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There are only a few more weeks of summer left (already?), but even with the season winding down, there’s still time to squeeze a little more magic out of it, especially if you’re looking to spend more time with your kids. Ontario is filled with magical adventures that your little ones will love, from a literal Christmas village hidden in Muskoka to an enchanted forest filled with treehouses to a field where you can wander among thousands of sunflowers.
Here are some of our fave dreamy family attractions near Toronto that could make for one last memorable summer adventure before the season slips away.
Santa’s Village
Christmas in July, August and September? Yes, please. Santa’s Village is hidden away on 60 acres along the Muskoka River and filled with Christmas magic! Kids can meet the big man in red himself, pet some reindeer, ride the Candy Cane Express, explore Elves Island and hop on more than 30 rides and attractions. It’s a super nostalgic experience for parents too, and they might enjoy it almost as much as their kids. Rides accommodate a range of ages, but kids 2 to 12 years old tend to enjoy them most.
Summer admission runs through Sept. 7 and costs $54.95 online or $57.95 at the gate for guests 36 inches and taller. Kids under 36 inches get in free. 1624 Golden Beach Rd., Bracebridge. About 2 hours from Toronto.
Storybook Gardens
Storybook Gardens has been bringing fairytales to life for generations, and there’s still lots of activities here for little adventurers to discover! Kids can bounce on the Jumping Pillow, explore Adventure Island and a miniature play village, wander through Gnorbert’s Garden and cool off at the Riverbank Splash Pad. There are also storybook-like touches throughout the grounds, including the Old Woman’s Shoe, a wishing well and a giant Monstro the Whale that kids can climb! Parents can have fun here too: Storybook Gardens sits inside Springbank Park, so perhaps pair the visit with a picnic or a romantic stroll along the Thames River.
The main summer schedule runs through Sept. 8. Cost: $10.70 plus tax per person. Kids under 24 months are free. Twilight admission is $6.20; carousel and train tickets cost an additional $3.40 per ride. 1958 Storybook Lane, London. About 2.5 hours from Toronto.
Treewalk Village
Treewalk Village has seven locations across Ontario, including one nestled inside Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area in Stouffville. The Stouffville location offers a colourful world of miniature wooden fortresses built among the trees, connected by rope bridges, winding slides, hammocks and elevated walkways. Honestly, the whole experience is like one giant outdoor playground, so your kids can spend up to two hours burning off a ton of energy! For an even more magical outing, the Stouffville location also offers Treewalk Village Enchanted, where the paths and treehouses are transformed with glowing lights.
There’s no minimum age or height for the regular Treewalk Village, although the experience is best suited for kids ages 3 to 7. Cost: $10 to $27 for Treewalk Village. Seven locations in Ontario: 1000 Islands, Barrie, Brampton, Ganaraska, Hamilton, Huntsville and Stouffville.
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
There’s an entire underground world hidden beneath the forest near Blue Mountain, and you and your kids can spend the day exploring it! Scenic Caves Nature Adventures has a network of caves and crevasses tucked into the Niagara Escarpment, where families can squeeze between towering rock walls and follow trails through formations dating back hundreds of millions of years. Above ground, you and your little ones can explore forest hiking trails, a children’s playground and a 420-foot suspension bridge hanging 82 feet above the forest floor.
All ages are welcome, but some trails are steep and uneven. Summer operations run through Sept. 7. Cost: $35 plus tax for adults ages 18 to 64, $32 for youth ages 3 to 17 and seniors 65+, and free for kids 2 and under. 260 Scenic Caves Rd., The Blue Mountains. About 2 hours from Toronto.
African Lion Safari
African Lion Safari lets families drive through wildlife reserves where animals roam in large spaces, turning the family car into a front-row seat to spot elephants, lions, giraffes, rhinos, zebras and even a two-toed sloth! And the drive-through is only part of the experience. Admission includes access to attractions like the Nature Boy Scenic Railway, African Queen Boat Cruise, Pets’ Corner and playground areas. It’s a perfect end-of-summer attraction for kids who love animals.
Open daily through Sept. 20. Online admission is $47.95 for ages 13+, $33.95 for kids 3 to 12 and free for children 2 and under. Gate tickets are $53.95 and $39.95 plus taxes and fees. 1386 Cooper Rd., Cambridge. About 1.5 hours from Toronto.
Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory and Niagara Falls
The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is a tropical escape filled with more than 2,000 colourful butterflies fluttering freely through lush greenery along winding pathways, ponds and waterfalls. Your little ones can watch butterflies land on flowers, fly overhead and emerge from their pupae (and there’s always the possibility that one decides you’re a particularly comfortable place to sit!).
The indoor conservatory is fully accessible, with paved pathways and ramps, and it’s located within Niagara Parks’ Botanical Gardens. Afterwards, head down the Niagara Parkway and give the kids their first look (or who knows, maybe their fiftieth) at Niagara Falls. This is a great outing for kids of all ages. Cost: $25 for ages 13+, $16.50 for kids 3 to 12 and free for children 2 and under. 2565 Niagara Pkwy., Niagara Falls. About 2 hours from Toronto.
Rounds Ranch Sunflower Experience
Nothing says one last summer adventure quite like running through a field of sunflowers. Throughout August, Rounds Ranch in Elmvale turns its huge farm into a sunflower-filled playground. Families can hop aboard a tractor for a ride to the back of the ranch, then explore more than a mile of trails winding through a 10-acre sunflower field filled with dozens of varieties of blooms. Admission includes more than 25 ranch activities, like a petting zoo, Cornfusion Corn Maze, Barnyard Boxcars, Bandit’s Bubble Bash and tractor rides! The Sunflower Experience runs from Aug. 1 to 31, with select additional dates (check the calendar before visiting).
It’s great for kids of all ages. The 2026 sunflower admission starts at $19.99 plus HST for kids ages 2 to 9 as well as seniors, and $23.49 plus HST for ages 10 to 64, with a $2 premium on Saturdays. 1922 County Rd. 92, Elmvale. About 2 hours from Toronto.
After exploring these magical getaways, check out 5 of Ontario’s most unexpected bucket-list experiences to try before the end of summer!
