Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

The Royal Ontario Museum — ROM to locals — is Canada's largest museum of world cultures and natural history, and it is one of the absolute best museum experiences for families in North America. With over 13 million objects spanning art, culture, and nature, the ROM could keep a curious family busy for days. But even a single visit of three to four hours hits the highlights beautifully.

The museum's most iconic draw for families is the dinosaur galleries on Level 2. The James and Louise Chicken Gallery of Dinosaurs features over 25 complete dinosaur skeletons, including a massive Barosaurus, Triceratops, and the crowd-favorite T. rex. Interactive stations let kids compare their arm span to a pterosaur's wingspan and feel what different dinosaur skin textures may have been like.

Beyond dinosaurs, the ROM delivers on multiple fronts. The bat cave is a walk-through recreation of a Jamaican bat cave, complete with realistic sound effects and over 800 replica bats. It is dark and atmospheric — thrilling for most kids, though very young children might want a parent's hand.

The Gallery of Birds features hundreds of specimens, and the biodiversity gallery uses immersive projections to bring ecosystems to life.

The ancient civilizations galleries are another family favorite. The Egyptian gallery includes real mummies, sarcophagi, and funerary objects that make ancient history come alive. The Chinese architecture gallery features real tomb sculptures and a Ming dynasty tomb. Kids who have studied any of these civilizations in school will be captivated seeing the real artifacts.

For younger visitors, the CIBC Discovery Gallery on Level 2 is purpose-built for children under 8. It features hands-on discovery stations where kids can handle real fossils, try on reproduction cultural garments, and explore interactive exhibits at their own pace. It is one of the best-designed children's spaces in any museum in the country.

The building itself is architecturally stunning, with the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal — a dramatic modern glass and aluminum extension — creating a striking entrance that kids notice and comment on. Inside, the soaring atrium spaces make even moving between galleries feel grand.

Practical notes for families: the ROM is fully stroller-accessible with elevators between all floors. Baby changing stations are available in multiple washrooms. The museum store has an excellent selection of educational toys, books, and dino-themed souvenirs. There is a coat check near the entrance, which is essential during Toronto winters.