Vaughan Family profile Fiona Lochray and Raymond Chong, radiation therapists, and Ainsleigh, 3.

What Fiona and Raymond love about Vaughan The convenience of everything – restaurants, grocery stores, theatres, plus low crime, good schools, well maintained parks and roads and quiet neighbourhoods. And close access for family day trips to places like Kelso Lake (escarpment.org) and Puck’s Farm (pucksfarm.com). Vaughan has a nice small community feel, but its proximity to Toronto gives it easy access to big-city life. And Vaughan is also home to Canada’s Wonderland (9580 Jane St.), a great theme park.

What Ainsleigh loves Picking “flowers” (dandelions) on the boulevard grass whenever we go for walks. (Loads of parks and green spaces means most kids have a playground practically in their own backyard.) She also digs the splash pads, wading pools and community centres.

Favourite stores and restos We like the Disney outlet and food courts with kids’ tables and chairs at Vaughan Mills (1 Bass Pro Mills Dr.). And Chinese food at Peak Top Cuisine (3255 Rutherford Rd.).

A perfect family day in Vaughan We would go to an indoor playground like Never Never Land Indoor Playground (8700 Dufferin St., Concord) then go to Lick’s (8187 Yonge St., Thornhill) for lunch and ice cream. In the afternoon we would walk, scoot or bike to the park, with Ainsleigh pushing her “baby” in the doll stroller. Later, we’d have dinner at Red Lobster (7291 Yonge St., Thornhill), where staff let the kids pet the lobsters.

Richmond Hill Family profile Rachel Dombrowsky, newsstand franchiser, Ady Dombrowsky, fashion guru, 21-month-old Evan and 10-month-old Cole.

What Rachel loves about Richmond Hill It’s family-centred. There are plenty of parks, complete with tennis courts and sports’ fields. The town hosts all kinds of programs, from kids’ camps to adult fitness programs, along with community-sponsored events like the Santa Claus Parade. It’s got an early-Canadian history and is full of historical sights, but has also become very multicultural. We have a heritage day that celebrates Canadiana, but when you walk down Yonge Street you hear every language in the book. It’s a real example of what it means to be a true Canadian city.

What Evan and Cole love The indoor wave pool at the Lois Hancey Aquatic Centre (5 Hopkins St.) has four-foot waves all year-round! Southbrook Farm (1061 Major MacKenzie Dr.) is great in the fall when kids can explore a pumpkin patch and haunted house, while we shop the market for homemade pies and preserves and yummy dessert wines. Richmond Hill Public Library (rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca) is always a hit, too.

Favourite stores and restos Belly Bumps and Babies (10341 Yonge St.) is small but carries what you need, while Mastermind Toys (9350 Yonge St.) is a great way to occupy your toddler for an hour. And it’s educational! For a date night, we’d dine at Tresca Trattoria (9301 Bathurst St.), then sneak off to a movie at one of our many massive theatres, like SilverCity Richmond Hill (8725 Yonge St.).

A perfect family day in Richmond Hill Would consist of brunch at Three Coins Open Kitchen Restaurant (10140 Yonge St.), followed by a walk at the Mill Pond, near Mill and Trench Streets. It has every kind of duck, goose, swan, turtle and frog – along with a playground and a walking trail. Then maybe a mid-afternoon nap on a blanket under a tree. We would pick up some desserts at What a Bagel (9737 Yonge St.) and head to an early barbecue dinner at our friends’ house. While the kids clamour on the backyard swings, we’d pop open a bottle of wine, sit outside and enjoy the evening.

TOP TEN CITIES

1. Québec City
2. Montréal
3. Vancouver
4. Vaughan, Ontario
5. Richmond Hill, Ontario
6. Toronto
7. Markham
8. St. John’s, Newfoundland
9. Gatineau, Québec
10. Calgary

YOU TELL US
Where’s the best place for families in Canada? Click here.