Eau the Places You’ll Go

The fun thing about fall and cooler temperatures is realizing you’ll be spending a lot more time indoors together (said no mother, ever). 

So we dove right into the idea of checking out the recently opened Ripley’s Aquarium, at the base of the CN Tower. We think you should really ‘sea’ it for yourself.

From the jaw-droppingly enormous and beautiful tanks filled with wonders of the sea to the well laid-out flow of the space, Ripley’s is an underwater adventure begging to be explored by kids and adults of all ages. Large walking areas allow for the younger set to roam and run around, finding special nooks built just for kids to crawl into and get up close with the creatures.

Unexpected elements are scattered throughout—don’t miss the shark tunnel, the interactive jellyfish game, touching the stingrays and getting a snap of the kids in the submarine as you walk through the wondrous sea gallery—making the case for an annual pass (starting at $25 for a child 3 to 5 years of age) as this is one spot the kids will want to explore more than once.

Good to Know: parking is a challenge. Nearby options can be limited (especially on weekdays) and can be pricey, so plan accordingly and/or take the TTC. To avoid crowds, go first thing in the morning, or after 5 pm on weekdays. They do offer birthday parties, but are currently sold out until January 2014. We advise leaving the strollers at home as the acquarium can be busy, and pre-book your tickets online to skip the line-up. 

We live in a great city. See what else we love in our 10 Favourite Spots to Take the Kids in Toronto.