Top 5 Tips to have a blast at the Canadian National Exhibition with a little kid #CNE2014 #letsgototheex

As a native Torontonian, a yearly tradition for me is attending the annual CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). When I was younger, I was all about the Tiny Tom Donuts and the rides.

Now that I'm a Mom, I'm still all about the Tiny Tom Donuts, but I see the Ex through my daughter's eyes. We still spend a little bit of time on the midway (Hannah isn't quite tall enough to ride the rides herself), but we enjoy watching the President's Choice SuperDogs, spending hours in the CNE Farm building looking at the piggies and cows and of course riding the Fun Train (well, Hannah, I'm too big for that one).

The CNE can be so many things to anyone. Great shopping. Great food. Great entertainment. It's all at the Ex.

Interactive History at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum #Review #Giveaway

With all the rain we've had this summer, it's good to have some indoor activities in your back pocket. Enter the Canadian Warplane Heritage museum in Hamilton, Ontario.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage museum is a working airplane hangar with many interactive displays where you can touch, sit in and learn about warplanes. There are also flight simulators for kids to experience what it would be like to be in a plane.

Hannah enjoyed  sitting in an Avro Canada CF100 MK 5D with Daddy, riding in a "jeep", and sticking her head through the photo cutouts to be a pilot with Mommy.

Go Wild at African Lion Safari #africanlionsafari

Recently we had the opportunity to go wild at African Lion Safari, about an hour west of Toronto in Cambridge. And boy, did we ever.

We started our day on the Safari Tour Bus (our car has yet to be paid for, so we left Megatron in the ample free parking lot).  The Bus Tour is air conditioned and only water (no other food or drink) is allowed to be consumed, so make sure you give kids a snack before boarding the bus. Our driver was very knowledgeable as she swerved through traffic (including an ostrich!) as she took us through the Game Reserves. We were able to capture some great pictures, especially of Safari the baby giraffe who is the first in Canada and the second in the world to be born through artificial insemination. Hannah wasn't sure what to make of the situation of us being "caged" on the bus and the animals being wild. But I thought it was pretty neat, especially when the baboons would hitch rides on the cars!

Cuteness and Fun at the Bowmanville Zoo #bowmanvillecubs #bowmanvillezoo

Less than an hour east of Toronto, Bowmanville Zoo is the perfect place for kids. With my toddler's limited attention span, there are no long walks between enclosures. She can go at her own pace, and if she wanted, walk the entire zoo. She can pet the animals and feed them. And, she can attempt to be as cute as the new lion cubs!

Destination Fun: Toronto's Centre Island #Centreville4Fun

One of the coolest things about raising your child where you grew up is that you get to revisit fun places and experience them again as if it were your first time.

As a child growing up in Toronto, summer means taking the ferry to Centre Island. There’s nothing quite like leaving the city behind for green, lush parkland. And, of course, some really fun rides.

Recently Hannah, Chris and I spent a fun-filled day at Centreville. Hannah was glued to the window our entire ferry trip across. She pointed at other boats, birds and even saw a Porter airplane take-off. When we arrived at the Island, she actually cried when we had to disembark!

Wild New Year's Eve Party at the Toronto Zoo

So how will I make Hannah's first New Years wildly exciting?

Spend it at the Toronto Zoo of course! (And quite fitting, since the last time I was at the Zoo I was 40 weeks pregnant, and walked around the entire place (save the huge hill to the Canadian animals) to try to get labour going.)

On Monday, December 31, 2012, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., partiers can enjoy:

• "That 60s Show" tribute band 
• Kung Fu Panda 
• Majinx Magic Show 
• Kung Fu Panda's "Po" and The WotWots Meet & Greets 
• WILD animal visitors 
• Kid's Countdown at 8 p.m.!

Space is limited, so the Zoo suggests buying your tickets online or at Guest Services.

What are you and your kids doing on New Year's Eve?

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.