Several guidebooks steer adults toward worthwhile Toronto pastimes or getaway excursions to the country. This self-published book brings the kids along for more than the ride. Nathalie Prézeau, a weekly columnist on family outings for L’Express de Toronto, shares her familiarity with more than 220 leisure spots within a two-hour drive of Toronto.

Her personal research mentions the standard attractions, but also explores activities unknown to most. Experience a “Bethlehem Live” pageant in a barn in Stouffville or make a holiday treat for the birds at Victorian Christmas activities at Allan Gardens. Wander the dunes near Lake Ontario or the corn maze at a pumpkinfest in Caledon. There’s enough entertainment to keep families on the go for years.

The book is arranged alphabetically into 14 types of excursions, such as farms, indoor playgrounds, and winter games, indexed alphabetically and by location. Several icons categorize the activities by type. Prézeau provides schedules, admission prices, and directions, wisely advising day trippers to recheck this information before departing to be sure it’s still accurate. Each entry also offers travelling time (optimistic near rush hour) and tips to structure the excursion to entertain the youngest children (also optimistic).

This guidebook is crammed with ideas for family fun, which accounts for its busy layout. If you try to read up on too many outings at once, you will crave white space the way a parent longs for a break after a day at Wonderland. Sample this book as a weekend reference, bits at a time. It delivers exactly what it promises. Peppered with family photos and phrases such as “my miniature paleontologist” and “my young engineer,” it never forgets that the star attraction is really the child.