There's something special about taking the time to seek out and appreciate art. Your soul will thank you. 

KWAG and the Clay and Glass Gallery often have activities for kids, check their websites for family programming. 


Markus Spiske D Jo4 Qhtu2sg Unsplash

Check out a local art exhibit

You don't need a headset or any special skills to experience virtual reality! Ctrl-V has games for kids and adults and you can play alone or with others. 


VR games

Play virtual reality games at Ctrl-V

Stroll is a company that offers neighbourhood walking tours from local guides. Seems like a great way to discover some new and interesting stories about our city.


Stroll - Hyperlocal Walking Tours

Go on a curated walking tour

Princess Cinemas is the best place for indie and retro films, and it doesn't hurt that it's got the Princess Café right there too. 


Princess Cinemas

Movie night at the Princess

The Noon Hour Concert series, offered by the University of Waterloo Music Department at Conrad Grebel University College, presents performances by local, national, and international talent. These free concerts are presented in the fall and winter terms and feature classical, jazz, world music, and contemporary works. Noon Hour Concerts take place on most Wednesdays, 12:30 to 1:20 pm, in the Conrad Grebel University College Chapel from September to March.


Julio Rionaldo X Ioze9d H4 Wi Unsplash

Noon Hour Concerts at UW

If you've got a little one, this place is for you. Lots of fantastic play areas and programs for them, and adult social interaction for you! 


EarlyON Roger St

Take your kids to an EarlyON centre

An indoor playground with a coffee shop! Need I say more?


Play date at Play a Latte

$8 for unlimited games!! And they have karaoke Thursdays and Sundays starting at 9pm.


Unlimited games at Pin Up Arcade Bar

Pack an easy lunch, grab a blanket, and head to a nearby park for a picnic. 


Go for a picnic

Put on that song that you can't NOT dance to, and just let yourself go. Repeat as necessary! 


A girl wearing a blue dress dancing in the living room

Private dance party

Rent a canoe, kayak, tube, or river raft to make your way down the Grand River. They offer transportation to take you up the river so you can go downstream all the way. It's amazing how remote it feels only a few kilometres from the city!


Canoeing down the Grand River

Figure out what fruit is in season and look up a farm where you can pick your own! From strawberries to peaches to apples, it is so satisfying to eat the fruit that you picked yourself. 	


Strawberry picking

Fruit picking

Hear me out. You can make your own pizza dough so fast with just beer, flour, baking powder, and salt. 


A homemade pizza almost ready to go in the oven

Make pizza from scratch with a fool-proof recipe

It's got beautiful hiking trails, a small lake, and a really cool natural play area for kids. 


Huron Natural Area

Get some fresh air at Huron Natural Area

Apollo has an amazing lineup of nostalgic Christmas movies on the calendar! 


Apollo Cinema

Movie night at Apollo Cinema

A screen-free form of entertainment for kids; it's a playlist of narrated Disney stories with audio clips from the movies. 


Jesse from Toy Story pulling on a string of Christmas lights

Listen to Disney Storytime

Go on a mini-adventure and try out a new playground! Use our [Playground Map](https://www.unboringkw.com/maps/playgrounds) to  find one you haven't been to yet. Try filtering for amenities you might be interested in like a splash pad, picnic shelter, or beach volleyball court!


Explore a new playground

If you like riddles, mystery, and problem solving, this is the activity for you. It's a group activity, so it's good for birthdays, parties, dates, team-building, that kind of thing. Guaranteed to give you a mental workout and get your adrenaline going!


Challenge yourself in an escape room

The Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum includes two indoor galleries and a 60 acre living history exhibit called Doon Heritage Village. You can get a free museum pass from the KPL!


Visit the Waterloo Region Museum

The Hydrocut Trail system is consistently ranked as one of the top MTB riding destinations in Ontario and is recognized across Canada for its 35km of “flowing” trails that see over 80,000 visitors per year. The trails are open and free to the public. They feature board walks and bridges, switchbacks and “armoured” walls, with fast lines and technical features to challenge the most skilled of riders. 


Mountain biking at the Hydrocut

The Button Factory is a community arts centre that offers a bunch of courses and workshops.


The Button Factory

Get creative at the Button Factory

Check out one of our local board game cafés! It's a great place to learn a new game or play an old favourite. There's [Adventurer's Guild](http://www.adventurersguildcafe.com/) in Kitchener (they have video games too) and [Games on Tap](https://www.gamesontap.ca/) in Waterloo (weekly trivia nights). 


Board Game Bar

Try a new game at a board game bar

Unleash your competitive side at AOK, an arcade bar with craft beers (for the parents) and a great collection of retro games. 


Arcade

Play to win at the arcade

THEMUSEUM has a great toddler area and regularly changing exhibits and events. Check the website to see what's going on at the moment. AND did you know that you can get free museum passes from the library?


THEMUSEUM

Visit THEMUSEUM

Stockyards Coffee is a hidden gem located just off the Iron Horse Trail inside Catalyst137. Reading a book or just checking your emails could be a great experience here. If you have a doggy you are lucky. Pups are welcome here! Hot tip: get the spinach danish, they are delicious!  


Cute doggy sitting in front of Stockyards Coffee

Coffee break at Stockyards Coffee

I'm willing to bet you haven't seen all the street art in KW. There are tons of pieces hidden away in back alleys! Check out our interactive map of public art in Waterloo Region. 


A mural by Bruno Smoky in downtown Kitchener

Explore the city's street art

Crock a Doodle has ready-to-paint pottery and all the supplies you need to create your own (usable) art. You pick your pottery piece, paint it yourself, then leave it with them to glaze and kiln-fire it so you can take it home and use it! 


Paint your own pottery

Lotus Meditation offers free guided meditation Tuesday evenings at the Button Factory. They also have live streams if you want to join from home. 


Guided meditation

It's a bit of a drive, but totally worth it if your kids love creative activities! You book either the morning or afternoon session three-hour session. There's the expected painting and crafts stations, but also a ton of other cool stuff like musical instruments, costumes, face paint, coloured sand, water play, window markers... definitely more than enough to keep the kids busy for the full session!


Children's Art Factory in Guelph

It sounds dangerous but this is actually a very beginner-friendly activity! And it's SO satisfying. You can book a private lane for your group or just go during the walk-in hours. 


A man throwing an axe at an indoor target

Try axe throwing

There are several farms in the areas around KW that are open to the public for visits. 
- [Steckle Heritage Farm](https://stecklehomestead.ca/) has open Tuesdays from May to October
- [Snyder's Family Farm](https://snydersfamilyfarm.com/) has tons of attractions for kids during fall and winter
- [Herrle's](https://herrles.com/) is a go-to for strawberry picking and other seasonal produce
- [Benjamin's Tree Farm](https://www.benjamintreefarm.com/) is great to visit in winter; you can cut your own Christmas tree! 


Visit a nearby farm

Have you seen tiny doors, houses, or garden scenes at the base of a tree or in someone's front yard? Those are fairy gardens! And you can make one too, you just need some creativity and patience. Having small fingers probably helps too. 


A tiny house and swing with a fairy doll on it

Make a fairy garden

Whether you're planting indoors or outdoors, there is a certain joy in caring for your plants and seeing them slowly grow and change with the seasons. If you're lacking space, look into community gardens (or [guerilla gardening](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_gardening) for the brave). 


Gardening

The Health Valley Trail is a 5km path going from University Ave to St Jacobs, following the Conestogo River. Along the way you'll see the Wise Old Oak, who is always in the mood for a visit.


Visit the Wise Old Oak

Let the kids go full monkey mode at Go Bananas! It's actually not just for kids, it's open to anyone between 25-300lbs who wants to try rock climbing (but it's mostly kids). 


Rock climbing at Go Bananas

This arts and culture centre just opened in 2022. It's in St Jacobs and offers space for artists to work and sell their art. It's open to the public for exhibits, workshops, and shopping. Take a look at their event calendar!	


Three Sisters Cultural Centre

There's so much to do at the library. KPL now has toy boxes for kids, musical instruments, 3D printers, a coffee bar, and tons of events and classes. And it's freeeee!


Visit the library

Stop at the City Café Bakery on the Iron Horse trail. It's cash only and there's limited seating, but they produce some of the best fresh baked goods in KW. It's a Kitchener classic! 


City Cafe Bakery

City Café Bakery at the Iron Horse trail

Get fresh baked bagels at City Cafe Bakery

Not only is it fun to go thrifting, it's also SO practical if you have kids. They can touch and play with the toys before you buy them, and you're not breaking the bank on something they might only play with for a few days. Same goes for clothes, there's nothing better than finding the perfect Elsa dress and it's only $4!


Becca Mchaffie Fzde 6 I Tjkw Unsplash

Thrift shopping

There's a good chance if you've been in KW for more than 5 minutes you've heard about St Jacobs Farmers Market. BUT even if you've been to the market, there's a lot to explore that you might not have checked out:
- Not one but two antique stores ([St Jacobs Antiques Market](http://www.stjacobsantiquemarket.com/) and [Market Road Antiques](http://www.marketroadantiques.shop/))
- Meet the animals at [Farmyard Fables](https://www.instagram.com/p/CuSNaalPIpm/) on Tuesday and Thursday mornings
- The famous [apple fritters ](https://stjacobsmarket.com/vendors-directory/the-fritter-co/)


St Jacobs Farmers Market

Shopping at St Jacobs Farmers Market

Literally go outside and take a long walk! 
Find a park, breathe deep, listen to the sound of your steps, let your thoughts wander...
With littles, try letting them lead the way. You probably won't actually get anywhere, but there's no power struggle and you might be surprised to see what catches their attention!


A father and daughter walk a forest trail together

Go for a walk

Did you know that there are 24 splashpads in Waterloo Region? Find one you want to explore on our [Splashpad Map](https://www.unboringkw.com/maps/splashpads)!  

Don't forget to pack snacks and sunscreen :)


Try out a new splashpad

This lovely art form requires only paper and patience. 


Origami

There's something so comforting about home baked cookies. And it's particularly satisfying when you've made them yourself; this recipe is beginner-friendly and only takes 30 minutes. 


Homemade chocolate chip cookies cooling on a wire rack

Make cookies from scratch

Take your dog on that extra long walk they deserve! I mean, you also deserve a long walk or run or bike ride (if that's your thing). Is there a part of the trail you haven't done before? 


A father walking his daughter and dog down the Iron Horse trail near Uptown Waterloo

Explore the Iron Horse trail

The KWAG is a contemporary art gallery with free admission, located in Centre in the Square. It's got a permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. This summer they have an Art in the Park event series bringing a sculpture garden to various parks in KW. Check the [website](https://kwag.ca/upcoming-programs-events?event_type=8) for details. 


KW Art Gallery

Visit KW Art Gallery

Hear me out, painting rocks can be an incredibly satisfying activity. Take your time to pick out a great rock, then paint it to the best of your ability. Use the shape of the rock to inspire your design. Then find a good place for it to sit and provide a pop of colour!


Paint rocks

Rock painting

The Walter Bean Trail follows the Grand River through Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Woolwich. You have 76 km of trail to explore! 


Walter Bean Grand River Trail June 2021.jpg

Walk or ride the Walter Bean trail

Take out a board game or a deck of cards and have yourself a game night! Bonus points if you can whip up some snacks and drinks to keep you going.


Two people playing mancala game on a picnic blanket

Game night

MacLennan Park, AKA Mount Trashmore, used to be a landfill and is now one of the city's best parks! It's got a mountain biking trail and skate park, hiking trails, off-leash dog park, an excellent tobogganing hill in winter, and a huge playground and splashpad for summer. If you make it to the top of the hill you get some pretty great views of the city.


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