Fun places to stay in Ontario for kids

Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

Chelsea Hotel

Downtown Toronto’s Chelsea Hotel has something for everyone in the family.

The Family Fun Zone features an indoor, heated pool, whirlpool and a corkscrew waterslide that twists and loops outside the building.

Accompany your little ones to The Kids Centre, with lots of activities and games to keep them busy. You’ll want to say hello to the adorable rabbits that live in the Centre. Childcare services are also available so parents can spend time in the adult-only area on the top floor that has a gym, spacious outdoor patio and spectacular views of the city.

Club 33 Teen Lounge is a cool entertainment space for tweens and teens with sports tables, pool arcade games and more.

The market-style eatery has a great selection of grab-and-go options and lots of seating to enjoy a meal together. Be sure to try the delicious honey made exclusively from the Chelsea’s own bee garden.

When it’s time to explore the city, check out the hotel’s promotions such as Show Your Key and Save. Don’t miss visiting nearby Little Canada, where you can see the Little Chelsea Hotel display.

Operates: Year round
Location: 33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto

Serengeti Bush Camp at the Toronto Zoo

Families with children aged six and up can enjoy a fun overnight experience at the Toronto Zoo through the Bush Camp Family Nights program. The Bush Camp Jr. Night caters the experience for kids aged two to five.

This memorable tour of the zoo’s African Savanna and African Rainforest Pavilion includes sleeping in tents, evening activities with fellow campers, buffet-style meals and campfire tales over s’mores. You’ll get complimentary parking and an exciting “Zoomobile” ride to and from the camp. Plus, you can explore the rest of the zoo before or after your bush camp.

This fun and interactive experience is available during the Victoria Day weekend in May, the Labour Day weekend in September and select dates in July and August.

Operates: Seasonally
Location: 2000 Meadowvale Road, Toronto

Niagara Region

Americana Conference Resort Spa & Waterpark

Americana Conference Resort boasts over 2,000 square metres of fun in the “Waves Indoor Waterpark.”

Your kids will love all the water park features like the wave pool, three-storey-high slides, interactive water play structure, giant tipping bucket and kiddie pool. For the ultimate poolside experience, rent a private cabana that includes a flat-screen TV, mini fridge and soft lounge seating with a coffee table.

Book the resort’s Kiddie Suites for your family and unlimited passes to the water park.

Operates: Year round
Location: 8444 Lundy's Lane, Niagara Falls

Skyline Hotel & Waterpark

With 16 exciting waterslides, a large wave pool and a 3,500-litre tipping bucket, your kids will have a blast at the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, which is directly connected to the Skyline Hotel.

The hotel is also close to popular attractions in Niagara Falls such as Adventure City, Hershey’s Chocolate World and Clifton Hill.

Book the “Waterpark Getaway Package” for one-night hotel accommodations and four passes to the water park.

Operates: Year round
Location: 4800 Bender Street, Niagara Falls

Great Wolf Lodge

Your stay at Great Wolf Lodge includes unlimited access to the indoor water park, life jackets and towels. Enjoy roomy suite-style rooms, some even include bunk beds!

The kids will love the exciting lineup of daily activities like creative arts projects, fun family games, magic shows, story time and dance parties.

The lodge offers multiple packages like the Wolf Pass if you’re more interested in the resort’s attractions and games and the Pup Pass if your kids want to try everything.

Operates: Year round
Location: 3950 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls

Bruce, Grey and Simcoe

Fern Resort

From summer and winter vacation to Family Day and March Break, there’s no shortage of exciting things to do at Fern Resort. Kids will be so busy with exciting activities and programs they won’t have time to be bored.

Younger children are safely supervised at Playvillage, where they can enjoy swings, a sandbox, pedal toys and a pirate ship. Fun activities including sports and dance are designed for the older kids.

While the kids are busy, parents can relax and do yoga, go on nature walks and experience wine tasting. There are also more invigorating options such as parasailing and volleyball. Of course, there are plenty of activities for families to do together, such as family photo night, which includes a memorable keepsake of the fun.

In the winter, skating along the 1.5 kilometre skating trail is popular pastime.

Operates: Year round
Location: 4432 Fern Resort Road, Township Of Ramara

Severn Lodge

Each year, families are welcomed to Severn Lodge, one of the best all-inclusive resorts in Ontario offering a full schedule of fun programs and activities.

Supervised services are available for children aged three to twelve from June to the Labour Day weekend in early September.

The Kids Club Program gives parents a break while their children enjoy a full day of fun and flexible sports, waterfront activities, fishing, arts and crafts, hiking, animal shows and more. Severn also has toddler specialists who run fun activities designed to keep the younger ones busy.

Operates:  May through October
Location: 116 Gloucester Trail, Port Severn

Blue Mountain Resort

Book a cottage at Blue Mountain and enjoy a wide variety of all-ages activities.

Relax on the resort’s private beach while your kids play in the sand. Rentals are available for boats, kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards (SUP).

Take a heart pounding ride on the Runner Mountain Coaster, soar the skies ziplining or try cycling water trikes across the pond.

 If you’re visiting during the winter, take advantage of Blue Mountain being the largest ski resort in Ontario and sign up your kids for skiing lessons on the resort’s 43 ski trails.

After a fun-filled day, head back to your cottage to relax, dine at one of the many nearby family-friendly restaurants like Jozo’s Original Après, Magnone’s Italian Kitchen and Rusty’s at Blue.

Operates: Year round
Location: 190 Gord Canning Drive, Town Of The Blue Mountains

Kawarthas Northumberland

Elmhirst’s Resort

Located on Rice Lake and surrounded by stunning nature, Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene offers a selection of fun activities to entertain families.

Rent a cozy lakeside cottage and enjoy a host of free activities included with your stay. That means countless hours tubing, playing on the inflatables, visits to the farm and so much more. Horseback trail riding excursions are also available to book.

If you’re here for a winter getaway, you’ll get a chance to participate in an ice fishing derby and take a fun sleigh ride through the snow.

Look for great packages like Kids Stay Free in March and Family Day Weekend. You can also save by booking your family summer getaway early.

Operates: Year round
Location: 1045 Settlers Line, Keene

Viamede Resort

Overlooking the shores of Stoney Lake, Viamede Resort takes advantage of the surrounding nature and water to offer a range of activities for the whole family like guided fishing, hiking and foraging tours. There’s also an indoor pool for guests to use.

While your kids are occupied with the daily kids’ camp, enjoy wine tastings, bread making or hiking along the picturesque trails. Pets are welcome and there’s lots of space to roam with your dog, including an off-leash dog park.

Reunite at the hotel’s on-site restaurant, 1885 Restaurant for a tasty meal made with local ingredients.

Operates: Year round
Location: 595 Mt Julian Viamede Road, Woodview

Scotsman Point Resort

Open since 1920, Scotsman Point Resort is a family-oriented spot situated on 25 hectares of picturesque land.

The Kidz Program is a daily children’s activity schedule that takes them swimming, fishing, paddle boarding, water tubing and more. Movie buffs can enjoy movie nights with new friends.

Spend the night in one of the many spacious bedrooms, cabins and cottages that showcase stunning views of the outdoors and have plenty of room for the kids to burn off their extra energy.

Scotsman Point also hosts reunions, so make your family vacation an annual tradition here.

Operates: Spring, summer and fall seasons
Location: 467 Six Foot Bay Road, Buckhorn

Haliburton Highlands and Ottawa Valley

Bonnie View Inn

A popular spot in the Haliburton Highlands, Bonnie View Inn is a charming, stone cottage inn that’s been open since 1924.

This year-round family resort offers cozy and modern accommodation with lots of amenities and activities included such as peddle boats, water tricycles and stand up paddle boards (SUP). 

Parents can enjoy a drink by the lakeside patio and take in the marvelous views while the kids play by the dock.

If you want more quiet time, drop off your kids with the inn’s babysitting service and spend your day relaxing in the garden or the private beach.

In the winter warm up together by the fireplace after a day of skating, tobogganing and more.  

Operates: Year round
Location: 2713 Kashagawigamog Lake Road, Haliburton

Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve Ltd

Choose your own adventure for your next family getaway. Stay in a spacious rustic cabin or enjoy a night in a glamping lodge in Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve.

Experience exciting nature activities like hiking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking and more, with guided tours designed for families. Take a Walk in the Clouds on a guided canopy tour above the forest ground. Also don’t miss a visit to the Wolf Centre to view a family of wolves and learn more about them through various museum-style exhibits. After a day of learning and adventure, experience the beauty of the night sky and enjoy stargazing in one of Ontario’s designated Dark Sky Preserves.

Operates: Seasonally spring to fall
Location: 1095 Redkenn Road, Haliburton Highlands

Muskoka, Parry Sound and Algonquin Park

Cedar Grove Lodge

Stay in a log cabin overlooking scenic Peninsula Lake at Cedar Grove Lodge.

This quaint lodge offers a variety of activities including paddle boating, windsurfing, golf and fishing in the spring and fall, plus a games room in case of any rainy days.

During the summer, the kids will enjoy playing on the sandy beach or on the water trampoline and aquatic Jungle Jim. Sail down the river on a pontoon boat tour or visit the local art studios and gift shops in the Lake of Bays region.

If you’re visiting in the winter, try out ice fishing in the Penguin ice hut.

Operates: Year round
Location: Peninsula Lake, 167 Grassmere Resort Road, Huntsville

Bayview Wildwood Resort

Colourful cottages and luxurious rooms are offered at this all-inclusive family resort in Muskoka. Bayview Wildwood Resort features cabins with multiple bedrooms and living areas, plus a meal option if you want to leave the cooking to someone else.

The supervised children’s program means plenty of fun for your kids. They’ll love stepping onto the sports court to play basketball, volleyball and badminton and participating in the resort’s extensive range of waterfront activities, such as canoeing, kayaking, fishing and stand-up paddle boarding. 

Operates: Year round
Location: 1500 Port Stanton Parkway, Severn Bridge

Deerhurst Resort

With over 300 hectares of property to explore, kids all ages can enjoy indoors and outdoor activities and programs year round at Deerhurst.

During the summer, cool off on the water slides, lazy river and splash pad. Paddle on Peninsula Lake or explore higher ground with climbing, treetop trekking and ziplining experiences nearby. 

Explore the area on ATVs and side-by-side adventure tours. And meet other families through summer social activities with crafts and fun sports. 

Several family-friendly restaurants at the resort offer a diverse range of meals including a family buffet. In the summer, grab a bite from the food truck.

Operates: Year round
Location: 1235 Deerhurst Drive, Huntsville

Rocky Crest Golf Resort

With spacious suites, villas, cabins and cottages your family will enjoy a comfortable, stress-free stay at Rocky Crest Golf Resort. And its dog friendly so even your furry family member can vacation with you.

There’s a wide range of fun activities like swimming, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. The inflatable water park on the lake will keep kids playing for hours. Rocky Crest Kids Camps is a great kid-approved program offered in July and August. Check out the family packages that suit your needs.

This resort is located close to several local attractions. Take a guided tour through the famous Cranberry Marsh, visit North America’s oldest operating mail steamship, browse through an extensive collection of artifacts at the Muskoka Museum and take in an incredible 360° view of Georgian Bay at Tower Hill.

After your fun-filled day out, enjoy a relaxing meal at one of the three eateries on the property that serve kids’ meals.

Operates: First weekend in May until the weekend after Thanksgiving in mid-October (family packages available in the summer)

Location: 20 Barnwood Drive, MacTier

Santa’s Village

Santa’s summer vacation home in Muskoka is the perfect place for a family getaway. Choose between Santa’s Whispering Pines, a campground and trailer park located beside the Muskoka River and Santa’s Muskoka Ridge, a collection of cottages and a cabin close to the Trans-Canada Trail.

Not only will you and the kids enjoy convenient access to all the attractions and activities in Santa’s Village, but you’ll also stay in spacious accommodations with modern amenities. Enjoy the outdoor swimming pool, boating and fishing on Lake Muskoka, plus a recreation playground for the little ones.

An on-site general store offers any supplies you’ll need if you are camping. You’ll also be close to downtown Bracebridge shops and several pristine beaches in the area.

Operates: Seasonally (check online for specific dates)
Location: 1624 Golden Beach Road, Bracebridge

Clyffe House Cottage Resort

Create lasting family memories in beautiful Muskoka.

With nine cozy cottages nestled in a picturesque eight-hectare property, this family-owned resort is the perfect destination for kids to create their own adventures and make new discoveries. It’s a safe and welcoming vacation spot where parents can relax while the kids make new friends.

Canoes, paddle boats and life jackets are available for guests to use. Swim the shallow and pristine waters of Mary Lake or build a sandcastle on the shore. Check online for availability of cottages, reservations can be made via phone or email.

Operates: Early May to the second week of October
Location: 1010 Muskoka District Road 10, Port Sydney