family road trip toronto fringe

The Toronto Theatre Database

Family Road Trip ( 2023 )

Produced by, presented by.

The Toronto Fringe Festival

Director : Danny Avila

Tarragon Theatre – Mainspace

July 6th, 2023 – July 16th, 2023

Summer Dad is proud to present their second full length sketch show. From the absurd to the emotional, the musical to the grounded this dad’s got it all. So zip up those cargo shorts, tighten your dad caps and get ready for a wild ride!

Summer Dad is a group of graduates from the Second City Training Centre. Their show, The New Not Normal, recently played to back-to-back sold out audiences at the Rivoli in addition to the Second City mainstage. ( fringetoronto.com )

Creative Team

Canada’s theatre museum.

Site by Linn

« back to top

Album Reviews

Live Reviews

• Stage Events
• Toronto Fringe 2024

Food & Drink

Restaurants & Bars

Bars & Alcohol

Clubs & Concerts

Art Openings

Where to get NEXT

Print Issues

Stage /Toronto Fringe 2024

Next’s essential fringe 2024 guide.

What to skip and what you can’t miss at Fringe 2024

By: NEXT Magazine

Ryo Nishihara in ‘Are you lovin’ it?’ (Photo Ryo Nishihara)

Toronto Fringe 2024 is underway, and we’ve got the essential reviews of what’s on and what you don’t want to miss at this year’s fest.

Yoga for Billionaires: An Immersive Comedy

Tarragon Theatre Extraspace, 30 Bridgman Ave.

When: Fri., July 5 at 7:45 pm; Sat., July 6 at 5:30 pm; Tue., July 9 at 2:00 pm; Thurs., July 11 at 9:45 pm; Fri., July 12 at 6:00 pm and Sun., July 14 at 12:00 pm Highlight : Grounded performances keep the show together. Rating: NNN (out of 5) Why you should go: The idea of blending a critique of wellness culture with a critique of the ultrarich is in tune with the present moment.

Read the full review.

Crime After Crime (After Crime)

Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, 30 Bridgman Ave.

When: Fri., July 5 at 9:45 pm; Sat., July 6 at 2:15 pm; Mon., July 8 at 4:00 pm; Thurs., July 11 at 7:45 pm; Fri., July 12 at 9:30 pm and Sun., July 14 at 4:00 pm Highlight : The troupe uses precise physical comedy to animate car chases, fist fights, grids of laser beams and space battles. Rating: NNNN (out of 5) Why you should go: It’s Sex T-Rex.

Unfurnished

When: Fri., July 5 at 5:45 pm; Sun., July 7 at 12:15 pm; Mon., July 8 at 7:45 pm; Wed., July 10 at 3:45 pm; Fri., July 12 at 3:45 pm and Sat., July 13 at 9:45 pm Highlight : Raven Dickinson’s impassioned, highly physical performance as real estate agent Pat Rating: NN (out of 5) Why you should go: Seamus Tokol’s production is energetic and sometimes engaging.

Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina Ave.

When: Fri., July 5 at 9:45 pm; Mon., July 8 at 5:45 pm; Tue., July 9 at 7:30 pm; Wed., July 10 at 2:00 pm; and Fri., July 12 at 3:45 pm Highlight : Jada Rifkin’s grounded performance Rating: N (out of 5) Why you should go: A throwback to the 2001 movie adaptation featuring Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman

86 Me: The Restaurant Play

Supermarket: Bar and Variety, 268 Augusta Ave.

When: Fri., July 5 at 3:30 pm; Sat., July 6 at 3:30 pm, Sun., July 7 at 7:00 pm, Tue., July 9 at 6:00 pm; Wed., July 10 at 7:00 pm; Thurs., July 11 at 5:00 pm, Fri., July 12 at 3:30 pm; Sat., July 13 at 3:30 pm; and Sun., July 14 at 7:00 pm Highlight : A cutlery-based rendition of We Will Rock You Rating: NNNN (out of 5) Why you should go: Audience participation serves the story (pun intended)

You, Hamlet

East End United, 310 Danforth Ave.

When: Every day at 8:00 pm, until Sun., July 14 (dark on Tue.) Highlight : A profound, almost existential use of audience participation. Rating: NNNN (out of 5) Why you should go: Audience-specific performance company DopoLavoro Teatrale is experimenting with a classic for the first time — and doing it with rigour.

SEE YOU TOMORROW: a true story

When: Sat., July 6 at 4:00 pm; Sun., July 7 at 7:45 pm; Mon., July 8 at 9:45 pm; Wed., July 10 at 5:45 pm; Fri., July 12 at 5:45 pm; Sat., July 13 at 12:15 pm Highlight : A dynamic performance from writer-performer Iris Bahr. Rating: NNNN (out of 5) Why you should go: It’s a breezy, heartful solo show that should resonate with many.

Photo Marcelo Paolinelli

My Time Will Come

When: Sun., July 7 at 4:15 pm; Tue., July 9 at 9:15 pm; Thurs., July 11 at 4:00 pm; Sat., July 13 at 6:00 pm and Sun., July 14 12:15 pm Highlight: Leo Dressel’s performance as a guitar-playing narrator. Rating: NNN (out of 5) Why you should go: This 45-minute play about the backlands of Brazil has an ethereal atmosphere, replete with striking non-literal images. Its esthetic is distinctive, making use of masks, white makeup and patterned lights.

Annie Lujan, left, and Veronica Hortiguela (Photo Audrianna Martin Del Campo)

Tarragon Theatre Solo Room, 30 Bridgman Ave.

When: Sat., July 6 at 9:45 pm; Mon., July 8 at 2:15 pm; Tue., July 9 at 8:00 pm; Wed., July 10 at 1:30 pm; Fri., July 12 at 12:00 pm; Sun., July 14 at 3:45 pm Highlight : A tender sequence involving a donkey. Rating: NNNNN (out of 5) Why you should go: Sublime, interactive clown show uses anti-capitalist ethos as a springboard for ridiculous stage antics.

Jay Hill as Sheila (Photo Adam Khomsi)

Sheila The Musical

Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace, 16 Ryerson Ave.

When: Sun., July 7 at 12:00 pm; Mon., July 8 at 5:45 pm; Tue., July 9 at 5:30 pm; Thurs., July 11 at 9:45 pm; Sat., July 13 at 4:30 pm; Sun., July 14 at 2:00 pm Highlight : An a capella operatic aria performed under ominous red lighting. Rating: NNN (out of 5) Why you should go: It’s an intriguing solo show concept, perfect for the Fringe: a bearded 1950s housewife (writer-performer Jay Hill in drag) sings her way through an ocean of troubles.

Photo Matt Misisco

Pretty Beast

When:  Sun., July 7 at 8:00 pm; Tue., July 9 at 12:00 pm; Wed., July 10 at 8:00 pm; Thurs., July 11 at 2:15 pm; Fri., July 12 at 6:15 pm; Sat., July 13 at 10:00 pm Highlight : Japanese comedian Kazu Kusano’s considerable stage presence. Rating:  NNN (out of 5) Why you should go:  Kazu can own a room.

Photo Barry McCluskey

When:  Tue., July 9 at 5:15 pm; Wed., July 10 at 9:30 pm; Fri., July 12 at 7:30 pm; Sat., July 13 at 4:15 pm Highlight : Ganesh Thava’s buoyant, sensitive script. Rating:  NNN (out of 5) Why you should go:  The 50-minute drama counterpoints contemporary society’s warped view of success with the importance of family tradition.

Photo Heena Chauhan

Aala Tamasha Aala

Aki Studio, 585 Dundas St. E.

When:  Tue., July 9 at 7:00 pm; Thurs., July 11 at 9:15 pm; Sat., July 13 at 5:00 pm Highlight : High-stakes ensemble acting. Rating:  NNNN (out of 5) Why you should go:  Toronto-specific subject matter feels urgent in Himanshu Sitlani’s cohesive production.

Anibal Ortega in 'Scenes from an Italian Restaurant' (Photo Puni Tanapima)

Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

When: Sun., July 7 at 3:45 pm, Tue., July 9 at 5:45 pm; Wed., July 10 at 9:45 pm; Fri., July 12 at 7:45 pm; Sat., July 13 at 2:00 pm Highlight : Ortega’s soulful vocals Rating: NNN (out of 5) Why you should go: Nostalgic dancing that pairs beautifully with Billy Joel’s tunes

Italian clown Andrea Barello in ‘Tonight! a clown who wanted to be loved?’, Toronto Fringe 2024

Tonight! a clown who wanted to be loved?

When: Thurs., July 11 at 1:45 pm; Fri., July 12 at 9:45 pm; Sat., July 13 at 3:45 pm; Sun., July 14 at 12:00 pm Highlight: Italian clown Andrea Barello’s high-pitched, Muppet-like delivery of his character’s catchphrase, the word “OK.” Rating: NNN (out of 5) Why you should go: There’s a surprisingly high proportion of clown shows at this year’s Fringe, but Barello’s 50-minute, one-man piece might be the simplest and saddest.

Are you lovin’ it?

Tarragon Theatre Extraspace, 30 Bridgman Ave

When:  Wed., July 10 at 9:45 pm; Fri., July 12 at 4:15 pm; Sat., July 13 at 2:00 pm Highlight : An extraordinarily heightened performance style. Rating:  NNN (out of 5) Why you should go:  It’s rare for international theatre to come to Toronto at all, so the chance to see a play from Osaka, Japan, at Fringe prices is one that should be pounced on.

The cast of 'GRINGAS' (Photo Shaun Soutar)

Native Earth’s Aki Studio, 585 Dundas St. E.

When:  Sat., July 13 at 12:15 pm; Sun., July 14 at 1:00 pm. Highlight : Clunie’s writing is intricate and vibrant Rating:  NNNNN (out of 5) Why you should go:  Whether you speak Spanish or not,  GRINGAS  will have something for you

Photo Andrew Seok

Rosamund: A New Musical

Trinity St-Paul’s United, 427 Bloor St. W.

When: Wed., July 10 at 8:00 pm; Thurs., July 11 at 8:00 pm, Fri., July 12 at 8:00 pm; Sat., July 13 at 8:00 pm; Sun., July 14 at 8:00 pm Highlight : Broadway worthy performances dazzle Rating: NNNNN (out of 5) Why you should go: A new twist on a familiar fairy tale is action-packed and heartfelt

Snake Plisskin, played by writer-actor Tamlynn Bryson (Photo Rich Gauthier)

Escape from Toronto

When: July 12 at 2:30 pm; Sat., Jul. 13 at 3:15 pm Highlight : Classic action movie parody moments Rating: NNN (out of 5) Why you should go: Bryson’s performance as Snake Plisskin will leave you wheezing

Related Stories

You Might Also Like

Fringe review: ‘escape from toronto’.

Action movie parody oozes with grime and laughs

By Andrea Perez

• Become a Distributor
• Privacy Policy

© 2024 NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.

NEXT Magazine 115 Danforth, Suite 302 Toronto, ON M4K 1N2 T 416.519.5004

Newsletter Sign-up

Be in the know.

Get the best of Toronto straight to your inbox with our weekly events newsletter as well as first look editorial, contests and more.

Please prove you are human by selecting the Plane .

You’ve been added to our list.

Contact Form

Please prove you are human by selecting the Truck .

Distributor Partner Inquiry

Become a NEXT distribution, destination-location. Be a priority stop for thousands of NEXT readers. Give us your details here and we’ll be in touch.

Please prove you are human by selecting the Cup .

We’ll Reach out to you soon!

Artist and Event Promoter Form

Error: Contact form not found.

THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP!

Media kit request form, let's get started.

Make thousands of NEXT readers your best customers. Request a NEXT Marketing information package here.

Please prove you are human by selecting the Flag .

Print Subscription

Get your hands on a next.

Always know what’s NEXT. Sign up to receive our awesome, monthly magazine.

THANKS, WE’LL BE IN TOUCH!

Newsletter sign-up (contest), enter for your chance to win.

Enter your email address for your chance to win.

By entering I accept the Contest Rules.

We’ll reach out to you soon!

Please prove you are human by selecting the Key .

[modal_title]

Our (Updated) Toronto Fringe Festival 2023 Recommendation Round Up

Sadec 1965: A Love Story is a compelling solo performance about a woman’s quest for answers regarding her family’s complicated history. It follows Flora Le (the show’s creator and performer), who embarked on a six week long motorcycle trip across Vietnam to uncover the truth about why her father never speaks about his hometown. Over the course of her 2100 mile journey, Le shares tidbits of her personal life and how these experiences shaped her into the woman she is today. Even though she hasn’t necessarily been dealt the best hand, she approaches each situation with a sense of optimism. You can’t help but admire her approach to life and how she never seems to give up, even in the face of adversity. Due to mature subject matter, Sadec 1965: A Love Story is best enjoyed by adult audiences. The raw vulnerability of Le’s performance is sure to have you in tears and reflecting on your own relationship with your family. This is a genuine and unforgettable story about unconditional love and identity.

Recommended by:  Denise Albeanu   Location: Tarragon Theatre Mainspace   Runtime:  60 minutes 

Frankenstein(esque) is as unique, compelling and conflicted a creation as the monster created by Victor Frankenstein in the OG novel by Mary Shelley (which the on-stage cast are at great pains to ensure the audience does not expect fidelity to – hence the “Esque” in the play’s title). A troupe of gifted black-clad actors – Graeme Black Robinson, Steph Crothers, John Daniel, Michelle Gram, Julian Murphy – here perform a dynamic, deeply funny, and oddly mesmerizing multi-level meditation on life.  They explore what life is, the difficulty of imparting it, who the true creator or giver of life is, and what they owe or are owed. This physical and metaphysical meditation encompasses numerous types of life: natal, familial, communal, creative, narrative and artistic. And its unifying metaphorical focus is a 6-foot-tall Frankenstein-esque puppet that the actors assemble and give life to . . . then disassemble and give life to . . .  then reassemble and give life to, in a kind of rhythmic reverse communion. If you have no idea what this all means, welcome to the club. But do come see for yourself this talky and hilarious, contemplative yet crude amalgam of captivating pieces. Puzzle it out – you’ll be supremely entertained and challenged by non-sequiturs that may actually be sequiturs, and dissonance that turns into thematic echoes. Oh, and the red balloon. It’s hilarious and profundity-adjacent. It’s virtually indescribable. It’s Frankenstein-esque.        

Recommended by:  Scott Sneddon    Location: Tarragon Theatre Extraspace   Runtime:  55 minutes

Paz is a deft 50-minute drama about the aftermath of a child gone missing. After her Filipina nanny is fired, the child’s white mother accuses the child’s former nanny in a park. The play, which is directed by Joy Castro and stars Stephanie Belding and Christine Cortes, was inspired by playwright Alicia Payne’ personal experience working as a live-in caregiver abroad. Through its explosive premise, Paz explores cultural ignorance, racism, microaggressions, social hierarchies, the nature and structure of family, and what constitutes motherhood. The actors are compelling. Belding gives a squirm-inducingly convincing portrayal as an imperious white woman who believes she knows everything about the woman she once hired  . . . but whom she never bothered to get to know. The play holds a needful mirror up to a specific mode of othering – and to the indignities that many foreign workers are made to endure, in order to secure permanent-residence status, and an avenue to a different future. Audiences of all backgrounds will connect to the themes in Paz , and it will resonate especially strongly with parents. 

Recommended by:  Arpita Ghosal    Location: Alumnae Theatre    Runtime:  50 minutes

Pyramid , despite being a title suggestive of pharoahs and Egypt, or perhaps pyramid schemes , is none of those things. Okay, it is a little of the last, but only tangentially. Billed as a new musical about two strangers brought together in their joint venture to throw the ultimate multi-level marketing party, it is not a satirical musical comedy either (as my family and I had assumed). Written by Steve John Dale and Katie Miller, Pyramid is instead the surprisingly sweet and only sometimes funny story of two different young women (played by Lauren Mayer and Katie Miller) brought together by happenstance. Over the course of a botched marketing event to sell skincare products, they discover that they might have some important things in common, after all. Miller and Mayer are both talented singers, and Dale’s accompaniment on guitar and tambourine not only enhances the musical numbers, but also contributes significantly to the overall mood of the story. This is an ideal Fringe show: the staging is simple and effective; the cast is small and mighty; and the narrative scope and run time are both compact. While all audiences will find something to connect to, millennials may connect with the dual protagonists’ search for purpose, connection and self-esteem, which is told with humour and heart. 

Recommended by: Arpita Ghosal Location : Tarragon Theatre Extraspace Runtime : 50 minutes

Our Little Secret: The 23 and Me Musical is no secret. Word got out, and it was one of the earliest shows to sell out its run at the Toronto Fringe. The solo musical written and performed by Noam Tomaschoff, composed by Ryan Peters and directed by Rose Bochner, tells the true story of what happens when only child “Noam T” takes a DNA test and gets shocking news about his biological parents and the life he has known for 31 years. The work uses comedy, drama, songs of varying musical styles – and even audience interaction –- to explore and question notions of family, identity, and self. The staging is appropriately sparse, with some projected backdrops, a table and chair, and a few props. This makes the show’s charismatic star the deserving focus of attention. Tomaschoff ably carries the whole show, and is a wonder to behold. Among this one-man show’s most inspired moments is a number involving three characters (yes, three), socks and a stethoscope. Since the show is performed with live singing and recorded music, all audiences, including the deaf or blind, can access it. And the lack of profanity makes the show enjoyable for intergenerational audiences. To give tour-de-force Tomaschoff a bit of a break, Our Little Secret might consider trimming its runtime slightly, but overall, the show is a smash. Those who were lucky enough to score a ticket are in for a fun and moving time at this show!

Recommended by:  Arpita Ghosal    Location: Alumnae Theatre    Runtime:  60 minutes

White Collars , directed by Ken Hall, offers a satirical take on the day-to-day experiences of working in the real world of the 9-to-5 tech marketing industry. Set in a fictional tech conference, the show combines sketch comedy, improv and quite a lot of audience participation. It showcases in a relatable way the challenges of 9 – 5 workers, including executive decision-making, role redundancy and layoffs, job vs. identity, and the value of corporate mission statements. Anyone with a full-time job can empathize with these challenges! Sketch comedians Arun Kirupananthan, Braeden Banks, and Maya Cieszynska are extremely high- energy performers – so much so that the show routinely breaks the fourth wall . . . and the main characters are, in fact, the audience! 

Recommended by: Denise Albeanu Location : Factory Theatre Studio Runtime : 50 minutes

Ms Titaverse is the long-awaited, much-anticipated and eagerly-embraced second sketch-comedy revue show written and performed by the all-Filipina comedy sensation Tita Collective, made up of Ann Paula Bautista, Belinda Corpuz, Ellie Posadas, Alia Rasul and Maricris Rivera. Where their first show, the multi-awardwinning Tita Jokes, was a tribute to their elders, this show draws inspiration from the performers’ personal lives and stories: their intersectional identities, their heritage as Filipinas raised in Canada, and their relationship with both cultures. With Ms Titaverse (organized around the theme of a beauty pageant – where the contestants all want “world peace!”), the Tita Collective has another, albeit a more diverse, musical comedy smash. The show engagingly combines sketch comedy with music and dance, and the performances are uniformly strong, with each performer getting a chance to shine. The show is rollicking, fast-paced, and expertly executed, with the collective’s trademark razor-sharp timing. Teens and older, friends with cottages, and multigenerational audiences from all cultures will find ideas to relate to – and even more laughs to share. For detailed information about Ms Titaverse , watch the interview with Tita Collective on sesayarts.com.

Recommended by: Arpita Ghosal Location : Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace Runtime : 60 minutes

The Bad Mitzvah is a touching and funny story about what it means to grow up. the show boasts a large and diverse cast, a fast-paced production and an eccentric acting style. Written by Stephanie Zeit, with Brad Gira & Ahlam Hassan, The Bad Mitzvah is widely relatable because it covers such a diverse range of themes To explore its themes, including motherhood, sexuality, and self-discovery. Girls who have a complicated relationship with their mothers will especially appreciate it – and because of the premise of a bat mitzvah, it will resonate with anyone of a Jewish background. Especially noteworthy is the excellent job Zeit does of depicting what it is like to be a 13-year old girl – and every single character is well-written and contributes to the plot in a meaningful way. Reviewer’s Note: “My favourite show at the Toronto Fringe so far!”

Recommended by: Denise Albeanu Location : Factory Theatre Studio Runtime : 75 minutes

Featherhead is the whimsical yet substantial tale of a lonely girl who doesn’t fit in (Karen Edelist), a pigeon with a broken wing (Liam Peter Donovan), and how this unlikely duo learn to be friends with each other and unique individuals who ate at ease in their own skin (or feathers). COVID-19 isolation looms in the backdrop of this story of identity, relationships and resilience – which features meaty conversation and personal reckonings that are leavened by abundant flights of pigeon humour. The two principals are compelling, and they are supported – with avian physical and stand-up comedy – by a bobbing, cooing brace of pigeons who are brought to chuckle-inducing life by Jonnie Lombard, Jenn Tan and Valeria Ventur. Featherhead transports you to a feather-strewn world adjacent to our own, and imparts talky, life-affirming truths that we can all benefit from hearing.  

Recommended by:  Scott Sneddon          Location: Alumnae Theatre         Runtime:  60 minutes

Family Road Trip is the second full-length sketch show by Summer Dad, directed by Danny Avila and performed by Chrissy Sharma, Kevin Forster, Rachel Powell, Kaitlyn Stollery, Taylor Hreljac, Chris Johnson and David Hudon.The troup is a group of graduates from the Second City Training Centre, so the show is reminiscent of the sketch comedy revues performed at the famed comedy centre. In this case, a road trip is the framing device for a series of sketches on topics ranging from relationships to food to family dynamics – all performed with minimal props and without a set. The 7-member cast expediently configures milk crates to conjure (among other things) a minivan, a sofa, and a pizza counter. Some of the most memorable sketches include a patient bride provoking her husband into complete honesty, an especially soul-baring self-checkout, a twisted West Side Story-style street fight, and an inspired rap about pizza toppings. Due to mature subject matter and the language of some sketches, Family Road Trip is best enjoyed by adult audiences. The versatility and comic timing of this up-and-coming troupe are praiseworthy, and we look forward to much more from them. 

Recommended by: Arpita Ghosal Location : Tarragon Theatre Mainspace Runtime : 60 minutes

A Little Bit Pregnant , written by Kate Lavut and directed by Rana Liu , is a realistic dark comedy that uses humour to tackle fraught topical issues, including abortion, miscarriages and reproductive rights. So what audience will appreciate this unlikely show? All adult audiences! Those who are experiencing or can recall young romance may appreciate it more because they will relate to some of the arguments depicted by the on-stage couples, who are played by Julia Pye, Alexander Cruz, Aidan Cottreau and Casey Marie Ecker. The story offers frequent situational irony (e.g., a young woman unexpectedly gets pregnant while her friend who has been trying to have a baby can’t seem to get pregnant) and universally but uniquely flawed characters – which makes them (and the play) especially relatable.

Recommended by: Denise Albeanu Location : Tarragon Theatre Extraspace Runtime : 60 minutes

Retrograde: The Concert Experience is a loud, funny and moving rock jam session spectacle that is set – and performed –in Kensington Market tavern Supermarket. It’s the time of COVID-19 lockdowns, when paying band gigs feel like a thing of the past, and the future looks like an empty void. Three musicians and a teen come together in this limbo-land, and, fumblingly, try to create new futures from the emotional residue of their past and their budding, uncertain relationships with each other. The outstanding cast – Hilary Wheeler (Barber), Chloe Castrucci (Cyan), Anthony Palermo (Bo), and James Llewellyn Evans (Kale) – deliver intense, authentic and vulnerable performances. Creator-director Jackson Doner uses the space brilliantly: the actors weave in and around unseen audience members as they race in and out for their jam sessions and gigs.  The show is uninhibited, profane, and features sexual innuendo and situations – so it’s definitely not for everyone. But beneath the raw surface and the smell of day-old beer lies a surprisingly tender tale of coming together and coming into your own in an impossible time – complete with kickass music, exquisite acting and a LOT of laughter. Not to be missed.

Recommended by: Scott Sneddon   Location : Supermarket         Runtime : 90 minutes

Ancient Dying Chinese Dialect is a bravura solo comedy show written and performed by Chantal Lim and directed by Ken Hall. A featured selection at the Toronto Storytelling Festival this spring, this show is a love- and laughter-filled tribute to Lim’s parents and her dual Filipina-Chinese heritage. This show is deeply personal and touches on themes of identity, culture, language and family. It is perfect for audiences who love diverse stories and appreciate the art of storytelling: indeed, multigenerational audiences of all cultures will find lots of “a-ha” moments here. Lim stumbled onto comedy and acting as a creative outlet just before the pandemic hit, and based on this show, she is a rising star with a bright future ahead. For detailed information about Ancient Dying Chinese Dialect and Chantal Lim, read the article on sesayarts.com.

Recommended by: Denise Albeanu Location : Factory Theatre Studio Runtime : 55 minutes

Catch Me in the Kitchen Story Adventures brings two classic fairy tales to life. The first story is a retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Goldilocks excitedly chases a toad and reaches the forest’s edge, where she spots a sign saying ‘Forêt Dangereuse’ (meaning ‘dangerous forest’). Believing that it means ‘Welcome,’ she explores further . . . and stumbles onto a house belonging to three bears. In the second story, Lupus Maximus and the Three Little Pigs, three sibling pigs set out to establish their lives. Along the way, they are confronted by the same unwelcome visitor. Which pig will successfully outsmart “the most handsome, most daring, most petrifyingly feared wolf in all of Ontario?” The critically-acclaimed show features a unique combination of storytelling and physical theatre, and its unexpected spin on the familiar will delight audiences of all ages, from as young as 4 years of age. Catch Me in the Kitchen Story Adventures is written and performed by Ginette Mohr and Stephen LaFrenie, directed by Liz Pounsett and features music by Tim Freeman & The Pickle Peppers. For detailed information about Catch Me in the Kitchen , read the interview with Ginette Mohr on sesayarts.com.

Recommended by: Arpita Ghosal Location : St. Volodymyr Institute | Family Venue Runtime : 60 minutes

Kyra De Magica is a one-of-a-kind interactive solo satirical theatrical experience performed by Kyra Tang. It depicts a teenage magician’s mission to win over her celebrity crush Zac Efron through magic, mind control, telepathy, and song – all while thwarting her Chinese mother’s attempts to control her through overprogramming and high expectations. This breathtakingly silly, guffaw-inducing show features loads of audience participation and farcical fun that leaves audience members no choice but to relax into the hilarious antics of the frenetic, magnetic Kyra. Tang is fabulously charismatic, and her dauntless commitment to her absurd material deserves singular praise. And within the many laugh-out-loud moments, there is a genuine story of growing up, breaking free of parental plans, navigating cultural expectations, and coming into one’s own on one’s own terms. Teens in the audience, in particular, will find lots to connect with, and audiences of all ages will see themselves in the enterprising and cheese-loving Kyra (who even has her own magician’s assistant…of sorts). We look forward to seeing more from the show’s energetic star!

No One Special is Julie Kim’s instrospective account of growing up in a real-life Kim’s Convenience. Kim, her sister and brother, are the children of Korean immigrants who, like the CBC sitcom family, own a local convenience store. Kim is quick to warn the audience that, despite the fact she is a stand-up comedian, this show will not be funny (not true – read on). Instead of a succession of jokes, No one Special is her compelling and honest unspooling – and working through – of family history and childhood memory. Kim holds up for examination countless specific memories – of her parents providing for her at their own expense, of their criticism and unwitting acts of emotional damage, of stealing candy from the store. And while she compellingly narrates these memories, she problematizes them: are they constructs or retroactive fabrications based on what others have told her? And to transcend the narrow perspective of a child, she augments these memories with research and reflection, which allow her to empathize with her parents, who even at their worst, were doing their best as immigrants battling poverty, isolation, discrimination and their own strained relationship. Kim’s narration, accompanied by family photos, is dispassionate, yet engrossing. And (contrary to her warning) she delivers some of the biggest laughs at the Fringe this year when – for just the briefest of moments sprinkled through the show – she lapses archly from balanced reflection into a self-centered comedian’s snarky take. This low-key show is G-rated (nothing to cringe about here) and has depth, quirks, humour and a lack of neat resolution that will resonate with anyone who has a family.         

Recommended by:  Scott Sneddon    Location: Tarragon Solo Space     Runtime:  50 minutes (60 when I saw it!)

Amor De Cosmos: A Delusional Musical is a novel new solo show written by British Columbia-based writer Richard Kelly Kemmick, with music by Lindsey Walker. The show, which is performed by Toronto-based actor Anton Gillis-Adleman, combines words, song and music to tell the fascinating life story of Amor De Cosmos (born William Alexander Smith), who was a journalist, politician and reformer before serving as the second premier of British Columbia and the first Member of Parliament. After he was elected to the federal government, however, De Cosmos was declared legally insane. He retreated to haunting Victoria’s taverns and eventually died in poverty without recognition. The most remarkable feature of the show is that Kemmick has written the script in iambic pentameter (that’s right – Shakespeare’s metre of choice). Amor De Cosmos is a history buff and language lover’s dream. It’s no exaggeration to say that Kemmick has done for De Cosmos what Lin-Manuel Miranda has done for Alexander Hamilton. It’s important to note that the 90-minute show requires concentration (and even a little preparation) to appreciate the full magnitude of Kemmick’s artistry. For instance, Gillis-Adleman performs multiple characters – often with a single change in prop and photographs behind him that are emblematic – so knowing just a little about De Cosmos’ eventful life would allow spectators to focus more on the show’s beautiful use of language, its clever word play, Walker’s gorgeous musical accompaniment, and Gillis-Adleman’s gripping performance – rather than work to follow the historical timeline of events. A little bit of “homework” will yield huge dividends in the enjoyment of Kemmick’s inspired tale of this intriguing Canadian figure. 

Recommended by: Arpita Ghosal   Location : Al Green Theatre         Runtime : 90 minutes

The Man with the Golden Heart is a new musical written and directed by Andrew Seok with Assistant Director Tess Benger and Music Direction by Jonathan Corkal-Astorga. Ahead of the performance, Seok tells the audience in a brief address that he wrote this musical as a beacon of hope in a bleak time. He has more than met his aim with this magnificent new work. The story has the urgent feel of a comic-book origin story: a man (Bruce Dow) is born with a golden heart, which he can use to help people who are hurt and struggling. However, each time he does so, he loses a piece of his heart, which kills him a little. In the production, we journey through three pivotal moments in Canada’s history: the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway by immigrant Chinese laborers during the 1880s, Canada’s participation in World War I, and the global stock market crash in 1929. At each of these moments, the man encounters people in pain . . . and wields his powers with unexpected results. The production suits the atmospheric church venue, with the magnificent organ, wood panelling and stained-glass windows serving to underscore the historical aspects of the narrative. The acoustics are greatly enhanced by the church’s high, vaulted ceilings, and the voices of the all-star cast soar. The music is simply beautiful, and there are some truly inspired plot ideas – especially one involving the destiny of a young married couple. In summary, this is a mature, ambitious and audience-ready work, and a production company should give Seok a budget to prepare it for a larger audience. The Man with the Golden Heart has tremendous potential to become the next great “born at the Fringe” Canadian musical. If you have the opportunity, catch it here first! 

Recommended by: Arpita Ghosal   Location : Trinity-St Paul Church     Runtime : 95 minutes

Reserve tickets on fringetoronto.com .

© Sesayarts Magazine Team, 2023

• Causes and “The Effect”: Aviva Armour-Ostroff on Coal Mine Theatre’s newest production
• Take the trip of a lifetime with Ottawa’s production of Around the World in 80 Days

You May Also Like

“The Last Strongman” is Mighty Mike’s theatrical feat of strength

Kids say the darndest things: sunny drake’s child-ish at summerworks.

An unsung Lobby Hero: Strong performances in Icarus Theatre production deserve a wide audience

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Toronto Fringe Festival is back this summer and here are the must-see shows

Latest Videos

Toronto's favourite experimental theatre festival, Toronto Fringe Festival (est. 1989) will be back for its 36th encore next month.

From July 3 to July 14, 77 alternative dance and theatre performances will grace a total of 16 venues across the city, including bars, theatres, community centres and galleries.

Several free events and performances will be held at the Fringe Patio (292 Brunswick Ave) and KidsFest Club (620 Spadina Ave). 

Tickets for individual shows are currently on sale for $13 to $18 for adults. Passes are also available for those interested in attending multiple performances. The best part: all revenue from ticket sales goes directly into the pockets of independent artists and performers.

This year's program has a little something for everyone. From comedies, to dramas, to musical theatre, to dance, to storytelling, to improv, here are five shows that you won't want to miss. 

86 Me: The Restaurant Play

While there is no shortage of comedies on this year's program, " 86 Me: The Restaurant Play " is a standout. 

The play is set in a tanking Kensington Market pub that has recently been acquired by a major corporation. Fittingly, Kensington's own, Supermarket will be the show's host. 

The relationship dynamics between the bar's erratic staff are the focus of this comedy. Luke Kimball of "The Umbrella Academy" and "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" plays the optimistic protagonist attempting to bring everyone together and turn the tide. 

The issues of corporatization and the disappearance of community-centric urban spaces are tackled with humour by acclaimed director, Jackson Doner. With certified star power and no scene breaks, this take on dinner theatre is not one to miss. 

BEING CELINE

" BEING CELINE " is a musical theatre piece starring Canadian actress Laura Landauer, who is known for her impersonation of Celine Dion. 

According to the Toronto Fringe Festival website, "BEING CELINE explores Celine's success, heartbreak and dreams while at the time staying true to her Quebecois roots and maintaining a quiet, simple, unaffected life." 

This parody of a Canadian icon will take place at the Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace (16 Ryerson Ave) and is sure to have you in stitches.

Remembrance

" Remembrance " is the brainchild of choreographer Kay-Ann Ward that fuses several artforms—including traditional Afro-Caribbean dance, poetry and musical genres like Dance Hall. It tells the story of a young Caribbean woman who channels her ancestral spirituality to help her through a crossroads in her life.

The Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace (16 Ryerson Ave) will host this sure-to-be moving performance.

The First Jew in Canada: A Trans Tale 

In " The First Jew in Canada: A Trans Tale " S. Bear Bergman weaves his own lived experience as a transgender, Jewish man with the story of Jacques La Fargue, a trailblazing figure in Canadian queer history, who arrived in Canada in 1738. 

"The First Jew in Canada: A Trans Tale" is showing at the Al Green Theatre (750 Spadina Ave) and promises an educational entertainment experience. 

Before We Go

The apocalypse is nigh in Toronto in Cecilia Serafina's " Before We Go ." Like a choose your own adventure book, the untimely end of a cast of so-called ordinary characters will be determined by input from the audience each night. 

Based on the Netflix series "Carol & the End of the World" and the film "Last Night," "Before We Go" urges audiences to"pay attention to the little things like it's the last thing you’ll ever do."

This interactive and thought-provoking comedy is on view at the Tarragon Theatre Solo Room (30 Bridgman Ave) and is definitely not one to miss. 

Make sure to check out Toronto Fringe's website for the festival's full program and details on more highly anticipated shows.

Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Arts

Toronto streetcar stops have been transformed into giant shoes

Kevin Hart is coming to Toronto this summer

A Toronto museum is about to close for three whole months

Moulin Rouge the Musical is making its Canadian debut in Toronto this fall

Toronto neighbourhood unveils new sculpture and it already has people talking

Toronto's Harbourfront Centre lays off more employees amid financial struggles

A 2.5-kilometre path of 8,000 giant dominoes will topple through Toronto this year

• [ July 12, 2024 ] Luminato Illuminates Toronto Events
• [ July 12, 2024 ] Five Minutes With: Toronto Indie-Pop Artist Oleyada Music
• [ July 11, 2024 ] Toronto Guardian Spring 2024 Spotify Playlist Classical
• [ July 11, 2024 ] Tragedy Plus Time: Toronto Comedian Amy Bugg Comedy
• [ July 10, 2024 ] 14 Free Things To Do This Summer in Toronto Community & Culture

What’s on our radar at this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival?

The 35th annual Toronto Fringe Festival will take over the city’s indoor and outdoor spaces. Over 100 shows are slated in this treasured summer festival from July 5 to 16, 2023. The Festival features contemporary and experimental theatre, dance, comedy, musicals, and solo shows – all chosen by lottery. Ticketed and free shows will be offered by both local and visiting artists.

Here’s what has caught our attention…

MS TITAVERSE: by the Tita Collective. Theatre Passe Muraille

The multi-award winning all-Filipina artistic company returns with their new musical comedy, Ms. Titaverse. The storyline was inspired by the pageant culture that is celebrated in the Philippine community. Growing up, most young Filipinas often have a complicated relationship with it; on the one hand it was a means to see representation on a global scale, on the other hand it can be an oppressive standard to be compared against. Featuring all new songs and stories that draw on their respective experiences as members of the Filipin* diaspora and will feature how each Tita Collective member continues to navigate the world as millennials, also now coming into their own as elders within the community. Ms. Titaverse is a 60-minute musical comedy revue that weaves in aspects all of the cultures and lived experiences represented within the collective. They take the traditional sketch comedy revue and make it Filipina.

WHITE COLLARS: by Arun Kirupananthan, Braeden Banks, and Maya Cieszynska. Factory Theatre Studio.

Directed by Ken Hall of Netflix’s Umbrella Academy, White Collars is a satirical take on the day-to-day experiences of working in a corporate 9-to-5 job complete with a mock tech conference setup. White Collars is a satirical take on their own day-to-day experiences of working in the real world of the 9-to-5 tech marketing industry. The show is set in a fictional tech conference with a mix of sketch comedy, improv and audience participation. White Collars will tackle typical themes such as executive decisionmaking, role redundancy, job vs. identity, layoffs and corporate mission statements.

INSERT CLOWN HERE: by Jacob Willis & Kendelle Parks, Parlour Theatre. Tank House Theatre

Part Chekovian masterpiece, part oblivious clown-turn, INSERT CLOWN HERE is a new comedy about a fully-rehearsed, 19th-century melodrama that is upended when the lead actor goes missing and is replaced by a random, completely unrehearsed, Clown. While the Clown attempts to improvise lines and blocking from a script they haven’t read, the remaining cast will try to keep the story on track, resulting in a comedy-of-errors newly created every performance. What could go wrong? Only everything. By the way, a new local Clown performer will be added in every show, INSERT CLOWN HERE will never be the same show twice!

ALL OF OUR PARENTS ARE ASIAN: by Shawn Hunter and Alfred Chow. Native Earth’s AKI Studio

Part improvised comedy and part life stories collected anonymously from the audience this night is fueled with the stories and all about the secrets we keep hidden away from our Asian parents. Yes, they will spill the green tea.

EMO MAJOK: AFRICAN AUSSIE : by Emo Majok. Tarragon Theatre, Solo Room.

Award-winning Sudanese comedian, Emo Majok, who debuted at Edinburgh Fringe and earned the coveted golden buzzer on Australia’s Got Talent 2022 (going all the way to the finals), is set to bring his razor-sharp wit to Toronto Fringe. In his show, African Aussie, Emo delves into the humour and heartache of culture clashes, weaving hilarious tales of his journey, from a refugee camp in East Africa to stages around the world.

A LITTLE BIT PREGNANT : by Kate Lavut and Rana Liu. Tarragon Theatre, PaperDog Press

Sex, drugs, rock’n’roll… and a baby? A slice-of-life dramedy written by Kate Lavut and directed by Rana Liu gives you an all-access pass to the emotional rollercoaster of getting pregnant.

Where it moves from a traditional artistic practice, is not in its delivery, but within its subject matter. In a climate where reproductive rights are in question and people’s bodies are policed, A Little Bit Pregnant gives space for these conversations. At the center of it all is an unplanned pregnancy in an unhealthy relationship. Tasha and Shane have been together for 3 years and fight all the time. They still have a lot of love for each other, but do they still like each other?

SADEC 1965: A LOVE STORY : by Flora Lee. Tarragon Theatre, Main Stage

In 2013, Flora rode a motorcycle across Vietnam for six weeks, solo, in an attempt to make sense of her difficult relationship with her estranged Vietnamese father. Flora was on a quest to understand why her father, who left Vietnam with a scholarship to study in Canada in the mid-1960s, never spoke about Vietnam. Since the answers she was looking for would never come from him, Flora decided to go on a road trip across the country, riding a total of 3500 km in six weeks, from the Chinese border in the North to the village of Sadec, her father’s hometown in the Mekong Delta, to reclaim the story of her origins and make sense of the difficult man that her father was.

Flora has been wanting to tell this story on a stage ever since she completed her motorcycle journey in 2014. But one piece was missing: her father’s old love letters. After her father passed away, Flora found the love correspondence he exchanged with his high school sweetheart, a woman named Hien, whom he left behind in Vietnam during the war. This woman turned out to be an important piece of the mystery her father was, and reading their correspondence promised to provide many answers.

JUNE: Passion, friendship, love and betrayal: written and directed by Gillian R. Edwards, presented by Uriah’s Granddaughter. Theatre Passe Muraille

June, is a multi-layered drama that revolves around the tragic consequences of domestic violence, exploring how class and sexual inequality contribute to a vibrant young woman’s fate. It’s 1958, June is a prisoner in Danfield Women’s Prison in the Midwest United States. Her small cell is the locus for an evolving friendship with a prison guard and revealing disclosures about their lives. The women develop a deep bond in a hard, brutal environment, while June remembers the two key men in her life and the traumatic circumstances that led to her incarceration. Punctuated with hits of well-placed humour, June deftly explores gender inequality, the complexities of domestic violence and the search for justice.

THE WILL OF A WOMAN : written by Steven Scott Jackson, Spadina Museum

This immersive theatre experience with very limited tickets is a thought-provoking play written by award winning playwright Steven Elliott Jackson (“The Seat Next To The King”, “The Garden Of Alla”, “Three Ordinary Men”) and directed by Shan Fernando (“Flowers For Alex”), tells the true story of Elizabeth Bethune Campbell who in the 1920s discovered that her mother’s trust had fallen victim to money fraud. Elizabeth must face the challenge of standing up for her rights, becoming the first woman to defend herself before the Privy Council in England.

ANCIENT DYING CHINESE DIALECT :  by Chantal Lim directed by Ken Hall. Factory Theatre Studio Space

With honesty and a healthy dose of comedy, Chantal Lim performs true personal stories about growing up Filipina-Chinese in Toronto, and how a lifelong fascination with languages led her back to her ancestral roots. Accompanying the stories are live music performances by Vonne Aguda and Kavya Rajith, featuring classic OPM (Original Pinoy Music) ballads with lyrics thoughtfully translated from Tagalog into English. Join Chantal and her friends on this uplifting journey of language & love in the name of celebrating where we come from and embracing who we are.  Ancient Dying Chinese Dialect was featured as an Official Selection in the 2023 Toronto International Storytelling Festival. It marks the solo show debut of Toronto storyteller & improviser Chantal Lim and is directed by Canadian Comedy Award Winner Ken Hall (Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, Canadian Stage’s adaptation of As You Like It, 2-MAN NO-SHOW).

RETROGRADE: THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE : written by Jackson Doner. Supermarket (Kensington Market)

A run down concert venue in Toronto becomes a sanctuary for four of Kensington Market’s weirdest young musicians. Starved for community, they gather for a weekly jam session that transcends into an exercise on how a generation with access to all information ever chooses a belief system by which to live. A hilarious story filled with quirky and iconic Kensington-esque characters.

OUR LITTLE SECRET:  The 23&Me Musical: by Nam Tomaschoff. Alumnae Theatre Mainspace

What does an only child do when a DNA test reveals that his biological parents aren’t quite who he thought they were? Write a musical, of course! In this hilarious, moving, and true story, acclaimed performer Noam Tomaschoff grapples with questions of family, identity, and just how many brothers and sisters he really has.

THE WOMAN WHO ATE FALAFEL : by Fatma Naguib. Theatre Passe Muraille, Main Stage.

She’s fierce, she’s bold, and since coming to Canada, she is very cold. Writer and performer Fatma Naguib explores themes of identity, belonging, and social justice in her debut one-woman show. This comedic affair is an uplifting look at a Middle Eastern woman’s journey towards self-discovery and empowerment, including a literal journey from Egypt to Canada. Combining real-life experience and comedy, Fatma tells her own story about pursuing her passion and overcoming obstacles.

MAGGIE CHUN’S FIRST LOVE AND LAST WEDDING: by Helen Ho. Factory Theatre Mainspace

After committing to spending the rest of her life in the small town of Windser, Ontario (yes, with an E), the sudden arrival of Maggie’s middle school crush on her wedding day forces her into an abrupt awakening. Maggie Chun’s First Love and Last Wedding by Helen Ho was the 2023 New Play Contest Winner, sponsored by The Aubrey and Marla Dan Foundation.

The Toronto Fringe Festival runs July 5 to 16, 2023. Complete show listing can be found here .

• Alumnae Theatre
• factory theatre
• Theatre Passe Muraille
• Toronto Fringe Festival

Featured Local Savings

Related Articles

CATS Musical breathes a new life on stage in Toronto

There must be something worth scratching at when it comes to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, CATS. The show about all different […]

Interview with Deborah Hay of A Doll’s House Part 2

In the final scene of Ibsen’s 1879 groundbreaking masterwork, A Doll’s House, Nora makes the shocking decision to leave her […]

Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen

On Saturday night at the Theatre Passe Muraille, a beautiful tribute was paid to one of Canada’s most famous poets, singers […]

Copyright © 2023 | Toronto Guardian

• Change Region

Secondary menu

• Organizations: Login
• Organizations: How to post to KOAA lists and calendars
• Organizations: Register a new User ID / account
• Organizations: Advertising on KidsOutAndAbout

Toronto's online guide to everything for kids, teens, & families!

Search form

Toronto fringe festival.

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet Widget

Toronto Fringe Kids Day Camp

• Free Events Today
• Free Events This Weekend
• Free Events Next Weekend
• Free Places to Take Your Kids
• Today's Events
• All Events This Weekend
• All Events Next Weekend
• Free, Almost Free, and Bargain Summer Movies
• Activities for Babies & Toddlers
• Activities for Preschoolers
• Activities for kids in Early Elementary School
• Activities for 'tweens
• Activities for Teens
• Activities for the Whole Family
• CSAs - Community-Supported Agriculture
• Fun on the Farm
• Indoor Play Centers
• Local venues with memberships & season passes
• Preschools & Day Care
• Private Schools
• Summer Fruit Picking: Berries & More
• Music Organizations
• Performances & Movies
• Local Theater
• Dance Organizations
• Dance Performances
• Visual Arts Organizations
• Nature Centers & Zoos
• Amusement Parks
• Tutors and tutoring centers
• Get Active: Sports & Fitness
• Local Gyms & Rec Centers
• Sports Education
• Sports Teams
• Special Needs
• Parenting Hacks
• Local Reviews
• Vacation Reviews
• Product Reviews
• Book, Music, & Games Reviews
• Event Reviews
• A Week-by-Week Guide to Summer Camps
• General Day Camps
• Overnight Camps
• Sports/Fitness
• STEM, Language, and Culture
• Visual Arts
• Cooking & Crafts
• Virtual/Online Summer Camps
• Classes by Subject
• Sports & Fitness
• Exercise & Health
• Horseback Riding
• Martial Arts
• Performing Arts
• Hands-on (Arts & Crafts & Cooking)
• Sign Language
• Academic (Science, Tech, Writing, History, Test prep, etc)
• Virtual/Online Classes
• Exhibits - current & upcoming
• Story times at libraries & bookstores
• Organizations focused on STEM or Culture
• Homeschool Groups & Programs
• Master Guide to Summer Fun
• Master Guide to Fall Fun
• Halloween Fun
• Fall Festivals
• Apple Picking
• Pumpkin Patches
• Master Guide to Holiday Fun
• 101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Toronto
• Christmas Tree Farms
• Subscriptions Boxes: Gifts That Keep on Giving
• Where to visit Santa
• FREE Holiday Events
• Christmas Activities
• Lightbulb Day
• New Year's Eve Activities
• Holiday concerts and performances
• Master Guide to Winter Fun
• Winter Fun: Skating
• Winter Fun: Skiing
• Winter Fun: Embrace Winter Sports
• Upcoming online events
• Virtual/Online Learning Resources & Classes
• 24/7 virtual experiences
• Top 20 Places to Take Kids around Toronto
• 101 Family Day Trips from Toronto
• Notes from Deb
• This Week's Newsletter
• Sign Up For Our Weekly E-newsletter
• Advertise in Our Weekly E-newsletter

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Ideas & Inspiration

Explore asian heritage in toronto, neighbourhood guides, must-visit walkable neighbourhoods in toronto, outdoor adventures, cycle the toronto islands, where to watch the sunset in toronto, food & nightlife, the most iconic drag brunches in toronto, 9 iconic eats in kensington market, toronto's best sports bars for watching the big game, global tastes, toronto's best restaurants for plant-forward dining, 10 toronto blue jays fan experiences at rogers centre, live performances, celebrate live music in toronto this summer, culture & entertainment, 6 ways to explore queer toronto, museums, galleries & attractions, 10 amazing toronto escape rooms & games for all ages, shopping guides, where to buy uniquely toronto gifts & souvenirs, style & design, an architecture buff’s guide to queen’s park, 5 iconic toronto buildings for architecture buffs, where to shop for earth day-friendly souvenirs in toronto, indigenous stories, don’t miss this summer’s 6 best indigenous arts events in toronto, 5 can’t-miss indigenous foods to savour in toronto, 10 places to support indigenous creators in toronto.

Toronto Family Vacation Itinerary

Plan your toronto family trip easily with this family itinerary for four days and five nights..

Are you and the whole crew planning a vacation? We’ve got a line-up of fun, from exciting sports and cultural wonders to treats and eats that everyone can enjoy. Use the map to help you plan your own itinerary, or follow our curated guide below.

Start at the top with the CN Tower ​

Start with the big one: the CN Tower is an architectural triumph offering spectacular views, beginning with the ride up 100+ stories in a glass-fronted elevator!

Be sure to take in the floor-to-ceiling panoramic Window Walls and the slightly-scary Glass Floor, and, for the ultimate thrill, do the EdgeWalk, the world’s highest “hands-free” external walk.

Then head right next door to the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and immerse yourself in a world of 20,000 aquatic animals. Pet a stingray, be mesmerized by the jellies, or soak in a live dive show daily.

Go on an adventure around Lake Ontario

A short stroll toward the lake gets you to the Waterfront  area, where you have many options for a casual lunch, including the Amsterdam Brewhouse on the Lake . After, opt for a scenic boat tour of the inner harbour and Toronto Islands. You can even do it on a Tall Ship ! 

Or ferry over to the car-free Toronto Islands and enjoy some cycling, walking, amusement rides, or a little stand-up paddling.

You may also like:  Water Activities Around Lake Ontario

Dine out in the Entertainment District

Choose from one of the many fun restaurants along King Street West —you could do worse than Wvrst —then go for some light-hearted theatre , such as a Mirvish Production . (They have Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday matinees, too!)

Discover a castle, dinosaurs, and mummies

Did you know Toronto has an authentic castle right in the middle of the city? Casa Loma has secret passageways to explore, elaborately decorated rooms to admire, and castle towers to climb. 

A short subway ride away, the Royal Ontario Museum is filled with interactive and awesome displays like dinosaurs, mummies, authentic knight’s armour, and a bat cave!

Explore Little Canada

After lunch, how about a Little Canada ? Our home & miniature land takes you on a tiny journey of discovery through captivating vistas, landmarks, and cityscapes, all in miniature scale. Also see:  9 Kid-Friendly Breweries and Beer Bars in Toronto

Go back in time at Medieval Times

For dinner, travel waaay back in time with Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament . Witness brave knights on horseback in a sword fighting and jousting tournament while feasting on a fabulous four-course meal.

Experiment at the Ontario Science Centre

Kick off your day with discovery at the Ontario Science Centre . Be awed by live science demonstrations, check out a real-life rainforest and see actual meteorites from Mars in the Planetarium. You could spend all day here!

While the Ontario Science Centre's current location is now closed to the public, they will continue to deliver innovative science experiences virtually, through pop-up experiences and in a temporary location, as they plan for a new permanent home at Ontario Place. More details will be shared as they are released on the  Ontario Science Centre website .

See Canada’s largest zoo

Grab a bite at the Science Centre or wait til you get to the Toronto Zoo and have lunch with your animal friends.

With seven zoogeographic regions, such as Indo-Malaya, Africa and the Tundra Trek, you’ll want to be strategic and pick your favourites to focus on. Little ones will like Splash Island and Kids Zoo.

Go on a ghost tour in the Distillery District

Relax in the car-free charm of The Distillery Historic District this evening. Enjoy a leisurely meal and glass of wine after your busy day.

Then enjoy a post-dinner stroll on cobblestone streets amid dozens of heritage buildings housing art galleries, artisan boutiques and stylish retail spaces.

Perhaps you’re ready for a tour of the district by lantern light with The Haunted Walk of Toronto , which entertains with tales of the city’s darker history.

Explore Old Town Toronto

A visit to the Museum of Illusions will give you a morning like no other, as you have your perceptions challenged by 80+ intriguing visual, sensual, and educational illusions.

Just a few blocks away, Canada’s Game is the focus at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Spread across 65,000 square feet is the world’s greatest collection of hockey artifacts, interactive experiences, a replica NHL dressing room, and every hockey fan’s dream, hands-on access to THE Stanley Cup.

Take a guided tour

This afternoon, pick a neighbourhood or two to explore on foot or by bike with one of these great guided tours . You can also DIY with a hop-on, hop-off double-decker bus tour via City Sightseeing .

Get an adrenaline rush

Depending on the season, get in the winter spirit with a skate under the lights at one of our many rinks OR cheer on one of Toronto’s major league teams .

If you time it right, you can have your choice of Blue Jays baseball, Maple Leaf hockey, Raptors basketball, and FC soccer all in one day! The Argos, Marlies, and Rock all bring the action too.

Venture to nearby attractions just outside Toronto

Add another day to your itinerary to experience nearby attractions, including  Niagara Falls ,  Canada’s Wonderland , Square One , or Wet ‘n’ Wild . 

Featured in this itinerary

Defining the Toronto skyline at 553.33m (1,815ft5in) the CN Tower is Canada's most recognizable and...

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

Immerse yourself in a world of 20,000 aquatic animals and discover your own underwater adventure in...

Harbourfront Centre

For more than 40 years, Harbourfront Centre has been on the cutting edge of all that is current and...

Amsterdam Brewhouse on the Lake

Where locally crafted beer meets fresh artisan food. Voted one of Toronto's best lakefront patio...

Toronto Harbour Tours Inc.

Discover the other side of Toronto – cruising through the scenic Harbour and Islands. This one...

Experience the elegance and splendor of the Edwardian era at Casa Loma, the only full sized castle...

Little Canada

Explore the beauty of Canada in a whole new way! Little Canada takes you on a journey of discovery...

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

For the first time in the company's 34 year history, a Queen has taken the throne! Travel back in...

Toronto Zoo

With more than 5,000 animals in our care, representing 450 species, the Toronto Zoo is committed to...

Ontario Science Centre

Where questions spark discovery! The Ontario Science Centre invites you to an exciting visit full of...

Haunted Walk of Toronto

The Haunted Walk offers guided walking tours year-round, focusing on the city's ghost stories and...

Museum of Illusions - Toronto

With 70+intriguing visual, sensual and educational illusions unlike anything you've ever seen...

Hockey Hall of Fame

The world’s one and only! Experience the game that defines Canada and a sport that has been adopted...

City Sightseeing Toronto

City Sightseeing Toronto is proud to offer you the best ticket in town! Daily Double Decker City...

Explore more itineraries

Indigenous experiences.

Toronto is a diverse and dynamic city and Indigenous cultures are ones that we recognize and value....

Iconic Toronto

Hands up if you know Toronto's must-see attractions but haven’t actually seen or done...

You’re going to need your stretchy pants for this one! Dig into culinary experiences for every...

Amongst the towering buildings, multicultural neighbourhoods and big city bustle of Toronto are a...

Discover queer Toronto! The city pulses with liberating energy, passion and possibilities.

Review: TORONTO FRINGE FESTIVAL: DAY 6 at Toronto Fringe

Reviews of Monks, Stiff and Sons, Tape, Moe: A Rap Opera, and Crosstown

LATEST NEWS

Welcome, Brother Reader! It’s so wonderful to see you at this review of MONKS, Annie Luján and Veronica Hortigüela’s hour of ridiculous, inspired lunacy. We’ll try to finish it before the abbot gets back.

Luján and Hortigüela, wearing comical tonsured bald caps over untucked hair, play two monks who have invited their fellow brothers for an afternoon of blissfully doing nothing before their leader returns and insists that work resume. The show is heavily, gleefully based in audience participation, as the monks distribute lentils for counting, assign appellations, and try to find their missing donkey (the double entendres are plentiful—don’t bring the kids).

While MONKS is held together by the thinnest of threads, there’s no resisting Luján and Hortigüela’s delightful commitment to even the stupidest of bits, and only the most curmudgeonly abbot could resist cracking a grin as they turn the Tarragon Solo Room into an absolutely unholy mess (praise be to those who have to deal with the cleanup before the next show comes in). An attempt to make the concept of doing nothing meaningful at the end is thoughtful and well-intentioned, but feels somewhat unnecessary and out of place. The show doesn’t have to try to be more than it is, which is wildly entertaining and utterly unique.

Photo of Annie Luján and Veronica Hortigüela by Audrianna Martin Del Campo

STIFF AND SONS

A dark comedy about a family-owned funeral home where some family members decide to start drumming up business through murder, Aidan Gouveia’s STIFF AND SONS is a well-paced and inventive production that brings its quirky script alive. The Stiffs are hurting for business; while a new, sexy commercial may do some of the trick, it’s not working fast enough for the head of the business’ scheming wife (Manon Ens-Lapointe) and her paramour, her husband’s brother ( Jack Rennie ). David Stiff ( Tim Walker ) still cares about the dignity of his work; eager to follow in her father’s footsteps, his daughter Erin (Izzi Nagel) and her “evil twin” Karen, the puppet she totes which seems to possess her, accidentally embalms the family housekeeper (Jonas Trottier). Things spiral from there, with plenty of blackmail, knockouts, hijinks, and people getting locked in coffins as the evil family members put their scheme in motion.

The broad, wacky humour may not be to everyone’s taste (to be honest, it wasn’t really to mine), but there’s no denying the fluidity of Daniel Reales staging and performances, which are anything but stiff.  Even if your funny bone isn’t especially tickled, there’s much to appreciate. Fight director Jack Rennie effectively creates cartoonish fight sequences, and the labelled cardboard props also contribute to the comic atmosphere.

Standout performances include Nagel’s deadpan Erin and demonic Karen, and Trottier’s rapid-fire changes between portraying a host of townspeople and the news reporter trying to cover the improbable story. And you have to appreciate the forthrightness of a script that simply announces it’s not going to deal with explaining the logistics of an important plot point and we can just accept that it happened.

Photo of Jonas Trottier, Tim Walker , Izzi Nagel, Manon Ens-Lapointe, and Jack Rennie provided by the company

TAPE, Stephen Belber ’s 1999 drama about sexual assault, feels both currently relevant and like an artifact of the time it was written. High school friends Vince (Thomas Sarrigiannidis) and Jon (Joel J. Pettigrew) reunite for the film festival opening of the latter’s first movie. Jon initiallyseems like a sensitive soul who’s going places, his friend the regressive loser caveman with “violent tendencies.” But when they delve into a past incident with a high school ex-girlfriend (Jada Rifkin) that’s been festering in Vince’s mind for ten years, the tables turn—and then turn again.

Belber’s script has a few twists and turns and an interesting premise, though it feels like it has at least one twist too few; I found myself surprised that the play was actually over when it ended. The cast does nice work with the rapid-fire exchanges, Pettigrew’s chameleonic sensitive jock consistently raising questions about how much of our sympathy he really deserves. It’s a solid production.

However, though I’m loath to remember that 1999 was a quarter-century ago, the way we talk about the topic has evolved. As such, a clearer sense of setting here would help situate us better within the story the play is trying to tell. For example, now that everyone has a cell phone that can easily record conversations (and each character carries a current phone here)—and with deepfake technology’s existence, the use of a tape recorder seems odd. With that modernized touch, it also feels odd that the threat of social media cancellation never crosses the characters’ minds—but, of course, in 1999, there’s no social media to speak of. We just have to know that’s when we are.

There’s so much potential in an exploration of memory, fault, and power dynamics when it comes to sexual assault that it’s a shame Belber spends so much time having characters threaten to leave and convincing them to come back instead of exploring the topics to their fullest.

Photo of Jada Rifkin, Joel J. Pettigrew, and Thomas Sarrigiannidis by Lucas James

MOE: A RAP OPERA

Sometimes I feel like I’m one hundred and one

When I find kids these days were raised on Hamilton

Lin-Manuel is their Sondheim—now let’s dramaturg

This Teen Fringe show about baseball player Moe Berg.

A polymath, Berg went to Princeton and learned

But instead of law school, for the ballpark he yearned

As a player, he’s sort of an average guy

But his intellect put him to work as a spy

In the Second World War, he provided a twist

Interviewing German nuclear physicists

‘Bout the state of the program, in hopes they’d defect

Caught one just like a ball in his special project.

Cyrus Sarfaty’s lyrics show passionate pride

I just wish that the cast had been more amplified

For, because of the back track, the rapid-fire words

Have a tendency to be too quiet and blurred.

It’s a shame, because so many lyrics are good

Only Sarfaty can be wholly understood

Rhymes in French, English, Yiddish? Impressive! I mean—

It’s hard to believe this kid’s just seventeen

Next steps: work on the pacing and fix the transitions

Which need underscoring while switching positions

Change staging that’s static; it works once or twice

Like when Berg’s on a quiz show; that scene’s pretty nice.

And while we’re on the subject, the rap track-filled score

Needs some breathing room with different beats to the fore.

The genius of Hamilton lies in the fact

That rap’s mixed with ballad—you switch up the act!

Though it travels the world, still, the wide-ranging show

Rests too much on showboat, braggadocio Moe

We could also use different emotional beats

As we blaze through a trail of Berg’s wins and defeats

To know more of the man who played ball through the stigma

The loudmouth who’s also the tight-lipped enigma

We know he’s a genius, we know that he’s slick

But what makes baller, scholar and spy really tick?

For example, we really can only assume

How this Jewish man felt as the Holocaust loomed

It’s a very rich topic the show could explore

Like the insular man who left all wanting more.

In the end, we know Moe is complex, but I needed

More clarity in terms of how he succeeded.

By his father and brother’s Greek chorus derided

Is he hero or failure? It hasn’t decided.

So there’s heaps of good promise, but much to be done

‘Fore this show comes to bat with a walk-off home run

It’s not quite ready yet, but remember their faces

Like Hamilton or Berg, the kid’s going places.

MOE: A RAP OPERA graphic provided by the company

Two-time Dora Award-winning actor Anand Rajaram sits in front of a music stand, holding a kalimba. With a simple pluck of the instrument, he changes the scene, taking us on an 85-minute journey through the lives of a varied cast of Toronto characters, centred on the pivotal choices made by a young OB-GYN (note that a significant portion of the show deals with discussion of abortion). Based on Richard Scrimger’s novel of the same name, the show tells a spiraling, expansive story that rewards very careful attention.

The unadorned nature of the production, combined with storytelling that pinballs through time and place and is dialogue-only, makes for a potentially confusing experience. It’s lucky, then, that we’re in such good hands with Rajaram, who differentiates everyone well enough that one can tell them apart, and is compelling enough to make one want to listen carefully with the kind of rapt fascination that pays off later. I was so focused that I had to shake myself back into reality at the end.

To tell much more about the play’s plot would be detrimental to its impact, but it’s a meaningful story about the impacts of the choices we make and the tests of integrity we face. Go when you have the energy to keep track of the threads, and watch a talent at work.

CROSSTOWN graphic provided by the company

Toronto SHOWS

Recommended For You

Home > Upcoming Kids Events > Fairs & Festivals > Toronto Fringe KidsFest

« All Events

Toronto Fringe KidsFest

Wednesday, july 3 - sunday, july 14.

Introduce your little ones to the magic of live theatre! The Toronto Fringe Festival presents shows for kids ages 4-12 and their families, featuring storytelling, puppetry, dance, song, and more.

Between performances, check out the KidsFest Club for FREE daily activities, including arts and crafts, building blocks, costumes, puppets, face-painting, story times and more.

• Google Calendar
• Outlook 365
• Outlook Live

Related Events

Summer Arts Break at Brick Works

Goat Yoga (Family-Friendly) by Yoga Kawa Toronto

Kitten Yoga (Family-Friendly) by Yoga Kawa Markham Bengal Kit

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Share to Social:

Explore more

ROM Free Main Floor All Summer

Whirlpool Jet Boats Launches Historical Freedom Tour 

What’s ON this Weekend

Enter a contest.

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month with a Chance to Win a $50 Baskin Robbins Gift Card

Win VIP Tickets to the 2024 Royal Canadian International Circus

Kids Events and Fun Things To Do in Toronto, York Region, Peel, Durham, Halton, Simcoe County and Southern Ontario for Families.

Follow us on Social

Stuff we love.

The Best Activity Books for Kids: Road Trip Lifesavers

Featured events.

Featured Kids Programs

Trending Posts

2024 july fairs & festivals | gta and surrounding area, 2024 summer fairs & festivals in the gta, $20 off outschool virtual summer bootcamps.

© Child’s Life 2006-2024.

Website by Brolly Media

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use

The Toronto Fringe Festival

• Copy Link copied

The “fringe movement” is a worldwide network of indie theatre festivals. As the name suggests, the movement is about celebrating under-represented voices and those on the margins of the performing arts world. As a result, the shows are a result of a lottery system of producers and writers who submitted their plays. It’s a festival where anyone can put on any show, without having to pass through a jury – where theatre students can mount their first production outside of school, where emerging artists can get their big break, and where established artists can test out new work. Popular shows like da Kink in my Hair and The Drowsy Chaperone got their start at Fringe. Whether you’re watching a show (or number of shows) in the back alley behind the famed Honest Ed’s, or smaller theatres in Toronto like the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, you’ll be in for a cheap treat.

More Recommendations

The fringe: theatre al fresco.

Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at [email protected].

House of Kerrs

A Family + Lifestyle Blog

02/23/2023 by: House of Kerrs

Best Family Road Trips from Toronto in Canada & the USA

Family travel isn’t as much about the destination but the journey and the memories we’ve made over the years on road trips are some of our very favourite – chaos and all!   We love jetting off to unique international destinations , but also love the freedom of road travel and not having to venture far to enjoy memorable experiences as a family with the convenience of having our cargo tag along with us. As a big family of six , road trip travel affords many benefits to us – it’s budget-friendly, offers the freedom to set our own pace, and fewer worries about over-packing and luggage restrictions gives us peace of mind with the ability to squeeze in all the essentials. Since family travel planning for the year ahead is picking up, and many looking to avoid the kerfuffle of air travel, we wanted to share some of our favourite short and long-haul road trips for the whole family from Toronto we’ve enjoyed over the years across Canada & the USA. Our kids are now 7 – 14, so these suggestions are for tykes – teens!  We’ll be adding more to this list as we take more road-trippin’ adventures, but for now, here are the Best Family Road Trips from Toronto in Canada & the USA we’ve experienced so far:

* Disclosure : House of Kerrs earns compensation, hosted travel experiences and/or commissions from travel partner links we use ourselves to facilitate our reviews and keep our travel content flowing.  As always, opinions are our own and reflect our authentic experience.  Read our  Disclosure *

Best Family Road Trips from Toronto in Canada

Niagara falls, ontario.

Just over an hour and half from Toronto, an annual visit to Niagara Falls has become a family tradition and a hub for all-ages family fun. Our favourite places to stay have been Sheraton on the Falls given its proximity to EVERYTHING (steps from the Falls viewing area, Fallsview Waterpark, Clifton Hill & some of the best family restos) & Embassy Suites (larger family suites with multiple rooms, complimentary buffet breakfast & The Keg on premises).

TIPS : Don’t miss the nightly fireworks over the falls, and grab a multi-activity pass for some savings if you’ll be visiting Clifton Hill. For the thrill or unique experience-seekers of your gang, try the Zipline to the Falls – grab the big kids and hurl yourself down a 220-foot zip line along the Niagara River Gorge at 40+mph.  It’s really, REALLY cool!  Kids must be 7 years+ to ride & you can save a bit of money booking an “early bird” time slot.

The Blue Mountains – Grey County

A very special place for us since getting engaged here many years ago, a stay at Blue Mountain Resort is another annual family tradition. About 1.5-2 hours north of the Greater Toronto area (weather & traffic permitting), this all-season, family-focused resort packs in a lot of all-ages fun. We’ve stayed at all the in-village properties (Weider Lodge is ridiculously close to the ski slopes, Seasons had cozy multi-room suites with a breathtaking view of the mountains, The Westin feels a little more upscale & exclusive (the kids still gush over the heated outdoor pool they got to swim in on one of the coldest nights of Winter), but our favourite (given our big size & love of a bit more privacy) are the Resort Homes at Rivergrass .

TIPS : mid-week stays have been our most enjoyable (less crowds).  For winter visits, we love the mountain top skating trail , but be sure to check the website or call to ensure it’s open prior & bring your own skates if you can (the line up for rentals was long).  In Summer, take advantage of the savings from an Activity pass.  Year-round, most restos don’t take reservations (exceptions: Tholos & Copper Blues), so if you have a place in mind for dinner, head there earlier than you want to eat to get on the waitlist.

Cottage Country Ontario

Not sure there’s a more beautiful scene then the lake views and natural surroundings of Ontario’s cottage country . We’ve enjoyed making memories at the family cottage in the Kawarthas , but also love some of the family-friendly resorts scattered around the Muskoka region. Our favourites: Fern Resort (all-inclusive, fun for all ages, including time outs for tired parents 😉), Deerhurst Resort , and Severn Lodge – all 1.5 – 2 hours north of the City.

Muskoka Getaway Beyond Resorts (*Updated July 2023*)

We enjoyed a mini escape to Muskoka to kick-start summer break and loved finding a new ‘home away from home’ to immerse in some of the bests of the region!

Residence Inn by Marriott Gravenhurst Muskoka Wharf – a moderately-priced hotel set along beautiful Lake Muskoka with modern, spacious suites for families and conveniences like fully-equipped kitchens, FREE buffet breakfast, indoor pool, laundry facilities, 24-hour Fitness center and walking distance to the Steamships + Discovery Centre, the shops & restos along the boardwalk & Shipyards, and Gravenhurst Farmer’s Market!

Eat & Play

The Residence Inn Muskoka hotel is a short drive to other all-ages family fun we enjoyed – casual eats & DadChef & I trying new suds at Sawdust City Brewing Co. (*take a pic on the HUGE Yellow Muskoka Chair*), Gull Lake Rotary Park Beach (*old school-charm beachin’ with lots of shady areas to picnic*), Ice cream hauls to cool down at Ice Dreams Soda Shop , and the Water Ski Show at Windsor Park in Bala (*Every Tuesday at 7:30 pm in Summer.  Bring towels – the show ends with a ‘Muskoka shower’ ;)*)

Lambton Shores/Grand Bend, Ontario

The blue flag beaches , Lake Huron sunsets , provincial parks, fantastic family-oriented lodging at affordable prices, and so much more make the Lambton Shores/Grand Bend area a fabulous spot to road trip, not too far from Toronto (about 2 1/2 hours).

Tobermory, Ontario

‘Canada’s Caribbean’ in the Bruce Peninsula is calling, and your family MUST go!  Our family calls Tobermory “Tob-Amore” for a reason – your heart will soar there!  The azure blue waters, National Parks, limestone structures, ship wrecks, fantastic family eats, for these reasons and SO many more, a road trip to Tobermory should make your Canadian road trip list (about 3 1/2 hours from Toronto).  Our suggested Tobermory itinerary HERE , including the most fabulous place for your family to stay!  We’ve also shared our other favourite places to staycation in Bruce County, Ontario HERE .

Kingston, Ontario

So many wanderful ways to get your  #LocalLoveON in KINGSTON – about a 2 & 1/2 hour road trip from Toronto/GTA.

• Kingston was the first capital City of Canada
• Kingston is home to the original Hockey Hall of Fame🏒
• Good eats aren’t hard to find – Kingston boasts the highest number of restos per capita in Canada, 2nd only to New Orleans in all if North America!

Suggested Itinerary for a Family Visit to Kingston, Ontario

If you have a few hours’ pit stop on your Ontario Road Trip , cross-border adventure, or will be staying overnight, here are some ways to enjoy Kingston with your family:

• Park at one of the lots along the waterfront & patio dine with a view of the St. Lawrence River 🍽
• Follow the Waterfront Pathway to see the 1000 Islands Ferry Dock ⛴, Confederation Park, the K-I-N-G-S-T-O-N Tourist sign & – Spirit of Sir John A. -Engine 1095 🚂
• See why Kingston is known as “Limestone City” by visits to heritage sites constructed using local limestone – including City Hall & Kingston Pen – the former max security prison to some of Canada’s most notorious criminals 🏛
• Watch some great hockey at the Leon’s Centre – home of the OHL’s Kingston Fronts 🏒
• Find all the tributes to Kingston’s very own homegrown (and Canada’s beloved) band “The Hip”, including the Gord Edgar Downie Pier memorial on the Waterfront off King Street.

Ottawa, Ontario

We did a spontaneous stop-over in our Nation’s Capital en route to Tremblant last summer, and we’re so glad we did!  So many options for families of all ages from edu-taining to full on adventure and just 4-4.5 hours from Toronto by car.  A stay at Les Suites Hotel in the downtown core was a perfect place to lay our heads for the night with multi-bedroom suites + kitchenette for families plus its excellent proximity to most of Ottawa’s bests.  We were just steps away from the Rideau Centre and Byward Market Square , and under 15 minute walk to Major’s Hill Park , the Rideau Canal Locks , the National War Memorial and Parliament Hill .  Our favourite spot for family eats was Zak’s Diner in the heart of the Byward Market and just steps from the landmark O-T-T-A-W-A sign.

The joie de vivre vibe, foodie family dining options, endless activity options for all ages, awe-inducing natural beauty and scenic sites for the senses have made us fall madly in love with Quebec. Our road trip to Mont Tremblant was the highlight of last Summer, as was our visits to Lanaudiere (rural) & Laval (urban) . Amenity and history-rich Quebec City is a family trip must, and Montebello in The Outaouais is fantastic for a mini family getaway or stopover en route to a farther destination along the way.  Charlevoix is another less popular yet no less wanderful region as well.  J’aime le Québec.  All regions are fabulous all-season destinations for families with plenty of options for every one!

Best Family Road Trips from Toronto – USA

Lake placid, new york.

Just over 6 hours drive from Toronto, Lake Placid, NY meets all the fun-tastic marks for an unforgettable getaway by car – scenic Adirondack mountain views, Olympic heritage spirit running through, award-winning lodging & dining options and opportunities to immerse in unique experiences galore! While the region is compact and charming, it’s amenity-rich and bursting with options for families of all-ages.  Our family stay was at the budget-wise, and conveniently located Crown Plaza Hotel, while a previous visit was at the historic meets luxurious Mirror Lake Inn.  All the details on how to make the most of your visit to Lake Placid HERE !

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

About a 5-hour drive from Toronto, we’ve stayed in Pittsburgh twice – once as a stop on our long-haul trip to Myrtle Beach , another for our son’s hockey tournament. What a pleasantly surprising city with lots of options for families to enjoy – an array of delish dining options for foodies, historic discoveries along the North Shore & sport-lovers’ entertainment hub.

Our Favourite Pit Stops in Pittsburgh for Families

1) DiAnoia’s Eatery for homemade Italian goodness;

2) The Original Pancake House with kids’ menu & 10+ flavoured pancake options;

3) The North Shore with no-cost visits to the War Memorial Monuments & “Tribute to Children” statue honoring Mister Rogers (a Pittsburgh local & humanity hero);

4) Roaming around Heinz Field – Steelers football Country;

5) Catching an NHL game at PPG Paints Arena ; and

6) A ride up the 140 year-old Duquesne Incline for a panorama view of the city named one of the “10 most beautiful views in America” !

We parked in Gold Lot 2 for our day of exploring The North Shore area, which gave us walkable access to the North Shore Riverfront Park, the “Tribute to Children”, the war memorial and Heinz Field (under $10 to park for a few hours).

There are a handful of family-friendly museums as well – we were pressed for time, but will have to return to check those & so much more out too! Check out Visit Pittsburgh for suggested activities for families (we got some of our ideas from this Mister Rogers-Inspired Itinerary )!

“Virginia is for lovers” and we were totally smitten with our short but wonderful summer visit there as a second stop along the drive to Myrtle & a bucket list stay at Mountain Lake Lodge (“Kellermans” – the real life Dirty Dancing Movie Resort!; read all about that HERE ). Just over 10 hours from Toronto, or 5 hours from Pittsburgh by car to Pembroke, VA where Mountain Lake Lodge resides. The drive through Virginia is scenic with views of the Appalachian Mountains & the family friendly options plentiful – National & State Parks, museums, festivals, beaches & more. This is one state we know we need to re-visit!

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Just over 14 hours from Toronto, this was our very first (and longest) road trip with our gang yet! And also one of our most memorable. With four kids of all ages, Myrtle is a fantastic choice and made for families of all ages. We stayed at the Caribbean Resort & Villas  – mostly covered with our travel credits ! It’s an excellent choice for big families given the multi-room suites with full kitchens, 2 bathrooms, large balcony & laundry machines.

The resort’s close proximity to all the family-focused fun in Myrtle Beach – The Strand Boardwalk & Skywheel, the Pier, shopping (Target, The Market Common), Ripley’s Aquarium, Wonder Works, dining (it’s adjacent to the popular Sea Captain’s House!) made it an ideal choice too!

Since our 2017 visit, they’ve made renos to suites & now have a new Oceanfront Pool Bar. Family perks like heavily discounted tickets to shows, on-site movie rentals & arcade, indoor/outdoor pools (with waterslides!) made this trip and stay at Caribbean Resort & Villas a hit for all-ages fun!

Fly n’ Drive Vacation

Southern California: San Diego to Malibu

If you’re looking for a hybrid vacation – part air, part road trip – check out why Southern California is our top pick for families and our favourite seaside stops for families along the Pacific Coast Highway from San Diego – Malibu HERE .

Family Road Trip Pre-Departure Checklist

Our family road trips have made for some of our most memorable adventures & we’re pumped for some new fam-ventures ahead to add to our list. Be sure to check out our Road Trip Pre-Departure Checklist before you hit the road for less stress, maximum enjoyment!  Not listed below but highly recommended for cross-border road trips – check the Canada-USA border wait times in advance of your arrival HERE.

Tips for Fuel-Efficient Driving – Get More Mileage from Your Gas

This post has been in drafts for some time (since Winter 2020 before you know what!), and since then, gas prices have skyrocketed to mind-blowing levels.  We value this article by CAA (which we are a Gold Member of for road side assistance, food and travel booking perks and savings), that gives some great tips on “Hypermiling” (i.e. – ways to make your fuel last longer) and how to save some bucks at the pumps.

More Family Travel Inspo

If you enjoyed this post, you may also find these helpful in planning your next family road trip adventure or day trip:

Ontario Day Trips: The Best Places to Eat & Wander with your Family

Another World Family Escapes in Ontario – No Passport Required

Family Staycation Toronto: Where to STAY, EAT & EXPLORE

3 Ways to Get the Best Value from Your Family Travel Bookings

Best Travel Sites for Families of 5+

We hope sharing some of the best family road trips from Toronto we’ve previously enjoyed have inspired some travel ideas for your crew.  We’ll be adding to this list as we wander.  In the meantime, we’re always looking for our next family adventure inspo, so tell us some of your favourite road-trippin’ experiences below!

Keep well, travel safely,

Share this:

@houseofkerrs on facebook, recent posts.

• Visiting Santa Barbara, CA: Things to Do as a Family in ‘The American Riviera’
• Grilled Mediterranean Platter with Chicken Kebabs & Halloumi | La Cucina di Kerrs
• Sea-Crudité Family Meal Simplified with Crispy Breaded Haddock Fillets | La Cucina di Kerrs
• Lemon Arugula Fennel Salad with Crispy Breaded Sole Fillets | La Cucina di Kerrs
• Lemon and Lavender Bundt Cake | La Cucina di Kerrs

Leave a reply... Cancel reply

Privacy overview.

Best Road Trips From Toronto

Top road trip destinations from toronto.

Niagara Falls

🚗 170 miles ⏱️ 2 hours, 50 minutes

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Niagara Falls. Take a boat tour to get up close to the falls or marvel from many of the jaw-dropping viewpoints.

🚗 447 miles ⏱️ 4 hours, 45 minutes

Explore vibrant Detroit, known for its automotive history and revitalized downtown area. This dynamic city is a must-visit.

🚗 860 miles ⏱️ 8 hours

Needing little introduction, New York City is brimming with world-renowned attractions. Make sure to visit a Broadway show, explore Central Park and Times Square, and admire the Statue of Liberty.

🚗 450 miles ⏱️ 4 hours, 20 minutes

Discover the capital city of Canada, Ottawa, with historic landmarks and national museums. Parliament Hill, the Canadian Museum of History, is just one of the highlights.

Nova Scotia

🚗 1,985 miles ⏱️ 20 hours, 15 minutes

Visit unforgettable Nova Scotia, with rugged coastlines, pretty fishing villages, and historic sites. The Cabot Trail and interesting town of Lunenburg are both must-visits. As is a taste of the delicious seafood.

Algonquin Provincial Park

🚗 306 miles ⏱️ 3 hours, 20 minutes

At stunning Algonquin Provincial Park you can expect pristine lakes, forests and wildlife in abundance! A must for outdoor fans, explore the hiking trails and go canoeing or kayaking.

🚗 600 miles ⏱️ 6 hours, 30 minutes

The historic charm of Montreal, with cobblestone streets and lively festivals makes it pretty special. Head to Old Montreal, climb Mount Royal, and delight at trying the renowned bagels.

🚗 1,120 miles ⏱️ 13 hours, 20 minutes

With iconic architecture and world-class museums with sites such as Millennium Park, Chicago has plenty to offer. Plus you can unwind after all that exploring with a tasty deep-dish pizza.

Myrtle Beach

🚗 1,640 miles ⏱️ 19 hours, 30 minutes

Relax on the sunny beaches and enjoy the lively entertainment scene of Myrtle Beach. Whether you're golfing, shopping, or dining, there's something for everyone.

New Orleans

🚗 2,090 miles ⏱️ 20 hours

With a rich history, New Orleans has an unrivalled music scene, with Mardi Gras a must-visit festival. Make sure a visit to French Quarter and steamboat cruise on the Mississippi are also on the to-do list.

Newfoundland

🚗 2,325 miles ⏱️ 29 hours

Enjoy an unforgettable journey to Newfoundland, with its enchanting coastline. Explore Gros Morne National Park, visit historic St. John's, and witness icebergs along the coast.

Thousand Islands

🚗 354 miles ⏱️ 4 hours, 30 minutes

Cruise through Thousand Islands, where clear waters and charming islands await. Take a boat tour, go kayaking, or explore historic castles in this picturesque region.

🚗 1,231 miles ⏱️ 11 hours, 50 minutes

Nashville, renowned for its music scene, isn't just for country music lovers. Check out the legendary honky-tonks on Broadway, visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, and indulge in delicious Southern cuisine.

Quebec City

🚗 800 miles ⏱️ 8 hours

Step back in time and explore the historic charm of Quebec City, with its cobblestone streets, fortified walls, and European ambiance.

Washington DC

🚗 805 miles ⏱️ 9 hours

Discover the iconic landmarks of Washington DC, the capital of the United States. National Mall, Smithsonian, White House and the Lincoln Memorial are just some legendary sites.

Lake Ontario

🚗 917 miles ⏱️ 10 hours, 30 minutes

Explore the scenic beauty of Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes of North America. Enjoy waterfront activities like boating and fishing, or just relax and take in the stunning views.

Bruce Peninsula National Park

🚗 298 miles ⏱️ 3 hours, 40 minutes

Expect an adventure when you arrive at Bruce Peninsula National Park. The ancient forests make way for memorable hikes along the Bruce Trail, where you can visit the famous Grotto, and enjoy views of Georgian Bay.

Lake Michigan and Lake Huron

🚗 2,650 miles ⏱️ 26 hours

Journey around Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, with stunning coastline and charming waterfront towns. There are plenty of options for some rest and relaxation on sandy shores as you make your way.

🚗 2,130 miles ⏱️ 21 hours, 35 minutes

Experience the magic of Orlando, home to world-famous theme parks like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld.

🚗 980 miles ⏱️ 11 hours, 30 minutes

Explore the rich history and vibrant culture of Boston, one of America's oldest cities. Walk the Freedom Trail, visit historic landmarks like the Boston Tea Party Ships, and indulge in delicious seafood at Quincy Market.

Manitoulin Island

🚗 596 miles ⏱️ 6 hours, 30 minutes

Discover the natural beauty of Manitoulin Island, the world's largest freshwater island. Explore scenic trails, visit charming villages, and learn more about the Indigenous culture at museums and art galleries.

Philadelphia

🚗 1,046 miles ⏱️ 11 hours

Discover the historic charm of Philadelphia, home to attractions such as Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Make sure to order a delicious Philly cheesesteak during your visit.

🚗 1,054 miles ⏱️ 11 hours, 40 minutes

From the bustling boardwalks of Atlantic City to the scenic beauty of the Jersey Shore, there is plenty to enjoy when you visit New Jersey. Great fun for the whole family along the coast.

🚗 1,670 miles ⏱️ 28 hours

The beaches of Miami are renowned, as is the art deco architecture and Latin cuisine. After dancing the night away, relax on South Beach.

🚗 208 miles ⏱️ 2 hours, 10 minutes

Escape to the serene wilderness of Muskoka, known for its outdoor adventures, with some of the finest trails in Ontario's cottage country.

🚗 550 miles ⏱️ 6 hours, 50 minutes

Discover the rich history of Cleveland, home to world-class museums. Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, explore the Cleveland Museum of Art, and enjoy waterfront dining along Lake Erie.

🚗 311 miles ⏱️ 4 hours, 3 minutes

Explore picturesque Gananoque, gateway to the stunning Thousand Islands region. Cruise the scenic waterways, visit landmarks like Boldt Castle, and experience outdoor adventures in this waterfront town.

Longer road trips from Toronto

Quebec and Saguenay Fjord

🚗 2,850 miles ⏱️ 32 hours

Embark on a journey to Quebec and the stunning Saguenay Fjord, where historic charm meets natural beauty.

🚗 3,300 miles ⏱️ 33 hours

Discover the vibrant city of Calgary, gateway to the Canadian Rockies and host of the famous Calgary Stampede, bursting with western hospitality.

🚗 3,420 miles ⏱️ 34 hours

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Banff National Park, renowned for its rugged mountains, turquoise lakes, and plentiful wildlife.

Thunder Bay and Quetico Provincial Park

🚗 3,450 miles ⏱️ 36 hours

Explore the scenic wonders of Thunder Bay and Quetico Provincial Park, where outdoor adventures like canoeing, hiking, and wildlife spotting await you.

Los Angeles

🚗 2,700 miles ⏱️ 72 hours, 25 minutes

Experience the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles, where Hollywood dreams come to life amidst palm-lined streets and sunny beaches.

🚗 4,465 miles ⏱️ 45 hours

Journey to the coastal city of Vancouver, nestled between mountains and ocean, with diverse neighborhoods, and stunning natural beauty of British Columbia.

Already have an account? Log in

8 Easy Road Trips From Toronto To Try In 2024

Toronto is packed full of fun activities with kids ; however, sometimes you just want to escape the busy city life and check out the other amazing attractions in Ontario. So pack up the car and the kids and head out to explore these scenic drives from Ontario that are truly “ Yours to Discover. ” 

There are so many road trip ideas from Toronto, and it can be hard to narrow down the choices, so our goal is to provide you with some insight to make the best choice for your family based on your interests. We also have included the distance and time it takes to reach that destination from Toronto, as depending how much time you have to explore will impact which road trip you choose.

If you are looking for fun and adventure, check out these 10 Road Trips from Toronto, including One Day Road Trips and Weekend Road Trips!

• You’ll find all our favorite Canadian Road Trips here!

Easy One-Day Road Trips From Toronto

There are lots of nice drives from Toronto that allow you to truly discover how different the rest of Ontario is from the city center hub of Toronto.

Ontario is such a beautiful province to explore and discover, and there are so many scenic drives from Toronto that can be completed within a day and don’t require an overnight stay. All of these drives are 200 kilometres and below.

Check out some of the best scenic drives near Toronto that will help you escape the loud noise and busy atmosphere of Downtown Toronto, even if you don’t have a few nights to spare for a weekend getaway .

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Distance from Toronto ~ 128 KM via The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) (1 hour and 20 minutes)

Known as one of the world’s top natural wonders, Niagara Falls is beautiful to visit, no matter the season. Enjoy watching the thunderous waterfall by boat, or get an up-close look with Journey Behind the Falls. For those who love thrill and adventure, then you will want to try the zipline over the falls over the Niagara River Rapids.

As you walk along the pathway near the falls, you can also stop at one of the many local restaurants, shops, or breweries that are located only minutes from the falls. In the summer, you can enjoy a peaceful walk through Canada’s largest rose garden in Canada at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens .

The fun doesn’t stop there as Niagara Falls is home to many family-friendly tourist attractions, including Safari Niagara, Butterfly Conservatory, Whirlpool Aero Car, Ripley’s Wax Museum, Ferris Wheel, outdoor mini golf, and much more! There is an activity for families of all ages.

Pro Tip : Search for coupons online before heading out, as many attractions offer discounts, including Attractions Ontario .

Muskoka, Ontario

Distance from Toronto ~ 220 KM via Highway 400N and Highway 11 (2 hours and 30 minutes)

Enjoy the picturesque scenery of forests and over 1000 lakes in the Muskoka region, making it a popular destination in the summer for boating, swimming, paddling, and fishing. The lush natural forests are perfect for hiking and mountain biking. 

Muskoka is home to a connection of small lakes, rivers, and streams that bring many tourists in the summer to enjoy a relaxing time by the water in one of many charming small towns. Many people enjoy renting boats to check out caves and small private islands. 

Muskoka is a great place to visit in the winter as it offers amazing winter activities, including sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, skating on frozen lakes, and dog sledding. There is nothing better than stopping by a local restaurant to warm up with hot cocoa and a yummy snack.

Pro Tip: No trip to the Muskoka’s is complete without trying local Kawartha Dairy ice cream which is one of the best ice creams ever. Also, on the way up to the Muskokas, make sure to stop for a snack at Weber’s BBQ, where you can enjoy burgers, fries, and milkshakes in a converted train car.

Collingwood, Ontario

Distance from Toronto ~ 162 KM via Highway 400N and Highway 26 West (2 hours)

Nestled along the shores of Lake Huron, Collingwood is an outdoor wonderland year-round, as the area offers both summer and winter outdoor activities. Collingwood is a great getaway from city life as it offers a relaxing environment not too far from home. 

In the winter, check out Blue Mountain for some awesome skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and skating. Once you are ready to relax after a long day of winter sports, then check out the Scandinave Spa, which encourages a cycle of saunas, hot and cold plunge pools, hammocks, and fire pits. 

The summer offers multiple outdoor fresh air experiences, including beautiful beaches, local hiking trails, and a gondola. Families can enjoy playing mini putt, ziplining, and the ropes courses or stop by the Scenic Caves to explore the unique caves and Southern Ontario’s longest zipline.

Prince Edward County, Ontario

Distance from Toronto ~ 204 KM via Highway 401 East (2 hours and 11 minutes)

Prince Edward County is known for picturesque small towns that have unique boutique shopping and tasty local restaurants. Some of the best local Ontario wines are created in the countless vineyards in Prince Edward County. Wineries, craft breweries, and cideries are open year-round to grab a drink. 

Stop by for a visit to Picton and stroll through the main street of antique stores, small boutiques shops, and check out the historic Regent theater. Stop by the Beacon Bike and Brew coffee shop for a beverage and a snack.

This small island can be accessed by one of 4 bridges or the small ferry. This cluster of hamlets and villages offers beautiful wineries to visit, farm-fresh farm-to-table meals, and nature and art experiences.

The region is deeply rooted in agriculture, and whether you stop by a vineyard, farm stand, or local restaurant, you are sure to experience ever-changing menus inspired by the season. Take your time and check out the Taste Trail to discover the best food and ice cream around!

Prince Edward County is home to beautiful shallow beaches that are perfect for kids to take a dip and splash around. Check out the Bay mouth barrier sand dune formation at SandBanks Park and explore the different rolling sand dunes along the branch. Sandbanks is a beautiful park to explore the hiking trails throughout the park.

Pro Tip: If you plan on taking the ferry, then plan ahead, as the ferry only holds 21 cars

Elora, Ontario

Distance from Toronto ~ 115 KM via Highway 401 East (1 hour and 15 minutes)

Check out one of Ontario’s Most Beautiful Villages in Ontario, as this small town offers an activity for everyone in the whole family. The shopaholic of the family will enjoy checking out the local unique small businesses that offer unique products and gifts located in Elora Mews which is a quaint little shopping area.

The foodie of the family will enjoy local restaurants and cafes, including the famous Lost and Found Cafe, which serves coffee that has been roasted to perfection and offers a small-town community vibe as it is a gathering place for the local community.

Elora Gorge is a natural area in the Grand River Valley area and offers a beautiful lookout point on the Elora Gorge Trail as the Grand River cuts through the area surrounded by high rock cliffs. Down below, you will often see tubing and paddling kayakers navigate the rough waters. Another unique trail to check out is the Trestle Bridge which is a 1KM loop that is suitable for younger kids.

No day is complete without visiting the Elora Quarry , which is a 12-meter-high limestone quarry that offers beautiful swimming conditions and tree-covered picnic spaces.

Pro Tip : The Elora Quarry tries to limit environmental impacts, so they have a 1300-person maximum daily, so arrive early to beat the rush.

Weekend Road Trips from Toronto

Weekend Road Trips are a great way to explore unique parts of the province of Ontario and explore different regions and local activities.

Expect lots of different attractions, including wineries, outdoor activities, museums, and much more! Embrace all that Ontario has to offer by exploring on weekend road trips.

Sudbury, Ontario

Distance from Toronto ~ 404 KM via 400 North (4 hours)

Sudbury offers beautiful scenery and has a rich mining history, and is known as “Nickel City.” Sudbury has beautiful hiking trails at Onaping Falls , where you will find a 55-meter waterfall.

However, the best viewing point is from A.Y. Jackson Lookout. Explore dense forests and beautiful bridges that cross the riverbed, or stop by the visitor center to learn more about local geology.

Sudbury is home to Science North , one of the Top 10 Science Centres in Canada, and has four levels of interactive displays for kids to do what they do best – explore and learn through play.

Be sure to check out the planetarium and Imax theater, as it’s an unforgettable experience for kids. Don’t forget to take an Instagram-worthy photo with the Big Nickel, which is over 9 meters tall.

Dynamic Earth is also great for kids, as the hands-on displays will teach kids about mining and rocks. Kids will enjoy panning for gold during Mine Training. The main attraction will take you deep below the earth to truly explore more about mining, including simulated explosions.

Tobermory, Ontario

Distance from Toronto ~ 273 KM via Highway 10 and Highway 6 N (3 hours and 22 minutes)

Bruce Peninsula park is located on the traditional lands of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation in Tobermory, so the land is rich in history and offers a naturally beautiful environment to explore.

Tobermory has multiple beautiful beaches, and a popular attraction called the Grotto that takes you through ancient cedars and a limestone cave that leads you to the beautiful beaches that have turquoise waters to swim.

Nearby is the Fathom Five National Marine Park , which has 24 historical shipwrecks that can only be viewed by scuba diving or taking a glass bottom boat tour.

Don’t miss out on taking the ferry and exploring Flowerpot Island, a natural sea stack in the shape of a rock pillar. While on the island you can explore caves, hiking trails, and a historic lighthouse.

Point Pelee Island, Ontario

Distance from Toronto ~ 350 KM via 403 West and 401 West (3 hours and 30 minutes)

Pelee Island is a great location for adventure while enjoying beautiful surroundings. To access Pelee Island, you will have to first drive to Leamington and then catch a ferry to Pelee Island, which takes about 90 minutes. Point Pelee offers the perfect amount of history, fun, and relaxation for families of all ages.

Visit the southern point of Ontario, known as one of Canada’s Best Kept Secrets, and experience all the island has to offer. If you enjoy outdoor activities, you will love biking around the island, hiking along the trails, and swimming at one of the beautiful beaches.

Pelee Island is a calm and relaxed environment that offers new sights and sounds to explore, including historic sites, boutiques, and amazing food and drinks to enjoy! If you enjoy wine, stop by the Pelee Island Winery , as the weather in the area is perfect for winemaking.

Top Tips For Planning Road Trip Ideas from Toronto

• Ontario has 23 On Routes which are travel plazas that offer food and beverages, restrooms, and gas, all in one convenient plaza located just off the highway exit, perfect for road trips and planning out emergency pit stops.
• Highway 407 , a 150 Kilometers long toll highway, encompasses the Greater Toronto Area and may be faster to take when heading out on a road trip but be prepared; you will be billed for tolls if you don’t have a transponder.
• You can check road conditions and traffic with CP 24 before heading out on your road trip.
• Never forget an important road trip item again! Use our Downloadable Road Trip Essentials List before your next family road trip.

Exploring More Of North America By Road

The fun doesn’t end in Ontario; we also have detailed guides to:

• Taking on a Toronto To New York Road Trip
• Explore more of Upstate New York and the northeast USA on this drive Boston to Toronto
• Heading east, try these 5 Incredible Scenic Drives in Nova Scotia
• Heading west, discover the best of BC and Alberta Road Tripping From Vancouver To Banff
• Or for an even longer adventure, you can even drive all the way from Toronto to Vancouver !
• Skip some of the long stretches and focus on these 13 Sensational Stops From Calgary to Vancouver
• Get deeper into the Rockies, explore Banff to Glacier National Park (USA) By Road

© Family Road Trip 2024

About Family Road Trip

Similar Posts

Scenic Stops On A Yosemite to Lake Tahoe Road Trip

Ready for the ultimate Yosemite to Lake Tahoe road trip? We’ve got you covered! Notorious for its world-class rock climbing opportunities, Yosemite National Park is also famous for its ancient sequoia trees, impressive granite monoliths, and roaring waterfalls that spew over cliff sides. And more than that, the breathtaking scenery that comes with these natural wonders! Then, we have Lake Tahoe, reputed for its crystalline turquoise waters that functions as one of the purest lakes known on the planet….

Exciting San Diego to Grand Canyon Road Trip Itinerary

If you are a fan of beautiful sights and outdoor activities, a visit to the Grand Canyon National Park is an absolute must! The drive from San Diego to the Grand Canyon, although long, is filled with beautiful landscapes and can’t-miss sights to see. There are a couple of options as far as the route you choose to take, and depending on which you select, there are great activities and fun experiences to enjoy along the way.  We have…

11 Breathtaking Winter Wonderland Destinations in the USA

If you prefer to embrace the cold rather than escape it, chances are you’re already plotting your next getaway to make the most out of the winter this season.  Skiing, charming towns blanketed in snow, cozy restaurants, and snow-capped peaks are all part of what makes visiting a winter destination the dreamy experience that it is.  If you’re wondering where to visit this winter, here are some of the best winter wonderland destinations to visit in the United States! …

12 Sensational Southern USA Road Trip Ideas

No country in the world does road trips quite like the United States, and Southern USA is where you’ll find some of the best of them.  A Deep South USA road trip is an experience like no other. Thanks to its humongous size and the plethora of states it contains, the southern region of the USA provides some of the best roads and highways out there, each one with a very different cultural flavor and scenery than the last! …

12 Best Family Vacation Spots on the East Coast USA

The East Coast in the United States spans over 2,000 miles traveling from Maine to Florida, and has so much to offer as a family vacation spot. From world-class museums, some of the most historical sites in the country, and breathtaking views, the East Coast is the place to be when planning a family vacation. Because there is so much to see, there are hundreds of the greatest east coast family vacation spots, and it can be a bit…

Sensational Sunflower Farms In New Jersey

You probably thinking of the midwest as soon as we mention sunflower fields, but did you know New Jersey is also home to dozens of incredible and picturesque sunflower farms? Forget berry picking and corn mazes, in summer and early fall it’s sunflower mazes that rule supreme in NJ! Most sunflower blooms in New Jersey can be found in the latter part of summer and even through to early fall, providing the perfect segway to apple picking and pumpkin…

Top 10 Summer Road Trips for a Perfect Family Vacation with Kids

Disclosure: this post is written in a brand partnership with infiniti. all opinions are my own.,   does your family love a good summer road trip.

I have to be honest, I was a little nervous the first time we set out on a big family road trip. I had tons of fond memories of summer road trips with my sisters growing up. But still I wasn’t sure I’d love the time on the road with my toddler.

Luckily, my son loved a good family road trip as much as I remembered loving it when I was a kid. And, since hitting the road for that first family adventure was a success, we now like to plan several road trips during the summer months! There’s something rather magical about loading the car up with all sorts of stuff and hitting the road that makes for a perfect family vacation!

Every family road trip deserves a great family SUV!

With road tripping in mind, I recently leased a new car, the Infiniti QX 60. I love driving it! It’s a crossover SUV that’s got 3 rows of seating, great technology, and lots luxurious of bells and whistles. Making for the perfect setup for a comfy road trip.

I love driving my crossover and knew right away that that the QX60 would be a great SUV to load up and hit the road. So, I’ve been making a list of summer road trips I want to take over the next 3 years during my QX60 lease.

Some of these trips I’ve taken before and can’t wait to repeat. Others are trips I have planned for the near future. And, a few are on my bucket list for the next few years.

Here’s my list of Top 10 Summer Road Trips for a Perfect Family Vacation with Kids:

Vail is the first city on my road trip bucket list! I’ve only visited Vail in the winter and fall months, and I’ve always wanted to visit in the Summer. Why? First off, all of the photos I’ve seen of Vail during the summer are absolutely stunning. Also, I’m not a skier like my son Harry. I know I’d enjoy partaking in the summer activities.

I’m most interested in visiting Epic Discovery.

Epic Discovery is the on-mountain summer experience at Val that’s all centered around learning through play. Families can play together at Epic Discovery and challenge themselves on the trails, zip line, and more.

Here’s a few more amazing things to see and do in Vail this summer :

Watch or compete in the GoPro Mountain Games, go white water rafting, soar up in a hot-air balloon, family hiking, exciting fly-fishing, river kayaking, horseback riding, cattle drives, and more!

If I don’t make it to Vail this summer I will for sure get there by next year!

If you’ve followed my travel stories, you’ve probably figured out by now that we are big fans of Walt Disney World. We most recently visited Disney World in January and saw all of the construction being done at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to prepare for the opening of both Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land. We can’t wait to see how the park will be transformed with the additions of these awesome new lands.

Toy Story Land Opens this summer!

This summer is a great time to plan a road trip to Orlando because Toy Story Land is opening at Walt Disney World on June 30th. My family is so excited to play big together at Toy Story Land!

Our favorite Hollywood Studios ride has always been the Toy Story Mania ride . And, my son Harry’s first words were Woody & Buzz, so we can’t wait to ride the Slinky Dog roller coaster and the Alien swirling saucers ride.

Glacier, Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks

Our first road trip scheduled for this summer is to Montana. It’s my first trip to Montana and I’m thrilled to check another state off my must see list!

Going Luxury Glamping!

We are excited to kick off our trip at The Resort at Paws Up for some serious glamping as a family! I’ve had The Resort at Paws up on my bucket list for a long time and we are all anxious to explore the luxury ranch together and enjoy an unplugged family vacation. We are excited to enjoy outdoor activities like rafting and fishing.  We also can’t wait to check out their new state of the arts ropes course.

Next Stop: Glacier, Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks

After our stay at The Resort at Paws UP we are driving to Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I can’t wait to explore these gorgeous national treasures in Montana and Wyoming . I’ve been reading lots of guidebooks and I’ve looked to friends for tips and guidance on where to stay and what to see.

I’m most excited to see all of the diverse wildlife in their natural habitat and finally see Old Faithful! I’m sure I’ll have lots of tips and tricks for visiting that I will share here when I return home.

California Coast

For Spring Break this year we went on an epic luxury California Coast Road trip. I loved this trip so much that I’d do it again in a heartbeat! This trip is amazing – it’s a family road trip I’d recommend every family be sure and take with kids at some point!

We Drove North up the California Coast starting in San Diego

We started off in San Diego and stayed and the fabulous Pendry Hotel in the Gaslamp district. San Diego is a super fun city to explore with kids for a few days. It’s exciting to see everything from the San Diego Zoo , to the beaches, and maybe even stop by Legoland!

Over 10 days we leisurely drove up the California coast.  Stopping next at Montage Laguna Beach Hotel for a luxury stay and some fun playing at the beach.

Then we took our time making our way north with stops to explore in Newport Beach, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Solvang, and Pismo Beach. We made it to the California Central Coast and spent an unforgettable night at the famous and historic Madonna Inn .

Continuing North

Continuing north we stopped to tour the historic and grand Hearst Castle . The road to Big Sur was closed so we did a detour thru the mountains that was absolutely spectacular. Pebble was our next stop and we stayed at the Inn at Spanish Bay for 3 fabulous nights. Staying at a Pebble Beach Resort was perfect for exploring the famous 17 mile drive, driving down to take in the breathtaking views of Big Sur, visiting the Monterey Aquarium, and more. We don’t golf, but if we did we most definitely would have booked a few rounds on the famous Pebble Beach golf courses.

Final stop San Francisco

Finally we headed toward San Francisco. We stopped in Santa Cruz on the way to witness the redwoods and play together at the old fashioned boardwalk. Then we arrived at The Palace Hotel in San Francisco ready to relax and enjoy our gorgeous suite. San Francisco is so amazing for kids! We stopped to fly kites by the golden gate bridge, explores Fisherman’s Wharf, grabbed a sundae at Ghirardelli, and rode a trolley before heading home from our great California road trip!

Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks

My husband and I returned yesterday from a trip to Las Vegas. When I was there I remember reading a post that Rebecca Hoffman wrote about a fun family road trip starting and ending in Vegas that includes visits to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks.

I think this trip sounds amazing! I’ve never been outside of the strip in Vegas and I’ve always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon and Zion. I hope to fit this trip in over the next year. If not this summer then perhaps over spring break?!

Niagara Falls

The first family road trip that we took with my son Harry was a trip to Toronto and Niagara Falls. I didn’t expect to enjoy Niagara Falls but we had a blast!

I’ve recommended this trip to so many people since we returned as a great trip with little kids. Our photos from this trip hold such special memories from the boat ride up to the falls, to the fireworks over the falls, to roaming the strip of arcades and amusement rides after dark.

I know Harry is dying to take this trip again, and it was super fun!

Can you believe I lived an hour from Milwaukee for 15 years before I ever visited? We took our first family road trip to Milwaukee two years ago and fell in love with the city. Milwaukee is always a fun place to visit , and it really shines bright in the summertime!

We plan to return for a weekend stay in Milwaukee this summer and take in a fest, see a Brewers vs. Cubs game, visit the Harley-Davidson Museum again, try some new restaurants and eat some delicious local cheese curds!

Washington DC

When I was fresh out of college a friend and I took a last minute road trip to Washington DC for the 4th of July. We stayed across the street from the White House at the Hays Adams hotel and had a blast exploring our nation’s capital. Seeing the the National 4th of July Parade and watching the fireworks from the steps of the capital was amazing. I’ve never felt so patriotic and American as I did on that trip!

Last year I took my son Harry sightseeing in Washington DC for the first time and he loved it! I’d love to take him back over the 4th of July to see those amazing fireworks and experience what I felt when I visited years ago!

You might not think of visiting New York City with young kids, but I promise you it’s fun! One of our favorite summer road trips was our trip driving from Philly to NYC. It was very fun to go sightseeing in NYC and see the city through the eyes of a 5 year old! We found great family friendly restaurants , explored Central Park, and took an amazing elevator ride up to see the unbeatable views of NYC from the One World Observatory .

Harry is really dying to see the Statue of Liberty again so I’m guessing another visit to NYC will be in the cards soon!

If you haven’t visited Chicago in the summertime you’d better add it to your list! There’s so much to discover with kids in Chicago it makes for an ultimate summer destination.

We live in a north shore suburb and take regular road trips into the city to explore all of the fun summer brings to Chicago .

We love to stay downtown , play at Maggie Daley Park , grab a great family friendly dinner , and top it off with a tasty dessert! It’s also fun to explore different neighborhoods and take in some culture. Visiting Chinatown is always a favorite.

Chicago has amazing museums. Our favorites include the Science and Industry Museum, the Field Museum, and the Shedd Aquarium .

Oh and don’t forget to take in a baseball game while you are in town! The Cubs play at historic Wrigley Field and the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Each field is a totally different experience and worthwhile to visit as a family- Especially if you are baseball lovers! I’m driving to the city tomorrow for my first Cubs game of the season and I can’t wait to get back to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field!

Now are you ready to plan some summer road trips?

I hope my list of awesome summer road trips inspired you to start planning your own family adventures!

As for me, I’m ready to hit the road in my new crossover SUV. We check our first summer family road trip to Glacier and Yellowstone off the list in just a few weeks! I know we will be spending lots of time in the Infiniti QX60 and we can’t wait to relax and enjoy the ride. It’s an AWD vehicle that I have confidence will do great on the scenic mountain drives.

Armed with 3 rows of comfy seating and the theater system in the backseat, my son Harry is looking forward to the ride too!

Where will you road trip with the kids this summer?

Like this post? Pin it for later!

Photos courtesy of Motortrend  , Infiniti USA , Vail Summer, Orlando Sentinel, The Resort at Paws Up, Trip Advisor

Sarah is a Chicago-based luxury travel influencer, Virtuoso luxury travel advisor, luxury family travel writer, an Oprah Daily Ambassador, and the founder of WellTraveledKids.com. Sarah’s best travel companion is her sweet 12-year-old son, Harry. Her favorite getaways include a luxe hotel stay, quality family playtime, champagne & chocolate-covered strawberries.

Find me on: Web | Twitter | Facebook

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Where to next?

Restorative luxury spa experience …, family date night kauai: …, hilton waikoloa village: big …, 30 days of grateful travel – …, las vegas, baby traveling …, best things to do …, a seven-year-old’s love …, tips & tricks for mickey’…, 4 reasons to visit barbados …, disney world adventure under …, active family vacation: club …, travel essentials for traveling …, top luxury resorts in …, palm beach date night ….