Harbourfront & Waterfront
Walk south from Union Station and the city opens up to Lake Ontario. The Harbourfront strip runs along Queens Quay with a wide boardwalk, and on summer weekends it fills with families cycling, eating ice cream, and watching buskers. The Harbourfront Centre runs free programming for kids year-round, and KidSpark (a hands-on science play space for under-10s) is right on the water. The ferry to Toronto Islands leaves from the Jack Layton Terminal here, so you can combine a morning on the islands with an afternoon lakeside. Stroller-pushing is easy on the flat, wide paths, though the condo towers block the sun earlier than you'd expect in the afternoon.
Tips
- The Toronto Islands ferry fills up fast on summer weekends. Buy tickets online in advance or go before 10am.
- The 509 streetcar from Union Station to Harbourfront is free within the fare-paid zone, so you can hop on without tapping.
- Harbourfront Centre's weekend kids' workshops are free but popular. Check their calendar and arrive early.