Attractions & things to do for the kids in your life

Slightly off the beaten track in the Georgian Bay area, the Castle is an intriguing sight in itself. But the little village hidden in its backyard was an even bigger surprise when we stopped there on our way back from a great weekend by the beach. Delightful little houses awaited us in the Enchanted Kingdom Park, with inviting windows to peek through. Inside, we could see the Teddy Bears' Tea Party, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother, and Mother Goose at reading time. They've added more since our last visit. All the small interiors are skillfully decorated with painstaking attention to original details. There's also the old mill and dwarf village to climb and slide, the Hansel and Gretel snack bar with tiny tables and chairs, a 222-foot-deep well to taste crystal clear water (we're invited to fill our jugs) and a small educational trail. There's additional indoor displays (of medieval arms and a few horror characters) to see for an extra fee but we were more impressed by the craft involved in the creation of the village.