9 Fun Places To Enrich the Family This Summer
When it comes to making a lasting impression on kids, it’s all about deeds, not words. Even on vacation, learning about history, culture and creative expression can be fun for the whole family.
With convenient access by GO Trains and Buses from Toronto, head to Hamilton Halton Brant to reinforce key lessons that will pave the way for a life well lived while enjoying these family-friendly attractions and activities.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Plant the reminder that art is everywhere with a trip to Royal Botanical Garden’s ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey. The vibrant, outdoor sculptural universe of artist and sculptor Ken Kelleher, internationally known as Anchorball, features 18 large-scale Pop Art sculptures, transforming Henrie Garden into a vivid sculptural landscape where bold characters, imaginative narratives, and contemporary form merge with nature and blooms to create a world that feels full of wonder, yet deeply recognizable.
Dundurn Castle National Historic Site
Discover how notable Sir Allan Napier MacNab, railway magnate, lawyer and Premier of the United Canadas (1854-1856) and his family lived in the grand Dundurn Castle. The Italianate-style villa was home to other notable families, served as a barracks during the war, and has been preserved to transport people centuries into the past. From the historical kitchens to the service gardens, plan a guided tour or hands-on workshop to step back into canadian history.
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Shine the spotlight on the importance of staying curious with a trip to Art Gallery of Hamilton’s The Shape of Curiosity exhibit. This free sculpture exhibition explores elements of the natural world by contrasting aspects of the outdoors with the indoors, encouraging us to shift our perspective outward.
Gairloch Gardens
Inject a moving message about the power of collaboration and connection into your day away with a roam through Oakville Gallery’s Gairloch Gardens, where The Ship of Tolerance sits on the shoreline of Lake Ontario. The paintings strung together to form the ship’s sails were selected from paintings created by 900 children from local schools and community groups to express their visions of tolerance and humanitarianism in society. The ship itself was constructed with the expertise of professional shipbuilders from Manchester, highlighting the project’s spirit of collaboration across generations and communities.
Joseph Brant Museum
Schedule a multi-sensory seminar on how food connects people to the past, to place, and to other people exploring Joseph Brant Museum’s Eat Make Share: A Taste of Immigration exhibit. As your crew engages in diverse food traditions practiced in Canada, you’ll discover the surprising histories behind popular Canadian dishes and learn how individuals and communities express themselves through food.
Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology
Show your kids the value of sharing your passion with others without saying a word by taking in all the fun being had at Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology’s Train Days with the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers. Catch a ride on a miniature train, learn about Hamilton’s steam-powered Waterworks, and take part in crafts and games for the whole family.
Grand River Champion of Champions Pow Wow
Witness a powerful reminder of the value of keeping traditions alive by experiencing the excitement of centuries of culture as dancers from across North America compete at the Grand River Champion of Champions Pow Wow.
Grand River Paddling
For the ultimate lesson in the importance of “going with the flow,” book a full-day Learning To Paddle experience with Grand Experience for your family. The day combines a morning of calm-water instruction with an afternoon river trip, allowing participants to learn, practice, and master the basics. You’ll leave the day feeling like a true paddler, ready to rent a boat on your own and embark on your next adventure on the river.
African Lion Safari
Show kids the real rewards of being an early riser by surprising them with African Lion Safari’s Wake Up The Wild experience. During this privately guided tour with a Game Warden, they’ll witness a pride of lions at their most active time of day and as they devour their morning meal, come within a metre of endangered rhino, zebra, and ostrich in an open-air truck, and hand-feed Canada’s largest herd of giraffe.
Make the most of traveling with GO Transit by picking up a $10 One-Day Weekend Pass for unlimited weekend travel across the GO system — excellent value for a Saturday or Sunday day trip. Flashing your PRESTO card at participating locations would also provide discounts and savings for admission and entry fees!
From steam era technology to flaura and fauna, make summer a season of fresh air lessons and fun across the region. For more family fun and trip ideas, find more inspiration on our Family Fun page.
