but not sure about kid-friendly.
For a half day or so itinerary that is not the usual tourist spots, I’d do: brunch at Bonjour Brioche, walk up Broadview to Chinatown East and get treats to go at Issho, and then walk over to the Riverdale Farm. You could then pop up to the Danforth for a meal if you want to extend it - basically every restaurant there is nice to kids. Mezes or Kalyvia.
For usual tourist, CN Tower + Aquarium really is a decent grouping of stuff.
If you have a car and want more nature, Rouge National Park is one spot and the Mast Trail is great and typically gorgeous in October. If you head that way, detour to Oishii Sweets or Daan Go.
posted by warriorqueen at 4:08 AM on August 15, 2024
Roselle for desserts, and if you head that way you might want to eat at and walk around the Distillery district based on your family’s tastes. For a meal with a view, The Rooftop at the Broadview Hotel is nice…Canoe is great but not sure about kid-friendly.
For a half day or so itinerary that is not the usual tourist spots, I’d do: brunch at Bonjour Brioche, walk up Broadview to Chinatown East and get treats to go at Issho, and then walk over to the Riverdale Farm. You could then pop up to the Danforth for a meal if you want to extend it - basically every restaurant there is nice to kids. Mezes or Kalyvia.
For usual tourist, CN Tower + Aquarium really is a decent grouping of stuff.
If you have a car and want more nature, Rouge National Park is one spot and the Mast Trail is great and typically gorgeous in October. If you head that way, detour to Oishii Sweets or Daan Go.
posted by warriorqueen at 4:08 AM on August 15, 2024
Also - maybe not exactly what you are asking but you write "No family or babysitters available". If you are open to it, you *could* get a babysitter. There are agencies who can get you a great person. In Toronto I've used the Summerhill Club and they've always sent great people. If you are open to it, this might give you a chance to have a night out.
Another possibility: You say you are coming in October? Oct 11 is a PA day at the schools, which means there are lots of 1-day camps and programs for kids on that day. Does your kid like art? Minecraft? Dinosaurs? They could spend a day in a camp like that while you and your partner have a restful day
posted by ManInSuit at 6:21 AM on August 15, 2024 [2 favorites]
Another possibility: You say you are coming in October? Oct 11 is a PA day at the schools, which means there are lots of 1-day camps and programs for kids on that day. Does your kid like art? Minecraft? Dinosaurs? They could spend a day in a camp like that while you and your partner have a restful day
posted by ManInSuit at 6:21 AM on August 15, 2024 [2 favorites]
It's very small scale, but Riverdale Farm is a nice place to spend an hour or so.
Not asian (afghan), but Kabul Express (at Dundas and Church) is my favorite restaurant in all of Toronto. Try the Waziri dinner and the Lahori Chana (probably enough for all three of you: 30CAD). Also, go to Messini to get gyros on The Danforth and get loukomades at Athens Bakery.
Seems to me that your planned Montreal trip has just been postponed, not overwritten!
posted by pjenks at 7:22 AM on August 15, 2024 [1 favorite]
Not asian (afghan), but Kabul Express (at Dundas and Church) is my favorite restaurant in all of Toronto. Try the Waziri dinner and the Lahori Chana (probably enough for all three of you: 30CAD). Also, go to Messini to get gyros on The Danforth and get loukomades at Athens Bakery.
Seems to me that your planned Montreal trip has just been postponed, not overwritten!
posted by pjenks at 7:22 AM on August 15, 2024 [1 favorite]
I live in Toronto and I have a 7 year old. I don't have any advice for an itinerary, because I would probably one do one of the activities below in a day, but hopefully this gives you some ideas. There are so many things in Toronto that sound like they would be up your alley.
Here are some attractions my kid has liked:
the aquarium - it's crazy busy, I suggest going in the evening, like 6pm, if that works with your kid's bedtime. It's one of the few attractions right downtown and a lot of people who live in downtown condos go with their kids right at opening.
the ROM - good selection of dinosaurs. This is the biggest museum in Canada. I take my kid about once every 6 weeks, because we have a membership. I would try to go when it opens because it's much less busy. The basement cafeteria is fairly pricy and mediocre. Near the ROM is a teppanyaki place called Yamato. I've taken my kid there multiple times. They are very welcoming to children.
little Canada - he went on a daycamp trip and all the kids seemed to like it, and it's near the eaton centre
the AGO. This one really depends on the kid. My kid enjoys it for about 1.5 hours, but you are close to China town, which is also interesting. There is a very interesting display of model boats in the basement which my kid really enjoys. Behind the AGO is a really great playground.
The St Lawrence Market. My kid has enjoyed looking around here and choosing things to eat. There is a good playground nearby in St James Park. (Toronto has quite a few playgrounds and it might be worth looking if there is one near any attraction you are going to.)
Even though we live in Toronto and take transit a lot, my kid really likes taking the subway. The ride over the bloor viaduct (between Castle Frank and Broadview stations) is always fun for kids. If you were cold and tired, I feel that a subway ride rest break might be a good way to manage being a tourist with a kid.
If you like korean food, there are a few restaurants in the Bloor and Christie area. I've found them to be very family friendly. There's also a big korean supermarket (PAT central market) which is fun for kids to choose pocky.
If you like french food, like traditional french bistro, Le Paradis, near Dupont and Davenport, has been very nice when we've brought our kid. The service is pretty quick and they seemed please to have a kid. Some of the seats in the restaurant can see the open kitchen, which my kid found interesting.
I think Type Books is one of the best book stores in the city right now. A fun afternoon can be walking around Dundas West, going to Type Books and then going to Indie Ale House. There's also a second location on Queen West, which is an equally interesting neighbourhood to walk around it.
posted by ice-cream forever at 7:36 PM on August 17, 2024 [2 favorites]
Here are some attractions my kid has liked:
the aquarium - it's crazy busy, I suggest going in the evening, like 6pm, if that works with your kid's bedtime. It's one of the few attractions right downtown and a lot of people who live in downtown condos go with their kids right at opening.
the ROM - good selection of dinosaurs. This is the biggest museum in Canada. I take my kid about once every 6 weeks, because we have a membership. I would try to go when it opens because it's much less busy. The basement cafeteria is fairly pricy and mediocre. Near the ROM is a teppanyaki place called Yamato. I've taken my kid there multiple times. They are very welcoming to children.
little Canada - he went on a daycamp trip and all the kids seemed to like it, and it's near the eaton centre
the AGO. This one really depends on the kid. My kid enjoys it for about 1.5 hours, but you are close to China town, which is also interesting. There is a very interesting display of model boats in the basement which my kid really enjoys. Behind the AGO is a really great playground.
The St Lawrence Market. My kid has enjoyed looking around here and choosing things to eat. There is a good playground nearby in St James Park. (Toronto has quite a few playgrounds and it might be worth looking if there is one near any attraction you are going to.)
Even though we live in Toronto and take transit a lot, my kid really likes taking the subway. The ride over the bloor viaduct (between Castle Frank and Broadview stations) is always fun for kids. If you were cold and tired, I feel that a subway ride rest break might be a good way to manage being a tourist with a kid.
If you like korean food, there are a few restaurants in the Bloor and Christie area. I've found them to be very family friendly. There's also a big korean supermarket (PAT central market) which is fun for kids to choose pocky.
If you like french food, like traditional french bistro, Le Paradis, near Dupont and Davenport, has been very nice when we've brought our kid. The service is pretty quick and they seemed please to have a kid. Some of the seats in the restaurant can see the open kitchen, which my kid found interesting.
I think Type Books is one of the best book stores in the city right now. A fun afternoon can be walking around Dundas West, going to Type Books and then going to Indie Ale House. There's also a second location on Queen West, which is an equally interesting neighbourhood to walk around it.
posted by ice-cream forever at 7:36 PM on August 17, 2024 [2 favorites]
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