I think we can all agree that this winter has been one for the books. And although we would love to beat the winter blues by vacationing somewhere hot, this is not always an option. We’ve put together a staycation list of fun and budget-friendly family activity ideas from across the country for you and your children to enjoy this March Break!

Winnipeg

Break: March 29-April 6

• Children’s Museum

The Children’s Museum in Winnipeg offers a variety of different activities to help entertain your kids all day long.

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 9:30am-4:30pm. Friday-Saturday 9:30am-6:00pm

Admission: $10 per day

Visit http://childrensmuseum.com/visit/calendar/spring-break-lineup for more information on their Spring Break lineup — which features all of the events happening each day of the break!

• Festival of Fools

This festival is for children of all ages and runs March 23 to March 31, 2014. It includes a variety of activities including circus and trapeze workshops, face painting, and more. Your kids can enjoy 9 days of foolishness this March Break.

Hours: 11:00am-3:00pm

Admission: FREE

Visit http://kidsfest.ca/about/festival-of-fools/ for more information, download the flyer and find times of specific workshops and events.

• Arctic Glacier Winter Park at The Forks

This park includes 1.2 km of skating trails that have random, creative themed warming huts throughout, an Olympic-sized skating rink, festive lights, a snow lounge and more!

Hours: 10:00am-10:00pm (skate rentals)

Admission: $3 for children and $5 for adults (if you need to rent a pair of skates!) Otherwise, free of charge.

Visit http://www.theforks.com/winterpark for more information.

• Manitoba Museum — Wrapped: The Mummy of Pesed

The Manitoba Museum will be revealing the real, wrapped mummy, Pesed and her coffin during this March Break. This is a rare exhibit; don’t miss your and your child’s chance to take a look of a mummy over 2,300-years-old. Your children will be fascinated by this event and will learn history at the same time.

Hours: 10:00am-4:00pm

Admission: $14.00 for adults and $12 for youth/senior/students

Visit http://www.manitobamuseum.ca/ for more information.

If none of these pique your interest:

• Winnipeg Public Library

Take your children to the library, they will be participating in a variety of activities that will keep them busy all day long. Libraries carry an abundance of free activities.

Visit http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/eventsall.asp for more information. On the left hand side, click, Library Programs and Events and it should bring you to a calendar. If not, redirect here: http://winnipeg.evanced.info/signup/eventcalendar.aspx Then select the appropriate month and scroll to find the dates you are looking for and it will show you a list with programs your public library offers during that day/week. Select the program you like to find out more information.

Toronto

Break: March 8-16

• LegoLand

LegoLand is the perfect place for your children to get lost in hours of fun this March Break. Want to beat the rush? Buy tickets online and receive a discount as well as priority entrance from 9:00am to 10:00am for the month of March.

Hours: Friday, March 7th to Saturday, March 8th – 9:00am-9:00pm with last admission at 7:00pm. Sunday, March 9th 10:00am until 7:00pm with last admission at 5:00pm. Monday, March 10th to Saturday, March 15th – 9:00am-9:00pm with last admission at 7:00pm. Sunday, March 16th- 10:00am-7:00pm with last admission at 5:00pm.

Admission: Children 2 and younger are free. Tickets from $16 + taxes.

Click here for info.

• Hockey Hall of Fame

Get active this March Break and take your kids down to the Hockey Hall of Fame. What better way to celebrate Canada’s recent gold medals at the Olympics than by teaching your kids the history and meaning behind hockey in Canada.

Hours: Extended hours March 7-16. Monday to Saturday 9:30am-6:00pm and Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm.

Admission: Free for children under 3, $17.50 for adults and $11 for youth (4yrs-13yrs). If you purchase your ticket online receive 50% off your photo with the Stanley Cup!

Visit the site for more info.

• Casa Loma

Why not let your children feel like a real princess/prince and give them the opportunity to explore a real castle! Spend the day learning the history of the original castle built for Sir Henry Pellatt and Lady Mary Pellatt while moving from room to room. If you look close enough you might even find secret passageways!

Hours: Daily from 9:30am-5:00pm with last admission at 4:00pm.

Admission: $20 for adults, $10 for a child and $3 an hour for parking (max $9).

Official site

• The Bata Shoe Museum: March Break Spy Fun

Let your children act as a spy and have them sneak around at the Bata Shoe Museum March 8-16.

Hours: 10:00am-4:00pm

Admission: $8 dollars per child and adult

Official site

• Playdium

The Playdium offers video and arcade games, an indoor play area, batting cages, bumper cars, food and beverages, and more! After playing arcade games your children will win tickets which they can redeem for prizes later!

Hours: March 10-14, 10:00am-11:00pm. Regular hours, Monday to Thursday 12:00pm-11:00pm. Friday 12:00pm-1:00am. Saturday 10:00am-1:00am. Sunday 10:0011:00pm.

Admission: March Break sale: March 11 to March 20, $30 for 200 credits + 1 bumper car ticket OR 180 credits, 1 pizza slice, and 1 bumper car ticket! Visit http://www.playdium.com/pricing_indoor.php for more information on standard admission packages.

March Break info

• Toronto Public Library

Visit the TPL’s March Break section for more information on activities. There is a drop down menu under ‘Find March Break programs at your branch’ to specify which library is closest to you.

Vancouver

Break: March 14-31

• Space Centre

The space centre offers innovative programs, exhibits and activities to educate and inspire you and your kids about the universe, our planet and space exploration. This dome was built all the way back in 1979! Don’t miss your chance to gaze at the skies of Vancouver this March Break.

Hours: Theatre shows are 10:00am-3:00pm on weekdays. Observatory opens 8:00pm-12:00am.

Admission: By donation.

There are a variety of timed shows during the week and weekend evenings, you can find more information here: http://www.spacecentre.ca/schedule.

Visit http://www.spacecentre.ca/gms for more general information.

• Burnaby Village Museum: Scavenger Hunt

From March 17 to March 28, let the toys and photos come to life as your children race around this scavenger hunt to collect the pieces.

Hours: 12:00pm-4:00pm.

Admission: $7 for children over 2 years old-tickets include carousel rides, crafts and entertainment.

Visit the site for more information on specific acts that are performed each day.

•  Spring Break madness at the Hillcrest Aquatic Centre

The Hillcrest Aquatic Centre offers a fun week of swimming that will include games, events, piñatas and prizes!

Hours: 6:00am-9:45pm daily.

Admission: $5 for ages 6-12 and $10 for adults.

Visit the site for more information.

• Stanley Park: Easter Train Ride

Take your kids on a spring train ride through Stanley Park. Your kids will also have the chance to participate in an egg hunt, crafts, games and to get their face painted. This train ride runs rain or shine as there is full-covered protection! Get ready for a ride full of fun.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 10:30am-4:00pm. Friday to Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm.

Admission: $3.50 for adults, $8.75 for children 3-17 and $5.25 for children 0-2.

More info

• Vancouver Public Library

Visit the VPL site for more information. Click the date you are available and you’ll see all the events available for that day.

Calgary

Break: March 21-April 6

• Tommy K Play North and Tommy K Play South

Tommy K Play is a family indoor playground and family entertainment centre that is located in both a north and south location, each location featuring different attractions. Tommy K Play North features a laser tag area and a climbing wall. Tommy K Play South features a custom built, lead-free and phthalates-free indoor playground structure, multi-level climbing towers and bridges, zip-line, gang slide, roller squeezes and decision mazes.

Hours: 9:30-8:30 daily.

Admission: $9.95 for 4 years and younger, $12.95 for ages 5+, and children under 9 months and adults are free! Tommy K Play is shoeless, but if you forget your socks, they have you covered for $2.95.

Visit http://www.tommykplay.com/ for more information

• Southland Leisure Centre

This award-winning leisure centre will have you and your kids entertained all day long with outdoor waterparks, wave pools, skating, crafts, rock climbing wall and more.

Hours: Open Monday-Friday 5:30-10. Saturday 7:30-10. Sunday 7:30-6.

Admission: $.65 for children 2-6 year old, $5.30 for children 7-17 and $10.60 for ages 18-64. Family packages are also available.

Visit the site for more information.

• Bow Habitat Station

Introduce your children to a little bit of wildlife this March Break and explore exhibits and aquariums in the discovery centre, feed the fish during a guided fish hatchery tour and go fishing in the trout pound and take a stroll through the interpretive wetland.

Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10:00-4pm (Discovery Centre) 12pm & 2pm (Fish Hatching Tours) and 5:00am-11:00pm Sunday-Saturday (Trout Pound & Interpretive Wetland). The Discovery Centre and Fish Hatchery Tours are closed Sundays and Mondays.

Admission: Adult 18-64: Discovery Centre $10, Fish Hatchery Tour $5, $14 for both.

Youth 5-17: Discovery Centre $6, Fish Hatchery $3, $8 for both.

Senior 65+: Discovery Centre $8, Fish Hatchery $5, $12 for both.

Children 4 and under: FREE

Visit the site for more information.

• StoryBook Theatre: The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley

This musical is definitely worth seeing over the March Break. Stanley is just a normal 10 year old boy who is bored with his normal life and wants to do something different or show someone something they’ve never seen. One night Stanley’s bulletin board falls down on him and when he wakes up the next morning, he’s completely FLAT. Watch as Stanley goes through a musical adventure to become 3D again.

Hours: Saturday and Sundays 11:00am, 2:00pm, 4:30pm. Wednesday April 2 & 9 12:30pm. Thursday to Saturday 7:00pm.

Admission: $25 for adults and $20 per child.

Visit the site for more information.

• Calgary Public Library

Visit the site for a detailed list of all the free children’s events.

Edmonton

Break: March 29-April 6

• Edmonton Valley Zoo

Just because it’s winter time, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still take a visit to the zoo! Your kids will be excited to see the animals in their natural habitats and see as they too, live through all the snow!

Hours: 10:00am-4:00pm daily.

Admission: $5.50 for 2-12 year olds, $8.50 for 13-17 year olds, $9.50 for 18-64 year olds. Family packages are available as well, $30 which includes 2 adults and each child living under the same roof under 18 years of age.

Visit the site for more information.

• StirCrazy Family Fun Centre

Take your kids to play at one of Calgary’s largest indoor play centers. It’s the perfect spot to let them burn off all of their energy so that they’re not doing it back at home!

Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:00am-8:30pm. Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm.

Admission: $9.49 for ages 1-3, $11.49 for 4+ and aduls 18+ are free!

Visit http://www.stircrazyfamilyfun.com/ for more information

• West Edmonton Mall

Take the kids to the mall for never-ending fun. At the West Edmonton Mall you don’t need to worry about entertaining the kids while you shop. This mall contains loads of fun including an indoor waterpark, a ropes quest, miniature golf and more!

Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 am – 9:00pm. Sunday 11:00am – 6:00pm.

Admission: Prices range based on the activity of your choice with the maximum price at $32.95 for an all-day ride/waterpark pass.

Visit the site for more information.

• Telus World of Science: How to make a monster

Bring your kids to the Telus World of Science and let them see what it takes to create a monster. Your children will have the opportunity to interact with some ghastly creations such as touching alien guts!

Hours: Sunday to Tuesday 10:00am-7:00pm. Wednesday to Saturday 10:00am to 10:00pm.

Admission: Members are free. $16.95 for adults, $12.95 for children 3-12, $14.95 for youth 13-17, student with ID card and seniors 65+.

Visit the site for more information.

• Edmonton Public Library

Take your children to the library and have them participate in a variety of activities that will keep them busy all day long. Libraries carry an abundance of free activities.

Visit the site for more information.

Montreal

Break: March 1-9

• La Ferme Quinn

Kids will love the tractor and wagon rides here every weekend until March 30. They’re open weekdays from March 3-7 for March Break!

Hours: On the hour from 11:00am-3:00pm.

Admission: $2 until May 15, plus $5 for children over 2 years.

Visit http://www.quinnfarm.qc.ca/for more information.

• Borough of Saint-Laurent

The borough of Saint-Laurent has lined up several cultural and sport activities for children.

Hours: Visit the website listed below for a complete list of each event offered and the time it starts at.

Admission: FREE of charge, unless otherwise noted.

Visit the site for more information.

• Circus Train at Exporail

Take your children to see the Circus Train gallery at Exporail this March Break! It’s open every weekend from March 1 until April 27  plus March 5-9 for March Break. Your children will have the chance to see up close two miniature train layouts while searching for the circus animals inside! Afterwards, there are plenty of events for your children to join in with the ringmaster. And even later, climb aboard the Canadian Pacific Neville sleeper car and see how circus staff and performers travel during the last century!

Hours:  10:00am-5:00pm for the days of March 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and (outdoor miniature railway at 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.). Join the ringmaster at 11:00am, 2:00pm and 3:30pm. Climb aboard the Canadian Pacific Neville sleeper at 1:00pm and 4:00pm and in french at 10:30am and 3:00pm.

Admission: $8 for children 4-12, $9.75 for children 13-17 and $16.50 for adults. There are also family packages available.

Visit http://www.exporail.org/en/activities/theme-days/ for more information on the circus train event.

• Chalet des Erables

Take your children to the sugar shack and let them taste fresh maple syrup as well as enjoy an abundance of activities, such as train rides, jumping castles, touring fire trucks and the chance to climb aboard a pirate ship!

Visit http://www.chaletdeserables.com/activites.php for specific information on events, hours, and admission rates.

• Bibliotheques Montreal

Take your children to the library this March Break and have them participating in a variety of activities that will keep them busy all day long. Libraries carry an abundance of free activities.

Visit the site for more information on events happening the week of March Break.

Saskatchewan

Break: March April 19-27

• Nature Craft at Beaver Creek

Enjoy a walk along Beaver Creek with your family and children for the perfect family winter outing.

Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm and every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00pm-5:00p. Enjoy free crafts for your kids from 1:00-4:00pm.

Admission: Admission to cover the crafts is by donation.

Visit the site for more information.

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre

Since the Mounties do all of their training in Saskatoon or Regina, why not take your children and let them play their way through the RCMP Heritage Place? There’s lots to keep them entertained while learning about Canada’s heritage at the same time.

Hours: 11:00am-5:00pm daily.

Admission: Free for children 5 and under, $5 for children 6-17 and $10 for adults. There are also family packages available $30 for two adults and up to six youths.

Visit the site for more information.

• RCMP Sergeant Major’s Parade

If you can’t make it to the RCMP Heritage Centre, let your children get excited by watching The Sergeant Major’s Parade!

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12:45pm.

Admission: Free

Visit the site for more information.

• Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame

If you and your family are big lovers of the Olympics, why not visit the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and check out exhibits featuring the Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games. This exhibit features past and present Saskatchewan Olympians’ treasures from their permanent collection celebrating quest for the gold.

Hours: Monday-Friday10:30am -4:30pm.

Admission: Admissions range from, Adults $5, Students and children $2, seniors $3 and there are family packages as well for $10. Members are free. Members are free.

Visit http://sasksportshalloffame.com/exhibits/ for more information.

• Saskatchewan Public Libraries

Visit the site for a directory of all the libraries in Saskatchewan. Find the closest one to you and look under events/programs for activities happening during March Break.

We hope that you have an enjoyable March Break! If nothing here catches your eye, remember that indoor laser tag, rock climbing, gymnastic clubs, miniature golf, and bowling are always promising ideas to entertain your children and can be found in almost any neighbourhood!