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Things to do & Places to stay in Ontario
JULY 11, 2019 |
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What are YOU going to do this weekend?
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Family fun outdoors; Amusement Parks, Waterparks, Mini golf & more! |
When summer is in full swing, we don’t want to spend our free time inside. It is so nice to take advantage of warm weather and do something outdoors. Of course, on rainy days, there are loads of options for indoor fun on Summer Fun Guide.
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Waterparks
The hotter the weather, the more fun it is to go to a waterpark. Ontario has loads of them, all over! East Park London has a state of the art Wave Pool & 7 slide water park. Splash On Water Parks has Barrie & Orillia waterfront locations. Calypso Theme Waterpark near Ottawa is Canada's biggest waterpark & has Canada’s largest wave pools. Kingston Aqua Park has a 10-metre water slide, lazy river & more. Wet‘N’Wild Toronto has something for all ages. Earl Haig Family Fun Park has waterslide, lazy river ride & more. Wild Waterworks in Hamilton has Canada’s largest outdoor wave-action pool & four 5.5-storey tube slides. Bingemans Big Splash & FunworX Indoor Playland Kitchener not only has Big Splash Waterpark, but mini golf and arcade too.
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Mini Golf & Go- Karts
Mini golf and go-karting are activities in which adults and kids can participate together and both have fun. Wild Water & Wheels Peterboro has a 1/2 mile go-kart track, 18 hole mini golf & a Pipeline Express Coaster. Wasaga 500 Family Entertainment Centre & Go-Karts has a 1.6KM High Banked Track and 2x 18 Hole Mini Golf Courses. Balm Beach Go-Karts has 1/2 mile paved track w/ 24 Go-Karts & 18 hole mini golf course. Adventure Village has Mini Golf, Batting Cages, Krazy Kars, and even Gemstone Mining.
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Amusement Parks
We call something an amusement park when it has attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other entertainment activities. While there aren’t that many true amusement parks in Ontario, the ones we’ve got ROCK! Centreville Amusement Park is great for young children (see info in the Only in Ontario section below). Storybook Gardens in London is also perfect for young kids with its enchanted storybook-themed park. Owen Sound’s Story Book Park has classic amusement rides plus waterpark and animals. The big daddy of them is Canada’s Wonderland just N of Toronto - it is Canada’s Premier Amusement Park & now has the world’s fastest, tallest and longest dive roller coaster.
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Carousels
There is something really special about riding a carousel; it somehow brings you back to simpler times. There are several carousels in Ontario; almost all are REALLY old! Pride of Canada Carousel has 44 uniquely Canadian – rideable sculptures crafted from recycled objects! Chippewa Park - 1915 Historic Carousel & Amusement Park (Thunder Bay) has 28 wooden horses & was built in 1915 by the C.W. Parker Company; it’s one of only three left in the world. Roseneath Carousel (1906-2019) is a restored Carousel with 40 wooden horses & 2 boats. Lakeside Park Carousel in Port Dalhousie is a fully restored & working 1903 Carousel. Still 5¢ per ride!
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Featured Events
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July 12-14, 2019 Nathan Phillips Sq, 100 Queen St W, Toronto (GTA)
Stroll through Canada's largest FREE outdoor art fair! This show appeals to all types of art lovers & has local artists with unique items that you can’t find anywhere else. This juried show showcases 300+ contemporary visual artists & has paintings, crafts, photography, sculpture & digital media. Enjoy art walks/talks, installations, kids' activities, live music, craft beer, gourmet food trucks + more!
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July 19-21, 2019 Victoria Park, London (Southwestern Ontario)
This long running, award-winning, 3-day festival features music, art, food and great entertainment for all ages. There is an interactive family area for the kids, plenty of unique Canadian crafts to browse through, amazing food, and a craft beer garden. Check out the festival schedule online.
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July 9-Sept 8, 2019 Parliament Hill, Ottawa
FREE multimedia show nightly against the backdrop of the Parliament Buildings. It’s a fascinating story of Canada’s history, presented in spectacular detail with music, lights & lasers (bilingual). We took our families last summer and everyone was very impressed! Educational, entertaining and you can’t beat that intense feeling of pride, especially at the end! It’s great to be Canadian. Arrive 20-30 minutes early to get a good spot and enjoy. Nightly through Sept 8th.
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Dinosaur Valley Mini Golf in Sudbury has 7 different courses & 63 holes with Dinosaurs & Dragons and a Dragon Exhibit. Walk through the World's Largest Steel Dragon to play mini golf on this beautifully landscaped property. An Inaugural Tourism Innovation Winner, it is open til Sept. 8, 10am -7pm, 7 days. While you’re there, stop in at its sister site – Josephine’s Vegetables, with over 65 veggies grown on location – to bring home some fresh produce.
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ONLY IN ONTARIO
Centreville Amusement Park & Toronto Islands Did you know that Toronto Island is the largest urban car-free community in North America? The Island came to be in 1853, when a massive storm flooded the area between the Islands and the mainland. One of the don’t-miss attractions is Centreville Amusement Park. Open and fully operational despite a rainy spring, it’s a wonderful place to bring young families. We brought our kids often when they were young and it was their favourite outing. With over 30 kids’ rides, beautiful beaches and lots of casual food options, it’s a perfect family daytrip! Check it out this summer. We love it.
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Print Edition
Pick up your FREE copy of the NEW & updated edition of Summer Fun Guide at ONroute Centres & other locations around Ontario while supplies last or email info@summerfunguide.ca to have one mailed to you. View a digital version of the print edition online here: https://www.summerfunguide.ca/print-edition.html
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Looking for suggestions?
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The best suggestions come from others who have been there and done that!
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