As quickly as it started, the summer is almost over – can you believe it? After all the long summer days and cool summer nights, the picnics, family trips, BBQs and movie nights, school is right around the corner.
Even when the children go back to school, the weather will still be nice enough where they will be pleading with you to take them outside. By now, you’ve probably been to the park or playground nearest to your house more times than you can count this summer.
To squeeze out those last few drops of summer and warm weather, we put together a list of 5 great playgrounds to take your children to, to enjoy the weather, have fun, learn and explore!
- Jamie Bell Adventure Park
One of the best, and most adventure-filled playgrounds, Jamie Bell Adventure Park, is possibly the largest outdoor playground in Ontario! Located in High Park, the playground is equipped with castles, ropes, swings, ladders and slides! It was designed in part by children, so it is sure to fill your child’s day with exploration and fun.
A great bonus feature about Jamie Bell Adventure Park is that it is easily accessible by car or transit. Its location in High Park gives easy access to picnic areas, the waterfront and a mini-zoo! This is one playground you can make an entire day out of visiting.
- Kew Gardens Playground
Great for children and parents alike, Kew Gardens Playground is located in the heart of Kew Gardens Park in East end Toronto. Suitable for all ages, Kew Gardens Playground features a castle-like climbing structure, built around a mature tree. There is also a wading pool adjacent to the playground, and a short walk across the park will bring you to Kew Beach.
In addition to playgrounds, there are restaurants and coffee shops located just across from Kew Gardens. Don’t forget to check out the round house surrounded by flowers located closer to the lake. It’s a must see!
- Marie Curtis Park
This is one of the lesser-known playgrounds in the GTA. In fact, unless you live in the Toronto-Mississauga border area, you may not even know it exists. Situated along the Etobicoke Creek and closest to the Long Branch Go Station, the main attraction of Marie Curtis Park is the large children’s area. This area features a playground, a wading pool and a beach (supervised in July and August).
For this lovely and scenic playground, all you need is a beach blanket, a lunch, and you can let your children run and explore the splash pad, playground, and the large surrounding park area.
- Chinguacousy Park
Chinguacousy Park, is located in Brampton and open year-round. It features one of the most comprehensive lists of park activities available. Suitable for toddlers all the way up to teens, the park has something for everyone: a splash pad, animals, mini golf, a pond, and a playground! Weather permitting, the water features are open on weekends until mid-September, much later than some other parks!
There are plenty of activities at Chinguacousy Park suited just for your children. If you are looking to get involved and share an activity together, the dock over the pond offers paddleboat rentals for either 2 or 4 seaters!
- Lil’ Monkeys Indoor Playground
We want to be outside as much as possible, but the weather won’t always let us! Luckily, there are a few indoor playgrounds, which offer a variety of activities to keep children occupied on those inclement weather days. Lil’ Monkeys Indoor Playground is Southern Ontario’s largest indoor playground and was custom designed to promote fun and exercise for children ages 1 – 12.
The facility showcases a 5-level soft-structured playground, which includes slides, a rock climbing wall and many more fun and safe features. For younger children, there is also a toddler section located adjacent to the parent’s lounge and bistro, where you can enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee or tea while you watch your children play!
Even though your children may be heading back to school soon, there is no need to worry about their physical activity! Childventures facilities are equipped with both indoor and outdoor playgrounds to nurture your child’s imagination and sense of adventure and exploration.
Summer isn’t over yet! There is still time to visit a few of these great parks in the GTA. What is your favourite park to visit with your children? Share with us in the comments below!
