One of the greatest
joys of summer is having the kids at home, but it also presents one of the
greatest challenges to parenting: how to keep the little ones busy, outside and
entertained. Fortunately, Burlington is full of gems to keep your little ones
happy throughout the coming months!
 |
| Photo courtesy of Banko Media |
Looking
for a beach vacation? One needn’t venture to far-away lands to find a piece of
paradise, as Burlington Beach offers a close, cost-free place to kick back and
enjoy the summer heat! Bring the kids
down to the waterfront where they can swim, romp
around the playground or build a spectacular sandcastle. After all that
activity they’ll no doubt have worked up an appetite for a tasty ice-cream cone
from one of the concession stands on site. Don’t forget your camera, this is a
beach where family memories are made, and you won’t want to miss a single one!
Older
youth certainly won’t be left out at this beautiful sandy strip. Suggest they
pack up their tanning oil, ipod or guitar and head out to this lake-side
getaway. Whether they can bring their friends for some frisbee or go solo to
get some colour, however they choose to spend their time in the sun, they’re
guaranteed a beautiful escape. Far enough from downtown to enjoy peaceful
serenity, but close enough to nip across the street for a delicious
gelato or iced coffee.
Grab
the kids and hop on your bikes for a ride by the water, where the bike trail
will take you from the far east side of the park straight through to Hamilton. Take a break from your ride to visit the
playground outside Spencer’s restaurant, and remember the kids’ bathing suits:
there’s the Dofasco Waterjet
Plaza here that is sure to put a smile on their faces and keep them cool in
the summer heat. Whether you bike, walk
or drive there is plenty to do at the waterfront. Bring a blanket and your
family pooch and have a seat on the green of Spencer Smith. Pack up the little
ones and a picnic or stop The
Bite for some takeout then relax and enjoy the park and the beautiful lake
view. Bask in the sun or cool off in the
shade of the gazebo and if you’re lucky you might just be fortunate enough to
catch one of Burlington’s many talented young musicians busking by the water. Or for guaranteed entertainment plan a visit
during one of three afternoon concerts
in the park at Spencer Smith. Burlington’s
waterfront is the perfect place to spend time with the people you care about.
 |
| At Crawford Lake |
There
is no better place to be active than Conservation Halton’s 6 parks and 10,000
acres of beautifully preserved natural lands. Hiking, cycling, fishing, boating
and wildlife viewing are only some of the activities available at these parks, right
in the heart of some of Ontario’s most lush forests and only minutes from the city. Trying
to narrow down which park is right for you, consider these unique features at
each site. At Crawford
Lake take a walk around the Rare meromictic lake and give your kids a taste of
history by stopping by the 15th century reconstructed
Iroquoian Village. Over at Kelso
Conservation Area you can enjoy the beach and watersports. The great part is
that you can rent kayaks, paddle boats and canoes on-site to get out on the
water. Mountsberg
Conservation Area offers you a chance to get up close and personal with 15
different species of native birds of prey at their Raptor Centre and visit the farm animals at the barn. Visit Hilton
Falls where visits from the chikadees, who happily munch on birdseed from
visitor’s hands are a great photo op with the kids then head out to the viewing
station at the 10 metre waterfall that cascades over the Niagara Escarpment and
the mysterious mill ruins that surround it. And if hiking and mountain biking
is not quite enough adventure for your older kids, join them on a visit to Rattlesnake
Point or Mount
Nemo for the added option of rock climbing!
For
folks looking for a family vacation, Bronte Creek is the perfect place to
escape for an overnight adventure with their 144 electrical campsites. Don’t
have a tent? Bronte Creek also offers yurts
but book early as these fill up quickly. Bring the kids for fishing, boating,
swimming, hiking, biking and wildlife viewing during the day and retire back to
a campsite for a barbecue and a campfire. Cozy up in your sleeping bags, crack
open a skillet of kettle corn and conjure up a good ghost story: this is a
place the kids are sure to enjoy at any age! If that’s not enough to tucker out
the kids, the park store also rents rollerblades, bicycles, tennis equipment
and basketballs to ensure that your family never tires of options for fun! The park also offers picnic areas for day use
and access to the pool, playbarn and nature centre. On the day use side of
the park you can step back in time and explore the Spruce Lane Farmhouse, a
turn of the century living history museum.
If your children are
less inclined towards the outdoors, or simply need a change of pace, try a
visit to the Burlington Art Centre. The Art
Centre is host to several breathtaking exhibits by local artists, and is home
to seven guilds plus they own the largest collection of Contemporary Canadian
Ceramics in the world, all of which is sure to inspire the minds of your
children. The best part is that admission to the Burlington Art Centre is
always free! Of course, once inspired, you may wish to enroll your young
artists in one of the many classes
offered by The Centre, where they can explore the reaches of their imaginations.
 |
| Camp @ Ireland House |
If you want to step back in time and
learn some local history there is no better place than the Museums of
Burlington. Joseph Brant Museum
is a replica of the original homestead of Joseph Brant ‘Thayendanegea’ and
hosts exhibits in the Eileen Collard Gallery in addition to the collections on
display throughout the museum. Ireland House at
Oakridge Farm was the home of Joseph Ireland, one of Burlington's earliest
settlers. The homestead has been restored to illustrate three distinct time
periods that represent the generations of Irelands who lived in the house:
1850s, 1890s and 1920s. Ninety percent of the furnishings are original to the
Ireland family and give you a great perspective on how they lived. The property
consists of 4 acres of woodland, gardens, potting shed, cottage/drive shed, and
picnic areas. Tours of the property, living historical demonstrations, special
events and educational programs are offered.
A
horticultural dream, the Royal Botanical Gardens offers 24 000 acres of
gardens, beautiful walking trails, more than 50 at-risk plant species and countless
beautiful migratory birds. Bring your young explorers on a guided tour, or wander around at
your own pace and observe the beauty of nature, accented by 20 original works
of Earth Art created by renowned Canadian artists. If your kids just can’t get
enough of what the RBG has to offer, might also wish to enroll them in one of
the garden’s children’s gardening
programs, day camps or teen leadership programs. Once
they’re dropped off you might even have the time to sit down and unwind in one
of the beautiful tea houses
in the botanical gardens or head back solo to enjoy Tranquil Tuesdays or Red Hot Jazz & Cool Blues
on Wednesdays in Hendrie Gardens.
Get
your hands dirty at local farms
If
your little ones have an affinity for animals, don’t miss a change to visit Spruce
Lane Farm, located in Bronte Creek Provincial Park, here children can run,
jump and climb for hours in a the play barn, and can even get up close and
personal with a variety of farm animals including pigs, chickens, rabbits, and
goats. If this is a hit, your kids will love a trip to Country Heritage Park, an
interactive heritage park depicting the evolution of agriculture and rural life
over the past 170 years. Springridge Farm is always a hit
with kids. Spend the day playing in the
family fun yard, trek up the escarpment to the lookout for a breathtaking view,
enjoy a tractor ride around the farm and then stop at the café for lunch (and I
dare you to try leaving without picking up something from the bakery). For
those who wish to bring a bit of the farm back home, visit one of the many farms and
markets located across Halton. Many
of the farms offer pick your own and on-farm markets so the kids can see where
their food comes from and you support your local economy at the same time.
Learn
a new dish at Paradiso
Kid’s Cooking Classes
For
culinary whiz-kids, or those who aspire to be such, bring
your children to Paradiso the weeks of July 16-20 and August 13-17 for a fun
introduction to the kitchen. Paradiso has put together a collection of 3 hour classes
to introduce some basic techniques to children in the kitchen. Sign up for
individual classes or for a full-week.
Festivals
and Events
In
addition to the exciting goings-on throughout the summer, Burlington also plays
host to many festivals and
events throughout the summer. From large scale events in Spencer Smith Park
like the Canada Day Festival, Country & Blues BBQ and Children’s Festival
to smaller community events, there is something for everyone. Check out our blog on fun, fantastic (and mostly) free festivals
in Burlington.
Summer is the perfect time to relax, and
there is no better way than by grabbing your fishing pole and heading out to
the serene waters of Burlington’s many fishing spots. For a tranquil outdoor
adventure treat your kids to a visit to Grindstone Creek, Sixteen Valley,
Carlisle Conservation Area, Kelso Conservation Area and more for the chance to
relax on the shores, in shallow waters or in a non-motorized fishing boat to
let your kids try their hands at catching trout, pike, perch and other
delicious fish! Remember a valid Ontario Fishing License
is required for those 18 years of age and over and Ontario Fishing regulations
apply. For more information on fishing
in Burlington visit our website.
SumTourBurlGrls
