I’m happy to introduce you to Lisa Goodmurphy from Gone With the Family. I absolutely love her blog where I learn about great, family-friendly activities in all the amazing places she goes—with the kids! Make sure to check out her full bio below to see all the different places she writes and the best ways to follow her.

Toronto is a wonderful, family-friendly city, but like most cities it can also be a very expensive place to visit.  This is especially true for families who have to multiply the costs of admissions, meals etc. by the number of members.  Fortunately, there are a number of things to do in Toronto that are fun for families but won’t break the bank.

1.  Parks/Green Spaces

The municipal government, which would like Toronto to be known as “the City within a Park”, is responsible for nearly 1500 parks within the city.  There’s no charge to take the kids to some of the cities great parks to run around and blow off steam.  One of the best in the city is High Park, a 161 hectare park located in the city’s west end which boasts hiking trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, gardens and a zoo.  The park is easily accessible by transit and is the perfect place to entertain kids for an hour or more with little expense.

2.  Ferry to Centre Island

Just a short ferry ride from downtown, visitors can escape the hustle and bustle of the city on the car-free Centre Island.  The ferry ride isn’t free but it is relatively inexpensive ($4-8) and for many kids the boat ride is an adventure in and of itself.  Parents will also enjoy the fantastic views of Toronto’s skyline on the boat ride to and from the island.  Once on the island, families can enjoy bicycle paths, a petting zoo, wading pools, swimming and other activities which are free or inexpensive.  Parents should be aware though that there is an amusement park on the island as well so they will want to steer clear if they wish to avoid the kids begging for rides.

3.  The Art Gallery of Ontario

The Art Gallery of Ontario (“the AGO”) is located in downtown Toronto and is one of the largest art museums in North America.  The AGO has a large Canadian collection as well as many masterpieces of European art, contemporary art and photography.  It’s a world-class art museum and it’s one of the most family-friendly galleries we have visited.  Families on a budget will also appreciate that entry to the permanent collections is FREE on Wednesday evenings from 6pm – 8:30pm.

4.  Riverdale Farm

Riverdale Farm is located in a park-like setting in the downtown Toronto neighbourhood of Cabbagetown and represents what a rural Ontario farm would have been like in the late 19th/early 20th century.  Visitors can tour the 7.5 acre farm property, observe the animals and chat with the farmers as they do their daily chores.  Homemade refreshments are also available in the Farm Kitchen.  Admission is always free at Riverdale Farm which is open year round and hosts a number of special seasonal events.

5.  Explore Neighbourhoods

Toronto is one of the world’s most multicultural cities and its neighbourhoods can be a lot of fun to explore with kids.  The best known are probably Chinatown, Greektown, Little Italy and Little India and a couple of hours in any of these neighbourhoods can feel like a day trip to another country.  Families can stroll the neighbourhoods and soak up the sights and sounds, browse the shops and sample authentic foods while spending far less than they would in malls or mainstream restaurants.

6.  Harbourfront Centre

Harbourfront Centre is a not-for-profit cultural centre located on Toronto’s waterfront which provides year-round programming as well as outdoor shows and events during the summer season.  Some of the offerings have an associated fee (particularly crafts workshops), however, there are many free events and activities as well.  For example, during the upcoming winter season, the Harbourfront Centre will have free skating all winter, free concerts, free holiday movies, a winter scavenger hunt, and a holiday market with free admission, free storytelling and crafts for kids in Miss Lou’s Room.  There are numerous festivals and events during the course of the year that will appeal to families as well.

7.  St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market has been thriving in downtown Toronto since 1803 and has recently been recognized by National Geographic as the number one food market in the world.  Anyone who enjoys food markets simply must make it a priority when visiting Toronto.  It’s absolutely free to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere of delicious sights, sounds and smells and it’s an ideal place to purchase an inexpensive lunch.  If you’re lucky then you might even find entertainment there too as it’s a popular place for buskers.

Lisa Goodmurphy is a lawyer living near Toronto, Canada. She left the corporate world to stay home with her two daughters, Katie and Emma (now aged 16 and 9). Badly bitten by the travel bug years ago, Lisa considers herself fortunate that her husband and kids are equally enthusiastic about exploring the world.

As well as writing about her family’s travel adventures on her blog Gone With The Family, Lisa has written for a number of travel websites and is a regular contributor at Travel Mamas as The Spunky Travel Mama. You can also follow her on Facebook, on Twitter as @GoneWithFamily and on Pinterest.

Toronto has amazing things to do for free as Lisa outlines.  If you’re looking to do more of the tourist-y things, CityPass offers a steep discount. Visit Toronto’s CN Tower plus 4 other attractions for up to 45% off with CityPASS!