Hi summer! My teens in TOw and I have been waiting for you. More park hangs, more sleep-ins, and for me, more family time. From road trips to simply staying local, July is serving up lots of to-do’s that you can knock off your list all summer long.

Here are our trip tips and top picks for kids and teens in T.O.: 

1. See a movie outdoors: Harbourfront Centre hosts eight free outdoor film screenings on Tuesdays starting July 8. On Wednesdays, head to Kew Gardens and Ivan Forrest Gardens Park in the Beach neighhourhood for family-friendly films. And on Thursdays, Evergreen hosts weekly family-friendly movies PLUS block party starting at 3:30 p.m.

If you haven’t already, join the crowds who flock to Riverdale Park East to watch the sunsetting over the Toronto downtown skyline.  

2. Ride a rainbow; move a forest: Public art is for everyone and two installations along the waterfront make us smile. Rainbow Dreams – Rainbow Wheel, Rainbow Garden and Rainbow Calm – by artist Hiromi Tango as part of Luminator continues downtown until July 29. Moving Forest by The Bentway shifts to Harbourfront Centre in July. You can watch as the neighbourhood literally moves the trees (planted in shopping carts) to their new destination July 5th.

3. Enjoy music in a garden: Toronto bursts with blooms this time of year. You can savour the colours and sounds of summer at the Toronto Botanical Gardens with its Edwards Summer Music Series on Thursdays starting on July 7th. More music outside begins at Ontario Place on July 5th as part of the Summer Series in Trillium Park. 

4. Play Pickleball: We’ve been heading to our local City of Toronto tennis/pickleball courts to get in some fairly competitive pickleball action. For indoor and outdoor options, a few locations offer book-able courts even without a membership. Try Fairgrounds (five locations across the city) or the Jar Pickleball Club (eight indoor courts in North York). My kids in TOw played at Cloverdale Mall and a group of moms in TOw played at the Jar.

5. Spend the day at Toronto Islands: Hang out at one of the beaches, spend the day at Centreville Amusement Park or explore the waterways and harbour on paddle boards.

6. Head to Lake Ontario: Get on the water with SUP, glow-in-the-dark kayaks, water bikes or, for a kid-free excursion, a tiki boat cruise with Toronto Palapa Tours. For the latter, children aged 8+ are welcome on private charters and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times.

7. Escape a ship: Speaking of the lake, head down to the waterfront for an escape room pirate ship. Pirates of all ages are welcome, but the escape room is recommended for players 16+. 

8.Go to Mississauga: Really. We headed west for the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue. It was fun, but best for 10-and-unders and big Minecraft fans. You can make it a more teen-friendly trip, stay and play at the Rec Room or the Dugeons & Dragons: The Immersive Quest, or stay and shop at Square One. Also in the hood, more indoor fun at BRKFREE. It looks great for gathering the fam or buddies to tackle the 35+ rooms with physical, mental and skill-based challenges.

9. Toss a disc: Disc golf is free (other than the cost of discs) and great for kids of all ages, and the parents in TOw. Bring your own (disc) golf disk or try the course with a regular frisbee. There are locations across Toronto, and psst, an overnight disc golf camp at Albion Hills July 19-25.

10. Road trip with a splash: Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark in Brampton is great for all ages, with a number of zones for the little thrill-seekers in TOw. A bit farther from T.O, approximately 100 km northwest, you can take your kids tubing at Elora Gorge. All participants must be at least 122 cm (48 inches) tall, children must be accompanied by an adult and tubing tickets need to be purchased (up to three days) in advance. Kelso Cove Waterpark in Kelso Conservation Area (west of Milton, approximately 60km from T.O.) There are also boat rentals, swimming, disc golf and a ‘challenge course’ with aerial high ropes, climbing tower and archery.