Museums and views in Chicago

[caption id="attachment_4602" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Us at Millennium Park[/caption]

As you will know if you read the blog posts by Jess and Robert, we spent a wonderful week in Chicago this summer. They have both written posts on what they particularly enjoyed and now it's my turn!

It seems pointless to go over the same ground that my children did! After all, I too loved the Escape Room (which Robert writes about in detail in this blog post) and the brilliant Chicago-themed Mini Golf. And, although I'm not a teen, I especially loved the bike tour which Jess describes, the trip to the beach and comedy at Second City. But there was also a lot more that we did, and which I am going to share with you here.....

A city of beauty

Chicago is, as both my children said, beautiful. It's a gorgeous place for a city-based holiday, and enhanced by the fact that it has extras you would never normally connect with a bustling metropolis - like its own beaches. It's also blessed with magnificent museums and other must-dos.

And fabulous views

I always love a view when I visit a city and in Chicago, we found that the best viewing point was the Skydeck at the Willis Tower (once known as the Sears Tower) which is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, at 1,353 feet. We headed there after a busy day out, doing our cycling tour, and a quick walk along Navy Pier, which is also great for views of the city (and snacks!).

We arrived at the Willis Tower as the sun was starting to go down. We headed up to the 103rd floor via a speedy lift, before walking around and enjoying the views of the city from up high. We decided to queue up to wait to use one of the glass bottomed viewing panels - called "The Ledge"  - which are basically boxes which take you about four and a half feet from the Skydeck, and were blessed with some wonderful views and colours as the sun went down. We had to wait around 30 minutes and I'm not sure if I would have done this if I had been with young children. However, it was absolutely worth it for us as I loved walking onto the platform and soaking up the views.

Amazing art (and architecture)

I knew that Chicago was home to some terrific art and, if you have any interest in art or architecture, this is a brilliant place to visit. The buildings are stunning and we would recommend a guided boat trip to fully immerse yourself. We used the Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture Tour and had a wonderful 75 minutes relaxing on the Chicago river while our guide, Kyle, told us everything we needed to know. It was absolutely worth doing - and we learnt a lot.

[caption id="attachment_4600" align="alignnone" width="1024"] One of the amazing views from the Chicago architecture boat tour[/caption]

We also visited the Art Institute of Chicago - and it is mind-blowing. Not only does it host such world-famous paintings as American Gothic and Nighthawks, but it also has some incredible Impressionists (it hosts the largest Impressionist collection outside Paris) and modern art, not to mention some beautiful Chagall paintings and much, much more, including whole galleries on ancient Greece and Africa. Its collections cover hundreds of years of art, and I would have stayed longer but my children had had their fill after a couple of hours!

[caption id="attachment_4601" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Brian by the "Bean" in Millennium Park in Chicago - as recommended by all guide books![/caption]

The Art Institute is right near Millennium Park, which is huge and wonderful. Do go there to visit Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate (known more colloquially as "the Bean") as it's really a must-do and a wonderful piece of art. In fact, there is art that you can just come upon across the city, including a mural by Chagall and other works by Miro, Calder and a wonderful piece which spurted out water called Crowne Fountain by Jaume Plensa. We discovered many of these on a terrific Chicago Greeter guided tour with a wonderful man called Bill. These tours (on any kind of topic you like)  are all free and organised by the city. Bill wouldn't even take a tip!

And natural history and science and industry

Another museum I would highly recommend was the Field Museum, which is Chicago's Museum of Natural History. This is brilliant for kids and adults, and unlike its equivalent in London, it wasn't too manic or chock-full of guests.

The museum has so many things for you to do - we visited the "brilliant bugs" exhibit and glanced at a number of others, including the hall of gems (which was very impressive). But what was really amazing was the dinosaurs, as this museum hosts SUE, the biggest and most complete T-Rex skeleton in the world! It is really astonishing, and the whole exhibit is done brilliantly, with many other fossils, dinosaur skeletons and excellent explanations which take you right through history.

[caption id="attachment_4605" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SUE - the skeleton of a tyrannosaurus rex[/caption]

The final museum we visited in Chicago was the Museum of Science and Industry. We had heard great things about this place and it was highly recommended by my friends who live in the city.

The first thing to say about it is that it is absolutely huge! There is masses to see, and there are also a number of extras (many of which cost more money) such as a coal mine or 4D films. I have a feeling that this is a museum which you would need to visit over and over again, but we were impressed (although many of the exhibits did seem dated).

[caption id="attachment_4606" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A newborn chick which we saw hatch![/caption]

The genetics section, where you could see chicks being born was amazing, while we also enjoyed the "Science Storms" section - watching tornados blow up around you was an experience. Seeing a real u-boat was remarkable (we didn't pay extra to go on, just looked from the outside) and we enjoyed the Mirror Maze and "You the Experience" too, although not all of the objects worked properly. I also explored Colleen Moore's fairy castle, which is like something you'd see in Las Vegas (I said it was a museum with lots of different parts!).

There are loads more museums in Chicago and also loads more to do overall. We had planned a visit to the Shedd Aquarium, but in the end we simply ran out of time, what with all the other places we went to, and the endless eating and general exploring. It is a beautiful place, which offers so much to people of all ages. We'd highly recommend a holiday there!

Disclosure: We were gifted a CityPASS for Chicago which gave us free entry into the Skydeck, Art Institute, Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry. CityPASS had no input whatsoever into this blog post, but we did think it was great having a pass which meant we could skip queues and visit places we might not have considered otherwise (like the Museum of Natural History). A CityPASS lasts for nine days and can also be used for the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium. It costs $108 per adult and $89 per child, which works out as a lot less than if you visited the attractions and paid at each one individually.

Don't forget to read Robert's post on Chicago and Jess's on what's best for teens.

 

5 things to do with teens in Chicago

By Jess, aged 17:

Over summer, our family spent the most amazing week in Chicago. Though very full on, we all had a fantastic time, and there is not one activity which I didn't enjoy. Chicago is a genuinely beautiful city; busy but not too loud or congested. There were things to do for all the family, and here are my highlights from the trip, which I think teenagers would particularly enjoy.

Baseball

I had really wanted to go to a baseball match as I felt it was a typical American thing to do. Instead of watching the more famous Chicago Cubs, we opted for the White Sox, and I had a really fantastic time. Unlike football games in the UK, the atmosphere was much more relaxed, with people walking around the whole time. I definitely enjoyed this, as I can get very stressed when watching live sports!

[caption id="attachment_4559" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] We really enjoyed watching the Chicago White Sox![/caption]

Despite never playing baseball before, the people sitting around us were more than willing to explain what was going on, and I found myself getting very engaged with the game. The experience felt very American, with an audience cam, lots of adverts for pizza, a fill in the song lyric game, and everyone standing up and singing "Take me out to the ball game" between the seventh and eight innings.

There were other activities in the stadium as well, such a speed pitching test and a free interactive centre for kids. Mum and I collected free badges and certificates to commemorate our first visit to the stadium, and the people sitting behind us were generous enough to give us White Sox temporary tattoos and t-shirts.

I would definitely recommend baseball games to people visiting the US - not only was the game exciting, but I loved getting a taste of what it's like to be a real American. Mum says that it was expensive though - and we were all shocked by the cost of the food and drink inside the stadium (a bottle of Pepsi was over $6!)

Our tickets to the baseball cost around $50 (they were more expensive because we chose to be under cover - a good decision, as it was very hot!).

Second City

Second City is a famous sketch and improvisational comedy troupe, known for producing stars such as Tina Fey and Steve Carell. I am a huge fan of SNL, and it was especially exciting spotting lots of famous names in the programme we were given. Our family saw a production named "Grinning from Fear to Fear", which included two sets of sketches and an improvisational section.

I thought the production was hilarious, and unlike anything I'd seen before. Ranging from meeting your girlfriend's parents to sleepless late night anxieties, the production was very well done, and I laughed more times than I can count. They also used a lot of suggestions from the audience and even brought people up onto stage.

This was definitely one of the highlights of my holiday.

Second City is not for younger children - the show we went to started at 8pm and didn't finish until nearly 11 and there was quite a lot of swearing in it. Tickets cost $52 each.

Cycling food tour

Cycling isn't something we do very often, so I was somewhat terrified at the prospect of cycling around busy Chicago streets. However, I shouldn't have worried: our Bikes, Bites and Brews tour with Bobby's Bike Hike was great. Our guide Ro was extremely friendly and enthusiastic, and she toured us for 13 miles across Chicago.

[caption id="attachment_4560" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] We loved all the food on our cycling tour with Bobby's Bike Hike, and the views were great too![/caption]

We sampled pizza, cupcakes, hot dogs, and drinks from all across Chicago, learning a lot about the city in the process. A particular highlight was eating delicious deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati's, and spending half an hour cycling down a cycle path right next to Lake Michigan. The views were brilliant, and it was very relaxing. The tour was both interesting and exciting, and we definitely wouldn't have had the confidence to ride around Chicago without a guide. The city was easy to ride around and the views were gorgeous.

I would definitely recommend cycling around Chicago, and there are lots of places to rent bikes from. Though we wouldn't have been able to navigate the streets by ourselves, the cycle path by the lake boasted brilliant views and was easy to make our way around.

This Bobby's Bikes, Bites and Brews cycling tour costs $66.75 for adults and $61.75 for students (Mondays to Thursdays) and lasts four hours. 

Disclosure: We were gifted the opportunity of taking part in Bobby's Bike Hire, the Bikes, Bites and Brews tour, in order to write about it. However, the company had no input whatsoever into this blog post.

Escape room

Our whole family loved going to an escape room at The Escape Game Chicago. Though only an hour long, our experience probably provided us with the most fun of anything we did over the holiday. Our challenge was called "The Heist", and our challenge was to retrieve a painting from the office of a man accused of stealing it.

[caption id="attachment_4557" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] We were pleased to find the painting with only two minutes to go![/caption]

I've been to three other escape rooms before, but this one was definitely the best. It was so well maintained, and some of the parts were genius. It was very difficult, but definitely not unmanageable or frustrating, and we were pleased to escape with two minutes remaining!

Escape rooms can be found all over the world and there are a copious amount in the UK alone, but I would recommend doing this one if you're in Chicago. We all had a fantastic time.

Read Rob's post on the Escape Game (he really loved it too!)
The Heist at the Escape Game costs $35.99 per person.

Beach

Chicago is particularly special as it is on Lake Michigan, so there are a copious number of beaches to relax on. We were all struck by the sheer size of the water - it seemed unfathomable that it was only a lake and not the sea! We went to the North Avenue beach, which was great as it was quiet, and there was a lot of space to sit down and unwind.

[caption id="attachment_4561" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Looking out to Lake Michigan on North Avenue Beach[/caption]

The water was ridiculously cold, but we appreciated that it wasn't salty like the sea. It also didn't get deep quickly, providing ample space for wading in the water and swimming. Chicago's beaches are especially notable as its gorgeous skyline is behind the lake, leading to gorgeous views wherever you look.

Overall, Chicago is a perfect place for teenagers, and I honestly enjoyed every aspect of the trip. Aside from these five highlights, there were so many other fantastic attractions, making the city perfect for all the family. I enjoyed incredible views of the city at the top of the Sears Tower, saw chicks being born at the Museum of Science and Industry, and looked at the largest T-Rex ever found at the Field Museum. Even activities which sounded boring, such as an architecture boat tour, were fascinating!

It may not a common holiday destination for those of us in the UK, but our trip to Chicago was great - both for the adults and the teens.

Read Rob's post on his two favourite activities: 

We also found useful information on the Choose Chicago website and the Enjoy Illinois website.

The best ever escape room and mini golf in Chicago

[caption id="attachment_4568" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Success![/caption]

By Robert, aged 14:

During the recent summer holidays my family and I decided not to exercise and get a typical summer body. Instead we opted to go  to America so our physique could resemble the jellybeans we learnt about on the Jelly Belly factory tour in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin (about an hour and a half from our base in Chicago). But whilst we gained pounds (and lost them at the currency exchange), the week we spent in Chicago was brilliant. I’ve been asked the question “What was your favourite bit?” multiple times since we got back from and every time I’ve replied with the same answer: “The escape room.” 

The Escape Game 

I’d been to three escape rooms in my life previous to this Chicago holiday and I had loved going every time. The one we went to in Chicago was run by the company The Escape Game. On offer at the venue we visited were five different experiences which varied in difficulty: Gold Rush, Mission: Mars, Special Ops: Mysterious Market, Prison Break and of course my favourite of all the ones I’ve done: The Heist. Unlike any escape room that I’ve partaken in before, this one actually had a proper storyline. Before we started, we were shown a video explaining our situation (that we were proving a dodgy art dealer to be a fake by stealing a painting) and this really made the next hour more exciting and fun. 



The rooms themselves were immaculately designed, they actually looked like what they were meant to be: a gallery, an office. There were no clues or objects that seemed out of place, which really made you feel like you were in the story. Also, in the British escape rooms that I’ve been to there have been many worn out props or creased laminated pages of which their sole purpose was to be a clue. The clues and rooms at The Escape Game were all in great condition, there were absolutely no puzzles that were just simply written on pieces of paper. 

[caption id="attachment_4570" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The rooms were so intricate - beautifully designed[/caption]

 

We managed to escape the room with under three minutes to spare and having only used about six  prompts or clues – which we used almost all in haste during the last few minutes! Unlike the typical “find some numbers and open up a cupboard with a padlock” puzzles which we were used to, The Heist would reveal something after we completed a sequence. An object or clue would appear on the floor or the table without us doing anything so it was really cool. 

[caption id="attachment_4567" align="alignnone" width="1200"] We had to rescue this fake picture (it took us a while to find it!)[/caption]

Overall I thought the whole thing was genius and I ended up repeating “that was so cool” over and over for the majority of the day! The storyline and unique puzzles made the experience thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced and exciting. There were multiple times (which I can’t mention in detail or else it will spoil them) that were outstanding and we keep talking about. I hope that, without mentioning anything about the clues or puzzles, I have conveyed how awesome this escape room was as we all thought it was brilliant and would definitely go back again. If only it wasn't so far away....

The Escape Game Chicago is located in River North and costs $35.99 per player, although there are often offers if you look out for them! 

City Mini Golf 

Another unique experience that we all really enjoyed was playing a round at City Mini Golf which is located in the beautiful Maggie Daley Park. The crazy golf course started off as a popup created by school teacher Rob Long, but then it became so popular that it has now become a permanent attraction at the park and was voted Chicago’s #1 Miniature Golf Course. 

Rob - who we actually met on the day that we went to have a game - makes all the holes himself and every year he expands the designs of the less exciting one. He told us that he already has many ideas for this winter meaning if you visit it will be even better than we went – and we really enjoyed it!  The setting for the game is lovely, with greenery all around you in the park and an open view of the amazing Chicago city skyline.  

The holes themselves were extremely innovative and unique as we had to putt the ball through or around intricately made models of Chicago landmarks: The Willis Tower, China town and even a miniature replica of Picasso’s Chicago Sculpture – as well as loads more.

[caption id="attachment_4576" align="alignnone" width="1200"] You can see the new China Town hole in the background![/caption]

I’ve been to quite a few mini-golf courses in my life and I’ve got to say that the NBA themed hole at City Mini Golf was one of the best I’ve ever played. You had to hit the ball up a ramp and land it in a basketball net which dropped it into tube facing the hole, it was so cool. At the end of the 18 hole course you get to put your ball into a game and if it lands in a certain place you win a free round. Out of the four of us we actually won this once meaning it’s not that hard to get another go at an already extremely good-value attraction. The balls were colourful and painted with designs, the holes were brilliantly crafted and overall it was a great place to come and have a fun time in Chicago. 

[caption id="attachment_4577" align="alignnone" width="768"] Mum by the brilliant Chicago Bulls hole[/caption]

City Mini Golf is located in the middle of Maggie Daley Park, just five minutes from the amazing Cloud Gate (the Bean)! It is open Monday-Thursday, and Sunday from 11-8 and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-9pm. It costs $11 per person, but if you live locally, you can get a whole season pass for $32!

Further reading:

NEW! Read about how we took part in a virtual escape room (but did we escape?)

NEW! Read Jess's account of our trip to Chicago, with her tips for teens.

Read about our trip to a London escape room, ClueQuest

Read about our trip to the biggest mini golf course in Europe

A visit to majestic Casa Loma - a castle in Toronto

I have always loved castles and history, but I was not expecting to see a castle in the middle of Toronto! However, Casa Loma (the “house on the hill”) was a joy to visit, an amazing place which had so much to see, we couldn’t even fit all of it in one day. I would highly recommend it to anyone, as it is beautiful, and it has a remarkable story behind it.

The castle – North America’s only “full sized castle” as it describes itself - is, as it name suggests,  situated on top of a hill with five acres of land around it. It is one of Toronto’s top tourist attractions, but that shouldn’t put you off. There’s a reason why it’s so popular.

Casa Loma was built in 1911 by Sir Henry Pellatt (who was of Scottish ancestry) and became the largest private residence in all of Canada. It took 300 men nearly two three years to complete (at a cost of an incredible $3.5m – back then!) We would highly recommend starting your visit by going downstairs and watching the documentary about the life of Sir Henry as it puts everything in context and is really interesting.

[caption id="attachment_4337" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The views were gorgeous[/caption]

Sir Henry was truly a remarkable, talented man. He became a successful stockbroker, as well as a successful middle distance runner, and proud military man, and travelled widely. He was also extremely modern and, having realised that supplying electricity could be extremely profitable, he founded the Toronto Electric Light Company in 1883. His company had a monopoly on the city’s street lights by the time Sir Henry was 30.

He also invested in the Canadian Pacific Railroad and made a fortune, and in 1902, he and his partners were awarded the rights to build the first Canadian hydro-generating plant at Niagara Falls. We saw this when we went to Niagara Falls, and it is quite a building! Sir Henry was knighted in 1905 for his military service (there is a Queen's Own Rifles museum at Casa Loma) and started his plans for Casa Loma after that. He had, at that time, a fortune of $17m (over $400m in today’s money). But the magic did not continue.

[caption id="attachment_4336" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Henry Pellatt's bedroom at Casa Loma[/caption]

The house went over budget and the Pellatts went into debt. This was not helped at all by the Toronto government who decided that private companies should not be able to own electricity. They took over the company – astonishingly, with no compensation offered. The same thing happened with the Niagara power generator, while the First World War made everything worse. Sir Henry's business decisions no longer seemed lucky. The company went into bankruptcy and he had to sell off his possessions – for a small percentage of its cost (there’s a newspaper report of this in one of the rooms).

Casa Loma is now owned by the city and it’s stunning. The film is eye-opening, and after you’ve watched it, you have a number of options. You can explore downstairs, or outside (definitely go out at some point, as the views of Toronto are wonderful). Before or after the film, make sure you do take a look at the video (on loop) which shows the huge number of films which have featured Casa Loma, from X Men to Chicago. But don’t restrict your visit to the basement area! There are also so many rooms inside, with wonderful furnishings.

[caption id="attachment_4333" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The shower was pretty modern for the early 20th century![/caption]

We spent a number of hours here, following the self-guided audio tour and so going up secret staircases and seeing servants quarters and family quarters. We admired at the modernity of Pellat’s bathroom (a shower with six taps coming out was a marvel back then) and the decor. The old telephones were fun, while the conservatory was utterly beautiful. Imagine entertaining there!

[caption id="attachment_4334" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The beautiful roof of the conservatory at Casa Loma[/caption]

We also queued up to go to the top of the tower, and although this took 20 minutes or so, I’d recommend it (though perhaps not if you have small children or walking issues as you go up a cramped staircase). The views from the battlements were great here too.

We didn’t make it to the tunnel, which connects Casa Loma to the stables and carriage house. It shows an exhibit of Toronto’s “Dark Side”, from Prohibition to The Great Toronto Fire. I wish we were nearer to go back and see it, but it’s rather far from London...

Overall, I loved the house and came away having thoroughly enjoyed myself, learnt a lot and felt sorry for Sir Henry Pellatt, and particularly how his fortune – and dreams – ended. We all had a great time and I would thoroughly recommend a visit.

Casa Loma is open from 9.30 to 5.30pm every day. It costs 24 CAD per adult, 20 CAD for 14-17 year olds and 15 CAD for ages 4-13. However, we went there via our CityPASS which enabled us to jump the queue entirely!

Disclosure: We were fortunate enough to be given a CityPASS to try out when we were in Toronto. This meant we got free entry into a number of attractions and, as importantly, that we skipped the queue! We genuinely thought the CityPASS was fantastic as it gave you freedom to do what you wanted, when you wanted – but the company had no input into our decisions of what to do, or what we wrote in this post. If you book your CityPASS online, it’s cheaper – 55 dollars per adult and 37 per child.

Read about our trip to Toronto in full, and all the other great things we did there.

Soft serve filled cakes at Eva's Original Chimneys, Toronto

Jess, aged 15, writes: During our short stay in Toronto, our family had an amazing time visiting Eva's Original Chimneys. This shop makes chimney cakes, rolls them in various toppings, and then fills them with different treats. The result was a massive and incredibly delicious snack which I would love to have again!

I had found Eva's Original Chimneys from a video online, and subsequently begged my parents to let us go. Luckily they agreed, and while the shop is not in the centre of the city, it was very easy to get there. Though we had no idea how to navigate the subway system, we easily found the neccessary stop and walked to the shop.

[caption id="attachment_4188" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] There was such a wide variety of choices![/caption]

Once entering the shop, we were greeted by chimney cakes of all shapes and sizes. Chimney cakes are Hungarian cake treats, which are generally rolled into a cylindrical shape. The chimney cakes had been rolled in different toppings, such as cinnamon sugar, coconut, and graham crackers. There was an option to buy the chimney cakes by themselves, but we opted for the more calorific versions...

I chose the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, which consisted of: a cone shaped chimney cake rolled in graham crackers, a chocolate to stop the toppings falling out, vanilla soft serve, berry coulis, cheesecake pieces, more soft serve, and strawberry sauce. Dad opted for a coconut themed option, mum tried a chocolate themed chimney cake, and Robert "made his own", choosing cheesecake, nutella, and pretzels.

[caption id="attachment_4189" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] With our treats![/caption]

When our chimney cakes arrived, we were astounded by their size. My one was taller than my head! The treat was scrumptious - especially the cheesecake and the cone. It was a really unique place to eat, tasted really good, and was generally really exciting. Our portion was so big that we had no reason to eat lunch, and were sated until supper.

Overall, we all had a really great time at Eva's Original Chimneys. It was a very special place with fantastic food, and I recommend it to anyone visiting Toronto.

You can find Eva's Original at 454 Bloor Street West, Toronto. The cones cost around 6-10 CAD each (that's around £3 to £6). Do note that it is a cashless shop, so bring a credit card!

Read about our trip to Toronto in more detail - and find out our tips for what to do!

Four days in Toronto with kids

Jess, aged 15, writes: We have just returned from a break in Toronto, Canada, where we spent four days discovering the city. We did everything from bus tours to cycling, and really loved our time in the city. There was a lot to see and do, the people were friendly, it was unusually clean for such a big city, and the attractions were very well done. Here are our highlights of the trip and what we'd recommend:

What to do

Jess writes: My favourite part of our trip to Toronto had to be the island cycling tour. We met our friendly and knowledgeable guide Mina early in the morning and were quickly armed with bikes and helmets. Soon, we found ourselves cycling downtown to the port, where we took a ferry to the Toronto Islands. We spent the morning cycling around the islands, and learning about their history. I particularly enjoyed visiting the beach, listening to ghost stories, and seeing the lighthouse. This was especially interesting as it was only built six metres away from the seafront, but sediment deposition means that it is now inland. We all had an excellent time - the islands were gorgeous, the stories were fascinating, and the cycling wasn't too strenuous. Despite not being used to cycling on roads, we all felt very safe. It was a wonderfully tranquil morning.

[caption id="attachment_4303" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Casa Loma was spectacular[/caption]

Brian says: One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Casa Loma, a huge medieval looking mansion surrounded by beautiful gardens and a fountain. The gothic exterior with its two towers in completely different styles makes it look a bit like a fairy tale castle.
We began our visit with the very interesting 20 minute newsreel type film about the life of Sir Henry Pellatt, the financier who spent millions building Casa Loma then was forced to leave in 1923 after going bankrupt. We really enjoyed looking at the film posters on the walls downstairs showing the many movies shot there, and there was also a TV screen showing some clips (e.g. X-men, Chicago, Cocktail etc) with captions letting you know which room had been used for that scene. We then took an excellent audio guide of the nearly hundred rooms, the most beautiful ones for me being the Round Room and the Conservatory. We then climbed up the narrow steps to the Norman tower, which gave stunning views of the city in the distance. We were there for about two and a half hours, and hadn’t seen everything we would have liked to (especially the secret tunnels) as we just ran out of time. It might be a tourist trap, but Casa Loma is definitely a must-see when you come to Toronto.

Read more about Casa Loma here, in a full blog post by Sarah.

[caption id="attachment_4304" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Ripleys Aquarium was a must-visit![/caption]

Robert, aged 12, writes: Ripley's Aquarium is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, tourist attraction in Toronto with so much to see and do for both kids and adults. There are loads of different creatures to look at including jellyfish, sharks, turtles and an octopus. Throughout the aquarium were loads of interactive things to play or touch. There was a section when you could feel how cold the water is for the fish, customise your own jellyfish or even feel some baby sharks. Some of the creatures were incredible to look at especially the ones in the tunnel - I loved watching the sharks swim over my head. Over all I had a really fun time and there was really something for everyone. There's even a play area for younger kids.

[caption id="attachment_4309" align="alignnone" width="1200"] If you like shopping, you need to visit the Eaton Centre![/caption]

Jess says: The Eaton Centre is the busiest shopping centre in North America, so we knew we had to give it a try. The Centre contains a range of shops (varying from high end to ones you may see on the high street) and we enjoyed walking around and finding chains which we don't have in the UK. We exited the complex with books, t-shirts, and trousers, and generally had a nice, relaxing time traipsing the stores.

Robert writes: One of the tallest, most symbolic buildings in Canada is the CN tower which can be seen from nearly all the city and even further away.

[caption id="attachment_4311" align="alignnone" width="1200"] View from the CN Tower[/caption]

Classified as one of the modern wonders of the world, the tower stands at 1,815 feet so the views are amazing. We went up the first viewing point which was great, you could see the whole city. You could pay extra to go up a few extra floors but it seemed pointless to me as it is the same view. One floor down were two glass walkways on which you could sit, jump or even lie on while looking down at the roads directly under your feet.

[caption id="attachment_4310" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert on the glass floor at the CN Tower[/caption]

I found the whole experience very enjoyable, but it was just another view which I've seen a lot of - and there were so many great things to do in Toronto that it wasn't my favourite.

[caption id="attachment_4308" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The spectacular Horseshoe Falls[/caption]

Sarah writes: It’s hard to tell you how wonderful our visit to Niagara Falls was without referring you to our full post on it (which you can see here!). It was, honestly, the most fantastic day and we cannot recommend it enough – it’s unlike anything else we’ve ever done.

[kad_youtube url="https://youtu.be/PhfPag2VQCw" width=200 height=100 ]

The Falls are majestic and beautiful, a real wonder of the world. And it doesn’t mater that Niagara is really busy, because all the people who are there simply want to enjoy what you do – extraordinary waterfalls!
I have never seen The Falls from the US side, but my husband assures me that the Canadian side, with the Horseshoe Falls, is far better. I can believe it. We experienced our trip from different angles – a helicopter above, a boat riding on and going down to see the Falls at the level at which they gush past. All were well worth doing.
We hired a car to get to Niagara and it took around two hours. We left early in the morning and would recommend that. It really was a wonderful day.

What to see

[caption id="attachment_4307" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The views from the islands were amazing![/caption]

Jess writes: Aside from Niagara, the best views on this holiday had to be on the ferry from Downtown Toronto to the Toronto Islands. During our cycling tour, we took a ferry from the port to Hanlan's Point, and the view was simply stunning. We had a clear, close up view of the Toronto skyline, the water shone in the sun, and there was a small breeze in our hair. It was truly lovely; very serene and tranquil. It made our visit to the islands even more special.

The City Sightseeing Toronto bus tour is another way to see the sights. The two hour journey takes you all around the sights of Toronto, giving lots of information. There was also a real guide, as opposed to listening through headphones and hearing the same annoying music again and again! The only negative of this was it could be difficult to hear the guide due to the microphone static. The trip was very pleasant, though traffic meant we moved quite slowly.

Where to eat

[caption id="attachment_4321" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The food at Eva's was so delicious![/caption]

Brian says: We ate some delicious food on our Canadian holiday, but Eva’s Original was one of the standouts. My sweet toothed daughter had found out about this before our visit, and it took us about 20 minutes to get there from our hotel downtown, but it was really worth it. Eva’s bake traditional Hungarian chimney cakes fresh on the premises. They look delicious enough all by themselves, but we added some extra calories by each having chimney cones which are filled with delicious vanilla soft serve ice-cream. I chose a cone that had been baked with coconut flakes, and a chocolate sauce topping. It was huge, but delicious, so I managed to finish it. We then saw that a couple at the table next to us were sharing one. Eva’s Original was a real treat, and I would love to go back again one day.

Jess writes: Kensington Market is very different to the rest of Toronto, as it is filled with vintage clothes stores and hipster places to eat. I would have loved to explore had we had more time, as there was lots to see and do. We had lunch at a waffle shop which was a bit of a let down, but I know that there were many other places to go to which looked nicer.

[caption id="attachment_4306" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Beavers Tails were so delicious![/caption]

Sarah says: We found the BeaverTails stall down by the waterfront in Toronto. Quite honestly they were utterly delicious and it is lucky they don't seem possible to get in London, as I would galumph my way through them and become far too vast! Put it this way, we got one each and the couple sitting opposite us, shared theirs...
They are basically pastries with toppings on, but that doesn't sell them well enough! They are huge, the pastry (fried!) is delicious and the toppings - whether chocolate hazelnut or nutella are utterly decadent. A real holiday food!

Jess writes: In conclusion, we all had a lovely time in Toronto. Paired with an excursion to Niagara, it was a holiday with something for all the family. The atmosphere was friendly, it was easy to navigate, and there was lots to do. I definitely recommend a visit.

Disclosure: We were fortunate enough to be given a CityPass to try out when we were in Toronto. This meant we got free entry into a number of attractions and, as importantly, that we skipped the queue - particularly brilliant for the CN Tower and Aquarium! We genuinely thought the CityPass was fantastic as it gave you freedom to do what you wanted, when you wanted - but the company had no input into our decisions of what to do, or what we wrote in this post. The CityPASS costs around £55 per adult and £37 per child.
We were also very fortunate that Toronto Bicycle Tours provided us with the bicycle tour of the Islands, including bike hire and ferry crossing, on a complimentary basis. This usually costs around CAD 90 per person (around £54). However, they also had no input into this post and all our thoughts, as usual, are our own.

Thrills at La Ronde theme park in Montreal (by Robert)

Robert, who's 12, writes:

When we were on holiday in Montreal, I went to a Six Flags theme park called La Ronde. This was so I could go on all of the awesome rides and roller coasters, whilst dad came along to keep me company and sit on a bench near the awesome rides and roller coasters! For me it was one of the best days of our trip to Canada, here my three favourite rides and what I thought about them.

Please watch our video about the highlights of our Montreal trip:

[kad_youtube url="https://youtu.be/PFhW6M_On6o" width=200 height=100 ]

 

Demon

[caption id="attachment_4285" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Demon ride at Le Ronde
(Six Flags Entertainment Corporation)[/caption]

Demon is the best ride I’ve been on all year and my favourite at La Ronde by far. When strapped in, you are lifted up before being spun in loads of different directions. You go upside down, spin round and round, and go fast. It was very unpredictable, which made it exciting. At many parts, you travel towards jets of water, which make it look like you’re going to get splashed. At the very last second you flip away, so you stay dry. The best place to sit is on the far left, because you go super close to the water. This made the ride really fun.

Vampire

[caption id="attachment_4286" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Vampire ride
(Six Flags Entertainment Corporation)[/caption]

Vampire was my favourite roller coaster and my second favourite ride at La Ronde. This was a really smooth roller coaster and there were lots of turns and drops. It also went really fast, at 50 miles per hour, and I really enjoyed it. It was lots of fun, and when I think back of my time at the park, it really jumps out at me.

Super Manège

[caption id="attachment_4287" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Super Manege ride
(Six Flags Entertainment Corporation)[/caption]

Super Manège was really fun because it was fast and there was a loop de loop. It was probably one of the lengthiest roller coasters at La Ronde, which was good as you had more time to enjoy it. It was not very scary and there weren’t very many drops, so I recommend it for children and people who don’t go on a lot of roller coasters.

There were loads of rides and roller coasters at La Ronde. Another two I recommend are the Gravitor, where you go up and around, and Bateau Pirate, which is a pirate ship on a pendulum. I also recommend Monster, which was unfortunately closed when we went but is supposed to be really good. I only went on some of the rides at La Ronde as there were so many to choose from. The only downside was the roller coaster Ednör, where my head kept smashing against the metal of my seat. However, the majority of the rides were good.

In conclusion, I liked La Ronde as there were so many rides to pick from. There was a range of rides catering from thrill-seekers to children, and the location was really nice. It is very central, so when you go high you can see lots of important places in Montreal and you have a good view of the water and the rest of the park. Overall, I recommend the park for anyone below 100! I had a really good time.

You can save tickets if you buy your tickets to La Ronde in advance (and don't need to queue!). They range from 30 to 60 Canadian dollars depending on when you want to go! That's around £20 to £40 for a day pass.

Read about what else we got up to on holiday in Montreal

Also on theme parks:

The best waterpark in the world: Siam Park

A great day out at Thorpe Park

Three days in Montreal with kids

[caption id="attachment_4252" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Us on Mount Royal (after which the city is named!)[/caption]

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec, in Canada, and this year it celebrates its 375th birthday! We didn't really know what to expect when we visited, but we all loved this beautiful, cosmopolitan city, full of things to do for all ages and with a fascinating history too.

[kad_youtube url="https://youtu.be/PFhW6M_On6o" width=200 height=100 ]

 

The first thing you need to know about Montreal is that, like the rest of Quebec, it sees itself as both part of, and very separate from, the rest of Canada. You can tell that by the fact that French is the first language here (the province was first "discovered" by the French, although of course, the native Canadians had been here for centuries) and the French influence is everywhere, even though it was taken under the control of the British in 1760. Once the capital of Canada, it is a city which is full of history and culture, as well as commerce.

What to do

Jess, aged 15, says: The whole of Montreal is gorgeous to walk around. We loved strolling through the old town, looking around at the period buildings, seeing the universities, and trying out the Underground City (a series of connected buildings and walkways which is used in bad or snowy weather). However, for me the best views of the city had to be at the top of the Mont Royal (which the city is named after). This is a 223m high hill, offering spectacular views of the entire city. At the viewpoint beside the Chalet du Mont-Royal, we could see all the way to the shimmering water of the Old Port, the Olympic stadium, and the large Downtown skyscrapers. Mont Royal is surrounded by a 200 hectare park which was lovely to walk through - and amazing to have right in the heart of such a huge and busy city!

Robert, aged 12, writes: Dad took me to the La Ronde theme park, which I really enjoyed. There was a huge variety of rides for all ages, including some fast and scary ones for me! You also got to see great views of the rest of Montreal while you were there.

Jess writes: The Montreal Biodome contains four different ecosystems to walk through, and is an excellent place to visit. The biodome stands out from others as it contains live animals, which were amazing to see up close in their natural habitats. We particularly enjoyed seeing two beavers fighting each other in the Gulf of St Lawrence ecosystem, a racoon, and watching penguins and puffins swimming in the sub polar region. The biodome was incredibly well done, with a huge range of plants and animals. We had the opportunity to try different foods from the regions (such as seaweed and a type of sap), touch sand dollars, and learn about the animals through various information cards. I really enjoyed the museum. I certainly preferred it to the Eden Project in Cornwall, and recommend it 100 per cent to families visiting Montreal.

[caption id="attachment_4256" align="alignnone" width="900"] A delightful sounding menu![/caption]

Brian writes: The Insectarium is about 10 minutes walk away from the biodome. This is the largest insect museum in North America, and is located just inside the beautiful tranquil surroundings of the Botanical Gardens. We saw lots of glass cases containing dead insects (and butterflies), but the live ones were far more interesting. The ants display was particularly good, as it was not behind glass and you could see the ants carrying small leaves and pieces of flowers across the branches. Robert was then lucky enough to be able to hold a giant stick insect in the palm of his hand (as you can see in the video). This was a lovely museum to visit for an hour or so, and outside there was a stall selling food made with bugs that included cricket burgers, tacos with silkworms, and ice-cream dipped in termite chocolate.

Sarah says: The Botanical Gardens is situated right next to the Insectarium and is a kind of oasis in the heart of the city. It features plants from all over the world and is really relaxing to sit in and walk around. If you're a bird or plant lover, this is the place for you. Even if not, you'll enjoy looking at the flowers, but probably not for as long as otherwise. I wouldn't have ventured out here just for this, but with the insectarium next door, it was well worth a trip.

[caption id="attachment_4258" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Olympic swimming pool[/caption]

Jess says: My favourite part of our Montreal holiday was the Olympic Stadium tour. We spent around half an hour walking around the Olympic Park: learning about its construction, the games, and how it is used today. Our guide was extremely interesting and conducted the tour in both French and English. I particularly enjoyed learning why the stadium has no retractable roof (the material was so flimsy that the roof ripped when opened, so it had to be replaced with a stronger, non-retractable kind) and why construction took such a long time. We saw the stadium and swimming pools, and were also allowed to visit the "Since 1976" exhibition, which included lots of artefacts from the games. This was very interesting and well done. It was a fascinating and really exciting tour which I definitely would recommend to adults and children alike. Montreal is the only Canadian city ever to have hosted the summer Olympics, although it nearly bankrupted the city....



Sarah writes: If you're going to Montreal, you can't miss the old city. As you'd imagine, it's the oldest part of the city, and because it's the most "touristy", it gets extremely busy, but it's still a must-see! It's really unlike anywhere we'd ever been before - such a mixture of Europe and North America, with its own Notre Dame cathedral too, on the Place d’Armes, which is a gorgeous public square. We all really liked one of the newest sculptures here, called "The English pug and the French poodle", which show a snooty man and woman at either ends of one of the sides. They are supposed to represent England and France, looking away from each other. But both hold dogs, which are looking at each other - showing we can be friends after all!

There are also many small roads, many cobbled, to walk through, selling all kinds of wares. One of the most famous areas is Place Jacques-Cartier, was a marketplace hundreds of years ago, and is now one of the city's busiest tourist areas. If you're with kids, they may not want to spend too long just mooching around, (although we always find that an ice-cream or snack helps) and I wouldn't recommend eating a meal here as the restaurants were all packed and pricey (there are loads of other great places to eat in the city).

[caption id="attachment_4260" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Voiles en Voiles was brilliant fun![/caption]

If you go to the old city, you have to walk by the Old Port, which is full of stalls and right by the water. While there you could hire a pedalo, enjoy a run around in the park, admire the clocktower and raise your adrenalin levels at the Voiles et Voiles park, which is a bit like Go Ape. Voiles et Voiles also has a marvellous inflatable playground, which is certainly not just for kids. I enjoyed it as much as Robert!

[caption id="attachment_4261" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert ziplining at the Old Port[/caption]

The old port is also the place to find Montreal Zipline, which was fantastic fun (at least according to Robert and Brian - I was too wimpy to try!). It was the first urban zipline in all of Canada and flies over the famous Bonsecours island in the old port. It's for everyone aged seven and up, and a great way to see the city. As Robert writes: Dad and I went on the MTL zip-line, the longest zip wire in Canada. After suiting up, we travelled up a series of stair cases before reaching the top. When it was my turn, I was harnessed to the wire before being asked to simply walk off! It was so thrilling to travel over the river and get an amazing view of the city, although stopping was a bit scary. I had an awesome time.

[caption id="attachment_4253" align="alignnone" width="1200"] One of the signs from the 1930s/40s at the Montreal Holocaust Museum[/caption]

Jess writes: Though maybe not as joyous as the other places we visited, I would recommend a visit to the Montreal Holocaust Museum. We learned about the Holocaust through written information, artefacts, audio guides, and video. As Canada is thought of as being such an amazing, friendly country, I was surprised by how few refugees were taken in, in comparison to other countries, and how determined some people were not to help. Something else which stood out was a small heart-shaped pad of paper filled with messages; a birthday gift from friends in a concentration camp to another friend. We were in the museum for about an hour, and it was time well spent, and extremely educational.

[caption id="attachment_4262" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Outside the Pointe-à-Callière Museum[/caption]

Sarah writes:  Montreal was established at Pointe-à-Callière, where the St. Lawrence River met what was then the Petite Rivière. Twenty five years ago, when it was its 350th birthday, the Pointe-à-Callière Museum opened right here, and if you are going to visit any museums in the city, this is the one to go to.

It is extremely good on the history of the city, and starts with a short film giving some background. You can then see some authentic archaeological sites as the hotel is built upon the old ruins. There is a lot of interactivity here, but we were sorry to see that some of the items clearly aimed at children were not working (a disappointment for my son).

We all found the archaeological/historical parts interesting, although there was repetition in parts, but it is a fine introduction to the city. However, our favourite part of the museum was the "Pirates or Privateers?" exhibition which is squarely aimed at kids, but actually great fun and gives good detail on the life of being a pirate.

What to see

[caption id="attachment_4265" align="alignnone" width="1200"] At the top of the Olympic Tower[/caption]

Brian says: We really enjoyed our visit to the Olympic Stadium and then up the Olympic Tower. The futuristic design, looking a bit like the Starship Enterprise, was not how it looked in 1976. The tower part, which is probably the most recognisable symbol of the city, was only completed in 1987. It stands at a 45 degree angle and is the world’s tallest leaning tower. We took a trip to the top in the amazing glass-encased funicular. The tower is curved like a ski jumping hill, but an ingenious hydraulic system keeps you level all the way. It took about two minutes to get up to the observation deck, and we enjoyed great views of the Olympic Park. Sadly, it was quite a misty day, and we could not see much of the city beyond. Luckily the funicular was such great fun that the trip up and down the outside of the tower was worth a visit in its own right.

[caption id="attachment_4264" align="alignnone" width="1200"] At the top of the Observatory[/caption]

Robert writes: We travelled up the observatory (called Au Sommet) in a lift that travelled incredibly quickly and we were amazed by the view at the top. All four walls were glass panels so we could see Montreal from every angle and there was an exhibition about the city on the floor below too. I loved spotting all the places we had been to and it was awesome to see the city from a different perspective.

Where to eat

[caption id="attachment_4267" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Trying our Montreal bagels[/caption]

Sarah says: Having heard that Montreal has a strong Jewish heritage, we were very pleased to go on a Jewish walking tour of the city with Round Table tours. It was extremely hot on the day that we did the tour, so we were grateful for the water we were offered at the start and the fabulous flavoured sodas which we tried out at Wilensky's Light Lunch, an absolutely classic diner, which has been in the city since 1932 and I imagine hasn't changed at all! I had cherry cola and Jess had cherry pineapple, and we both enjoyed looking around us and falling back into the past (there is even a sign saying the staff won't accept tips).

[caption id="attachment_4277" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Wilenksy's hasn't changed much since it opened in 1932![/caption]

The tour certainly covered all the sites we were expecting, including the two rival bagel bakeries, St-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount (Montreal is famous for its bagels). We were surprised that the food on the tour was not kosher, so we couldn't sample the famous smoked meats, but to be honest, I think we ate enough during the three hours - including some fabulous babka.
Our tour guide did impart a lot of information, from the fact that Celine Dion now owns Schwartz's (probably the most famous "Jewish" deli in the city, although not kosher, but always extremely busy) to the story behind Canadian rye "whisky", but he seemed a bit vague on a number of Jewish issues (including what keeping kosher actually is) which you wouldn't have expected on a Jewish tour. He also didn't bring the warmth one might have expected to a tour like this (he clearly finds very religious Jews unintelligible), which was as shame, but it was still worth doing.
Iconic Dishes: Jewish Montreal, The Original Tour! costs $80 per person

Jess writes: Mandy's was definitely our favourite place to eat during our trip to Montreal. We wanted somewhere to eat which wasn't too heavy, and the bright lights and decor of the shop drew us in. Mandy's sells a wide variety of salads and soups, and we loved it so much that we visited three times in three days. I loved the Mexican and the Roma salads, and the mum, dad and Robert loved the grain bowls. We wish we had a Mandy's in our neighbourhood!

Where to stay: Montreal is a huge city with so many options for where to stay. We were in the Residence Inn, Marriott Downtown which was an excellent location - near lots of shops and restaurants, as well as the metro and main train station. Our room was large, with two double beds and a sofa bed (excellent as it meant the kids didn't have to share) plus a little kitchen with big fridge, microwave and hob, which meant we could eat in. Breakfast was complimentary and we all loved the waffles!

Overall, we would really recommend Montreal as a place to visit. It is a gorgeous city with so much to do, whatever your interests, and whatever your age. We were sad to say "au revoir"!

Disclosure: We were fortunate to be helped in our trip by Tourism Montreal and Quebec Original, which enabled us to try out some activities free or at a reduced price. However, neither they, nor any of the places we visited, had any input into this blog post. Please visit their websites for more on this wonderful city and region.
We were also helped by Explore Canada, which you must visit if you are interested in not only this region, but a visit to anywhere in the country!

More on Canada - our wonderful trip to Niagara Falls