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MJ609 · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 144

HI,
My kids are just getting old enough that I am looking into a few places to go with them. Did you know the Toronto Zoo is $26 per person and parking is more?! African Lion Safari is $30pp?!
Even the indoor play centres in Milton are crazy. It cost me $15.80 last week for my two kids.
I love the farms in town but I was looking for something different.

Anyone else think this is insane? It doesn't help that the kids are free if Mommy and Daddy cost $60 plus parking!

johnsmith · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 203

I agree with you that attractions are really pricey these days. Not much you can do though.

We are going to try Martin's Fanatsy Island over in Buffalo next week. On Wednesdays, you can get a family of four into the park for 49 bucks. I have never been but it's worth a shot. Also, I can use this kiddie trip to bring back some good cheap beer.

prickly_pete · Joined: 07 Apr 2010 Posts: 871

What's a season pass at Canada's Wonderland worth these days?

Knave · Joined: 04 Feb 2009 Posts: 347

Kelso: $130 for your entire family for one entire year
Halton Falls is included in the above price.

Included activities:

1) Beach
2) Waterfall
3) Grass
4) Last year free movies (did they do that this year?)

If you go 10 times in a year, for a family 4, that works out to $3/person. Slightly cheaper than the zoo or wonderland. Parking is free, and hardly any gas is used to get there.

Instead of the indoor play centre, try the outdoor play centre, it is free.

If you really want the indoor playcentre, Skedaddle offers a discount after 4pm or so during the week.

Museums are fairly low-priced, with many free days.

Remember, a large marketing budget does not necessarily mean that your kids will derive more enjoyment from the activity. Frankly, I find many of the big-name attractions to be terminally boring. Wonderland, for example, is an exercise of standing in line.

Deep · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 586

rosewoodcouple · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 208

I was just having the same conversation with my husband yesterday
we took a family of 5 to Marine Land last week
admission was $140.00
brought $300.00 left with 10 for timmies :s

now we are saving up for Wolf lodge....

Too expensive
any suggestions on places to take the kids that are fun and don't break the b bank?
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turbo · Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 126

Toronto Zoo I think offers great value now with the Splash Pad... was just there yesterday! Adult fare is 23/ea but a family membership may work out for you: http://www.torontozoo.com/Membership/

Regarding waterparks, GWL is great but super expensive... our kids are still small (2 and 5) so Americana works great for us and offers much better value.

Fred D · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:19 pm Post subject:

We just took our son to the Children's Museum in Waterloo.

Teachers are free, kids under 3 are free, and I paid $10 to get in.
Municipal parking was a whopping 3 dollars, so we spent $13 total for a half-day of fun.
The museum is designed for kids a little older, but my little guy had a good time anyway! It was nice to hop in the car and try something different...

http://www.thechildrensmuseum.ca/web/

My guess is most people from the GTA would expect more from something called a 'museum', but we just went with zero expectations and had a good time!

AYS Mark · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 134 Location: Milton

We like taking the kids to this place instead of Toronto Zoo:

http://www.twinvalleyzoo.com/index.html

Way less expensive, and less hassle to get too. Sure you are missing some really big animals like Elephants, Giraffes, etc, but the main ones are there.
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prickly_pete · Joined: 07 Apr 2010 Posts: 871

Why not take them to see the riff-raff at the side of ppst99's house? It's free, local, and educational.

ppst99 · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1209

Please stop by my house to purchase tickets! Laughing

If you bring beer I will bbq! lol. It will be "dinner and a show" hahaha Laughing

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rosewoodcouple · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 208

Love it!!!!

That attraction sounds great!
On our way right now.
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laborbaglady · Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 92 Location: Milton

Check with your workplace. I think almost everyone has "deals" nowadays for various attractions.
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johnsmith · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 203

MJ609 · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 144

My kids are little so anything that isn't local is too far to take them before nap time. We do kelso but I wanted something different---like the zoo or safari. I like the look of that zoo someone posted in Brantford but it's way to far for two kids under 2.5. I have tried google for coupons but nothing for the zoo and only $2 off at the safari.