Get Active With Indoor Activities In Toronto This Winter

Welcome to winter in Toronto! With some chilly days and dark nights too cold for outdoor activities, you can still have a lot of fun in the city with indoors. Whether you’re looking for a fun family activity, a new hobby, or a unique idea for date night this winter, it’s time to get active. Besides, a little friendly competition is always a good idea!

If you’re visiting Toronto this winter, UP Express will keep you warm and toasty on your journey to and from Pearson International Airport. The journey between the airport and downtown takes just 25-minutes. The best part? Your entire journey between UP Express Pearson Airport and Union Station is indoors which means no waiting outside in winter weather for a taxi, public transit or ride share.

Chris, Mrs. – A New Holiday Musical

Keep warm with a show! Chris, Mrs. - A New Holiday Musical is coming to The Winter Garden Theatre, just a quick TTC connection from UP Union Station! Full of mischief and mistletoe, twisted ankles and tangled heartstrings, Chris, Mrs. is a heart-warming story and is bound to be your new holiday musical tradition! Save on your ticket with PRESTO Perks. Get 20% on your tickets with code HOLLY20 from now until December 17 and CHEER20 from December 18 to 31. Quantities are limited so book now to enjoy the new original musical.

Obstacle Course

Feel like a kid again at Pursuit OCR! Only open to adults ages 18 and up, you can test your speed, strength, and climbing ability at Pursuit OCR’s epic indoor jungle gym and obstacle course. Jump into the world’s deepest ballpit, conquer 25 different obstacles, race big wheel bikes on a neon Mario Kart-like racetrack, and play a game of dodgeball or volleyball on a brand new court at the massive facility located 15 minutes from UP Express Pearson Station making it a convenient place to play-all-day before heading back downtown. Post-secondary students of all ages can take advantage of discounted UP Express fares with PRESTO, too.

Bowling

After a day of exploring downtown Toronto’s outdoor sights, head to The Ballroom for some bowling fun. Welcoming the whole family, select lanes have “bumpers” to help keep your little bowler’s ball in the lane. There’s also a full-service restaurant and bar so you can enjoy a meal while bowling. Plus, older bowlers can head up to the second floor for karaoke, DJs, and live music events in the evening.

Indoor Swimming

Winter can feel like it lasts forever, so why not adopt a new hobby for the season? The city operates several indoor public pools with drop-in swim times as well as lessons. Make the best of indoor and outdoor activities by combining an indoor swim with a winter walk along the Humber River Recreational Trail in the Weston neighbourhood or the all-purpose West Toronto Railpath. Check the schedules for indoor pool swim times near UP Express Weston Station and UP Express Bloor Station this winter.

Axe Throwing

If the winter has got you down, get your frustrations out at one of Toronto’s axe throwing venues. Take a short, brisk winter walk from UP Express Union Station to King Street West to Escape Manor where you can test your aim with big and small axes. It’s a great activity for solo individuals or groups. If you fall in love with the sport, there’s even a weekly axe throwing league you can join! You’ll also find BATL Axe Throwing closer to UP Express Bloor Station near the Junction.

Escape Rooms

Why not have a full, active winter day at Escape Manor? Not only can you throw axes here, but the venue also features several themed, immersive escape rooms including a wine cellar-themed room and some more frightening themes like an asylum. Closer to UP Express Bloor Station, Dream Escape is just a short connection via TTC subway where you can try your best to break free from an alien ship.

Pickleball

Get ready to play some pickleball, the game that has become Torontonian’s latest sports obsession. A fun, low-impact sport that’s great for all ages and fitness levels, pickleball combines badminton, ping pong, and tennis into one exciting game you can play in singles, doubles, or mixed doubles teams. The City of Toronto has indoor courts across the city with drop-in times and courts that can be booked online.

Wall Climbing

Reach new heights – literally. With locations easily accessible from UP Express Union and Bloor Stations, Basecamp Climbing offers climbing and technique-building classes as well as special camps and training for youth, including programs aimed at neurodivergent kids ages 12 to 16. Little climbers will are in for a treat at Boulderz Climbing with special walls and sessions for kids as young as 4 years old. Located in the Junction near UP Express Bloor Station, it’s a fun indoor activity for winter birthday parties and celebrations

This winter, skip the parking hassles inclement weather brings to downtown Toronto and hop on UP Express to get around. Kids under 12 always travel for free while youth and post-secondary students can take advantage of discounted fares with PRESTO.

Bocce Ball

Looking for a great winter date idea? Get a friendly competition going at LOB Toronto! A bocce ball-inspired game that anyone can learn to play (and master), all you have to do is toss a ball down a series of ever-changing tracks to try to get closest to the stake, knocking your opponent’s ball out of the way to win. With virtually no learning curve, LOB is also fun for the whole family and features a menu of food and drinks to enjoy during your visit.

It’s easy to make the most of your time during your winter visit to Toronto with UP Express. With several payment options, you can purchase a return fare from one of our ticket vending machines at stations or simply tap your debit, credit card, mobile wallet, PRESTO card, or your PRESTO in Google Wallet and hop onboard.

Virtual Reality

Don a headset and step into a virtual new world at Level Up Reality, Toronto’s top-rated virtual reality arcade. Located blocks from UP Express Union Station, immerse yourself in over 80 games at your own personal VR station. With games for single players to up to 10 players, try to survive a zombie invasion or experience climbing to the top of Mt. Everest – the options are endless!

Mini-Putt

Put the party into your miniature golf game at Par-Tee Putt. Featuring 27 quirky holes to tee off from, this downtown mini-putt near UP Express Union Station makes for a kid-friendly day of indoor winter play. After 8pm, the golf party is for the 19+ crowd with live DJs, drink specials, and a dance floor. 

No matter how you spend your time in Toronto this winter, UP Express can make getting around the city a breeze – even amid cold temperatures and snowy days. Our convenient UP Express Stations at Weston and Bloor have heated platforms that will help keep you warm this winter. But don’t fret; you won’t be waiting long with trains that arrive every 15 minutes. You can also grab a cup of coffee to go at Balzac’s Coffee located inside UP Express Union Station while waiting indoors for your train.