Disclosure: The author travelled to Toronto as a guest of Tourism Toronto, which neither reviewed nor approved this post.
I’m terrified, and I’m not even on the roller coaster. It’s my teen daughter dangling her feet in open air at Canada’s Wonderland, just outside Toronto, on the biggest, baddest coaster of them all, the Yukon Striker—the world’s largest, tallest and fastest dive coaster.
The park’s much-hyped new thrill ride—a floor-less train, eight riders across and three rows deep—pauses precariously for three seconds before plunging riders 75 metres (245 feet) straight down into an underwater tunnel and then on through four inversions. I opt out. Not the kid.
“I’m going for it. You can come if you want,” my 14-year-old kindly informs me, fully flipping the parent-child script.
Anxiety roils in my stomach, but I can’t deny her. As a parent, I need to know when to let go to see a self-assured, confident person emerge. Plus, it’s part of the fun of travelling with teens: seeing their spirit for adventure unfold. And that’s where Toronto, Canada’s largest city, certainly delivers with cool experiences. Here are five to get started.
Conquer the coaster at Canada’s Wonderland
Want to feel like a kid again? Unleash your inner daredevil? Laugh ’til your sides split? Plan a full day at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan, about a 40-minute drive from downtown Toronto. With 17 roller coasters, a 20-acre waterpark, theatre shows, daring circus acts, festivals, food vendors and special events, visitors to the amusement park (including those not into rides) never want for things to do. Find the Yukon Striker (it’s themed after Canada’s 1800s gold rush) in the park’s new Frontier Canada section. Rumour is that nothing beats the feeling of the Striker’s big drop.
Fun and games: The Funhouse and more
Forget stereotypes of bored teens in this happening city with its on-point aquarium, a museum dedicated to illusions, an indoor bocce ball court, and The Funhouse, an immersive art pop-up in a three-storey former Buddhist temple. At The Funhouse, guests enter either through an elevator or a Narnia-like wardrobe to find themed rooms on sensory overload and Insta-opportunities aplenty. You can also see paintings that come alive (pleasing your Harry Potter fan), thanks to a downloadable augmented-reality app.
Across town, solve puzzles, snap photos of your kid’s head on a platter and try to make it through a Vortex tunnel at the Museum of Illusions, a relatively new and charmingly interactive outing on Front Street East.
In the city’s east end, at Lob Toronto on Broadview Avenue, kick back with old-school fun, challenging your offspring to an indoor nine-hole game of lob (described as a cross between bocce and golf).
The standout, though? That may be Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, one of Toronto’s top attractions since its 2013 opening. “This was a good decision. This is really cool,” my teen approved, wandering past jellies, a camouflaged octopus and green sea turtles in the 12,500-square-metre (3 acre) downtown aquarium.
Explore a good ‘hood: Kensington Market
“Everything in here seems pointless, but I somehow want it all!” my daughter says while trying on oversize cat purses (they’re as great as they sound!) and ogling finds from Justin Trudeau-themed socks to shelves packed with hot sauces in Blue Banana Market, a sprawling gift shop in Toronto’s eclectic Kensington Market neighbourhood.
The jumbled, bohemian warren of streets appeals with its mishmash of vintage shops, hole-in-the-wall-eateries, bars and wide range of global foods. After an afternoon wander, grab a seat at Wanda’s Pie in the Sky, sinking a fork into a slice of made-from-scratch, signature Ontario sour cherry pie. It’s divine.
Put on the Ritz at the Ritz-Carlton
Nothing makes you feel as old as a kid who’s never heard the catchphrase “putting on the Ritz.” Rectify that stat with a stay at the oh-so-civil Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, ideally located steps from the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, the Rogers Centre (home to the Toronto Blue Jays) and the Theatre District. The hotel, with its indulgent spa, a Club Lounge, and Toronto’s only cheese cave, is definitely luxurious, but it’s far from stuffy, with welcoming and accommodating staff.
Book a night at TOCA, its Italian cuisine restaurant (go for the handmade caciotta cheese-stuffed ravioli—it’s exquisite, and teen-pleasing!), and learn the story of the Crazy Plate Lady, who went from Ritz server to artist-in-residence. All diners are greeted with her hand-painted plates.
Making memories? Consider donning an apron with a Ritz chef in the kitchen to make creamy, life-affirming liquid nitrogen ice cream, part of the hotel’s family fun packages.
Good eats: The Maple Leaf Tavern and beyond
Toronto keeps finding new ways to shine on the culinary scene and proving that fine dining and family friendly aren’t mutually exclusive. Drop into Piano Piano to watch chefs craft plates of egg-yolk ravioli, crispy fried chicken and roasted sea bass in an open kitchen. Finish on a high note with delectable dessert jars of lemon cheesecake tartufo and Nutella tiramisu.
Sit down to a stellar cheeseburger that’s been ranked among the top five in the city by Toronto Life (it’s messy, but worth it) at the Maple Leaf Tavern on Gerrard Street, while the triple-threat gouda, gruyere and cheddar mac and cheese at O&B Café Grill on Yonge Street is one of those dishes you never seem to make a dent in—and that’s saying something when a ravenous teen is the one digging in.
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