By José Gonzalez
Being a grown up doesn't mean you need to give up the fun of childhood. Toronto has lots of fun places and things to do that will help you relive your youth, when all you had to worry about was having enough energy to play all your favourite games. These are just some of the ways grown-ups can reclaim playtime. [Photo credit: Ryan Chan, courtesy of The Hub]
Your tastes may have evolved past the candy-coloured board games of childhood and now you'd probably like a more grown-up reason to roll the dice. Or maybe you're perfectly happy playing board games that appeal to the kid in you. Either way, board game cafes around the city have you covered with a host of games to enjoy whatever your mood – they make great date spots too
Have you ever wanted to fly a jet of your own? Maybe it wasn't quite your calling as an adult, but that childhood dream doesn't have to die because your life took a different turn. Air Combat Zone's jet simulator puts you in the cockpit of a F/A-18 fighter jet so you can get a taste of a mid-air dogfight without the harrowing fear of being blown up.
The best part about playing with Legos as an adult is that you can finally do it with a beer in hand. While this might not have been something your childhood-self had dreamed of, your adult-self will appreciate this little alteration to the plan. Lego nights for adults are hosted most Mondays at the Gladstone Hotel, and once a month at the Lego Discovery Centre. Click here to buy Adult Night Tickets to Legoland.
While the former video game haunts are now clothing stores and pizza places, those arcade machines had to go somewhere, and that somewhere happens to be a couple of bars scattered through the city. Even if some of the machines are older than you are (do you remember playing Gauntlet at an arcade?), you probably have a few fond memories that involve a joystick in hand. Get Well and Nightowl both feature some swanky arcade machines you can enjoy.
Sky Zone lets you literally bounce off the walls with trampoline dodgeball, basketball, aerobics and a giant foam pit you can jump into. You can also opt to bounce on the trampolines solo in its enormous space, or if you have little ones of your own, there are special toddler hours in the morning.
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The recess bell doesn't sound at this gym, giving you enough time to reach your fitness goals with fun playground equipment instead of the boring machines you'll find at other gyms. Although you might not be the tireless play machine you once were, maybe you can summon enough energy to get a little closer to your svelte younger self. Pursuit OCR includes a ball pit, monkey bars and obstacle courses to test your playground skills.
Deal with your road rage a bit more constructively by tearing up a go-kart track. Or relax taking in a few laps and just enjoy the ride. Whatever gear you're interested in, you can try it out at 401 Mini-Indy or Grand Prix Kartways.
Your dodgeball skills might be a bit rusty, but a few rounds in and you'll quickly be up to speed again. Joining a league is also a fun way to meet new people and make new friends, just like playing dodgeball back in elementary school. Stay safe to avoid those trips to the nurse's office!
Get a sturdy pair of shoes and a few friends for these tours through Toronto landmarks to solve a series of clever puzzles. As a kid you might have been limited to staying indoors for your scavenger hunts, but these Urban Capers take you through the Royal Ontario Museum, Kensington Market, St. Lawrence Market and more.
Turning up the difficulty, these immersive games lock you in a room that you and some friends have to escape using your wits and puzzle-solving abilities. There are many creative themes at different locations across the city, such as Escape Games' Syndicate: The Relic Heist, Omescape's Kingdom of Cats, and Casa Loma's Escape the Tower.
