The US may be regarded as the amusement park capital of the world, but its neighbour to the north offers world-class excitement and thrills too. Some are short-lived; the annual Canada National Exhibition crams a lot of excitement into two crazy weeks in summer. And there’s even a Christmas-themed park, populated with elves and featuring a roller coaster pulled by Rudolph himself.
From highly-rated roller coasters to more sedate nursery rhyme rides, read on to discover the very best theme parks in Canada...
Canada’s Wonderland certainly lives up to its name. Stretching over 330 acres, it is Canada’s largest theme park with over 200 attractions including 18 roller coasters, as well as a 20-acre Splash Works waterpark for cooling down when the weather is hot.
In another nice touch, the park features a mountain with a waterfall (Wonder Mountain) rather than a Disney-esque castle, a nod to the country’s majestic natural wonders. There’s also a busy calendar of special events that celebrate the changing seasons as well as Canada Day and Halloween.
Canada’s Wonderland is justifiably famous for its roller coasters. Leviathan is the biggest and scariest roller coaster on the block, and is the tallest (306 feet/93m) and fastest (92mph/148kmph) in the country.
On Skyhawk, riders can take control of their own cockpit and manoeuvre through 360-degree turns high in the air. The Flying Eagles ride, on the other hand, is aimed at smaller children with two-person planes that glide 28 feet (8.5m) above the ground, this time letting the kids control their flight and ride experience.
Just east of downtown Vancouver you’ll find Playland Amusement Park, the oldest theme park in Canada. It has been thrilling its visitors since 1910 and forms part of the larger Pacific National Exhibition (PNE). There’s a wide selection of rides as well as a haunted house, mini golf and plenty of arcade games. In August and September, it hosts the annual PNE Fair and the excitement level is notched up even further.
Vancouverites are divided as to the best ride at Playland. The hair-raising Hellevator has its advocates, shooting riders up a 202-foot (62m) vertical tower at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour (80km/h) before free-falling back down.
Others pump for the Wooden Roller Coaster, which opened in 1958. It’s the oldest roller coaster in Canada and arguably the most famous. Its classic stylings have landed it cameos in films like Final Destination 3 and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, as well as the television series Smallville. We recommend you try both and decide for yourself.
The aptly named Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is literally a two-minute walk from the world-famous Niagara Falls, and an altogether safer – and more fun – way to get soaked. It has been voted the number one amusement park and waterpark in Canada six times by TripAdvisor, and offers a massive 125,000 square feet (11,613sqm) of action-packed fun.
Expect six-storey waterslides, a full-sized wave pool and a massive play area. There are 16 water slides in all, ranging from body slides to terrifying tube towers and plunges.
For an instant adrenaline hit, you can’t beat The Canadian Plunge. It’s a giant water centrifuge super bowl that will see you spinning and screaming your way down the high slides before careening into a splashdown pool.
For a real rush, join the kids gathering under the giant Niagara Tipping Bucket (pictured). When the bell rings, one thousand gallons (3,785 litres) of water is released with a Niagaran roar, soaking everyone underneath. The anticipation will certainly get your heart racing.
If you’re looking for an amusement park with kid-friendly rides and wallet-friendly prices, you can’t beat Centreville on Centre Island, located just across from Toronto’s beautiful harbour and reachable by ferry. The rides here are aimed at children aged between three and 10 but still offer pint-sized thrills.
There are bumper boats and bumper cars, as well as a log flume and a mini roller coaster. The antique carousel ride and the Ferris wheel offer the opportunity to calm the little ones and bring plenty of cheer.
One of the things parents love most about Centreville is that there are plenty of more relaxed activities to keep the kids amused when the lines are long or lunch needs to settle before the next ride. The park also features mini golf and a neighbouring petting zoo that's free to enter with your theme park day pass. And the famous Centreville pedal-boat Swans are increasingly popular since appearing in the Netflix tween series Locke & Key.
Calaway Park in Calgary is western Canada’s largest outdoor family amusement park. Situated in the shadow of the mighty Rocky Mountains, the park first opened its doors in 1982 and has been delighting thrill-seekers of all ages ever since.
As well as 32 thrilling rides, Calaway Park is also famous for its highly choreographed shows held on Celebration Square. Parents also love the one-pay gate, which includes unlimited rides, stage shows and attractions in the admission fee, as well as free parking.
Calaway Park offers everything from bumper boats and 4x4 Baja buggies for youngsters to high-velocity roller coasters guaranteed to thrill even the most jaded teen. The most popular rides are the Vortex roller coaster, Ocean Motion ship ride and Dream Machine swing ride, but Bob Williams, the park’s General Manager, says you must ride the famous Timber Falls.
This log ride splashes down three high-velocity drops as it zig-zags through an old-time Canadian sawmill, delivering thrills and plenty of spills.
Tucked away in the New Brunswick city of Moncton, Magic Mountain is Atlantic Canada's largest waterpark. But there’s more to this popular park than its super-speedy Kamikaze water slide or the Torpedo, a water slide where the floor falls away beneath you.
The park actually offers four entertainment zones for visitors: a SplashZone for all your usual waterpark needs, a FunZone offering traditional amusement park rides, a GolfZone for those who enjoy miniature golf and a TekZone featuring all kinds of retro games.
Deciding on the best ride at Magic Mountain depends on whether you want to get wet or stay dry. In the SplashZone, the aforementioned Kamikaze slide is a firm favourite. It’s the park’s fastest and highest slide with guests experiencing speeds of up to 37 miles per hour (60km/h) as they whistle down a near-vertical plunge.
In the FunZone, the Wave Swinger is the ride most visitors make a beeline for. On this deliberately old-fashioned ride, guests feel like they are coasting through the air, taking in great views of the park and Moncton as they do so.
The Calypso Theme Waterpark in Ottawa is Canada’s biggest waterpark, offering over 100 different water adventures. The waterpark takes pride in having a water slide for everyone, from toddlers and teens through to adrenaline junkies, and even grandparents. The park also serves its renowned Calypso cocktails at the tropical-themed Bluewater Beach Bar and Grill. Lost mum and dad? That’s where you’ll most likely find them.
Thrill-seekers should head straight to the park’s most adrenaline-fuelled slides like Adrenaline, Black Hole, Fast Track and Canyon Rafting. The Calypso Palace wave pool is worth checking out too. With over an acre of ‘ocean’, it is the largest wave pool in Canada and a great place to splash around in the water, take on the huge surges or simply lounge on the beach.
The Sandspit Amusement Park on Prince Edward Island is only a hop, skip and a jump from the Green Gables Heritage House and it is easy to imagine that Anne, from the Green Gables novels, would have loved the place. This family-friendly amusement park features over 15 rides – including Atlantic Canada’s longest roller coaster, the Cyclone – as well as a miniature golf course and plenty of picnic areas.
Sandspit’s 70-foot-high (21m) Ferris wheel is a firm family favourite, offering breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside. But for thrills and spills on a hot summer's day, you can’t beat the bumper boats. Just follow the squeals and you’ll find a pool full of visitors crashing into each other and having the time of their lives. Smaller visitors may prefer the more sedate thrills of the Sandspit Railway.
Whatever the weather, Galaxyland in West Edmonton Mall is ready to deliver the thrills. It’s North America's largest indoor amusement park and one of the few attractions in Canada open 365 days a year.
Recently acquired by Hasbro, the park is undergoing a period of transformation with a number of new rides in the pipeline. It currently offers more than 27 exciting board game-themed rides – including Monopoly Railroad and Hungry Hungry Hippos Feeding Frenzy – as well as arcade games, a four-storey jungle gym and play areas for all ages.
The rides at Galaxyland are helpfully divided into three categories – Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Kids can progress from Sorry! Sliders Bumper Cars to the Flying Galleon and finally to the Galaxy Orbiter, where four-person cars spin while travelling 1,500 feet (457m) of roller coaster track at high speeds, producing upwards of 3.3Gs.
Initially built as the entertainment complex for the 1967 World Fair held in Montreal, La Ronde has been transformed into one of the most popular amusement parks in North America. Part of the renowned Six Flags group, it boasts a stunning location on Saint Helen’s Island, spread over 146 acres and overlooking the old port in Montreal. Thrill-seekers love the park’s eight world-class roller coasters, including the 174-foot-tall (53m) Goliath.
Modern steel roller coasters are all well and good, but connoisseurs will tell you that nothing beats a great wooden coaster. And they don’t get any better than the Monstre; 3,937 feet (1,200m) of brilliantly crafted wooden rails have been thrilling generations of ride enthusiasts for over 30 years.
It’s the tallest two-track wooden coaster in the world and creaks and groans as it pushes riders along at 60 miles per hour (96km/h) to experience some good old-fashioned G-force. La Ronde's website rates it as 'Thrill Level: Maximum'. We can’t disagree.
First opened in 1958, Storybook Gardens is a local London institution, with generation after generation of young children delighting in the nursery rhyme–themed rides and attractions. Operated by the local council, its aim has always been to provide a fun day of play and learning for families with young children.
From a summer splash pad to a winter skate trail, and with a spookily popular StoryBoo! event for Halloween, Storybook Gardens has something to offer throughout the year.
Storybook Gardens has everything a family needs to keep the children entertained and engaged. In the summer season, kids can clamber over outdoor play structures, choose between six amusement rides or search for a cheeky but elusive gnome in Gnorbert's Gardens. There’s also a busy programme of music and dance events featuring Humpty Dumpty, Hickory Dickory Dock and Felix the Fox on the outdoor stage.
It’s only held for two weeks every summer, but such is the energy of the activities and rides at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto that it is regarded by many as the top amusement park in Canada. Known as The Ex, this venerable fair has been a central part of Toronto life since 1879. It’s a family-friendly cornucopia of thrilling rides, world-class music and dance, and incredible food. When someone asks: "Want to go to the Ex?", the only correct answer is: "Yes!"
Ask Torontonians for their favourite thing about The Ex and you’ll get a variety of answers. Some love the adrenaline thrills of the Crazy Mouse Coaster and Cliffhanger, others the more sedate joys of the Giant Wheel or the world-famous Double Decker Merry-Go-Round. Foodies love the plethora of international food stalls selling tasty treats from around the globe.
And there’s always a famous music act belting out some tunes. Or you could just take the Sky Ride (pictured) across the entire exhibition ground, soaking up the noise and excitement of the crowds below.
Located on the banks of the Muskoka River, Santa’s Village is so much more than Muskoka's oldest and largest children's amusement park. It is a year-long embodiment of the spirit of Christmas with a petting zoo, seasonal-themed rides and visits with Santa.
There’s even an elf school that will advise and guide on how to best serve as one of Santa’s little helpers. There’s also Sportsland, where kids can burn off the candy cane sugar rush on a bungee trampoline or a climbing wall, or by speeding around on the go-karts.
Santa’s Village is conveniently divided into three sections with rides based on age groups. Smaller children will love the Candy Cane Express, Blitzen's Balloons and the antique Merry-Go-Round. Older kids will want to try out the Go-Karts. The whole family will love Rudolph’s Roller Coaster (pictured). And meeting the big man himself, of course.
Now read on for the USA's best amusement parks... that aren't Disney