Winter Fun in Burlington

I have a good friend who lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  He always jokes that winter lasts eight months of the year here.  I usually roll my eyes and remind him he’s totally wrong, but I have to admit, once I think about it for a few minutes, there are many years when it seems to last at least six!  I can name plenty of times I’ve seen snow in both November and April!  That’s a long time to hibernate indoors, which is what we usually end up doing until the leaves start sprouting on the trees again.  Given how much we love parks, long walks and barbecues, the season can sometimes pass by painfully slow.

This year we decided to stop complaining and we definitely declared that we would not be deterred from our weekly family outings any longer!  As soon as the snow fell, we began to explore all the great winter activities Burlington has to offer.  We invested in some skates, some long johns and some solid gloves, and once we got started, we couldn’t believe how much we’d been missing!

Playbarn at Bronte Creek

It’s easy to rely a bit too heavily on the television when you have young kids and the temperature is freezing, but there’s really no need when you have exciting places like Bronte Creek Park open all year long!  Aside from their big outdoor skating rink, the kids can also run around, climb, slide and spin on tire swings in the children’s barn no matter what the weather.  I’m always delighted when they fall asleep at night in 2 minutes thanks to having gotten a little fresh air and exercise!  Bronte’s children’s barn will practically guarantee that every time!  Bundle up though – it’s covered, but it’s not heated!

Sledding at Lowville

Tobogganing is a blast no matter what your age at Lowville Park.  It’s not too steep for beginners, but it’s still high enough to thrill your senses with the joy of speeding down!  I never get tired of that feeling!  There’s a great kids park right beside the hill, and trails to hike along the nearby creek.

Just up the street from Lowville Park you’ll find the Crawford Lake Conservation Area, where you can enjoy 19km of snowshoe and cross country skiing trails.  There’s also a reconstructed 15^th century Iroquoian village to explore in any season.  It’s amazing to imagine how tough it would have been to brave the winter elements back then.  A great history lesson for anyone who loves learning!

Skiing at Glen Eden

I truly love to ski, but I haven’t been in years since the ordeal of driving at least an hour or two, just to fight the weekend chairlift crowds, is something I’ve never found appealing.   I seem to forget far too often that we have a great ski hill along the escarpment at Glen Eden!   With well-lit night skiing, it’s even a great option after work any day of the week!   They have lots of lesson options, from groups to private instruction, so even beginners can enjoy this invigorating winter activity!  Next year I am promising myself to enroll in snowboard lessons.  It just looks way too fun!

The Burlington waterfront continues to be a social hub for events all winter long, and skating at Discovery Landing next to Spencer Smith Park is fun for the whole family.  You really can’t beat the view!  Afterwards there are plenty of places to grab a hot chocolate or a delicious meal along Brant Street and the downtown core.

Hiking at RBG

One of my favourite places to go for a long walk starts at The Cherry Hill Gate at The Royal Botanical Gardens. If you love nature, you’ll want to bring your camera every time you hike here!  I’ve spent hours in the woods there at times, looping around the water on pleasantly challenging trails.  There’s tons of wildlife to see, and my kids are always thrilled when little chickadees eat birdseed right out of their hands!  If you’re skeptical of how brave & friendly those little birds are, check out the video accompanying this article and you’ll see the proof! 

Winter in Burlington Ontario: so many fun things to do!

Victoria Hughes, Guest Blogger

Victoria Hughes is a local entrepreneur, social media specialist and website & blog author. Born in Burlington and living in the GTA her whole life, her professional career has taken her through the diverse worlds of leadership consulting, fashion retail management, fine dining, communications technology and online travel. After launching her own business in 2008, she began authoring the daily Girl It Up! fashion and discount blog, tweets on topics of the day @vbhughes and recently spearheaded a site full of guidelines and resources to keep youth safe & smart as they explore the ever-changing world of social media: safesocialmedia.ca . Her greatest loves are travel, shoes, laughter and family. 

Fall Fun in Burlington, Ontario

As we head into September and beyond, children are back to school and the days grow cooler but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still be having fun!  Burlington is nestled along the Niagara Escarpment where the fall colours offer the perfect backdrop to many outdoor activities and events.  If you need some ideas and inspiration keep reading as we explore fall in Burlington/Halton.

With the extremely hot temperatures this summer, many apple farmers’ were concerned about their crops but that doesn’t mean you can’t get farm fresh apples at our local farmers’ markets, on-farm markets or if you fancy, you can visit one of the many pick your own farms located in the region.  For my family a trip to the apple orchards is a yearly tradition.  We scout for the best trees/fruit and then fill our bags with delicious juicy apples.  Even young children can join in the fun, last year my one-year old had a blast grabbing low hanging fruit and of course there is always the satisfaction of getting to bite into something you picked yourself.  For a complete list of farms and markets visit Halton Region, Simple Local webpage.

There is no better time to get outdoor than the fall, the leaves begin to change and you don’t have to worry about heat alerts.  With miles (kilometers just sounds odd doesn’t it) of hiking and biking trails both in urban and rural areas there is something for every level of outdoor enthusiast.  The parks of Conservation Halton offer ample opportunities to explore nature with trails at all six parks, rock-climbing at Rattlesnake Point and for families with kids consider Crawford Lake with its 15^th century reconstructed Iroquoian Village or Mountsberg’s Raptor Centre.  The weekends of Oct 6-8 and 13-14 Conservation Halton parks celebrate the landscapes and colours of the Niagara Escarpment with a wide range of activities at their Fall into Nature event. 

Another great location for hitting the trails is Bronte Creek Provincial Park located on the border of Burlington.  If you are an angler you can fish in Bronte Creek for Bass, Perch and more.  Kids will enjoy the children’s playbarn for climbing, jumping and having fun followed by a visit with the barnyard animals.  If you are still keen to camp, Bronte Creek’s camping season runs to October 22 and for a spookacular experience join them on October 20th for Camper Halloween.

The trails of the Royal Botanical Gardens are a nature lover’s paradise.  Bird watchers can find over 250 species across the season and for those with a more floral inclination, the September wildflowers are in bloom.  If you would prefer a guided walk join the RBG for Back to Nature walks every Sunday until the end of the year.  Of course we would be remise if we didn’t mention Zimsculpt, a collection of hand-carved sculptures created by artists from Zimbabwe nestled in the gardens.  Read all about it here.

One of the annual rites of nature is the salmon spawning in Bronte Creek at Lowville Park.  It’s hard to believe that these Chinook salmon migrate upstream in our own backyard, it’s something really cool to see and the park is lovely for a walk/hike and picnic.   Check out this YouTube video with underwater footage following the salmon run in Lake Ontario tributaries, then head out to see it in person.

If you are looking to get out in the country and do some early holiday shopping consider a visit to the Fall Farm Craft Show at Country Heritage Park running Sept 15/16.  There will be hundreds of juried vendors and with a $6 admission price it’s a bargain for those looking for a unique gift or something special for themselves.

For families there is no better way to spend a day on the farm then heading to Springridge Farm for their annual Harvest Festival.  The festival runs weekends from September  22 until October 28 and includes lots of great activities, wagon rides, access to the fun farm yard and so much more.  To get all the details visit their website.  Foodies, get excited as Springridge presents celebrity chef and author Michael Smith on Saturday September 22 for an author meet and greet and book signing.  I can tell you, I’ve been to these events at Springridge and they are awesome!  Plus, they are free to attend you just need to RSVP before it fills up.

Whatever your passion or curiosity, indulge it during Culture Days, Canada’s annual country-wide celebration of arts and culture running September 28 to September 30.  In Burlington the major cultural groups have come together to promote a number of cultural activities including:

• ZimSculpt at RBG on Friday Sept. 28
• Human Library at Central Library on Saturday Sept. 29 where you can “borrow” a living book for 30 minutes.  This is one of the most intriguing ideas I’ve ever seen and I can’t wait to try this.
• Tottering Biped at Burlington Art Centre on Saturday Sept. 29 co-hosts the “Procession of the Species”, a community-arts based Earth Day celebration that focuses on community unity, environmental education and cultural exchange
• Applefest Fall Fair at Ireland House on Sunday Sept. 30.  An old-fashioned country fair right in the city, including activities, entertainment, and more.
• Culture Days at The Burlington Performing Arts centre on Sunday Sept. 30 complete with tours, activities and of course performing arts.
• War of 1812-14 Commemoration at Tourism Burlington all weekend
• Burlington Art Centre Exhibits and Demonstrations all weekend

Of course there are always new events popping up and we have lots of other great ideas for those wondering what to see and do in Burlington.  Drop by our visitor centre daily from 9am-4pm or visit us online any time.

Now get that sweater and start exploring!

Sweet Canadian Moments 2012

Maple Syrup and Springtime in Canada are synonymous for many of us. My mother, an adventurous foodie before foodie was even a word, used to actually tap the maple trees outside our home in Northern Ontario. Then the kitchen would be filled with maple perfumed steam for hours on end. The result was always very small in quantity but big in flavour. We would savour it, the more because it was so labour intensive to produce, poured on pancakes with sausages and bacon. That maple fog that filled the house remains one of my favourite childhood sensory memories.

It isn’t necessary to go through the hard work of maple syrup making to enjoy the sweet rewards, however. Spring in Burlington offers several opportunities to enjoy the pleasures of maple syrup without all the work.

Bronte Creek Provincial Park

At Bronte Creek Provincial Park, Fresh Ontario Maple Syrup will be yours to savour every weekend in March. At Bronte Creek, the costumed interpreters will demonstrate how to tap the trees, and how to make maple syrup and maple sugar.

During the Maple Syrup Festival, a wagon will take visitors to a heated pancake shack for fresh pancakes, sausages and, of course, maple syrup. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while learning a little history, and to taste a bit of our most delicious heritage.

The maple syrup festivities are open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every weekend in March. For more information call 905-827-6911 or visit their website.

Maple Festivities at Mountsberg’s Maple Towne

Maple Towne at Mountsberg presents a delicious celebration of our national spring obsession, with a traditional sugar shack, steaming kettles of boiling sap, and tasty treats to sample. You can savour pancakes, with maple syrup, naturally, in an outdoor pavilion.

Visitors learn about the process and history of maple syrup and gain an insight into the life of our ancestors through displays and demonstrations, and can also experience an authentic horse drawn wagon ride through the sugar bush. In addition to the maple syrup activities, there are visits to the play barn and demonstrations of amazing birds of prey at the nearby Raptor Centre. Or take a leisurely hike along the Wildlife Walkway where you may come face to face with an owl or hawk.

Sweet Water Season at Crawford Lake

At Crawford Lake, you’ll see how native peoples produced ‘sweet water’ or maple syrup. On guided hikes, you’ll learn how maple trees were tapped and you’ll get to sample delicious cornbread dipped in fresh maple syrup. Afterwards you can tour the restored 15^th century Iroquois village and its longhouses, then make crafts, watch a video presentation or enjoy walks along the boardwalk that circles Crawford Lake or along the many hiking trails.

Maple Towne at Mountsberg and the Sweet Water Season at Crawford Lake take place weekends to April 9, 2012 on weekends and holidays.

(Hint: Maple Syrup is very popular! There are always line-ups to get in to these activities, especially during March Break. My suggestion is to be there when the doors open at 10 am. Check the website for times, dates and admission prices.)

A Brief History of Maple Syrup

When you visit Mountsberg or Crawford Lake or Bronte Creek for the Maple Syrup Festivals, you will be participating in an activity that has been central to culinary life since, some say, before recorded history.  Native peoples knew the qualities of maple sap, even if they did not have the iron pots for concentrating the sap into syrup. They would use it as a sweet drink or a hot tea.

Early settlers, with their wooden buckets and iron pots, developed techniques for concentrating the sap. After that, maple syrup and maple sugar became staples that could be found on every table during the 17^th and 18^th centuries when other sugars were in short supply. And the sugar shack became an important gathering place in springtime. Here, great clouds of maple steam made the shack toasty warm, and if you were lucky you could try out the syrup, or enjoy the ‘taffy’ formed when the hot thick syrup was poured on snow.

Everything’s better with a Little Maple Syrup!

Pick up a bottle of this year’s vintage of maple syrup from the gift shops at Mountsberg and Crawford Lake and use it generously. Here are a few suggestions for adding maple syrup to your cooking:

·         Pour it, of course, on pancakes, french toast and waffles but don’t forget to put a bit on the bacon during the last few minutes of cooking.  It gives a sweet glaze to the bacon that is irresistible.

·         Add maple syrup to softened butter, mix and chill.  Serve the maple butter on sweet rolls or raisin bread.

·         Sweeten your apple sauce with maple syrup instead of white sugar.

·         Use it to sweeten your tea or coffee.

·         Add it to baked beans.

·         Glaze squash, sweet potatoes or carrots with some maple syrup.

·         Pour over ice cream for an easy and delicious dessert.

·         Serve it with corn fritters.

·         Sprinkle maple sugar on top of your grapefruit.

·         Drizzle maple syrup or maple sugar on top of hot oatmeal.

Be creative! Maple syrup partners well with many dishes.  And it’s good for you. While it has the same number of calories as white sugar or other sweeteners, maple syrup contains iron, calcium and thiamin.

Maple Syrup and Royalty

In a recent exposé posted by a sneaky reporter who posed as a footman and gained access to Buckingham Palace, it was revealed that, on the breakfast table shared by the Queen and Prince Philip, was a silver jug full of Canadian maple syrup.

In fact, the top maple syrup producers have been sending cases of maple syrup to Buckingham Palace for decades, to please the royal sweet tooth. And a truffle maker in Fredericton last year shipped his popular maple flavoured truffles, in a specially designed maple box, to the Queen. Rumour has it that Canadian maple syrup will be on the menu for the wedding breakfast for Kate and William that Queen Elizabeth will be hosting for the couple and their closest friends.

Classic Facts about Maple Syrup

·         It takes 30-50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup .

·         Maple syrup can be concentrated further to produce maple cream, maple sugar, and maple candy.

·         A gallon of maple syrup weighs 11 pounds

·         Usually a maple tree is at least 30 years old and 12 inches in diameter before it is tapped.

·         As the tree increases in diameter, more taps can be added to a maximum of four taps.

·         Tapping does no permanent damage and only 10 percent of the sap is collected each year.

·         Many maple trees have been tapped for 150 or more years.

·         Each tap will yield an average of 10 gallons of sap per season, producing about one quart of syrup.

·         The maple season may last eight to 10 weeks, but sap flow is heaviest for about 10-20 days in the early spring.

·         Maple syrup comes in different grades:

o   "fancy" grade - is the lightest coloured

o   "commercial" grade is the best syrup to use in cooking because it is rich in flavour

© Barbara Ramsay Orr – @Orracle, guest blogger

Barbara Ramsay Orr is a freelance journalist, author of the Frommer's Guide to the Niagara Region, third edition (2010), Day Trips from Toronto for Globe Pequot and a lifetime resident of Ontario. Her work has appeared in many national and international publications, including Chatelaine, Canadian Living, The Globe and mail and Readers Digest. She is the Local Expert on Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Wine Country for Nile Guides, and is launching a travel app for Niagara Falls and on International Wine and Food Festivals. She has been the food writer for Hamilton Magazine for more years than she wishes to admit. You can follow heradventures, tune in to her tweets @Orracle, or visit her Niagara Falls andNiagara-on-the-Lake Blogs. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The jolly old man in red is all over Burlington.  Santa has arrived at The Burlington Mall and has taken up daily residence in his "cabin" at the mall. We are not sure how he does it but he will also be appearing weekends at The Mapleview Centre and you can receive a free 5x7 photo to capture your holiday memory. The Royal Botanical Gardens will play host to Santa many times throughout December this year. Each weekend between December 3rd-18th from 10am-4pm, you and your little ones can meet the jolly old elf and his reindeer friends! Sundays, enjoy a hot breakfast with Santa starting at 10am until 12pm.  



Santa 5K Run



There is always excitement in the air for Burlington’s annual Christmas Parade! On Sunday December 4th, Santa and over 65 bands, floats, clowns, and mascots travel from the Burlington Mall at Prospect Street and Guelph Line to Brant Street and Caroline Street downtown. Find a spot along the route and have fun! Non-perishable food items for the local food banks will be collected by the Burlington Teen Tour Band and letters to Santa will be picked up by Canada Post letter carriers.  Have you every seen over 3,000 Santas running loose in the streets? This December 10th you can!  Bundle up in your own Santa suit and take part in Canada’s largest all-Santa 5km Run! Run or walk through downtown Burlington or cheer on the hundreds of Santas.Visit their website today to register for this fun-filled event! Ho, ho, ho!!  View the Santa Run video here.

Candlelight Tours

Be sure to head to Ireland House at Oakridge Farm on Friday December 9th for Candlelight Tours of Yesteryear. Experience a wondrous guided tour of this historic property illuminated by candlelight. The house will be filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of a traditional Christmas, as performers play holiday songs. Father Christmas will welcome guests as they become a part of a historic farmhouse family, with delicious period-style refreshments to sample and holiday crafts to create and take home. Tickets for a full tour, crafts, and refreshments must be purchased in advance.

Festival of Lights

Burlington is “dressed” for the holidays! The annual “Doorways to the Holidays” will be at the Royal Botanical Gardens  until January 8th.  Read about our visit to Doorways to the Holidays last year.  The RBG will also have seasonal activities, musical entertainment, local school and adult choirs, model train and light displays, and more to keep your December weekends full and festive!   The picturesque Paletta Lakefront Mansion will open its doors to the public on Monday, December 19th from 10am-3pm. Explore the wonderfully restored 1930s mansion and beautiful waterfront grounds, while also enjoying the holiday decorations and musical entertainment. There will be free admission for the day. Canned goods donations will be accepted.  Spencer Smith Park will once again shine brightly with holiday spirit from Sunday December 4th to January 12th. Each evening, the downtown park will dazzle visitors with more than 60 spectacular animated figures and illuminated displays. The 14th Annual Festival of Lights is a free event that has become a fabulous Burlington holiday tradition.  
So many of Burlington’s amazing attractions will help you to make fun holiday memories with their special activities and entertainment. Take advantage of the Halton Streetcar Museum’s last days before they close their doors until Spring 2012. “Christmas on the Rails” on Saturday December 3rd and 10th allows you and your family to hop on a train and take a ride through the beautiful, snowy woods with Christmas carols in the air.  As we head into December join the Burlington Downtown Candlelit Stroll and experience a night of holiday fun. On Friday December 2nd head to City Hall and purchase a candle in support of United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton. From there, stroll and enjoy the live music and entertainment at downtown shops and businesses and return to City Hall for hot chocolate and sweet treats. Weekends in December starting December 3rd and running to the 18th you can enjoy Bronte Creek Provincial Park and partake in free take home crafts and heritage activities for the whole family at the Breckon Shelter from 10am - 3pm.

Lots left to do in Burlington before summer ends

Although it’s already halfway through August (and who can believe it?), there is still plenty to do in Burlington before the summer ends. 

There are two great events running in August at the Royal Botanical Gardens.  Food lovers should be sure to check out their “Edible Weekends” featuring cooking demonstrations, educational workshops, special menu items, taste-testings and more!  A different taste is highlighted each weekend, with tomatoes and salsa featured August 20th and 21st, garlic highlighted August 27th and 28th and gourds showcased September 3rd to 5th.  With so many flavours, this event certainly promises to be delicious! 

Music lovers should also visit the RBG for Red Hot Jazz and Cool Blues  which takes place Wednesday nights from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Hendrie Park.  Performances run until September 7th, so you still have lots of time left to enjoy the music!  Enjoy a cold drink, some barbecue and the lovely garden while listening to award-winning jazz and blues musicians.  Concerts take place rain or shine.      

If you’re up for something a little spookier, then Ghost Walks at Bronte Creek’s Spruce Lane Farmhouse are definitely for you.  Staff members will guide you through the house and barn, providing an educational tour highlighting occurrences, beliefs and unexplained happenings.  The walks take place Sunday evenings beginning at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. and last 45 minutes.  Meet at parking lot F to join the tour which is included with regular admission to the park.  Although the walks are more educational than scary, they are best suited for children over seven.     

Looking for something fun to do with the whole family?  Look no further than this weekend’s Children’s Festival!  This fabulous two day event is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and promises to be filled with fantastic activities and entertainment that kids will love.

The festival kicks off Saturday August 20th at 10 a.m. with the 4th Annual Discover Sandcastles Competition at Beachway Park.  There are four categories in which you can compete: child (ages 4-12), youth (ages 13-17), adult (ages 18+) and family (all ages with a maximum of 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children).  Simply visit the event’s web page to register using RecExpress.

Love sandcastles but don’t necessarily want to compete?  There is plenty for you to do too!  Come and watch Master Sand Sculptor demonstrations, listen to live music, take part in fun activities, grab a bite to eat and enjoy a marketplace all on Burlington’s beautiful beach.  Local children’s book author Sylvia McNicoll will be emceeing the day, so bring your books down to be signed.  Also be sure to vote for your favourite sandcastle for the People’s Choice Award and stick around to watch the award ceremony at 4 p.m. to see the winners.   

The fun continues on Sunday August 21st at 10 a.m. with the Children’s Festival in Spencer Smith Park.  Come on down and enjoy play zones, pirate ship inflatables, a SpongeBob SquarePants meet and greet, talking parrot shows, entertainment and more!  From 12:30 until 1 p.m., kids are encouraged to participate in the Promenade Parade.  Come dressed as a pirate, prince or princess and join the fun!  Although the day’s activities end at 4 p.m., you can come back to the park at 7 p.m. to join the Amazing Captain Corbin for a magical Pirate show followed by a 9 p.m. outdoor screening of a pirate movie.  Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy the show! 

Speaking of fabulous festivals, who can resist the deliciousness that is Canada’s Largest Ribfest?  Come down to Spencer Smith Park September 2nd to 5th and sample some of the best ribs from 18 of North America’s top ribbers.  Visit their website for a $3.00 off ribs coupon, valid Friday September 2nd from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Ribfest isn’t only about the ribs though!  You can get all sorts of food including chicken, hot dogs, pizza, corn, French fries, fried onions, doughnuts, ice cream and more!  There is also fantastic musical entertainment, crafters and activities and games for kids of all ages.  It is definitely not to be missed!

So shake off those end of summer blahs and go out and enjoy all that Burlington has to offer!      

TC Kat

March Break 2011

How can you NOT have fun on March Break? I remember when I was a young chicken - March Break was the highlight of my March; no school, no (or very little) snow and lots and lots of things to do. Burlington and the Halton region has always excelled in providing tons of entertainment to keep parents from going crazy, or having to take the whole week off work, whether their kids are 6 or 15 years old. This year, March Break is from March 14 to the 20 (not like your kids haven’t been reminding you every day for the past month or two). Whether your kids like to ski, hike, skate, swim, learn, explore or be creative – there is an activity for them to take part in this March Break.

There are March Break camps, skating, and swimming available at city facilities. The camps are for kids of all ages as well as camps available for kids and adults with disabilities. Click HERE to learn more about these camps and to see the schedules for skating and swimming. Please visit the City of Burlington website.

Do you have a 12-16 year old? Why not enroll them in Babysitter Training at the Tansley Woods Community Centre? During this 2-day course they will be trained in childcare, safety and their rights and responsibilities as a childcare provider. They will be given a babysitters certificate upon completion. This is a great way for young adults to gain experience and have the knowledge and skills to help out with younger siblings or even get a summer job! Click HERE to register.

The Royal Botanical Gardens has a multitude of activities planned to keep the children busy all week long. Wild Music: Sounds and Songs of Life, on daily, are holding an interactive drumming program on Tuesday, March 15, from 1pm-2pm. This program allows the participants a chance to play the drums and learn about the history around different instruments. There are also various day camps available for kids from 4-13 years old at the RBG; they range in topics from the forest, environmental science, frogs to maple syrup! Check out their website for more information and event registration.

Crawford Lake’s Sappy Strolls and Sweet Water Demonstrations are learning opportunities for the young and young at heart. These events include walking tours to learn about the First Nations’ maple tapping techniques and demonstrations about the origins of maple syrup. Sappy Strolls will happen twice daily at 11am and 2pm and Sweet Water Demonstrations will happen twice daily at 12pm and 3pm on March 12, 13, 19, and 20; for more information on these events and to see some of Crawford Lake’s other March Break activities visit Conservation Haltons’ website.

If your child has a love for the snow, and an interest in adventure, then Glen Eden’s ski and snowboarding camps would be perfect for them! Running from 9:30am to 3pm daily during March Break, these lessons are sure to be a hoot! No, I don’t mean there will be owls, you would be more likely to see owl’s at Mountsberg!

Speaking of Mountsberg, they also have exciting activities planned! Maple Town features horse drawn sleigh rides, maple syrup samples and best of all, the Pancake Pavilion; for more information read our previous blog, It’s Maple Syrup Time; we delve into Maple Town, Sweet Water Season and the Maple Syrup Festival held at Bronte Creek Provincial Park where guided tours of Maple Lane, wagon rides, the pancake house, maple museum and the Maple Gift Shoppe are all offered daily from 9:30am to 3pm.

Arts and Crafts are always something kids enjoy; why not check out the Burlington Art Centre’s various camps for ages 4-13. These aren’t just for children either! They have a great variety of adult studio classes. Or if you want to keep them active, Burlington Gymnastics offers half-day and full-day camps for ages 3-13. It’s bound to be a high-jumping of a tumbling good time!

Want to make your March Break a staycation? Holiday Inn Burlington is offering a one night standard room accommodation with daily live shows, movies and scavenger hunts to get the feeling of going away without really leaving our beautiful city!

Want to raise a little chef or just get your family more involved with dinner at home? Paradiso Restaurant hosts cooking classes throughout the seasons but during March Break, it’s Kids Only Kooking Klass! Paradiso has put together a collection of 3 hour classes to introduce some basic techniques to kids in the kitchen with the use of household items.

Heritage is an important topic for some families, why not have your children understand the history of Burlington and Chief Joseph Brant and the Ireland Family. Both Joseph Brant Museum and Ireland House at Oakridge farm are open this March Break and offering Mystery Investigations workshops, make SWEET stuff and beware of the wild things with special guests and a mix of activities, crafts and entertainment.

We know March Break can’t be frustrating and sometimes expensive. We hope you enjoy all that Burlington has to offer, like our Coupon Book with deals from Burlington Bowl, Climber’s Rock, Conservation Halton, Lil’ Monkeys Indoor Playground, Royal Botanical Gardens and other great restaurants and shopping destinations!