10 Day Trips Around Toronto

Road trips are tricky with little ones. On one hand, it is positively exhilarating to do something different on a weekend, bypassing the usual playground visits and play dates. On the other hand, road trips have a new set of criteria now that there are kids on board. The location needs to be within a 1.5-hour drive of home and it needs to have interesting activities and good food for kids (so antiquing, wine tasting, and shopping are out). Here are our top ten picks for day trips around the GTA.

Elora and its neighbouring twin Fergus are pretty hamlets with a wide variety of delicious ice cream and chocolate shops. There's also recreation galore courtesy of the Elora Gorge and quarry. A zipline across the gorge for kids as young as 3, fishing, rock climbing, paddling down the Grand River—there is so much to do and so many lovely places to sit and relax after doing it all. One of our favourites is Ashanti Café, with amazing lattes for the adults and fabulous carrot cake and Eccles cakes for everyone!

Peterborough, or Peterpatch as it is affectionately termed by locals and Trent grads alike, is a sweet city with loads to do. Kids rave about riding the train through the Peterborough Zoo and traversing the cool concrete Faryon Bridge up at Trent ‘s main campus (it's fun to watch the Trent rowing teams whiz by underneath). Everyone will love the poutine, cheddar soup, and nachos at the Old Stone Pub and Restaurant.

It's only an hour to Orangeville and on the way you can enjoy one of the most scenic drives around, the Forks of the Credit Road, winding through forest and under bridges, with glimpses of the river and an excellent ice cream shop in Belfountain. You can also check out the cool train ride operated by the Credit Valley Explorer and see the same landscape from high up on trestle bridges and via the tracks.

Even if the play is not the thing, there are plenty of reasons to visit Stratford. Kids will adore checking out the wares in the fabulous shops including the mega toy store Family and Company, complete with magic demonstrations and marble runs set up to try out. Small-Mart General Mercantile is another favourite with unique and retro backpacks, candy, toys and other novelties. Don't forget to take a boat ride on the River Avon to see the swans.

There's so much for kids to do at Blue Mountain and Collingwood even if you don't ski or bike. The family will love going for a whirl on Ridge Rider, a roller coaster down the mountain or taking a gondola ride up the slope. Collingwood has the cool scenic caves to check out, great for mini explorers. There's also some mighty fine Beavertails to munch on in the Village after working up an appetite.

Play in a park, hike or bike a trail or visit one of the oldest Farmer's Markets in Canada for fresh foods and homemade crafts. There's loads to do in this charming town and if the kids need some more gear you can hit Southworks Outlet Mall in the most picturesque of settings, a converted foundry.

Take a trip out to Bass Lake Provincial Park for a hike or bike, or rent a canoe, kayak or paddleboat for a little lake excursion. Then head over to Webers on Highway 11, where the whole family will love the burgers, foot-long hotdogs, fries and poutine. The kids love eating in the converted train car and taking their photo in the super-sized Muskoka chair. After grabbing some Kawartha Dairy ice cream, head to the bright orange CN bridge that spans the highway and allows southbound passengers to safely cross over to Webers. Kids will get a kick out of watching the cars whiz by underneath them.

The Falls are pretty amazing to see, and there's the option to Journey Behind the Falls to see the water up close and personal, complete with slickers and a good drenching. Kids will also like Clifton Hill for good silly fun with the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. The Hershey's World of Chocolate also makes for a sweet indulgence.

Although it's only a short drive, Kleinberg feels a long way from the hustle and bustle of the big smoke. There are loads of cute stores on Main Street, like old-fashioned candy store Bonbons and Brittle and the Cookies and Crumble café is perfect for lunch or a snack. Don't miss the McMichael Art Gallery , with plenty of kid stations and Group of Seven artwork. After a quick peek at the paintings, head for the trails on the property—the Canadian landscape at its finest.

It's got an absolutely gorgeous downtown and the beach is lovely for autumn sand castles and drinking in the brilliant colour around the area. You can make the trek out to the Big Apple for some hilarious photo opportunities, and a small snack. But save your appetite for the Buttermilk Café in Cobourg, with hands down the best breakfast anywhere in the province. Their bacon is in a class of its own and the French Toast is made on homemade fluffy white bread. Everything is awesome here and the homey atmosphere is conducive to kids. To find more day trip ideas near Toronto, check out Help! We've Got Kids.