Active Adventures and Unique Races in the GTA

Experiences make great memories. So this summer, let's add some one-of-a-kind experiences of the active nature. From mud to inflatables, adventure races to colour blasts; we've got all the family-friendly adventurous fun to be had in the GTA (and slightly beyond).

Downsview Park is going to get pretty gosh darn colourful on May 28, when Colour Me Rad takes over. With 8 different colour stations along the 5k route, there's no way you're getting out of this one clean. Race fee provides a T-shirt, tattoos, and a protective case for your cell phone. Take the whole family and run, walk, skip or scoot the route and get colourful!

Run, get splattered in burst of colour, and go with the happy flow. The race bills itself as having Island flair, and the multi-coloured logo and race medal certainly convey a sense of the tropics. They are so chill they encourage kids to join their parents; kids 5 years and younger and are free unless they want a super cool race kit. Held at Woodbine Entertainment Group.

The Spartan is pretty awesome obstacle course and race for adults, and they also have a junior race at the GTA location in Orono. Tykes as young as 4 can have a ball climbing, scrambling and trying out their course. Racers 11-15 years old can run a Spartan Sprint ‘Challenge by Choice' heat with their parents.

We never could resist a Slip'N Slide, and this one seems awesome. There's music, a party, and of course, the largest water slide you've ever seen. Great for the whole family. Go for a single slide or slide the day away.

Stouffville is getting covered in bubbles July 16 with Foam Fest. The 22+ obstacle course is for anyone 8 years and up (ages 8-12 run with an adult). All ages are welcome in the free Festival Area featuring the Kids Fun Zone (with a Bounce House and awesome inflatable obstacles). Racers receive a beach towel, event tattoo—and the opportunity to shower off the all-natural foam.

This is a big ole adventure race for a fit family. There's a family category for 4-hour teams with racers under age 13 involving biking, trekking, paddling and challenges—kind of like an intense episode of Survivor taking place in the gorgeous setting of Haliburton.

No mud, all bounce. Imagine a race featuring all the bouncy obstacles imaginable—the kids will have a blast. Details still being determined so check the website to pre-register to receive all of the info! Kids must be 42” tall to participate—because these are some serious, American Gladiator-style obstacles.

Kids can experience the Mud Hero fun on their own course, featuring appropriately sized versions of the adult obstacles. We're talking walls, teeter-totters, tunnels, balance beams, cargo climbs and a kid's mud pit. Parents can run alongside kids aged 4-7 to assist at no extra cost. At the end of it all they get a T-shirt and a medal, plus the experience of playing in gorgeous Albion Hills Conservation Area for the event.

Oh, the fun obstacles they'll encounter. Kids aged 4-6 take on the 200-yard dash with obstacles suitable for their age (plus a parent accompanies them). Kiddos aged 7-13 set off on a mile-long course with obstacles geared towards their age. Parents can watch the kids or take part in their own dash, complete with cargo net climbs and tunnel crawling.