Hello Summer of 2023, it’s great to see you. Here’s the tbaywithkids.ca list of 73 fun things to do with the kids in Thunder Bay.
1. Take a family bike ride in your neighbourhood or a whole new one. Check out this map of multi-use trails.
2. Throw rocks in Lake Superior. Can you skip a stone across the water?
3. Look at the view through your binoculars at Hillcrest Park.
4. Go on a “photo safari” to Vickers Park and take close-up pictures of bark, shadows, bugs etc.
5. Plant your own little garden.
6. Fly a kite at Boulevard Lake. Or, see if there are any kitesurfers at Mission Island Marsh on a windy day.
7. Go to an event like a craft workshop, author reading or storytime at a Thunder Bay Public Library branch…maybe a different one than the one you usually go to.
8. Spot a rainbow at Kakabeka Falls. Visit some other local waterfalls too.
9. Hike the Middlebrun Bay trail at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Check out other family-friendly local hikes as well!
10. Watch the skateboarders and BMXers at the Marina Park skate park (and maybe give it a try when you’re ready!) There's an indoor skate park in town too.
11. Get your picture taken at the graffiti alley on Cooke Street.
12. Take a grown-up out for ice cream.
13. Try a Coney dog.
14. Paint some rocks. Paint a local paint kit. Paint some ceramics.
15. Make an obstacle course in your yard.
16. Watch the stars come out. Try the free SkyView app—just point the app at the night sky and it shows you what constellations you’re looking at.
17. Visit all five city splash pads and decide which one you like best
or try the new water park at Boulevard Lake.
18. Go to www.portofthunderbay.ca/vessels and click on the yellow anchor see where the ships in the harbour are from. Or, watch a cruise ship come into port.
19. Go on a road trip to Ouimet Canyon.
20. Make up a “street scavenger hunt” in your neighbourhood (clue example: “which building has a yellow door?”) and challenge another family to match a street number to each clue.
21. Create a dance routine using music from a local band, musician or performer. Ideas: The Honest Heart Collective, the Cartwrights, Nick Sherman or DJ Big D.
22. Visit www.geocaching.com to see where the 700+ local geocaches are, and plan a trip to one.
23. Take a sketch pad to Marina Park and draw the Sleeping Giant.
24. See if you can find monarch caterpillars or butterflies at the Adelaide Monarch Garden (south end of Adelaide Street near Boulevard Lake).
25. Learn to identify three local boreal bird calls. (Ideas: raven, white-crowned sparrow, ovenbird, robin…)
26. Get a baseball mitt and baseball and play catch. Bonus points for wearing Border Cats gear. Check out a Border Cats home game!
27. Watch the sun set, then create some art inspired by it the next day.
28. Go for a trail run or nature walk at Kamview Nordic Centre.
29. Find some amethyst.
30. Decide which is your favourite Thunder Bay signature food: Persians, Finnish pancakes or Sally Anns?
31. Colour some www.tbaywithkids.ca Thunder Bay colouring pages.
32. Rock on! Learn about the cool rocks, rock formations and mountains in our area and then go on a road trip to see them. See a guide here.
33. Build a fort and fly a flag from it.
34. Try the mountain bike tracks at Shuniah Mines, Trowbridge Forest and Kinsmen Park.
35. Blow bubbles at Waverley Park.
36. Go for a bike ride at the International Friendship Gardens.
37. Play mini golf (or make your own course).
38. Pick berries.
39. Go to a Movie Night in the Park.
40. See if you can spot any fireflies, and learn how to safely catch and release them.
41. Throw a Frisbee at Wayland Park. Or, try one of the area's disc golf courses.
43. Read a book by a Thunder Bay author, like Jean Pendziwol, Donna White, Sheila Burnford, Holly Haggarty, Elizabeth Kouhi, Tonya Muchanao, Ruby Slipperjack or Duncan Weller. See what the local bookstore has!
44. Got to www.nfb.ca and watch the free documentary “Rosies of the North” to see how women in Thunder Bay built planes right here during WWII.
45. Lie on your back and watch clouds.
46. Record the sounds of different forms of water (raindrops, waterfall, creek….)
47. Make a meal or snack using some ingredients grown or made in Thunder Bay.
48. Go fishing.
49. Visit a conservation area (see www.lakeheadca.com for locations)
50. Have a picnic—breakfast, lunch or dinner!
51. Go on the rides at Chippewa Park.
52. Dance at a free concert at Chippewa Park, Marina Park or Waverley Park.
53. Visit the McKellar Island Bird Observatory (open in August).
54. Tour Fort William Historical Park and imagine what life was like 200 years ago.
55. Watch some fireworks.
56. Visit a Thunder Bay art gallery or store (there are at least 10).
57. Visit a Thunder Bay museum (there are four).
58. Visit a farmers’ market.
59. Go to a pow wow.
60. Visit the indoor and outdoor gardens at the Centennial Conservatory.
61. Cheer at a Chill game or one of the local speedways.
62. Ride the train at Centennial Park.
63. Roast marshmallows.
64. Check out one the Night Sky events or another event at the David Thompson Astronomical Observatory at Fort William Historical Park.
65. Make a DIY slip ’n’ slide or run through a sprinkler!
66. Tour a city fire station (it's free!)
67. Go to the lookout at Anemki Wajiw (Mount McKay).
68. Go to a play or musical theatre event...there are lots all summer long, indoors and out!
70. Strike! Go bowling. 71. Visit the animals or check out the rides at Vanderwees.
72. See cool olden day stuff at the Oliver Paipoonge Heritage Park.
73. Check in with Our Kids Count and EarlyON for indoor and outdoor programs for families with kids 0-6.
We hope you have an amazing summer! Follow @tbaywithkids on Facebook to keep track of all the local family-friendly events and activities in Thunder Bay.