Getting away doesn't just mean a change of scenery – it can also mean getting kids away from their screens. With children and teens spending more time on digital devices, participation in unplugged activities is an opportunity for real-world exploration, hands-on learning, family bonding and just plain fun.
Farms and flowers in Perth County
A two-hour drive from Toronto, Perth County has low-stress rural experiences kids love.
“We offer families a chance to slow down, reconnect and experience countryside fun,” says Clara Boersen, tourism officer at the Corporation of the County of Perth.
Wildwood Conservation Area features nearly 400 campsites, mountain biking and hiking trails, along with canoeing and kayaking. Perth County is also home to numerous pick-your-own farms, such as Applebottom Orchards, TNT Berries and Red Top Berries.
“There’s something so fun and special about letting kids roam free in a strawberry field or apple orchard and pick their own food,” Boersen says. “Kids can learn where their food comes from and the work involved in growing it, in a hands-on way.”
Flower-picking experiences are also available at farms such as Black Creek Flower Farm in Stratford.
For animal encounters, TLC Alpaca offers farm tours, including walks with alpacas through the countryside. Pootcorners also offers farm tours, camping and hikes with alpacas. At Goats on 86, visitors can watch, pet and feed goats and alpacas. At The Perth Farmhouse Winery, guests can book a one-hour, private Goat Social in which they tour the barn, take the goats out in the pasture to run and play, and enjoy a picnic by the pond and vineyard.
Haliburton’s close encounters with wolves
For animal experiences more on the wild side, the Haliburton Forest Wolf Centre is an indoor education centre that houses museum-style exhibits, a cinema and classroom, and a one-way glass observatory overlooking a seven-acre enclosure where a resident wolf pack lives. The wolves are unsocialized and maintain a fear of humans – just like wild wolves – which means they maintain many of the behaviours and social structures of wild packs.
In July and August, the centre hosts public wolf howls, which include a staff presentation about wolves, a short hike and an attempt to get the wolf pack to howl back.
“The Wolf Centre has that wow factor when the kids walk up the ramp into this big observation area, and right in front of them, they’re seeing wolves – probably for the first time,” says Tegan Legge, general manager of Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve.
“It’s an incredible sight and it’s different than other places because our wolves are as wild as they can be. So, the kids really get to see that interaction and hierarchy that they may have read about in books or watched in movies.”
Nearby, families with kids over age 10 can take part in a guided 3.5-hour to four-hour canopy tour in Haliburton Forest. Participants take a scenic drive through the forest, paddle a canoe across a lake, go on a guided walk along the Pelaw River Rapids and walk among the treetops along a canopy boardwalk.
Getting adventurous in Norfolk County
Overlooking Turkey Point Marsh, Long-Point Eco Adventures in Norfolk County offers a wide range of outdoor adventures, guided tours and wellness experiences. Families can enjoy ziplining, kayaking, hiking, guided axe throwing, a stargazing observatory tour, treetop canopy adventure, nature tours and guided bike tours. For overnight stays, the property offers glamping accommodations including camping pods and wilderness suites. From morning to night, there’s more than enough to keep kids engaged.
“Screen-free family time isn’t about taking something away, but rather it’s about offering something better and unique,” says Jordan Moore, a consultant who works with Long Point Eco-Adventures. “When experiences are unique, adventurous and grounded in nature, we see that kids stay engaged and learning naturally happens. Families are genuinely able to connect as a result. It’s those unique moments where screens don’t even need to be managed – they fade into the background.”
Family fun in the city
City experiences also offer hands-on ways to connect and have fun. In Mississauga, families can rock climb at HUB Climbing, Canada’s largest indoor rock-climbing park. It features a dedicated area designed for families with kids age four and older.
For a day in the fast lane, K1 Speed is an indoor go-karting track for kids over the age of eight. Lap times and race results are posted after each session, so every driver can see how they performed. Parents can race alongside their kids or cheer from the Paddock Lounge. The facility says the experience is thrilling enough to keep older kids fully engaged while remaining structured and supervised.
Another hands-on option in Mississauga is Planet Splatter, an immersive paint playground designed for all ages. It offers 40-minute to 60-minute sessions in which participants throw washable, non-toxic paint at canvases, walls and each other in neon-lit rooms.
In London, 100 Kellogg Lane is a massive entertainment and event destination housed within a former cereal factory. A prime attraction is The Factory, Canada’s largest indoor family entertainment centre. Spanning over 170,000 square feet, it features an indoor rope course, trampoline park, ziplines and more. For a weekend getaway, families can stay at the on-site Hard Rock Hotel, which has an indoor/outdoor pool and a variety of restaurants.
“As a parent, there’s a guilt factor of seeing your kids on screens, especially in the summertime when you want to get them back outside, or indoors and active, and that’s something we offer at 100 Kellogg Lane,” says Dave Sheedy, vice-president of marketing and sales at 100 Kellogg Lane.
The property also offers weeklong and single-day camps for kids. “It’s a great benefit for kids and parents alike,” Sheedy says. “If parents want a little me time, they can do that while their kids are at a camp burning energy and having a ton of fun.”
