Top 10 Attractions for Kids

This Canadian original in Hamilton is the place for exotic animal adventure – whether it’s taking in amazing wild animals and birds on a drive through the 16-hectare reserve, watching elephants take an afternoon bath, or riding the Nature Boy railway. Pack swim gear to end the day with a splash at the wet play area. With children eight and up, get behind-the-scenes access with the Wake Up The Wild experience, an unforgettable open-air truck tour where you’ll watch lions devour their breakfast and hand-feed a giraffe.

Cool off and splash the day away in one of Canada’s largest wave pools in Hamilton’s Confederation Park. Zoom down four tube slides, float the Easy River and brave the six-storey body slides. Little Squirt Works, filled with wading pools, small slides, sprays, mists and fountains, is perfect for the littlest ones.

Head to Hamilton to introduce train fanatics to a steam engine that puts Thomas the Tank Engine to shame. Train fans will get a true sense of the power of steam at this National Historic Site housed in a historic waterworks.

Break for the barn in Winona, where you can hop on board and enjoy a train ride through fruit fields and stop by to meet the horses, cows, goats, chickens, emus, and pigs that call the farm home. Leave time to pick your own fresh in-season fruit, including sweet and sour cherries, blueberries, apples, pears and pumpkins. Thrill your train lovers with an overnight stay in the farm’s very own caboose!

Give your kids the ultimate lesson in physics and a thrill at this indoor flight-themed museum in Mount Hope. After checking out the more than 40 aircraft on exhibit, navigate the legendary Lancaster bomber or supersonic CF-101 Voodoo jet on a flight simulator, or climb right into the cockpit of a fighter jet.

Guided tours at this Hamilton estate reveal stories about the affluent family that once lived within its walls, as well as the people who lived downstairs and served their every beck and call. Once you’ve toured the 40-room castle, be sure to check out the Hamilton Military Museum, also on site, so the kids can see original uniforms from the War of 1812.

With over 30 carefully restored heritage buildings, costumed interpreters and fun events throughout the summer, this is an amazing place to visit to give kids a great sense of what life was like for pioneers. The guides donning historically accurate garb and authentic demonstrations will have you stepping back in time.

Step into the wind tunnel at this indoor skydiving experience in Oakville and you’ll feel just like you’re experiencing an authentic plane jump. Kids over the age of four will get a thrill out of experiencing wind speeds of 300 km/h and the sensation of freefalling in a safe environment wind speeds

Biology lessons don’t get any more beautiful than a trip to Canada’s largest botanical garden in Burlington. Its 1,100 hectares are filled with trails and exhibits that make for a really fun day of exploring. Kids will love the Rock Garden, the Mediterranean Garden and the newly installed model train display.

Teach them the roots of that smartphone they can’t stop staring at with a trip to Brantford. Even tech-obsessed teens will enjoy learning about one of the most important scientific breakthroughs in history, the telephone, at Alexander Graham Bell’s childhood home.