Ontario Place is one of Toronto’s best summer family leisure and entertainment complexes. Located directly on the beautiful Lake Ontario waterfront, Ontario Place is home to a multitude of land and water attractions geared for all ages. Here, visitors can take advantage of the Cinesphere, The Molson Amphitheatre, and eating establishments that can please every ethnic culture and taste bud, including a most delicious German restaurant.

The Cinesphere opened in 1971 and was the first permanent IMAX film theatre in the world. The theater holds 752 armchair-equipped seats, where viewers can watch films on a single screen 60-feet wide by 80-feet high, the equivalent of a six-story building. Presently, The Cinesphere presents movies with digital sound tracks in the IMAX, DTS, and Dolby SR-D formats. Whether you’re watching a Hollywood new release or the wonders of nature, you’ll feel as if you are an active part of the film. This is the only attraction in Ontario Place that is open year-round. During non-operating Ontario Place hours, tickets can be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet (416-870-8000).

For children 12 and under, Ontario Place boasts the award winning Children’s Village designed to challenge kids and encourage discovery through various equipment, such as ball crawls, super slides, and foam forests. The Water Play is a water park offering kids the chance to have fun and cool off with slides and rides and more. There are mini bumper boats, go-carts, a Mega Maze and live entertainers specially suited for children of this age group.

For older children, there’s a wide assortment of attractions, including pedal boats, bumper boats, aquajet racers, miniature golf, cool hoops, a wilderness adventure ride, rush river raft ride, the thrill zone, mars stimulator ride, mad science, waterslides galore and a hydrofuge plunge, where thrill seekers shoot down a tube on a thin sheet of water reaching speeds of up to 50 kph and then plunge into a six-foot-deep landing pool.

Throughout the summer, Ontario Place offers various events and special entertainers from live children’s performers to the annual Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire International Fireworks competition. Fireworks from around the world are synchronized to music throughout special days in July. The annual Air Show is held every Labor Day weekend. In addition, several themed ethnic days are planned throughout the entire summer.

Adults will enjoy the H.M.C.S. Haida Historic Naval Ship that features authentic displays & exhibits including the Captain’s cabin, the mess deck and the boiler room. The Molson Amphitheatre plays host to evening music concerts with popular entertainers in an outdoor venue. This summer, Don Henley, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Britney Spears will perform. There is a separate cost for these shows, and tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster (416-870-8000).

Grossology is the new attraction opening this year at Ontario Place. The Exhibit combines animatronics and imagination to stimulate the senses and promote the scientific discovery of the human body through fun.

Located at 955 Lakeshore Boulevard West. From downtown Toronto, exit on Spadina Avenue to Lakeshore Boulevard and follow Lakeshore Boulevard west until you see the Ontario Place signs.