22 fun March Break activities for the family

Gear up this March Break and take a couple of days to hit the slopes with the family. Not sure where to go? Here are some of the best ski resorts across Canada.

Looking to just get out of the house for a few days? Book one of these awesome family getaways. You might even score a last-minute March Break deal or special.

Want to stay indoors on the colder days? Wipe the dust off those board games you have stored away. Break out classics, like Operation and Monopoly, or try out newer games, like HedBanz or Pie Face, and let the giggles commence!

Ask around or surf the web to find some fun festivals or events going down in your city. Google the name of your city plus “March Break events” for local happenings.

Read more: 13 fun March Break activities in Toronto for kids

Want to keep the kids busy for a few solid hours and ensure they’ll have a great night’s sleep? Visit any of these indoor playgrounds across Canada (like the Polar Playground at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg) for a fun-filled day of running, climbing and playing. Other not-too-costly alternatives to consider are bowling, rock climbing or indoor swimming.

Check out the local rinks (here are the best ones across the country) and tie up your skates for a day full of family fun. Don’t like crowds? Then try building your very own ice rink in the backyard. (It’s easier than you think!)

It’s OK to be a couch potato once in a while. Make some popcorn, grab the blankets and turn on your favourite family movie or show. There are some noteworthy new Netflix features being released this month, including an Alvin and the Chipmunks show and another great Ice Age spinoff.

Not all families own snowshoes, so if yours doesn’t, look into local places that rent them out, like Scenic Caves Nature Walks in Collingwood, Ont. Mountain Equipment Co-op, which has locations across Canada, also rents out snowshoes; call first to check availability.

Want to spruce up an otherwise slow March Break afternoon? We have a trick or two up our sleeves to help you out. Teach the kids some magic tricks, and abracadabra! Their boredom will disappear! Use one of these five easy kids’ magic tricks for some inspiration, or there’s always YouTube!

Most museums and large art galleries offer March Break programs and activities, like the Children’s Museum in downtown Winnipeg. Don’t miss March Break at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, where the kiddies can explore the newest exhibit and learn about Zuul the armoured dinosaur, a plant-eating ankylosaur discovered in 2014. Or grab your sleeping bags and make it an overnight shindig with dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta.

Read more: Best museums and art galleries across Canada

Whether it’s playing active video games (hello, Dance Dance Revolution) or making a mini boot camp, there’s no reason why the kids can’t get some exercise to burn off that extra energy. Heck, just blow up a balloon, give your kid a wooden spoon and voila, indoor baseball! Need other ideas? Check out these seven ways to keep your family active this winter.

Get your little chefs in the kitchen and make yummy Melting Snowmen Sugar Cookies or try one of these 15 fabulous cookie recipes.

It may be too cold to visit the zoo, so check out your favourite aquarium and learn about all different kinds of fish and underwater creatures. Near Toronto? Check out Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, where the kids can get up close and personal with sharks, sting rays, jellyfish, and more! Another great place that has tons of fun for tots, including scavenger hunts and hands-on activities, is the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea in Sidney, BC, near Victoria.

Many indoor theme parks pop up for a limited time during March Break. For example, back for its 17^th year in a row, SpringFest TO (formerly Wizard World), hosted at the Exhibition Place in Toronto, is a must-visit and labelled as the “Indoor March Break Extravaganza.” With the recent release of The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, what better place to bring your LEGO-lovers than The Legoland Discovery Centre at Vaughan Mills Mall in Vaughan, Ontario? Or there’s always Galaxyland at the West Edmonton Mall—only the world’s largest indoor theme park with over 27 rides, attractions and play areas.

If there’s enough snow on the ground in your area, then grab your toboggan or tube and head out to the closest hill for some good, old fashioned fun. A mug of yummy hot chocolate afterwards will warm the whole family up—try our Maple Hot Chocolate recipe! 

Take a walk down memory lane and show your kids your Pacman skills from back in the day at a local arcade. Play games, collect tickets and see if they offer some extras, like mini golf, or a laser game, like at Laser Quest Regina.

Finish off March Break with a bang this year! Dress head to toe in your brightest green attire and celebrate the day with your city at your local St. Patty’s Day parade. Make sure to check the schedule ahead of time to see if there are any kid-specific events—and so you can arrive early and get a good spot.

Teach the family how to play your favourite card games from when you were a kid. Whether it’s Old Maid, Go Fish! or Crazy Eights, your kids will love these classic, kid-friendly games.

One of the best ways to get the family exercising indoors is to have a dance party. Boogie down to your kids’ favourite tunes, or teach them one of these 9 awesome fad dances.

Gather all of your craft supplies and get to it! The kids will love getting messy (and you’ll love that they’ll be busy for hours!). Help them make a cardboard dollhouse or create a portable art easel that you can colour and draw on together.

Use nature to your advantage on a day where you’re feeling less creative. Get the kids bundled up and go for a walk outside or through a nearby forest. Many hiking trails are open throughout the winter.

Gather the best fort-building tools you can find: chairs, blankets, pillows—whatever their little hearts desire! Work as a team to make a big fort castle, or have a race to see who can make the best one. When you’re done, cozy up inside with some favourite stuffies, a flashlight and a few of these classic books for kids.

Updated February 28, 2019

Read more: 7 tips to help you survive March Break 50 essential winter activities 10 March break activity ideas (that won’t break the bank!)

Starting March 9, kids 12 and under can ride free on all GO trains and GO buses. That means more adventures for you and your family!

Plan your trip at gotransit.com/KidsGOFree