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!

Tourism Burlington celebrates National Tourism Week with 2 contests!

Every day the staff at Tourism Burlington are busy working to promote our great city to visitors and residents.  Once a year Canada takes a week to celebrate tourism and we couldn’t be more excited!  National Tourism Week runs from Monday May 14th to Sunday May 20th and we are going to be promoting the “hidden gems” of Burlington.

At tourism we love to have fun and what is more fun than a contest with a chance to win great prizes?  We’ll tell you – it’s two contests!

The first contest is our Attractions “Hidden Gems” contest.  Each day a member of our tourism team will become a hidden gem at our local attractions.  Follow us on Twitter with hashtag #HiddenGemsBurl for hints to help you be the first person to find us on location* and win a gift valued at $50.00 compliments of the attraction we are visiting. *you must find us in person to win

Once we are found we will tweet our exact location at the attraction so you can meet up with us and pick up your free Tourism souvenir and our 2012-13 visitor guide. We will give you a hint now…we’ll be the ones wearing the green tourism golf shirt or jacket. Plus we’re giving you a schedule of where we will be so you just need to follow us on Twitter and head to the location(s) of the day to find us.

Monday May 14th we will be heading to Bronte Creek Provincial Park** and Springridge Farm.  At Bronte Creek you will be challenged to find us in the park that includes over 10km of trails, an 1800’s farmhouse, a children’s play barn and a campground.  The first person to find us at this location will win Ontario Parks gift certificates and a 500ml bottle of Bronte Creek Maple Syrup. What a delicious prize! With so many great hiding places we don’t know where to pick.  Next we will head to Springridge Farm and while we would like to just sit in the bakery all day and enjoy their delicious baked goods we might be a bit too obvious.  However, there are lots of nooks and crannies within the gift shop and bakery/café or maybe we’ll head outside and spend our time in the family fun yard or a top the escarpment lookout.  One thing is for sure, we never leave the farm empty handed and neither will you.

Tuesday May 15th you can find us at the Royal Botanical Gardens** and The Crossroads Centre.  The Royal Botanical Gardens is a great location to explore and you might find us inside the RBG Centre hiding amongst the indoor blooms or checking out the gift shop.  Maybe we’ll tuck ourselves away somewhere in the 400 acres of display gardens. Our choices include the Rose Garden/Hendrie Park Gardens, the Laking Garden or with the tulips (which are in bloom) at the Rock Garden.  Be sure to leave some extra time to visit the RBG after you find us, you won’t be disappointed. We are looking forward to heading to Crossroads Centre for the afternoon.  This hidden gem is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year with many excitingevents.  We are excited about with all the unique hiding spots we have to choose from. Will we be in the studio where 100 Huntley Street is telecast live daily. Maybe we will be at one of the stops along the way during a tour of their state-of-the-art facilities. (Conducted every Monday through Friday at 8:30 am - 1:00 pm).  We could be enjoying a bite at the Towne Square Cafe or maybe relaxing somewhere along the Walk Of Faith. If you have not had the chance to visit Crossroads Centre, we would encourage you to make this one of your stops.  The first person to find us at this location will win a gift bag with some goodies inside, a free lunch at the Towne Square (for that day) and a $50 donation in your name to one of the various humanitarian projects Crossroads has partnered with this year (Wells for clean water in Uganda, Children in Cambodia who are victims of human trafficking, an orphanage in Ukraine, or slums of Calcutta).  Wow something for you and something to give back!

Wednesday May 16th we head mid-town to Burlington Mall & the Burlington Mall Farmers’ Market.  We’ll start our day outdoors at the Burlington Farmers’ Market (open 8am-2pm). You will find everything from apples to zucchini at the market and I know we will be loading up on delicious local food while we are here. Will you find us munching on Shriner's Creek Kettle Popcorn, buying some spring annuals from  Hutchinson Farm or noshing on some yummy produce from one of the many vendors here at the market…you’ll have to wait and see.  Next we head indoors to the Burlington Mall. You will need to stay focused which is challenging when there are so many great stores to shop in.  From department stores to specialty shops we have a lot of choices if we decide to go “in-store” or we might hunker down in the food court and enjoy a bite to eat. We’d probably stand out on the kids rides in the mall but there are lots of spots for us to sit and people watch while we wait for you to find us. 

Thursday May 17th we take on Downtown Burlington and because there are a plethora of locations to choose from we’ve decided to hide twice!  We love hunting for unique items at the downtown shops that feature everything from fashion to furnishings which would be perfect for multi-tasking – who says you can’t shop and be a “hidden gem” at the same time?  There is always the chance we will hide out at one of the great eateries - do we slip into a cosy bistro or chill out on a patio, so many choices.  Maybe we’ll park ourselves in Village Square in the heart of downtown or relax at an outdoor locale.  We know that we will find the perfect spots and we hope you have fun finding us.

Friday May 18th is going to be a great day.  We visit the Joseph Brant Museum** and the Burlington Art Centre.  Joseph Brant Museum is not only a big part of Burlington history, it’s also home to many collections and historical information and this year they celebrate their 70th anniversary! So the question is where will you find us? Will we be checking out The Gilded Age: In Pursuit of Pleasure - Fashion in Edwardian Times exhibit in the Eileen Collard Gallery or soaking up some history in the Burlington History Gallery. Even if you are not the first to find us your trip to the museum will be worth it. But if you are the first person to find us at this location you will win a prize pack of goodies from the Museums of Burlington gift shop!  After our visit to the museum we will be heading across the street to the Burlington Art Centre.  For those that haven’t been, we can tell you that it’s home to seven guilds and the world’s largest collection of contemporary Canadian ceramics.  But what you want to know is where to find us.  We could be viewing one of the many exhibits on display including High and Low, the work of Sour Cherry Pottery artists Tony and Sheila Clennell, Immigrant: New Works by Rosemary Sloot  or the Burlington Guild of Handweavers and Spinners - Juried Exhibition.  However, we do enjoy shopping as you have probably guessed by now so we might be found in the Art Etc. Gallery Shop wandering the aisles trying to decide which one of a kind piece we’d like to add to our collection.

Saturday May 19th we take on the great outdoors with a visit to Crawford Lake Conservation Area**.  Conservation Halton has six amazing parks and Crawford Lake is one of our favourites.  The 15th century Iroquoian Village would make a perfect hide-out with its rustic longhouses. Did you know that Crawford Lake is a rare meromictic lake? Perhaps we’ll spend our time cruising the surrounding boardwalk or find a spot along the 19km of trails (which connect to the Bruce Trail!).  Plan to spend the day at this location, there is so much to see and do!

Sunday May 20th we continue our visits to Conservation Halton parks with a trip to Mount Nemo** and we will also be heading to Ireland House at Oakridge Farm**. Mount Nemo has one of the best cliff ecosystems on Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment and your challenge will be to find us somewhere in the midst of the boulders and cedars along the trails.  Visiting Ireland House is like stepping back in time as you tour the house that reflects the life and times of three generations of the Ireland family. This means that we will probably be easy to spot in our modern garb – maybe they will lend us a period piece to wear.  Of course at Ireland House we also have the option to head outdoors and pick a spot somewhere on the 4 acres of woodland, gardens, outbuildings and picnic areas.  If you want to get a head start scoping out this location be sure to visit the Queen's Jubilee Mother's Day Royal Tea on Sunday May 13th. If you are the first person to find us at this location you will win a prize pack of goodies from the Museums of Burlington gift shop!

We hope you have an opportunity to get out and visit the attractions in our “Hidden Gems” contest.  Remember to follow us on twitter for exact times and location clues at #HiddenGemsBurl. 

**Entrance fees are applicable at these locations.

If you think you know Burlington then this is the contest for you. Our second and equally awesome contest is the “Hidden Gems” photo contest.  Every day from Monday May 14 – Sunday May 20 we will be posting the “hidden gem” photo on our website, facebook and twitter.  Name the location of the “hidden gem” photo of the day by commenting on the photo via facebook or tweeting the location to us with the hashtag #HiddenGemsBurl.  One correct entry will be chosen at random each day and will receive a prize valued at $50.00.

Last but not least we want to remind everyone that there are lots of ways to celebrate Burlington and be a tourism ambassador.  Send an e-card, enjoy our local sites and attractions with a stay-cation, and encourage your friends and family to come and visit (don’t worry we have the perfect guest suite for them).

Happy National Tourism Week from all of us at Tourism Burlington!

2012 Easter Events in Burlington

A sure sign of spring is the arrival of that cute little rabbit known as the Easter bunny.  For those with children you know that the excitement of searching for hidden treats from a furry little friend is second only to awaking Christmas morning.  For those looking to enjoy some family fun there are two great Easter themed events happening over Easter weekend.

Hunting for eggs @Springridge

Head to Springridge Farm April 6th to 8th for their Easter festival which includes an Easter egg hunt with the Easter bunny!  Other festival activities include “Peter Rabbit's Eggcellent Easter Puppet Show”, pedal tractors, wagon rides & farm tour, pony rides, BBQ and face painting.  Plus your kids can enjoy the fun farmyard which includes an animal barn, giant sandbox, corn trail, straw bale jumping and everyone will get a workout climbing to the escarpment lookout.  Be sure to visit the market, gift shop and bakery – you won’t leave empty handed!  The “jam-team” at Springridge has also been working hard over the winter and have created a very special limited edition, Diamond Jubilee Jam in honour of the Queen, don’t miss out - last year’s Royal Wedding Marmalade was a sell out!

Another great family fun event is the Easter egg extravaganza at Mountsberg Conservation Area running April 6th to 9th.  Youngsters can join in the Easter egg hunt and children 10 years and up can participate in the Scavenger Hunt.  Other Easter activities include a colouring book station, bubble station, candy jar guess and Easter jeopardy.  Make sure to leave plenty of time to visit the playbarn, visit with the farm animals and check out the Raptor Centre. 

If you haven’t had a chance to get out and enjoy the maple syrup festivals you still have time, both Mountsberg and Crawford Lake continue to April 9th.

Kids of all ages will be excited to visit Chocolate: The Exhibition at the Royal Botanical Gardens running to April 15th. Visitors to the Exhibition will have the opportunity to explore interactive displays, visit the cacao marketplace, participate in the chocolate chase scavenger hunt and a variety of programs running throughout the day.  For those wanting to get more hands on consider registering for the Incredible, Edible Easter Basket program with Chocolatier David Levy from Chocolate Tales on Monday, April 2nd. 

Casteleyn Easter Goodies

For those looking for a culinary delight consider the self-guided Burlington Chocolate Trail, a decadent day of all things chocolate in Burlington.  Check out the video of our day on the trail.  Be sure to visit the chocolatiers including Walker's Chocolates, Casteleyn Belgian Chocolatiers, Longo Brothers Fruit Market (Walkers/Hwy 5), Purdy's Chocolates and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory on the trail to pick up all your Easter goodies!

If you are planning to dine out, many local restaurants feature Easter specials.  Good Friday (April 6) Jake’s Grill & Oyster House will be featuring a fish fry available for dine-in or take out.  April 7th and 8th at the RBG Centre the famous Easter Brunch returns, this time with added chocolate features. Take a stroll through the Gardens and catch some early blooms, then join us in the Café for a delicious spread.  Seatings at 10am and 1pm. Reservations are required.

Sunday April 8th the following restaurants will be offering an Easter Brunch:

Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel and Conference Centre is featuring a wonderful combination of culinary specialties to appeal to everyone's appetites from 11am-1pm.  They will also have a colouring contest and treats for the kids. Call 905-639-4443 for reservations.

The Easter Champagne Sunday Brunch at Spencer’s on the Waterfront features an Easter egg hunt, live entertainment, bar service and a seafood extravaganza including lobster.  $47 per adult, $21 per child (4-12yrs), call 905.633.7494 for reservations.

LaCosta Nuova will feature an Easter Italian Brunch with seatings at 11am and 1pm. Adults $28.95, Kids under 10yrs. $11.95, Kids under 5yrs eat free.  Call 905.634.7421 for reservations.

Stone House Restaurant will feature a delectable Surf & Turf Steak & Seafood Buffet from 11:30am-8:00pm. Only $35per person, reserve your table now at 905-632-1316.

The Water St. Cooker  is having its annual Sunday Brunch (right through dinner), and reservations are filling up very fast!  Emma’s Backporch will be featuring breakfast until 2pm.  Call 905.634.2084 to reserve.

Pepperwood Bistro will be featuring an Easter Brunch with seatings at 11am & 1pm.  $25.95/person.  Reservations can be made at 905.333.6999.


Join Tyandaga Golf Course for Easter Brunch. Seating times are 10:30a.m., 12p.m. or 1:30p.m. $27.99/Adult, $9.95/Child (5-12) under 5 are Free. Call Tony to make your reservation 905-336-0006, ext. 15  

Don’t forget your four-legged friends, have your pet's picture taken with the Easter Bunny on Sunday, April 1st between 11:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Burlington Humane Society’s Bunny Snap.

For those looking to stay active over Easter, consider signing up to participate in the Good Friday 5km, 10km and Kids’ Bunny Hop races by Burlington Runners.  The races begin at 8:50am at Aldershot High School and you can find race details and registration information on their website.

Other great outdoor activities include visiting Conservation Halton Parks, Bronte Creek Provincial Park, Royal Botanical Gardens all of which have excellent walking/hiking trails.  You can also head to the Burlington Waterfront to walk/bike along the scenic trail or visit one of our many parks to enjoy a day out.

Our visitor centre will be closed on Friday April 6th and Sunday April 8th and open regular hours on Saturday April 7th and Monday April 9th. Our administrative offices will be closed Friday-Monday over Easter.  You can also visit our website 24 hours a day or reach us on Twitter and Facebook.

Happy Easter!

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

Ban Summer Boredom with Burlington’s Adventure Activities for Locals and Visitors of All Ages.

Get Out in the Green and Enjoy the History and Heritage of your Backyard Treasures.

The Royal Botanical Gardens

Summer Sings and Swings at the Royal Botanical Gardens

It’s always beautiful at the RBG, but right now it is irresistible – with cool shady walks and gardens full of flowers at their summer best.

Learn to Love your Veggies in the 100 Mile Garden

Photo credit Barbara Orr

The Veggie Garden is an exciting addition to the RBG and promotes something which I support wholeheartedly – eating fresh, eating local and eating well.

These gardens, each one carefully designed and well signed, are both inspirational and beautiful – who knew that a salad could look so gorgeous? Visitors can read about the different kinds of vegetables and herbs that are growing here in a collection of themed gardens, as well as find recipes for using them.  But more than just something to look at and maybe try to duplicate, the gardens are positioned as a call to action. Visitors are asked to take the 100 Mile Veg Pledge which is a promise to use one locally grown ingredient in one meal per week for a year.  If 2000 people take and honour the pledge, 80,000 tonnes of CO 2 emissions due to transportation will be saved – the equivalent of burning 3.3 million litres of gasoline.  And of course, there are health benefits too.

But this is a beautiful place to visit too, nice and shady in the morning, and totally inspirational.  There are many suggestions for the gardener, ideas to steal for his own space, however small it may be.  There are suggestions of how to use planters and pots to grow vegetables and herb, with examples of different designs and different containers.  This is one of my new favourite places in the RBG.

Cook Those Greens!

If you are a foodie or a budding chef, plan to attend the Edible Weekend for classes in pesto making and herb drying in the garden on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Hit the Trails for August and July

There are more than 27 kilometres of walking trails, and a total of 30 different trails in the RBG and they are the prefect place for a hike in the summer months.  This is the time when new birds are merging from their nests, and wildflowers bloom alongside every path.

If you prefer a guided walk, try one of the free weekly Sunday Back to Nature walks that rotate between four locations, one for each week of the month, and conducted by RBG volunteers.

Garden Gnomes and Fairies

Indulge in a little wistful magic during the RBG’s Magic and Mischief weekend, which will include magical activities, costumes and more.  There may be pixies!

Summer Swings in the Gardens

Music and beautiful gardens make a natural partnership.  The RBG has a line-p of evenings running all summer that celebrate the marriage of natural beauty and gorgeous sound.

Hendrie Garden

Tranquil Tuesdays run every week from 6:00 pm to 8:30 and are the chance to enjoy classical music under a big white tent.  Or sit on the grass and sip a glass of wine and nibbles on appetizers while you listen.  You can stroll through the gardens with the discrete strains of the great composers as company.

Red Hot Jazz and Cool Blues moves the gardens into a more upbeat mood on Wednesday evenings during the summer, showcasing fine jazz and blues musicians, and they play rain or shine.

For the Kiddies

Day camp programs for kids 3 to 12 feature hikes, canoeing in Cootes Paradise, games, crafts, activities and daily explorations of ecologically significant nature sanctuaries covering over 1000 hectares of wetlands, fields and forests.  The programs include a new half day program for three and four year olds.  Day campers can make art in the garden, learn about the creatures that make their home in the park, create projects, discover nature, plant seeds, and generally discover the wonder of the outdoors.

So much more rewarding than a television screen or a computer monitor!

There’s almost too much to do, but one thing is sure – with the delights of the RBG right next door to you, you will never exhaust all the possibilities for natural fun this summer.

Check it all out at http://www.rbg.ca/

Halton County Radial Railway Museum

(Fun Fact:  The Bare Naked Ladies filmed a video here!)

Photo credit Barbara Orr

Oswald beams at me.  “Look carefully at the number on my badge, #147,” he smiles.  “When you get to the end of the ride at Meadowvale Station, notice the number on the badge of the person you meet there.”

That person is the Ice Cream Lady and she’s #147 too.  Turns out, she’s Mrs. Oswald.  Kind of romantic, isn’t it?

Oswald is a volunteer at the amazing and quirky Radial Railway Museum.  He and many others like him who have a passion for all things train related form the backbone of the museum and run its daily programs.

What a fun place this is!  I have no special interest in trains and I’m not the least bit mechanically inclined but this museum is just so compelling.  It is different from any other museum you will tour in Ontario.

There’s much to do, from riding the restored antique trains along the two kilometres of track, with a stop at the Meadowvale station for ice cream, to enjoying a picnic by the old rail station.  The station at the start of the run is a microcosm of a past era, with old typewriters, train memorabilia and a still operable telegraph.

There’s a large display barn where you can look at the many types of old trains that the museum has rescued and either restored or are in the process of restoring. The trains are surprisingly beautiful, far more aesthetically pleasing and ornate than the trains of today.  Many of them are open and you can walk through them and imagine what travel must have been like a hundred years or so ago.

There’s a gift shop and a snack bar for light lunches.

I ride to Meadowvale with Kevin.  He is an teaches at the TTC and volunteers at the museum on his days off. “I just love the history here,”  he tells me. “ I meet so many train aficionados like myself, and some of the older ones have actually ridden these cars when they were in service.  Their stories are wonderful to listen to. You would be surprised at the people who seek out this museum.  Just yesterday there was someone from Australia and another person from Europe.  Even our volunteers come a distance – from Kingston, even Michigan.”

The museum is open seven days a week during July and August, from 10:30 to 4:30.  For more information, call the museum at 519-856-9802.

Plan a visit here for a unique experience and great photo opportunities.

The Waterfront Trail Leisure Company

Stop in to this friendly bistro for a good cup of coffee, a gluten free muffin and few laps on the indoor bike.  Steve Whealy will be there, and if he doesn’t make you into a cycling enthusiast, I’ll be surprised.  His passion is contagious.

The WTLC has been in business here since last April, and its following just keeps growing, I think because it offers a valuable service to cyclists and tourists as well as providing a good meal for diners.

Bikes and Tours

The business offers a whole cluster of services.  Steve rents bikes, but not just bikes, - everything you could possibly need to go on a cycling excursion, from helmets and backpacks to tents, coolers and even prepared picnic lunches.

Photo credit Barbara Orr

He also creates tours for cyclers, custom designing them to suit each customer.  He knows the cycling details of the area inside and out and can advise on the best routes, the location of desirable stopping areas, the most cycling friendly inns and B&Bs – in short all you need to know for a bike trip in Niagara, Hamilton and Burlington.

He also rents tandem bikes and child ride attachments. 

Steve provides guided rides as well, and finds that the tour of Old Burlington is one of the most popular.  “I think that Burlington is the premier bike riding city in Ontario.”

The Indoor Cycling Room

For those who feel the need to do some cycling but are short of time or don’t want to brave the elements, there’s the indoor riding room.  Here you can take a relaxing – or challenging - ride, while scenes of Hawaii or the Grand Canyon make you feel as if you have just had a full blown cycling holiday.

Bistro Fare

The bistro provides locally sourced healthy food, with many of the dishes being gluten free. “I want this to be an inviting and welcoming place for people to gather and to dine,” Steve tells me. “Customers can sit out on the little patio for coffee or dine in, but I am most interested in providing good value and good service.”

And, for your added pleasure, there’s a small gallery of original art and photography that is available for purchase.

There’s something to please just about anybody here, and if you have a cycling trip in mind, this is the company, and the man, you must visit.

The shop/bistro/cycle centre is open seven days a week, from 8 am to 7 pm (although the closing times vary according to what is happening in town.  If things are busy and people want food and coffee or need to return a bike, he will stay open later.)

For additional information, check out the website, http://www.waterfronttrail.ca/.

The Waterfront Trail Leisure Company is located in Village Square at 2049 Pine Street between Pearl and Elizabeth.

Tel: 905/633-9852.

© Barbara Ramsay Orr, 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.