12 Things Your Kids Can Do in Sunset Country

So you want to visit Ontario's Sunset Country for your next family vacation but are unsure whether there is enough here to keep your kids entertained. Well, you can stop worrying. Not only will your kids find lots of things to do once they get here, but you'll also likely hear that they'd like to return on the way home when the vacation is over. How's that, you say? Well, speaking from experience, no matter how wired your kids are, once they get immersed in the wonder of nature - even if reluctantly at first - you'll see a change in them you might not have thought was possible. Boredom and complaining will be nowhere to be found.

Mother Nature has a unique way of mesmerizing children, stirring their natural curiosity and desire to explore. Trust me, I've seen this happen before my own eyes with both my kids. Here are a few suggestions of things you can plan or do spontaneously that will entertain your kids, allow you to relax, and ensure that everyone has a fun time!

With over 70,000 lakes, going swimming at the beach may be a self-evident first choice for the kids, but it's also a great choice for mom and dad on a hot July day! We're not kidding when we say almost every community in Ontario's Sunset Country has at least one beach to swim at - Kenora has five! Here's a list

There's no better place for your kid's first paddling experience than Ontario's Sunset Country. You can consider a fully-guided canoe trip or rent a kayak or SUP at a retailer in one of the towns. Our flat water surfaces are great environments to teach kids the basics and possibly instill a lifelong passion. SUPs are especially popular with teenagers.

Sunset Country has been home to Indigenous people for thousands of years, and with that comes a history full of unique cultural traditions. During the summer months, the many Indigenous communities in the region host a Pow Wow that is often open to the public. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the vibrant costumes and dances, meet new people, and teach your children about Indigenous culture and traditions. 

While this is more involved than a daytime activity, camping is a great way to introduce kids to the outdoors, the lake and nature. You don't have to rough either. There are full-service campgrounds across the region or you could spend a night in a tent in one of our many Provincial Parks. 

Even if you're not an angler, you and your kids can still enjoy the activity, and that is the number one reason people visit Sunset Country - fishing! The best option, in this case, is to hire the services of a local fishing guide. Even more straightforward than that is just buy your kids a couple of fishing rods and go down to the docks in any community and try to catch a fish. It's a really fun way to spend the afternoon.

Yep, there's a lot more involved when you plan a houseboat vacation, but the memories you'll get from a week with your family and friends on the water will last a lifetime! Essentially, you're renting a cabin that floats, one you can use to beach every night and enjoy the sunsets from its deck. You can swim, fish, and explore the vast waterways on beautiful summer days. We have several houseboat rental operations from which you can choose!

Now, you may think you're kids will let out a collective groan when you tell them about your idea to go to the local museum, but don't let that stop you. That's because what they will see will often mesmerize them once they get inside. Sunset Country is very well-known for the quality and diversity of the exhibits at its museums. Many offer themed exhibits about a specific subject. Regardless, almost every town in the region has a museum that tells the story of the local area's history. It is a great way to spend a rainy day. 

Foraging is simply taking your kids into the woods to collect interesting things. This could include food - e.g. picking wild blueberries - or hunting for shed antlers from deer and moose. With our large population of ungulates (moose and whitetail deer), we have a good supply of shed antlers across the region's forest floor. Shed antler hunting is a unique and fun activity that can be safe and fun for your children to do with a bit of planning. It's an activity best suited for Spring when the air is warm but small patches of snow are still left on the ground. Look for shed antlers in areas where deer or moose bed down and along game trails in the woods. For safety reasons, hiring a guide the first time is a really good idea! Many hunting guides will consider taking a group out for this activity. It can also include activities like rock hunting (the quartz crystals are the most sought-after) or looking for certain species of plants or animals. It's a great opportunity to trigger your child's natural sense of exploration while they learn simultaneously.

So we already talked about swimming, but with the thousands of lakes we have, it's worth the effort to rent a boat and get out on the water. Boating is an overlooked pleasure, and yes, it's a sport. You can take it further with the kids in tow on a tube or waterski. You can even go snorkelling. There's also the multitude of paddling opportunities and fishing we've already mentioned. Kenora, Atikokan, and Dryden also have ski hills where you can go downhill skiing or snowboarding - who says you can't have a good time in the winter? The beauty of the Boreal forest during the winter months is something to behold, and you may see wildlife along the trail, such as grouses in winter feathers, foxes, and many birds that stay over the winter. 

There are a lot of trail systems in Sunset Country and virtually every community has a local system of trails you can hike or bike on. Here is a good read on where you can go hiking and biking in Ontario's Sunset Country. The benefits of a trail system are knowing how long and how difficult the trail is so you can determine if your kids can handle it. Trails here range from easy to complex, so that's something to consider when selecting which trails to go on. 

A memorable experience for you and your kids involves going up in a floatplane and seeing Sunset Country. Your birds-eye view offers diamond blue lakes, one after the other, studded with emerald green trees and countless islands and bays. You may get a glimpse of wildlife if you're lucky. The same can be said for taking a boat tour. Whether it's from the air or the water, a float plane or boat tour is something you should consider! 

Yes, we do get visitors during our long and cold winters, and if you happen to be here during this season, you'll discover lots of fun activities you can do with your kids. For starters, you can go ice fishing on one of our many lakes - self or fully guided. It's up to you. If you're going to take the kids, make sure you prepare correctly and go where you know the ice is safe. For the novice, an experienced guide is highly recommended. In winter, our hiking and biking trails become ski trails. Did you know that Ontario has one of the largest and least congested snowmobile trail systems in the world? Atikokan, Dryden, and Kenora also have ski hills offering downhill skiing and snowboarding. You can even go tobogganing!

So this is only a list of 12 things you can do with your kids while on vacation in Ontario's Sunset Country. You can view our digital travel guide or request a printed copy sent to you in the mail.