*Pictured Above: Taking a ride on the Niagara SkyWheel, Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, Ontario*
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, you may be thinking about taking a vacation. However, if you have kids, you may be looking for a trip locally within Ontario that won’t break the bank. You can still have a family fun vacation without hopping on a plane to Disney World. Here is a list of 3 popular Ontario trips to do with kids worth checking out:
1. Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Otherwise known as “the Street of Fun by the Falls”, Clifton Hill is an obvious choice. Located just off of the Niagara Parkway with the world-famous Niagara Falls as the backdrop, it contains a number of family friendly attractions, gift shops, wax museums, haunted houses, video arcades, restaurants, and hotels. It is the place to go for daily and nightly entertainment focused around amusement for families, both young and old.
You don’t need to spend a fortune here; the Clifton Hill Fun Pass bundles 5 of its key attractions to a massive 50% discount off the retail prices — for only $25.95 for adults and $19.95 for children.
Most of the attractions are wheelchair accessible (including the popular Niagara SkyWheel), Canada’s largest 175-foot observation wheel.
At various times throughout the year, and during the entire Summer, you will be entertained with weekly fireworks displays at the bottom of Clifton Hill at Queen Victoria Park, free live entertainment by the Falls, and at many of our street’s family-oriented restaurants, such as the free live daily patio entertainment at Kelsey’s Niagara (corner of Clifton Hill and Victoria Avenue).
Fall and Winter will entertain you with the Winter Festival of Lights, which features over three million sparkling lights along a 5+km route, grand holiday displays throughout the city, and unique Niagara Falls events.
2. Horseshoe Resort, Barrie, Ontario
Located just 1 hour north of the GTA, Horseshoe Resort is an awesome location to take the kids for a Fall road trip.
They offer outdoor activities for all ages such as skating, hiking, tubing, skiing, and biking to name a few. They even offer half-day lessons for children ages 6-14 that are interested in skiing and snowboarding on holidays and weekends.
Their Horseshoe Adventure Park features many exciting attractions that happen during the season such as the Skyline Zip Line, Mini Putt, Maze, Climbing Wall and Euro Bungy (open on weekends).
Go to the Red Horse Mining Co., in which you purchase a $5 bag of muddy gemstones and go panning. Kids can take all the stones that they find home with them as a token from their trip here. For kids ages 10 and under, the pony rides are just $5. There’s also a 2,075-foot zip line for the kids to try out!
3. Scenic Caves Nature Adventures, Collingwood, Ontario
Nature lovers will love this oasis for kids! Scenic Caves Nature Adventures is located at 260 Scenic Caves Road in Collingwood, and it offers kids and families excitement, adventure and education. Explore caves and caverns, go hiking, and walk upon the 420 foot suspension bridge. How about a tree top walk and ziplining?
There is a number of exciting activities to do here all year round, especially in the Fall season, which is open from September 8th until November 1st, 2015. Here’s what you can do, and the hours of operation during the Fall:
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
Open Monday to Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
(last admission is two hours prior to closing)
Gemstone Mining operates until Oct. 18th.
Tractor Wagon rides operate weekends only, plus all Thanksgiving weekend until Oct. 25th (between 10:30 am – 5:00 pm).
Rocky the Train operates on weekends and all Thanksgiving weekend (*weather permitting).
Thunderbird Twin Zip Line:
September 8 – October 18: ONLY Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 am-3:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
Open all Thanksgiving weekend, including Monday October 12, 2015.
The Twin Zipline operates weather permitting.
Eco Adventure Tours:
Seven days a week (weather permitting). Reservations required.
Christine Lynn
clynn@cliftonhill.com
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