Toronto Fun Places: The Family-Tested Guide to Year-Round Fun in the GTA and Southern Ontario. 4th ed.

Christine Hughes is a policy analyst at the Ontario Native Affairs
Secretariat.

In this newly updated guidebook, Prézeau provides hundreds of ideas for year-round fun in the Greater Toronto Area and other destinations in southern Ontario. Although anyone will find something of interest in this almost 500-page book, it is particularly geared to activities and destinations that would appeal to children.

This latest edition includes two new sections: “What’s Around the Subway Stations” and “Urban Strolls.” The first provides a concise description of anything that might be of interest for an adult with children within a 10-minute walk of each Toronto subway station. For people planning their trips on public transit, this section will be a useful addition to the book. There is also a colour map of the Toronto transit system to help orient visitors to the various subway lines and station locations. The “Urban Strolls” section, which is accompanied by colour photographs, is arranged by theme. For example, “Funky Blocks” includes Kensington Market and Chinatown, and “Cool Factor” describes interesting places along Queen Street West.

Other sections, which contain updated information from previous editions of the book, as well as 50 new outings, cover the topics “Amusement Corner” (parks, parades, midways, theme parks), “Animals” (zoos and sanctuaries), “Arts and Culture” (galleries, theatre, music, movies, dance), “Buildings,” “Farms,” “Holiday Outings” (March Break, Christmas traditions, Halloween, etc.), “Indoor Playgrounds,” “Machines” (in the air, on the road, on tracks, on water), “Museums,” “Nature’s Call” (caves, cliffs, dunes, falls, fossils, marshes, etc.), “Sports,” “Time Travel” (historical sites), and “Water Fun” (beaches, pools, water parks). Each section contains an introductory “tips” page, and every attraction includes additional tips from a mother’s point of view with recommended ages. Attractions include driving time estimates from downtown Toronto and note nearby attractions that can be added to the itinerary. This section is generously peppered with black and white photographs of suggested places to visit.

There is a very detailed index that lists references alphabetically and by location (within Toronto and outside Toronto), as well as a calendar of events and parent resources with website addresses. Symbols are used to denote attractions offering birthday packages, places suitable for strollers, and seasonal importance.