School is out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean that the learning has to stop. Our kids have learned a lot during our travels. While most of our family trips aren’t centered on education, our recent road trip to Sudbury, Ontario definitely had an informational focus. Though I have heard Sudbury mentioned over the years, I always thought it was a boring small city, not a place to find excitement. Happily, I was wrong.
2023 Update : We loved our summer road trip to Sudbury in 2018 so much that we returned in 2022 for a winter visit! We’ve updated this article to include our list of things to do in Sudbury in the winter. Summer 2023, Yashy was in Sudbury for a Travel Media Association of Canada conference and this article has yet again been updated with new places to eat!
Last month, while at a travel conference, I met with the team at Sudbury Tourism. When they began telling me about the museums that can be found there, I grew intrigued. It actually sounded like a place my kids would LOVE. Four year-old Baby Boy and six year-old Little Monkey not only learned many things, they actually had a lot fun and kept asking to go back to quite a few places we visited. Sudbury is a 4.5 hour drive from downtown Toronto and is a great summer trip if you’re looking for a fun, educational getaway. I wouldn’t recommend Sudbury for a luxury getaway, but it is a gem of a place when it comes to museums that provide hands-on learning opportunities for kids of all ages. During our 2022 visit we even discovered some amazing restaurants!
Disclosure : Our visit was hosted by Sudbury Tourism but, as always, opinions are TOTALLY ours!
Things to do with Kids in Sudbury
Dynamic Earth : You can easily spend 3 to 4 hours here, and there is plenty to do for explorers of all ages. This earth science centre is mainly known as the home of the Big Nickel, which towers over the amazing Science Park playground on the museum grounds. Given that our kids were 4 and 6 during our visit, they were more interested in the shinny minerals and interactive displays than the demonstration mine 7 stories down. However, Chris and I found the tour of the mine to be pretty fun, and it’s very cool to see (literally – it’s an amazing place to escape the heat).
The tour was an hour long and it is dark and damp down there so I would recommend closed-toed shoes and a hoodie, but it was a highlight of our trip. Our guide was great with kids and even us adults learned our fair share about Sudbury’s mining history and the tools used over the years. They recommend the tour for those 4 years and above and while our kids were engaged for most of the tour, they did say they didn’t enjoy it as much as the other parts of the museum. That said, ask them about mines and they’ll tell you!
Upstairs, the kids really enjoyed the dress up area and the interactive sand table and the best part was that they didn’t even realize they were learning all about how weather patterns occur! SCORE! Don’t forget that there’s a unique playground featuring construction machinery that kids can climb on and it’s also a great spot to get a picture with the Big Nickel as your backdrop (this was OBVIOUSLY the kids’ favourite part!). The space is quite stroller friendly should you need one and there is a cafe onsite if you need some replenishment.
Science North : Be sure to plan an entire day at this science centre, and come back for a follow up if time permits. Science North is absolutely fantastic on so many levels! For toddlers and preschoolers, there is the TD Canada Trust Treehouse area, which is small but sufficient for that age group. For the slightly older, there is everything from shows to live creatures and walls to run into! Each year there is a special exhibit, and if they are all like the Beyond Human Limits one we experienced, that’s truly fantastic!
If your child loves collecting rocks and bugs, be sure to take them with you as you visit Science North because there is a Nature Exchange Program where kids can trade those bugs, rocks, shells, sticks (anything from nature really) for points which can be used to “buy” various things. We didn’t take any with us but we did a quick scavenger hunt that provided the kids with enough points to get some gems, including a small ring!
I really liked the mix of animated shows and traditional displays (did you see all the stuff we did there in the video above?). The animals on site were a treat to see and learn about. Keep an eye out for the daily events schedule so you can catch all the live shows and demos that are available. We spent 5 hours here and could have stayed there for another 3 or 4 if time permitted! We even returned one evening to watch an IMAX show! The space is very stroller friendly and if you have very young ones it may be a good idea to sneak in a nap for them in the stroller while the older kids play!
2022 Science North : This place is still incredibly fun and the kids were in the Nature Exchange system so they had accumulated enough points to get a shark tooth and a bunch of gems! On this visit with an 8 and 10 year old we hung out mostly on the 4th floor in the tech and bio labs.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park : This place is like no other we’ve been to. They highly encourage parents to join in on the fun and this is why adult tickets are half that of kids! We spent 2 hours bouncing around, climbing walls, trying to knock each other off and flying through air. You can bring your own grip proof socks or purchase some on site and they have lockers if you want to store valuables (there’s free spots to hang your coats at). We used the hand sanitizers located throughout the property and had our masks on the entire time. This made us feel very safe during our indoor visit.
Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre : If you have a train lover, this spot is about a 20 minute drive from downtown Sudbury and you can expect to spend two hours here. The museum house, constructed in 1916, is one of the oldest surviving homes in the community. The centre provides a historical account of the mining and lumber industry along with an overview of how the railroad affected Sudbury’s prosperity. We got to see the mining room, which features tools that were used in the mines, and we also had a chance to show kids the telegraphy room, where they were puzzled by the workings of the two way radio!
The main museum not only has a cute little tea room but also a playground for kids. However, the main attractions are the trains. Kids will enjoy walking through a train that was once a school, while I was impressed at how the community of volunteers helps maintain the lush gardens. We took a quick 2 minute walk down the road to the Heritage Centre, which has a jail in the basement (no longer used, of course) where kids can have their fingerprints and mug shot taken. There’s also a train simulator in a small room where the kids got to guide the train and ring the whistle the comforts of a chair. Another highlight was getting into a fire truck and playing with all its buttons. Note that the museum and heritage centre are only open from May to September.
Ramsey Lake Boardwalk : This boardwalk is a perfect spot to wind down your day down. We found a playground at Bell Park but we mainly hung out at the small, shallow beach. The kids were able to splash away while Chris went for a run around the park and I enjoyed the sun setting in the distance behind the kids. Truly peaceful.
2022 Ramsey Lake in the Winter : Oh my goodness!! This place is totally lovely in the winter too!! Bring your skates (or you can just walk on the ice in your boots) for a fun time here. We visited here for sunset and took in the . The Ramsey Lake Skating Path is approximately 1.5 km long, extending from the Sudbury Canoe Club at the corner of Elizabeth Street and McNaughton Terrace, to the Northern Water Sports Centre with an extension to Science North. The McEwen School of Architecture students have set up ice hut displays along the path which are very cool looking too. The ice was pristine here and definitely one of my favourite winter outings in Sudbury (and it’s free to access).
Kivi Park : We visited Kivi Park in the winter and was amazed at the many on-site activities. Adventure 365 enables city dwellers like us to rent the gear needed to spend an entire day here (just bundle up because it does get cold in Sudbury). Chris and I rented fat tire bikes and helmets while the kids rented snowshoes. They have sizes for toddlers too, so this is certainly a great spot even if you have very young kids. We saw people skiing here too! Nina’s Way is a 1.3km ice skating loop through the forest that will get your heart racing! We brought our own skates with us and took in an evening run here and let me tell you, the downhill paths definitely pumped up my adrenaline! There’s a bonfire near the rink entrance so you can warm up as needed. While there’s no entrance fee, please ensure you have a park pass on you because spot checks are conducted here (kids under 10 don’t need passes). If you plan to visit in the summer time, they have plenty of water activities here.
Wagon Wheel Ranch : This is yet another thing to do in Sudbury during the winter that will bring joy to kids and adults. This was the quintessential winter sleigh ride I had read about in books! Advanced reservations are required for this one hour experience. You’ll enjoy a horse driven sleigh ride into the forest where you’ll be able to roast marshmallows (bring your own hot dogs and make a lunch of it) and sip hot chocolate and then once you’re back at the barn you can pet a donkey or pay extra to ride a pony! We loved this experience and heard that they offer a maple taffy experience in March and April!
Grab Ice Cream and Treats : If your kids have been extra good, you may want to take them to Flurples and grab some ice cream. Please note that they are closed in the winter! The Birthday Cake option was so huge during our 2018 visit that we had our kids split one! Flurples only accepts cash but if you head over to the vegan and gluten free bakery Beards next door, they’ll let you put it on your card (they also have air conditioning and you can bring the ice cream and have it inside). The family also owns Tucos Tacos across the street, which is the only vegan joint that has truly impressed carnivorous me!
Where to Eat in Sudbury
During our 2022 winter vacation in Sudbury we discovered some fabulous places to eat. The city’s culinary scene has certainly made impressive leaps since our last visit.
If you’re looking for a hearty traditional diner breakfast, head to Glorias. Not only do they make amazing pies but they also offer dairy free options which made Apollo very happy! Even the dairy free pancakes were AMAZING!!! We also really enjoyed our brunch at Motley Kitchen ( it gets busy here so make a reservation).
For some fun lunch time vibes head to La Fromagerie. Yes it’s a cheese and wine bar but there’s so much more on offer! Even non cheese eating Chris found great options here and they have vegan cheese too. The kids loved the fun drinks including cotton candy drinks and sparkling mocktails. Obviously Akira loved the rainbow cheese sandwich too!
If you love spicy food you must dine at Sukhdev’s. This Indian restaurant serves up North Indian dishes and warms you right up, especially on cold nights.
If you prefer some Greek meets North American cuisines, Kouzzina’s is a great option. I was back there during my summer 2023 visit and it was STILL stellar. I loved their chowder and the kids loved the calamari here. Their steak was really good too. For a truly nice Italian meal, visit Bella Vita Cucina. Just keep in mind that if you’re dairy free, the options are fairly limited here. That said Apollo found a couple dishes he enjoyed and said the Calamari here was the best ever!
Another Italian restaurant in Sudbury worth visiting is Ripe, they may be known for their pizza but that gnochi plate was licked clean QUICKLY by me during my summer 2023 visit.
I will also mention La Casa Mexicana where we stopped in for lunch on our way out of Sudbury. The owner is so sweet and makes all the traditional Mexican dishes herself. It reminded me so much of our random pit stops during our California road trips. Loved the truly Mexican vibes and the authentic dishes.
Don’t forget Tuco Tacos either! That was the highlight during our 2018 trip and we wanted to visit there again but many spots were closed on Sundays and Mondays of the long weekend.
During my summer 2023 visit I FINALLY had a chance to try the famous Jelly Pigs from Leinala’s Bakery and it certainly was worth the wait. Be sure to try the other Finnish baked goods on offer here.
During this recent visit I also had a chance to bite into a Porketta Paul Bunyan sandwich From Cara’ s Convenience. Don’t let the grocery store vibes fool you, if you’re looking for a heaty sandwich, this is certainly where you should go.
Fun for Parents in Sudbury
You know that we like to mix in a bit of fun for ourselves no matter where we go and luckily we found a couple things to in Sudbury even though we had the kids along!
STACK Brewing : This is a small cabin so while it isn’t very entertaining for kids, you can swing by and grab a few fine brews to enjoy at your hotel room. However, there is a toilet planter outdoors that will entertain the kids if you fancy having a pint during your visit!
Wander Food and Wine : For a date night and an awesome food and wine pairing, check out what’s on offer at this cute little Sudbury wine bar. They sound like they have fun events in addition to the wine bar and weekly dinners so it would be fantastic for a date night!
Alibi Room : This speak-easy style bar is a solid spot for an evening of imbibing. Trust me, my friends and I had a swell time here during our 2023 visit!
Crosscut Distillery : We enjoyed our tour of this craft distillery (you can pre-book the tours for a quick overview), but what I’d recommend is to swing by for a drink. The owner has young kids and so they’ve ensured that there’s a change table and a table where kids can chill and colour while parents enjoy the distillery’s fine gin. They have vodka and whisky as well, but their gin is what won me over.
46 North Brewing : During our winter road trip to Sudbury we swung by here for warm pretzels (the beer cheese was amazing) and a flight of beer. This brewer is pet friendly too and since the front room was busy we hung out at the back and enjoyed the flights after our drive in from Toronto.
Sudbury’s educational experiences are one of a kind. If any of your road trips take you towards that end, I highly recommend a stopover so you can experience them for yourself. I definitely see us heading back that way, especially once the kids start learning about science and history in grade school (our 2022 visit is proof of this!). For more inspiration on things to do in Sudbury, check out the Sudbury Tourism site.
