When this massive recreation complex on the shores of Lake Ontario opened in 1971, it seemed futuristic. Thirty-three years later, it still does. (The major face-lift in 1989 no doubt helped.) From a distance, you'll see five steel-and-glass pods suspended on columns 32m (105 ft.) above the lake, three artificial islands, and a huge geodesic dome. The five pods contain a multimedia theater, a children's theater, a high-technology exhibit, and displays that tell the story of Ontario in vivid kaleidoscopic detail. The dome houses Cinesphere, where an 18-by-24m (60-by-80-ft.) screen shows specially made IMAX movies year-round.

In 2003, Ontario Place introduced several new attractions targeted at kids. These include the H2O Generation Station, a gigantic "soft play" structure with twisting slides, towers, and walkways. There's also the new Atom Blaster, which claims to be Canada's largest foam-ball free-for-all -- this is fun for the whole family. For the small fry, there's the new MicroKids play area with its ball pit, climbing platforms, and other tot-appropriate draws.

At night, the Molson Amphitheatre can accommodate 16,000 concert-goers: 9,000 can fit in the reserved seating area under the canopy, and 7,000 more can find seating on the surrounding grass. The venue features top-line entertainers such as Tori Amos, Peter Gabriel, James Taylor, and Bryan Adams. For concert information, call tel. 416/260-5600; for tickets, call Ticketmaster (tel. 416/870-8000).