Centre Island (Toronto)

Centre Island is Toronto’s weekend playground, offering welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is the main attraction of Toronto Island Park, a collection of 15 small offshore islands just a short ferry ride away from the city. Best enjoyed during summer city breaks in Toronto, Centre Island is the perfect escape for the kids with a host of fun attractions to enjoy and plenty of space to run wild and play. When the sun makes an appearance, it is an idyllic spot on enjoy a picnic by the water’s edge or explore the island by bicycle, especially rewarding as all the islands are car free.    

 

Centre Island sees over one million visitors every year and the vast majority come here to have a ball at the famous Centreville amusement park. This enchanting place is designed to resemble a turn of the century village and features lots of traditional fairground stalls, carousels, train rides, bumper cars and huge Ferris wheel.   There is also a charming petting zoo with a variety of farmyard animals to cuddle. Toronto weekend breaks can get their kicks on high speed water slides and rollercoaster rides or simply spend time messing about in boats and a game of mini golf.

 

The Franklin Children's Garden is also a great spot to take the little ones. This mini oasis of trees, ponds and flowers is perfect to while away an hour or two where children can learn about gardening, play in the tree house and listen to storytelling. The garden is also filled with lovable statues of Franklin the Turtle, the main character from a celebrated children’s book. Alternatively, romantic city breaks in Toronto can simply laze away an afternoon by the beach at Centre Island, taking in amazing views of the city skyline which are even more spectacular after nightfall.