kid go-karting, one of the things to do in the Kawartha Lakes with kids

Things to do in Kawartha Lakes with kids

Looking for some fun and unique things to do in the Kawartha Lakes with the kids? We’ve put together a list of ideas that are sure to turn your next family outing into unforgettable fun.

1. Enjoy a sweet treat together

Sometimes all kids want to do is to have a little quality time with their parents or grandparents. Making a trip to one of the Kawartha Lakes many bakeries is a great way to do this. All it takes is a sweet treat and a hot chocolate. A few suggestions include:

Ordering a couple of chocolate chunk fudge brownies at Stuff’d Ice Cream Bakery & Café in Lakefield
Indulging in a chocolate éclair or blueberry cream puff from Buns & Sweets Homestyle Baking in Bridgenorth
Heading to Chemong Road in Peterborough to share an irresistible BeaverTails pastry
Devouring a Moose Tracks cone at Mariloo’s Ice Cream and Milkshakes in Buckhorn.

2. Animal outings

Do you and your kids love animals? Then here are some awesome things to do in the Kawartha Lakes area that will let you get up close and personal with some of nature’s coolest creatures.

PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary: Located just south of Rice Lake, this farm is dedicated to rescuing neglected and mistreated donkeys, along with other animals. Visit here and you can learn all about donkeys including why farmers use them to protect their other animals.

The Pearly Acre Pig Sanctuary: Like donkeys, pigs are one of the most intelligent species in the animal kingdom. At Pearly Acre, home to 15 pot belly pigs, you and the kids can learn about pigs on a guided tour which includes going into the pig pen and touching them.

Hunnabees Honey Co: Give your kids a lesson on where honey comes from and how it’s made by taking them on a tour at Hunnabees. Their guided tours are available from June to September.

3. Some thrilling things to do in the Kawartha Lakes with the kids

If your kids are in the older age bracket, and you’re still young at heart, there’s nothing like sharing an adrenaline rush together. Here are three actvities to do in the Kawartha Lakes that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up no matter how young or old you are.

Learn to ride a dirt bike: Trail Tours Dirt Bike/ATV school is the most established training school of its kind in Canada. In other words, they know their stuff. What better place for you and your kids to learn how to ride a dirt bike. They provide expert instruction and a guided ride on their private trail.

Go go-karting: The next best thing to watching formula one racing is getting behind the wheel of a go-kart at Peterborough Kartway. Open from the spring to the fall, there’s nothing like zipping around a track and leaving your kids in the dust! Kids have to be 52” tall or taller in order to drive on their own. If shorter than this, children can ride along with an adult in a dual kart.

Explore 7 caves: Up for a little underground adventure with the kids? Head out to the Warsaw Caves Conservation Area. The 7 caves range in difficulty from 1 to 7. They are dry and there are no critters living in them. Bring sturdy footwear, like running shoes, and a headlamp because at times you’ll need both hands while you’re working through the caves.

Giddy up: Always wanted to take the kids horseback riding? Stillbrook Riding Stables offers a scenic trail ride for riders aged 6 and up. Before you head out on the trail everyone receives a riding lesson. Helmets and boots are provided so don’t forget to wear socks!

4. Water activities to do in the Kawartha Lakes

On a hot summer day one of the best things to do in the Kawartha lakes with the kids is a water activity. Here are three that are sure to make a splash with your gang:

Go for a dip in the “jewel of the Kawarthas”: Sandy Lake Beach near Buckhorn is known throughout the Kawartha Lakes because of its turquoise-coloured water. It’s a great beach for little ones because the water is shallow for quite a distance and, as a result, it’s also warm.

Tubing down a lazy river: Grab your tubes and go for a 1 km cruise down the Mississauga River. The entry point is just a few minutes north of Buckhorn at the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. Don’t have tubes for everyone in your group? No worries. Just head to the Home Hardware just down the road in Buckhorn.

Dip a paddle: Pack a lunch, a drink and a life jacket and go kayaking or canoeing with the kids. Pick out a paddling route that matches your families’ level of expertise and make a day of it. If you don’t have your own kayak or canoe there are outfitters in the area that can rent you one.

5. Immerse yourself in another world

It’s been raining all day. You’re tired of playing cards and board games. You and the kids have cabin fever. What can you do? Here are three things to do in Kawartha Lakes that will put you in another world.

Get a dose of virtual reality: Visit Control V Lindsay – Virtual Reality Arcade and you and the kids can experience another world just by putting on a pair of goggles.

Try and escape together: Think you and the kids work well together? Test your abilities at Escape Maze. Recommended for people 13 years and up, players have one hour to see if they can solve the clues and figure out how to escape a room. There are various mazes to choose from. Each one features a unique theme and different challenges.

Go to the movies: Even though we all got used to streaming movies on our cell phones, tablets and TVs (thanks to the pandemic) it still doesn’t compare to walking into a theatre and seeing a flick on the big screen. To make the experience of going to the movie theatre even more unique for you and your kids watch a film at the Highlands Cinemas in Kinmount. Created by a movie buff, the cinema features which were all added to the owner’s home. Inside the hallways of the cinema there are thousands of pieces of movie memorabilia to see too. It’s an unbelievable collection!

No matter which activity you choose from this roundup of things to do in the Kawartha Lakes with kids, it will make for a great outing for you all. Have a great time.