Theme & Amusement Parks in Toronto

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.

Niagara Go-Karts entertains entire families with the leisurely competition of miniature golf and the fast-paced fishtailing of more than 40 racing-style go-karts. Double-seated family karts let children 10 and older play copilot while parents practice high-speed chaperoning. For faster-paced driving, 13-horsepower engines propel realistic Formula 1 karts to high speeds under the control of drivers 14 and older. For the safety of all drivers, each kart features a roll bar, seatbelt, and outside bumper cage.

Outside of the driver's seat, a pastoral collection of wild flowers, safari animals, and indigenous astro turf decorates a mini putt course that's flecked with a barrage of amusing obstacles. All-day pricing allows for unlimited rounds from open until close.

Russ Bond knows a thing or two about go-karts; after all, he's dedicated his career to them. As own of Canadian Karting League, he offers kids and adults the opportunity to take to the tarmac with race-prepared karts, comprehensive safety training, and a battalion of professional mechanics at their backs. Russ explains to motoringtv.com that through years of training and racing cars professionally, he “always wanted to give back … so kids could get involved in karting,” In addition to boosting adrenalin and making for memorable afternoons, karting can teach kids and tweens how to pass other cars, handle turns, and harmonize by punching their horns. Giving kids the experience of maintaining their own kart “can only help them when they get a licence,” Russ says.

Enormous waterslides twist like snakes above Wild Water Kingdom's acres of landscaped grass and open pools. All in all, 17 aquatic attractions dip, dunk, and douse visitors in torrents of water as they whip down slides with names such as Corkscrew and Sidewinder. Though tykes frolic on the semi-submerged playsets of Dolphin Bay, older visitors scream in delight as they hurtle through the twisting pitch-black tunnels of the Night Rider. Elsewhere, sun-soaked volleyball courts and dual miniature golf courses—one themed after a shipwreck, the other an enchanted forest—provide entertainment that keep suede swimsuits perfectly dry.

Despite the ample outdoor fun, several attractions offer respite from the sun. The Wild Water Drive-In Theatre allows families and couples to enjoy an excursion without leaving the comfort of their car or motorized couch, and to the east of the main park, a 60,000-square-foot indoor arena hosts soccer games and athletic summer camps.

Dave and Buster’s decks out 40,000 square feet and three storeys with a wall-to-wall array of more than 200 games ranging from arcade classics to interactive video platforms. To give thumbs a breather, visitors can escape into Captain Jack’s Pirate’s Cove, a pirate-themed complex of mini golf and laser tag. Cannons and sea creatures thwart revellers in the glow-in-the-dark mini-golf course. Patrons duck and weave through a hide-and-seek-style laser-tag arena teeming with fog tendrils, or hunt for a hidden treasure chest in the depths of the Lazer Maze. Patrons who can’t photosynthesize can refuel at the full-service bar and restaurant, whose menu ranges from burgers to other hearty classics such as fish ‘n’ chips and chicken tenders.