ATTRACTION: Amusement parks & outings in the GTA

There are plenty of options for families hoping to add some thrills to their summer vacation activities when running through the backyard sprinkler, riding bikes and play dates at the local park become a little too routine.

Looking for a one-day shake-up? Check out some of the amusement parks in the GTA or within a few-hours drive.

Canada’s Wonderland

Canada’s Wonderland is a no-brainer for thrill-seekers and its newest ride makes it one of the premiere parks in North America when it comes to roller coasters. The park is now offering the chance to ride on the country’s biggest rollercoaster, Leviathan. The ride boasts a 93-metre climb followed by a lunch-losing 80-degree drop.

“What this coaster is all about is extreme speed,” park spokeswoman Dineen Beaven said. “This is a great ride for thrill seekers who are really looking for extreme thrills.”

Leviathan is Wonderland’s 16th roller coaster and it’s only for the big girls and boys — riders need to be at least 1.47 metres (four feet, eight inches) tall to get on.

Here’s a look at the ride’s specs:

  • Highest hill: 93.3 metres
  • Steepest Drop: 80 degrees 
  • Top speed: 148 km/h
  • Total length: 1,672 metres 
  • Scariest turn: hammerhead turn at 115 degrees that crosses above the park’s front gate
  • Ride time: 3m 28s

Also new at the park this season is the Dinosaurs Alive! exhibit featuring 40 life-sized animatronic Jurassic-period dinos, including T-Rex. It also features an area where kids can dig up the bones of a dino predator buried in the sand.

Dinosaurs Alive! costs an extra $5 on top of the regular park admission price.

Click here for more on Wonderland’s offerings and ticket prices.

Centreville

While Wonderland offers the newest and biggest roller coaster, Centreville Amusement Park at Centre Island offers a more than century-old carousel featuring neat wooden animals, including ostriches, lions and giraffes.

The fact that Centreville hasn’t changed much over the years adds to its charm. Parents who visited the island park as a child may be flooded with nostalgia when their kids ride the haunted barrel works, grab the wheel on one of the antique cars, or go for a relaxing ride on a giant swan.

The park opens on weekends starting May 5 and opens all week starting the first week of June. Click here for more schedule and admission information.

Wild Water Kingdom (Brampton)

The parks’ newest attraction, Face Drop, isn’t for chickens. Riders attached to zip lines plunge across the park at more than 50 kilometres per hour.

The amusement park features several water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, mist zone, a dolphin play area for young children, interactive fountains and the world’s only double-tipping bucket attraction that dumps 800 gallons of water on those looking to cool off.

Those who prefer to stay dry can check out the rock climbing wall, the volleyball courts, play a round of mini putt and at the end of the day watch a movie at the drive-in.

Click here for more information on the park’s schedule and ticket prices.


Fantasy Fair
(Etobicoke)

GTA families in a pinch to find fun won’t have to travel far. Fantasy Fair, located in the Woodbine Shopping Centre in Etobicoke, offers several rides, including bumper cars and boats, a carousel, tea cups, and slides.

The indoor amusement park is open all year round. Click here for more information.

The Wave Pool (Richmond Hill)

The only indoor wave pool in the GTA is open year round and features a beach entrance for all ages and abilities.

The facility also includes a sauna.

Click here for more information.

Wild Waterworks (Hamilton)

The Hamilton park features four tube rides, two body slides, a large wave pool and the Squirtworks area for toddlers.

The water park is located at Hamilton’s Confederation Park where families can have picnics, ride go-karts or test their baseball skills in the batting cages.

The park opens the first weekend of June. Click here for more information.

Marineland (Niagara Falls)

If you haven’t visited the Niagara Falls theme park before you probably know its theme song.
The park features amazing ocean creatures, including killer and beluga whales, and other animals including elk and deer.

Those looking for thrills can ride the dropping Sky Screamer and the Dragon Mountain roller coaster. The park also features some tamer rides, including the Lady Bug coaster, the Bumble Bee and the Space Avenger, among others.

The park is currently working on expanding with a 20-acre aquarium complex.

The park opens May 12. Click here for more information.

Niagara Falls waterparks

Great Wolf Lodge and the Fallsview Indoor Water Park both offer large indoor water parks.

Great Wolf Lodge offers more than a dozen slides and features for all ages. The family resort also has two restaurants. Click here for more information.

The Fallsview water park 16 water slides, including some as high as six storeys, a massive wave pool and other features. The facility is connected to three Niagara Falls hotels: Sheraton on the Falls, Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls-Fallsview Hotel and the Skyline Inn.

Water park and hotel packages are available. Click here for more information.

Storybook Gardens (London)

The London amusement park was built based on popular stories and fairy tales and is a great spot for families with young children.

Aside from rides, including carousels and carpet slides, the park also features Old MacDonald’s farm and a splash area. The Pirates’ Island offers a place where youngsters can climb on and explore a sunken pirate ship.

The park opened in April and remains open until September. Click here for more information.

Santa’s Village (Bracebridge)

If the warm weather has you pining for the holiday season families can drive up to Bracebridge and visit Santa’s Village.

The rides may not be as big as the ones at Wonderland but they’re ideal for smaller kids and those continually in the Christmas spirit.

The park’s roller coaster is good for people of all ages, there’s miniature train that travels across the grounds, a Ferris Wheel, peddle karts, a Moonwalk Air Bouncer, merry-go-round.

There’s also the Sportsland area featuring mini golf, go-karts and batting cages.

Santa’s Village opens June 9. Click here for more information on admission prices.

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