(2-minute read)
Are you looking for interesting places to visit with your family at the three U of T campuses? The following is a list of family-friendly spaces our staff would like to share with you. There are outdoor locations, indoor options, and private to semi-private locations that can be used for nursing. With spring here, let’s explore!
St. George
Outdoor
Running north-south between Bloor Street and Hoskin Avenue, the Philosopher’s Walk is located just west of Queen’s Park, beside the Royal Ontario Museum. Philospher’s Walk follows the now-buried waterway, Taddle Creek. The path is surrounded by trees with benches throughout. A stroller-friendly area where you can bring children and enjoy outdoor time!
The Hart House quad is a stunning outdoor space, frequently booked for weddings! If there are no events, we recommend a visit so you can walk around or sit at one of the benches and simply absorb the scenery in this unique place.
The Knox College quad, located at King’s College Circle in the middle of St. George campus, is a hidden gem. This is a lovely green space to sit in the shade and relax in the warmer weather with your family. In the fall, children can enjoy watching and playing with the leaves as they change colours and drop to the ground.
Victoria College is located on the east side Queen’s Park, but it’s worth visiting! The Lester B. Pearson Garden for Peace and International Understanding next to E.J. Pratt Library is very beautiful, especially in the spring and summer. This small oasis near the Museum subway station has benches, trees and even a waterfall, with a view of the historic Victoria College building.
Indoor
For a completely different experience, within a modern Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research building on College Street, visit an indoor mini bamboo forest. You can enjoy this atrium with younger people and older folks alike.
Innis Café is not only a great place for a coffee and snack, but it’s also a stroller-friendly space with cozy seating. The cafe can be busy at the lunch hour (maybe you’ll meet some new people along the way), but it’s a great location to grab a healthy bite to eat and relax with your family.
Connected directly to the St. George subway through an underground passage at the Bedford Road exit, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education’s (OISE) ground floor entrance has a small café, comfortable sofas, and a library. The space is stroller friendly, and you can view the CN Tower if you take the elevator to a higher floor.
UTM
Outdoor
Beside the Paleomagnetism Laboratory on Principal’s Road is a beautiful hidden small stone bridge known as the Watkins Pond & Bridge. Sometimes this location is used for wedding photos, but it would also be a great spot to observe and enjoy the nature!
Indoor
The Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex is normally quiet, making it a great place to study, eat, rest, or relax. The building has baby change stations in both the men’s and women’s washrooms on all floors.
The Davis Food Court in the W.G. Davis Building has a large variety of food options in a lively environment. The area is full of seating at tables and booths and has charging areas as well.
If you need an area to rest throughout the day, visit the family-friendly UTM Student Centre.
UTSC
Outdoor
The Valley Land Trail is a 500-meter-long accessible trail that allows people to see the natural features of the Highland Creek Valley. It features seating built into the hillside at the trailhead, raised lookout points with accessible seating, LED lights built in the handrails for evening strolls, and more.
Indoor
The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC) has many drop-in sports opportunities on all days of the week. They include drop-in sports for teenagers, and also family drop-ins such as drop-in family soccer and family basketball.
Nursing and Change Tables
For a list of the locations that can be used to breastfeed, chestfeed or pump at the three UofT campuses, please visit the Family Care Office’s Nursing at U of T webpage. Please remember, however, it is your right to breastfeed or chestfeed anywhere on campus! Looking for a place a change table? Check out U of T’s change table locations.
We hope this list helped you figure out where to bring your family next time you’re on campus! Do you know any other family-friendly hidden gems on campus that we might have missed? Let us know!