A Kids Guide To Durham Region

Collage of images showing kid-friendly activities in Durham. The first image is of children colouring on paper on a table. The second is of a child standing in a bowling alley with one foot up on a bowling ball.

Left: Station Gallery | Right: Volt Raceway

Keeping children entertained is no small feat, but in Durham Region there is no end to the activities that will leave the kids saying “best day ever”. From meeting local farm animals to the thrills of an indoor playground, or making their mark on the world in an art class, there are tons of ways for the youngsters in your life to create life-long memories in Durham.

Kid Friendly Restaurants And Cafes

Collage of images including a fork full of macaroni and cheese, a strawberry lemonade with a coffee trailer in the background, and a slice of cheese pizza being lifted up with serving utensil.

Left: Butchie's | Middle: Canter Coffee | Right: Pizza Pino by sellyfooddiary

Dining out with little ones can be challenging, but choosing the right restaurant can take the stress out of a family outing. Many restauranteurs put extra thought in how to cater to even the youngest of their clientele.

Ajax

Angelique’s Family Restaurant

Brock

Clarington

Bowmanville Family Restaurant

Oshawa

Pickering

Scugog

Haugen's BBQ Chicken & Ribs

Hyland Family Restaurant

Jester’s Court Pub & Eatery

Uxbridge

Whitby

Melly’s Workplace, Market and Cafe

Check Out Durham's Food Trucks

Learn Where To Find Local Food

Indoor Attractions And Entertainment For All Ages

Collage of images from indoor family attractions. The first image is of a family of three mini golfing, the second is of go carts rounding the bend on an indoor track, and the third is of two people navigating an indoor laser course.

Left: NEB's Fun World | Middle: Volt Raceway | Right: Activate

These weather-proof activities are a great reason to stay inside while still getting out of the house. No matter how hot, cold, rainy or snowy, the fun doesn’t stop at these kid-friendly places. Visit Durham’s indoor playgrounds, independently owned cinemas, and catch performances tailored to even the littlest of audiences like Disney On Ice and The Wiggles.

Indoor Family Attractions

Art Galleries and MuseumsFamily-Friendly Entertainment

Kid-Approved Adventures And Birthday Party Ideas

Collage of images including two children navigating a low ropes course, an image of children at a kids spa with their manicured hands up in the air, and an image of two children walking through a corn maze.

Left: Treetop Eco-Adventure Park | Middle: Glama Gal Kids Spa | Right: Buzzing Bees Adventure Farm

Head out for a day of fun and endless adventures with the whole family in Durham Region. Many of these kid-friendly spots make for a great day out and also specialize in hosting parties. Keep it classic with afternoon at the bowling alley or try something new like a ropes course or spa day.

Outdoor Winter Sports And Activities For Kids

Collage of images including young children riding a magic carpet lift to the top of a beginners ski hill, an image of children riding snow tubes down a snowy hill, and an image of two children ice skating on a frozen lake.

Left: Brimacombe | Right: Snow tubing at Ski Lakeridge | Right: Skating on Lake Scugog

Unlike bears, kids don’t have the natural inclination to hibernate over winter. Fully embrace the Great White North by bundling up and getting outside. Durham has plenty of activities that will get you moving so much that the cold won’t bother you anyway.

Outdoor Winter Activities

Snow SportsGuide To Skiing And Snowboarding In Durham

School’s Out For The Summer: Outdoor Activities

Collage of images including two children running through a splash pad, an image of someone holding up a freshly picked strawberry, and an image of two children walking across a bridge on a trail.

Left: Beaverton Harbour Park | Middle: Strawberry picking at Pingle's | Right: Beaver River Wetland

No more pencils, no more books, but still lots of energy and excitement. Cut down on screentime by planning days that will give your kids the best answer when asked “what did you do on your summer vacation?”

Fun Ways To Beat The Heat

Cycle in DurhamDurham TrailsPick-Your-Own Berry FarmsExplore The Great OutdoorsMust-Try Ice Cream

Family Friendly Events For Every Season

Collage of images including an image from the Mississaugas of Scugog Island Powwow, an image of a children ordering hot chocolate at an outdoor holiday event, and an image of a ferris wheel at a fair.

Left: Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation Powwow | Middle: Holiday in the Hills | Right: Brooklin Fair

There is no end to the events in Durham Region and many of them welcome the whole family to join in on the celebration. Whether it’s catching some live music or joining in on a holiday tradition, there’s always something happening to take the kids to.

Durham Tourism Events Calendar

Gather At The Farm

Fall Fairs

Holiday EventsSanta Claus ParadesMaple Syrup FestivalsEaster Events

Arts And Crafts For Creative Kids

A collage of images with children making art in a gallery and some creature sculptures created by children

Left and middle: Visual Arts Centre of Clarington | Right: The Robert McLaughlin Gallery

Give your little Picassos the room to fully express themselves by signing them up for one of the many classes at Durham’s art galleries. With a wide range of disciplines offered for a variety of ages, there are lots of opportunities to get those creative juices flowing.

Art Classes For Kids

Arts Unleashed - Pickering

Julie Claude’s Art Space - Pickering

Kids Art Talks - Port Perry

Living Room Community Art Studio

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery - Oshawa

Station Gallery - Whitby

Visual Arts Centre of Clarington - Bowmanville

Inclusive Spaces For Children

Collage of images including an image of two people working at a cafe, a person climbing an indoor climbing wall, and two children interacting with a horse through a fence.

Left: Melly's Market and Cafe | Middle: Aspire Climbing | Right: WindReach Farm by @ourownbackyard

All children benefit from inclusive environments and these local operators have taken steps to remove barriers to play and considered all abilities when designing their programming. You are encouraged to reach out directly to the business or organization to discuss your child’s unique needs.

Inclusive Spaces

Abilities Centre's Sensory Room - Whitby

Aspire Climbing - Whitby

Melly's Market and Cafe - Whitby

Nova's Ark - Brooklin

Precious Minds - Uxbridge

The Respite Club - Courtice

Snooze Room - Pickering

WindReach Farm - Ashburn

While you’re out exploring Durham Region, we’d love to hear what new experiences you tried and loved the most. Tag @DurhamTourism in your social posts so we can follow along!

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