Can children stay with us?
Yes. The hotel's own FAQ says so in one word: "Yes!" The person who books and checks in must be 19 or older, with government photo ID and a home address. Children may share the room and use the hotel's non-gaming spaces.
Where can they go, and with whom?
Under
16Children under 16Only with a parent or guardian actively supervising
They may use the hotel rooms and lobby, theatres and event spaces, shops and food-first restaurants that are not on the gaming floor, provided a parent or legal guardian aged 19 or over is with them and actively supervising at all times.
16–
18Teenagers aged 16 to 18On their own in non-gaming areas, a parent on site
They may use the same non-gaming spaces without a guardian next to them, as long as a parent or guardian aged 19 or over is on the property and can be reached immediately.
19+The gaming floorNo minors, at any time, with anyone
No one under 19 may enter the casino or gaming floor, wait at its entrances or eat in a restaurant located on it, regardless of who they are with.
Can one parent go to the casino while the kids sleep?
No, not by leaving them alone. The family policy is unusually direct: a parent or guardian who is gambling is not considered to be supervising, and minors of any age may not be left unattended in the hotel while the adult gambles. Either the adult does not gamble, or another responsible adult of 19 or over, who is not gambling, stays immediately available. Staff are instructed to report unattended minors to security. We think it is a fair rule, and it is worth knowing before you plan the evening.
Where can we eat as a family?
Water's Edge and Quickbites are both listed as open to all ages. The weekend buffet is linked to a 19+ membership offer, so check at the door before planning a family dinner there. In Port Perry, pubs, cafés and bakeries make easy family meals.
Which room works for a family?
For two adults and two children, the Standard Two Queen (the only type with a bathtub) or the King Suite, which adds a sofa bed, a small kitchen and a powder room. Both take a maximum of four people. Compare the rooms.
What can children do nearby?
The free concerts at The Nest are listed as open to all ages. In summer, Scugog Shores Museum Village on the island shows daily life from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, with heritage gardens and the Ojibway Heritage Interpretive Lands. Palmer Park in Port Perry has a beach and the start of the Millennium Trail, and the township ran Movie Nights in the Park there on 22 July and 5 August 2026. Farm visits are a short drive: Scugog Tourism names Willowtree Farm for play areas and produce, and Lavender Blu. In winter, the township's lakefront rink in downtown Port Perry ran for the 2025–26 season, and two ski hills that the hotel lists, Dagmar and Lakeridge, are about 35 minutes away by car in our routing model.
The pool and fitness rules say children under 12 must be supervised by someone 16 or older. Since this hotel lists no pool, that rule matters here only for the gym.
Where this page's facts come from (all read on 31 October 2026):
- Great Canadian Entertainment — Great Blue Heron Hotel (rooms, policies, area)
- Great Canadian Entertainment — Guest information: hotel policies, family policy
- Great Canadian Entertainment — Restaurants
- Great Canadian Entertainment — Great Canadian Buffet
- Great Canadian Entertainment — Desire, U2 tribute at The Nest
- Township of Scugog — Scugog Shores Museum Village
- Scugog Tourism — Movie Night in the Park
- Scugog Tourism — Fun on the farm
- Scugog Tourism — Lakefront Skate and Market