Theme & Amusement Parks in St. Catharines

Masked by opaque helmets, eight racers at a time tense up to counteract the G-force pressing them to the sides of their karts. As they approach the fastest sweeping turn on the course, The Catapult, they sharpen their focus in order to out-manoeuvre the other racers, their final position hanging in the balance. Grand Prix Kartways' 47,000-square-foot facility's alternating red and white barriers blur as electric, Italian-made karts accelerate into the last straightaway, cheered on by spectators watching from the VIP lounge. Once across the finish line, the competitors clear the track for the next race, using instant printouts of the results to compare placing, reveal who had the best lap times, and determine who was throwing all the koopa shells and banana peels. Between races, daredevils can relax and take a seat in the cushy trackside lounge equipped with leather couches, a restaurant menu, and a full bar. The arcade also offers a view of one of the track's hairpin curves between billiards shots, simulator races, and video games on Kinect-equipped Xbox 360 systems.

Originally founded in 1919 as a small petting zoo known as the Cream of Barley Park, Bowmanville Zoo has since evolved into one of the largest collections of animals on the continent. More than 300 creatures roam its 42 acres of parkland, including turtles, primates, and large felines seen in feature films and television shows such as Animorphs and Peter Benchley's Amazon. Throughout the week, visitors can ride camels or elephants, see trained critters perform in the 400-seat indoor Animatheatre, or watch as handlers feed the carnivores by throwing them meat to trade with monkeys for delicious twigs.

Anti-Gravity Trampoline's head coach Stacey Turpin boasts experience coaching both men and women in trampoline and gymnastics and holds several Level 4 certifications from the National Coaching Certification Program. She and her coaching staff train students in the aerial arts on the indoor gym's floor exercise area, dual regulation-size trampolines, and one double mini-trampoline. Coaches help beginners hone basic jumping skills and develop strength, flexibility, and coordination; they also teach more advanced manoeuvres that could help students evade the shadows sewn to their feet. When not leading classes, instructors conduct full- and half-day children's camps filled with trampoline practice, games, and crafts.

The aquatic-minded architects behind Fallsview Indoor Waterpark stocked their three-acre splash zone with family-friendly amusements that simulate the sun-soaked days of summer year-round. With both kids and adults in mind, the park's designers included two large, adults-only jacuzzis, where grownups can marinate in relaxation while the tots zip down 16 waterslides up to six storeys tall, or high enough to make Aquaman feel like a damp Godzilla. After the kids bodysurf in the wave pool or get caught in the deluge of the 1,000-gallon tipping bucket, families can refuel at Planet Hollywood Beach Club. Located on the site of the Falls Avenue Resort, the waterpark encourages families to retire to 20 acres of luxury for the night and return the next day to shake their fins beneath faux palm trees or traipse through Jungle Beach Playland, a dry indoor playground.

In 1965, a small group of scientists gathered to create artificial seawater at the Aquarium of Niagara. They wanted to open an inland aquarium that could host the same types of sea creatures found on the coast, and so they applied their technology on a large scale. Today, the Aquarium of Niagara pumps this synthetic seawater through tanks hosting a variety of indigenous salt-water dwellers, including sea horses, harbor seals, sea lions, and Navy SEALS. While visitors marvel at both the salt-water and freshwater creatures, they learn about diverse aquatic terrain and conservation efforts. A weekly schedule of animal activities allows guests to witness animals in action, from California sea-lion and goldfish training to penguin and shark feedings.