06/01/2025
I love helping people arrange holidays but what I love most is their feedback and what the kids thought too! I had some amazing feedback from a very incredible family who go on the best adventures together ❤️. 2023 was an Icelandic adventure, but 2024 was Toronto & New York with their 3 daughters aged between 7 and 12. They've shared the best photos, tips and recommendations they also sent a photo of the York Minsters plaque. Thank you once again for sharing your experience and really great tips. Inspiring more families to go on incredible adventures!
"Toronto
Natasha found us a family friendly, self-catering apartment and we hired a car, which was essential. Navigating Toronto was fairly straightforward but the roads could be very busy, so allow plenty of time to get around.
Casa Loma is an eclectic place to visit - part stately home, part military museum and part film set. Head to the top of the towers for stunning views of the Toronto skyline.
In the city, look for green municipal parking signs and go exploring on foot around the CN Tower, Roger’s Center and along the boardworks by Lake Ontario. There was a lovely family atmosphere.
Niagara Falls is an essential day trip, with ample parking and modern visitor centre. We took a picnic and ate it overlooking the Falls, before embarking on the City Cruises boat ride. In my opinion Behind the Falls was worth the extra cost for the experience, but go earlier in the day to avoid queues.
Toronto Zoo was fantastic. They have polar bears, Arctic wolves, tigers, lions, orangutans, gorillas, rhinos, hippos, flamingos… I could go on! The staff were helpful, especially when we lost our daughter’s camera. It was handed in by another family and we got it back.
We’d recommend fun, friendly and laid-back Toronto to families. There’s so much to do, we feel like we have only scratched the surface.
New York
Natasha arranged private transfers for us, which took the pressure off getting into and out of Manhattan. The drivers messaged via WhatsApp the day before to confirm the pick-up and sent photos of the cars so we knew what to expect. We stayed in a hotel in Midtown with two adjoining rooms, so we had some space and weren’t disturbing the kids after bedtime.
The Statue of Liberty required a trip on the subway, but this was easy enough and staff helped us get the right tickets. Seeing the Statue up close was brilliant and the older kids enjoyed the museums both on Liberty Island and Ellis Island. For the youngest, there were ranger stations with activities to keep her interest.
After much YouTube research, the kids decided Top of the Rock was the observation deck for them (there are at least four others in Manhattan). The views are amazing in every direction and we grabbed lunch in Rockefeller Plaza afterwards.
Free things to do include the beautiful St Patrick’s Cathedral and finding the ledger stone from York Minster in St Thomas’ Church. As well as the obvious Central Park and Bryant Park, we liked Madison Square Park with its mirror pond, fountain and children’s play area.
The American Museum of Natural History could have occupied us for days, although the food court was expensive. As well as the dinosaurs, animals and different cultural displays there are impressive exhibits about space and geology.
Finally, Hard Rock Café Times Square was so good. The fixed price kids menu was a hit and there is lots of memorabilia to see. Favourite moment of the trip had to be when, as we walked back to the hotel from Hard Rock, our too-cool eldest was overheard whispering to her sibling, “This is amazing!”"