Travelling to Toronto in April with kids, need ideas

Travelling to Toronto in April 2006 with kids ages 6 and 4. Need
suggestions in finding kids related stuff/activities/places to see
there. Thanks.

toronto zoo. It is a great place for kids.

ontario place. not sure if it is still free, but there is a battleship
to climb around on and lots of other hands onactivities.

Chuck

Unfortunately, many of Toronto's outdoor attractions don't open until
after Victoria Day (around May 24). Here are some of my suggestions
for kid-friendly stuff that may work for you:

Toronto Zoo: I second this as a great outing with the kids, although
it's a bit out of the way in the NE part of the city

Royal Ontario Museum: some hands-on exhibits, plus the "Bat Cave",
Discovery Gallery, and dinosaurs; there's usually a children's workshop
or such

Ontario Science Centre: everything is hands-on here; demonstrations
are fun; the Imax theatre may be a bit too intense for the little ones,
though

Casa Loma: neat if you want to see a "castle"; gardens are nice too,
but probably won't be open this early

Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People: theatre specifically for
children

Ontario Place: would ordinarily be great, but won't be open until
Victoria Day
Canada's Wonderland: ditto
Toronto Islands Park: ditto (for Centreville)

So there's still quite a bit to see and do, but as you can see your
options improve considerably in late May through the summer.

--George

The kids are 6 and 4. They (or their parents) would have to be real
hockey or Maple Leaf fanatics.

--George

> The reviews haven't been great. And it's a three-hour-plus show from
> what I have heard. That sounds too long for small children.

Or adults, for that matter. I was ready to leave after the first
intermission, but stuck it out to the end. So did "Sharky" (a change
from the film version).

> If the hotel the OP is staying at is in the Jarvis St. area, walk over
> to the greenhouses in Allan Gardens

Bear in mind that this area of Toronto is a bit rough, and you may
pan-handled. Not dangerous, but it can bother some folks who aren't
used to it esp. if you have kids in tow.

> Riverdale Farm is about 1 km east of Allan Gardens, possibly walkable.

I forgot about the farm! (Probably since I still think of it as the
Riverdale Zoo.) A nice place to be sure, and you can get
up-close-and-personal with a lot of the animals.

> The Toronto subway system has "railfan" seats that let you look out the
> front of the train down the tracks. If you are taking the subway, go to
> the first car and see if you can snag that seat. Sounds like something
> kids would enjoy--I sure did.

Me too.

--George

There is an dventure playground in High Park, as well as a very small
animal area and a pond and natuure trails.