48 Hours of Grandkid Magic in Toronto

Addie and Theo warming up in The Cove, before round two of pool time.

By the time my wife and I loaded our two grandchildren, Addison (2½) and her cousin Theodore (1½), into the car for a weekend in Toronto, we were feeling confident. After all, we were experienced grandparents, kind of, setting off on our first real weekend adventure together. We had practiced with a few one-night sleepovers at home, which had been relatively successful. How hard could forty-eight hours spent in the big city be?

As it turns out, the answer is: wonderfully exhausting.

Our journey began at the Chelsea Hotel. We had heard great things about the newly renovated family areas, The Cove and The Hive, and they did not disappoint. After we had checked in and the wee ones had emptied their small suitcases, scattering all their possessions around the family suite, and then tested the beds with a few energetic bounces, it was bathing suits and flip flops on and back down the magic elevator to the Cove for a swim.

Splashing in The Cove

The grandkids keep James Rossa and his wife busy at The Cove pool in the Chelsea Hotel.

One of the unexpected highlights of our Toronto weekend was spending time at The Cove, the Chelsea Hotel's newly renovated family pool area. As grandparents, we had initially thought of it as simply a place for the kids to burn off some energy. We quickly discovered it was much more than that.

The moment Addie saw the colourful water play features, her eyes widened. "A water park!" she shouted. Theo didn't bother with commentary. He headed straight for the water with the confidence of someone who had absolutely no intention of staying dry, and didn’t care that he could not swim.

The Cove has been thoughtfully designed for families with young children. There are shallow areas where little ones can safely play, a water slide for older kids, and enough space for parents and grandparents to relax while still keeping a close eye on the action.

For nearly an hour, Addie and Theo splashed, laughed, and chased each other through the water. Addie proudly demonstrated her "swimming" skills, which mostly involved enthusiastic kicking and occasional forward progress. Theo was fascinated by every spray and bubbling feature he could find. Even if the bubbling feature was of his own making.

My wife and I took turns joining them in the water and watching from the side. One of the joys of being grandparents is that you're old enough to appreciate these moments but young enough to still participate. Although I will admit that climbing out of the pool felt noticeably different than it did twenty years ago.

The atmosphere was cheerful, welcoming, and full of families enjoying time together. What impressed us most was how family-friendly the entire space felt. It wasn't just a hotel pool; it was clearly designed to create memories.

Dinner that evening was at BB33 Bistro in the Chelsea. It was exactly what we needed after a busy day. The atmosphere was relaxed, the food was excellent, and the children were content colouring and snacking. Back at the room both children fell asleep quickly, and my wife and I congratulated ourselves on a successful first day. Then, Theo decided the day wasn't actually over.

Busy as Bees in The Hive

Grandpa Ross entertaining at the reading nook in The Hive.

At 6:23 the next morning, the kids were wide awake, excited, and ready to greet the world. I wasn't quite as enthusiastic, but that's the thing about grandchildren, somehow, even before your first coffee, they convince you that an early morning adventure is a perfectly reasonable idea.

So, after some pancakes for the kids and lattes for us, we dropped into the other delightful new kid-friendly facility at the Chelsea – The Hive. We found this space to be a thoughtfully conceived area, full of imagination and interactive play. Addie declared the play space to be "my castle," while Theo took off as fast as his little legs would allow, without bothering to inspect the surroundings first.

While Addie dons a chef outfit to play in the kitchen at The Hive, Theo dresses as a Fire Chief to keep an eye on things!

I followed him in and quickly discovered that climbing structures are much easier to navigate when you're under three feet tall. The grandkids moved through the equipment like mountain goats, while I moved through it like a man who suddenly became aware of every joint in his body. Meanwhile, Grandma found a comfortable chair and enjoyed the show.

Addie slipped into a chef’s outfit from the costume trunk, to amuse herself at the play stove in the kid’s kitchen, while Theo decided to don a fire chief outfit to oversee Addie’s baking prowess – leaving me to ponder, at what age do children develop a sense of sarcasm?

Exploring Little Canada

The intricate miniature versions of Canadian cities and landmarks in Little Canada are remarkable - the lights come on as they switch from day to night.

I had heard from many people about how wonderful the museum called Little Canada is, but I had, quite unfairly as it turned out, filed it under a place to keep the grandkids interested for a short time. Well, I will admit that the place kept the grandparents just as enthralled as the children.

The intricate miniature versions of Canadian cities and landmarks were remarkable. You can visit our entire beautiful country in an hour, without dealing with flying insects. Tiny trains zip past miniature Rockies, orcas breach off Vancouver, and icebergs float past Newfoundland. I searched the dioramas for someone I might know – after I learned you can get yourself ‘Littlized’ and added to a model.

While Addie carefully examined every display looking for diminutive animals, Theo spent much of the visit pointing excitedly and shouting "TRAIN!" Whether there was actually a train chugging down the tracks nearby seemed largely irrelevant. The best part was that all four of us genuinely enjoyed it. Attractions that entertain grandparents and toddlers equally are rare indeed. By the time we finally persuaded Addie and Theo to leave, both children were happily exhausted.

Jaws at Ripley’s Aquarium

 “Grandpa, you have a shark on your head!” The Ripley's Aquarium tunnel fascinates the kids.

After lunch at a cool, kid-friendly eatery called Café Landwer and a stroller nap (the children, not me) through Toronto’s downtown streets, we made our way to Ripley's Aquarium.

The moment we entered the underwater tunnel both children stopped awestruck. Huge sharks glided overhead and schools of brightly coloured fish swirled around us. Giant rays drifted gracefully through the water, and for a few magical moments, neither child said a word.

As grandparents know, silence from toddlers is often a sign that something extraordinary is happening (or they are up to mischief).

Eventually, Addie recovered her voice to issue a warning, “Grandpa, you have a shark on your head!” I flinched in spite of myself. Theo then began identifying every sea creature as either a fish, a whale, or a dinosaur. To be fair, his system worked surprisingly well. The touch tanks were another highlight. Addie approached cautiously, studying everything first. Theo plunged in with complete confidence, proving once again that younger cousins are often born without a fear setting.

Pasta and Spumoni at the Old Spaghetti Factory

That evening, we headed to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. The restaurant was a hit immediately. Addie was fascinated by the antique trolley car and wanted to know who drove it, where it went, and where they kept the horses that used to pull it. Theo's interests were simpler. Bread. Lots and lots of bread.

The pasta was excellent, and the kids were remarkably well-behaved, if you overlooked their occasional spontaneous dance performance in their booster seats. By the time the spumoni ice cream arrived, whatever that is, everyone was happy. At one point, Addie climbed from her seat onto Grandma's lap and announced, "This is the best day ever." Those are the moments grandparents quietly tuck away forever.

Of course, the weekend wasn't perfect. There were spilled drinks, emergency diaper changes, spaghetti sauce stains spilled onto my favourite shirt, negotiations over the desired shoes to wear (haggling sessions that I seemed to consistently lose), and there was at least one serious disagreement about who got to wear which costume in The Hive. But those little challenges are part of the story too.

On our final morning, we squeezed in one last visit to The Hive and The Cove before checking out. Addie made a new friend, Theo attempted to take permanent ownership of a toy dump truck, and I conducted a thorough search of our room to ensure no beloved stuffed animals had been left behind. As we packed the car, I watched the two children settle into their seats, already looking tired from their adventures. The weekend had flown by.

Toronto had given us wonderful attractions, great meals, and a terrific hotel, but as I drove north with two sleepy grandchildren in the back seat and my wife beside me, I realized none of those things were really the highlight. The best part was simply spending time together.

A little later, Theo fell asleep clutching a toy shark from the aquarium gift shop. Addie yawned and asked from the back seat, "Grandpa, can we come back next week?"

I laughed. I'd love to. I might just need a few naps of my own before then.

Big City Family Planning

James Ross gets a "little" help checking into the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto.

For grandparents considering their own family getaway, Toronto offers the perfect mix of fun, discovery, and memory-making. With family-friendly attractions, comfortable accommodations, and plenty of opportunities to slow down and enjoy time together, it’s a destination that appeals to every generation.