Looking for family-friendly activities to enjoy this Family Day weekend? I have rounded up some fun ideas to consider if you live in Toronto or are planning a visit.

Where: Harbourfront Centre

When: Sunday, February 15 to Monday, February 16

What: This festival embraces winter play, from cozy and imaginative indoor activities to building sculptures outside in the snow and of course, skating lakeside on the Natrel Rink.

Highlights: 

Cost: FREE!

Where: Royal Ontario Museum

When: Saturday, February 14 to Monday, February 16; Programs from 11am-4pm.

What: Enjoy a long weekend of hands-on art activities, Lion Dance performances, and exploration of artifacts from the ROM vaults. 

Highlights: 

• Calligraphy art demonstrations
• Musical performances from the Toronto Chinese Orchestra
• Tai Chi with the CCC Tau Chi Academy, and more. 
• Appropriate for children of all ages. 

Summer has always been my favourite time of the year. I love the sunshine, warm temperatures and the myriad of outdoor activities to be enjoyed with the family. This past summer was no different. We took advantage of our summer break and headed out on a couple of fun family getaways, including a staycation in downtown Toronto courtesy of Eaton Chelsea Hotel. It was early on a Friday morning when I had checked out of the 21C Museum Hotel in Cincinnati where I had attended an exclusive press event and no sooner than I had arrived in Toronto did I find myself packing up for a much-needed weekend away with my family. Checking in at the Eaton Chelsea later that afternoon, it was such a treat to be greeted by the hotel's resident robot E.C. Not only were the kids in awe of this life-size robot, they were shocked when it interacted directly with them. He was so kind as to point out the separate line-up for the Kid's Check-In, all decorated with brightly coloured balloons. They had no idea that they would be given a treat bag filled with little goodies upon 'checking in.' Clearly our weekend staycation was off to a great start!

After checking in, we headed over to the elevators to our room and were further delighted to find more friendly staff in the lobby offering complimentary popcorn and iced tea. 

Our room was a comfortable size for a family of four with two double beds, an arm chair, a flat-screen TV and a desk with all the necessary outlets for staying connected.

The bathroom was also nicely appointed and the single red rose was a lovely added touch. Very feng shui, if you ask me. 

As Canada's largest hotel with 1,590 rooms, the Eaton Chelsea recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and a re-branding as the first hotel of the Langham Hospitality Group in Canada. Now that's a lot of rooms to renovate! While the balcony of our room could have used some sprucing up, the view was pretty neat.

The view from Deck 27, however, was spectacular. This adult-only area is a great place to escape the busy hullabaloo of the city centre. There is also an indoor pool and a state-of-the-art fitness centre offering a zen-like and relaxing atmosphere. And by 'zen-like', I mean 'child-free'.

Of course, we can't forget the Family Fun Zone. The Eaton Chelsea offers so much for the little ones, making it a great family destination. At the Kid Centre, wee ones can partake in arts, crafts and other activities such as the larger than life Connect Four game. Visit with the pet rabbit or watch a movie while big brother or big sister hangs out at the Club 33 Teen Lounge playing arcade or complimentary video games. Guests can also take a ride on the “Corkscrew,” the only indoor waterslide in downtown Toronto. The family pool was smaller than I had anticipated and I am hoping it will be on the agenda for some renovations in the future.