The Royal Ontario Museum is an institution in Toronto, an imposing edifice filled with natural wonders that every local fondly remembers from childhood visits. These days, due to a recent renovation, the stone lion flanked entrance of childhood is no longer in use. But the wonders inside remain as wonderful, if not more so as the museum has expanded and been brought up-to-date with interactive experiences. One of the largest museums in North America, the ROM attracts over one million visitors every year. It's a museum of world culture and natural history, housing spectacular displays and exhibits in eight centres of discovery, from Ancient Cultures and Fossils & Evolution to Textiles & Fashion and World Art & Culture.

At the ROM, you can see anything and everything, from towering dinosaur skeletons to ancient Egyptian mummies to dazzling dresses. The ROM also hosts major exhibits. Upcoming is Pompeii: In the Shadow of the Volcano, which is sure to incite awe and terror. There are also a lot of activities for kids, from writing your name in Egyptian hieroglyphics to learning about endangered animals. Plan to spend an entire day.