Romantic Things to do in Burlington

Flowers.  Chocolates.  Dinner.  Romantic gifts and things to do always seem to be limited to these options.  With our lives getting busier than ever, it’s hard to find time to go the extra mile and come up with a unique gift idea or plan an inventive and romantic getaway to show that special someone in your life that you’re even more awesome than they thought!

If you need a little help, you’re in luck!  Rest assured that Burlington has more variety than a double-layered box of chocolates when it comes to romantic things to do!   We’ve got you covered at every price point, whether you want a simple gift idea or a romantic overnight getaway!

Romantic Restaurants in Burlington:  Word to the wise: this is the time to pick a restaurant you don’t usually go to, and especially one you don’t take the kids to.  Because you can go there anytime.  A night of romance requires a quieter, cozier, candlelit atmosphere with attentive service and a menu that has a little sophistication!   No restaurant has a better view in Burlington than Spencer’s at the Waterfront, with windows overlooking Lake Ontario and an impressively creative menu that is always worth the splurge!  Or grab a cozy table for 2 in downtown Burlington at romantic favourites like The Alex, Red Canoe Bistro or Rude Native.  If you love a classic surf & turf, try The Carriage House,  Lord Nelson Fine Dining or Walker’s Fish Market.  For the high rollers out there who want one of the most inventive culinary nights of your life, you’ll be blown away by Chef Matteo Paonessa at Blacktree.  This stellar restaurant was recently given (very rare) top marks by Toronto Star restaurant critic Amy Pataki.  Speaking from personal experience, it is an amazing gastronomic adventure you’ll never forget!  Just make sure you call for a reservation, as weekends and special occasions always see those tables fill up fast!

Hotel Packages in Burlington:  Whether you’re local, or coming in from out of town, the romance factor is always elevated when you stay overnight at a nice hotel.  Getting away from your growing to-do-list or the many requests of your delightful children is all the reason you need to take a little break from home!  Burlington offers many romantic hotel options with great values.  You can’t beat the view at The Waterfront Hotel, watching the sun come up over Lake Ontario is a great way to start any morning.   With so many restaurants within walking distance, it’s also extremely convenient!   The newly renovated Holiday Inn is a great option and they have sleep in Sundays!  HiltonGarden Inn has a great Romance Package with early check-in, breakfast and late checkout!  The great rates at Comfort Inn and Best Western round out some great options for your romantic overnight getaway in Burlington!

Blair Lancaster Spa
Photo Credit: BankoMedia

Spas in Burlington: whether you both want to go for a romantic couples massage, or if it’s more about giving mom a little time away from the kids on her own, the luxurious spas in Burlington will get the job done!  Book something special or grab a gift card as a great gift at favourites like Rosewater Spa, Blair Lancaster, or the 2011 Burlington Post Reader’s Choice award-winner, Casablanca Salon & Spa Oasis.

Unique Date Ideas: There are plenty of romantic and fun things to do in Burlington all year long!  Stop by the sweet spots on the Burlington Chocolate Trail for delicious samples and great deals, take in the artistic creations at The Burlington Art Centre, or get tickets for a memorable performance at the new Burlington Performing Arts Centre.

Cool and unique Romantic Gift Ideas: Local merchants in Burlington have no limits when it comes to the best gift ideas!  I’ll break it down for both genders so it couldn’t be easier!  They may be classic choices, but the quality and original spin you’ll find at these retailers guarantees to impress!

Top Romantic Gifts for Guys (and where to get ‘em):

1. Watches: Always great selection & prices at The Bay.
2. Great clothes: Scriveners and Jeff’s Guy Shop have something for every guy that will elevate the stylish factor in their closet considerably!
3. Chocolates: Walkers Chocolates has great guy-themed chocolate items like golf clubs and personalized chocolate bars.
4. His favourite drink: check out special offers at the LCBO!   Great values and they never go to waste!

Top Romantic Gifts for Girls (and where to get ‘em):

1. Perfume: There’s plenty to choose from at Sephora in Mapleview Mall, or you can grab something truly unique & luxurious at Saltridges downtown (plus they have the best red gift bags)!
2. Lingerie: Bocana Boutique has been around for 25 years for good reason, and not far from there is The Black Pearl Lingerie Boutique!
3. Gift Sets: Joelle’s always has a great selection of cool gift ideas.  Every girl loves the Hanky Panky lingerie line they carry, plus who wouldn’t appreciate these adorable ‘true love’ coupons for things like breakfast in bed & control of the tv remote!
4. Chocolates: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory at Burlington Mall rocks!
5. Flowers: Euro Style Flower Market does really beautiful & modern bouquets.

Of course the most important thing to remember on any romantic occasion is to have fun and not worry so much about the cost or the details!   Celebrating someone important to you can easily be done with just a simple card from Shopper’s Drug Mart, or a unique and sassy one sure to be found at Fairhome Interiors.   I promise you that a genuine and personal note in a great card will be just as appreciated as any expensive gift or fancy dinner.   Of course if you can manage all three, I say go for it and reap the many rewards of gratitude!   ©

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. 

Fun, fantastic (and mostly free) events in Burlington!

It’s hard to believe that we are only days away from the start of festival season here in Burlington, Ontario.   Over the next few months our city will be alive with lots of free festivals with many of them in the idyllic Spencer Smith Park on the waterfront.   Burlington is home to three of the Top 100 Ontario Festivals including the Sound of Music Festival, Canada Day Festival and Children’s Festival.  Our events cover everything from culture and heritage, the arts, culinary and so much more!  As a mom to two children under five years, I am always looking for great family events and hoping that I remember everything from sunscreen to snacks.  When visiting festivals with children (and without) remember to bring sunscreen, snacks, water and if your children are like mine, a change of clothes. Remember all events are subject to change, so it’s a good idea to check the event website before heading out.

 

Are you an avid cyclist or a casual peddler?  Either way be sure to head to Spencer Smith Park on June 2^nd from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the free Mountain Equipment Co-op Bikefest & Pastry Ride.  You don’t need your own bike to take part in MEC Bikefest – there will be lots of demo bikes available.  Even kids will find bikes to ride at the Kids’ Bike Station. However, for some of the clinics and all of the rides you will need to have your own bike and helmet to participate.  Some of the activities happening in the park include: bike decorating, kids races, face painting, bicycle polo, cycling vendors and more.  Plus great clinics at only $1.00/person.  There will be a family bike ride and the pastry bike ride.  Now if you are like me you are wondering is it a bike ride with actual pastry (that I can support) or a fancy bike term that I am not aware of?  Rejoice it’s an actual pastry ride.  Head out from the MEC store on Brant and cycle to Lowville (approx. 53km) on a guided and marked ride that will end with a picnic in the park complete with pastries and coffee!  There is a safety car travelling the route with the group in case of breakdowns or emergencies.  To register for this free ride call the store directly at 905-333-8559.  For more details on this event visit their website.

Everyone is welcome at the 13^th annual Halton Pride event on Saturday June 2^nd from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central Park.  This yearly event features all day entertainment, a BBQ with the Halton Police, children’s storytimes and activities and a vendor marketplace

On the evening of June 2^nd runners, walkers and kids can participate in the Moon in June Road Race.  This year they are featuring a new course that is a flat fast one loop certified 5k and 2 loop certified 10km of downtown Burlington. The route highlights the fabulous Burlington Waterfront at sunset (in the darkness of night). The finish line is lit by the search lights and you will want to stay for the party in Civic Square at City Hall.  For the kids there is the 2nd Annual Meredith's Kids 1km fun run plus the Kidsfest (on James St. between Brant St and John Street) is a great way to spend a family evening.  Kidsfest activities run from 6-8 p.m.and include everything from firetrucks to bouncy castles, characture artists, face painting, chalk drawing, mascots and tons of activities to keep everyone active and busy.  Pre-registration is required for the race ($). 

On Sunday June 3^rd embrace your inner child at Burlington’s Kite Festival.  From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can build, decorate, and fly a kite, enjoy free entertainment and visit the community displays.  This free event is held at the Brant Hills Community Centre. For more detailed information on this event read the blog by BurlEventGurl

The weekend of June 9^th and 10^th is a busy one.   Doors Open Ontario is recognized as a Top 100 event in Ontario and we are thrilled to participate in this great initiative. If you are interested in heritage, culture or architecture you will want to get out and visit one or more of the twenty-three sites on the 3^rd annual Doors Open Burlington.  This weekend long event gives residents and visitors to the City a remarkable opportunity to learn about places and spaces normally not open to the general public or for which an admission fee is usually charged. Highlights include guided heritage walking tours, the Fine Art and Craft Festival/Kaleidoscope of the Arts, mini performances by our student theatre and an antique/classic car display. Be sure to leave time for a visit to Aldershot where you can visit the Royal Botanical Gardens Centre and buy a famous foot-long hotdog at the historic Easterbrook's hotdog stand.

The Burlington Art Centre is not only a Doors Open Burlington participating site they are also hosting the Fine Art & Craft Festival & Kaleidoscope of the Arts over the weekend of June 9^th and 10^th.  More than 100 artists and artisans will be selling their remarkable handcrafted, Canadian, juried fine art and craft creations.  It doesn’t matter if you are a shopper or a browser you won’t be disappointed with all there is to see and do.  Be sure to visit their website for a sneak peak at some of the works that will be available during the event. This year, Kaleidoscope of the Arts will take place during the Festival with guilds at the BAC offering demonstrations, hands-on activities and a show and sale.  Admission to the Burlington Art Centre is always free and is a great way to spend a few hours or the day.

On Sunday June 10^th the City of Burlington will be hosting the first of two Car Free Sundays.  Head to Southeast Burlington (Appleby Line/New St. to Fairview) and spend the afternoon enjoying …the event runs from 2 pm until 7 pm and is free!

Carly Rae Jepson

You can’t mention Father’s Day weekend (June 14-17) without thinking about the Sound of Music Festival in Spencer Smith Park.  We are lucky to have Canada’s largest FREE music festival right in our own backyard.  It’s always a great weekend and this year is no exception.  The Thursday night kicks off with opening ceremonies and Hamilton natives the Arkells on the main stage.  Fans of Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Pearl Jam can hit the OLG Stage to keep the party rocking with three tribute bands.  Friday starts early with the first performance starting at 1:00 pm through to the final acts  Big Sugar (on the main stage) and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Basia Bulat on the Cogeco Stage. Saturday young and old anticipate the Sound of Music Parade working its way through the streets of downtown starting at 11 a.m. featuring as always Burlington's own Teen Tour Band and Junior Redcoats.  Post parade head to the park where international recording superstar Carly Rae Jepson performs on the main stage at 3:45pm. If you are not part of the teen/tween crowd head over to the OLG stage and enjoy Canadian musical legends Spirit of the West (I have to admit I have a soft spot for this band) performing hits spanning their 25 year career. Saturday night is headlined by Juno award winning Wintersleep on the main stage and pop/rock sweetheart Sarah Slean on the Cogeco stage.  Both Saturday and Sunday afternoon kids (and their parents) will want to visit the Family Zone for fun-filled activities and entertainment.  Sunday wraps up the festival with a bang!  Peformances start at 1:00pm and then amp up as the afternoon progresses with Canadian alt rockers Treble Charger and Canadian indie rockers Mother Mother hitting the main stage.  On the OLG stage hometown favourites Saint Alvia and YouTube sensation Walk Off The Earth perform.  I wonder how many of the 35 million people that have watched the Walk Off The Earth video will make it to the park?  I wish we could post all of the amazing acts appearing over the duration of the festival but we just don’t have room.  For a complete schedule visit the Sound of Music website.  Remember to give yourself plenty of time to visit the festival.  In addition to all the great musical acts there is a carnival, food, merchandise and craft marketplace.  Festival hours are: Thursday June 14 - 6pm to 11pm Park only; Friday June 15 -  1 pm to 11pm Park and Downtown (Carnival begins at 4pm); Saturday June 16 - Noon to 11pm Park and Downtown plus Parade 11am to 1pm with prelude at 10am; Sunday June 17 Noon to 7pm Park and Downtown. Voted one of the Top 100 Festivals in Ontario for the 12th year in a row, mark your calendar and be sure to visit Burlington for this event.  We should also mention all the great green initiatives of this festival including waste diversion, water re-fill stations and shuttle services. If you are planning on staying overnight we recommend booking early as hotels tend to fill up quickly.  For more information on accommodations visit our where to stay page.

From June 15^th -17^th Burlington Downtown in conjunction with the Sound of Music presents Downtown Streetfest.  Starting Friday night and running through to Sunday afternoon the downtown will come alive with four on-street performance pods, a beach party on John Street, sidewalk sales and lots of great patios to stop and enjoy a beverage and bite to eat while enjoying all the action.  For a complete listing of activities and entertainment schedule visit their website.

Wednesday and Sunday Evenings  from June 17-August 22 the City of Burlington presents “Concerts in the Park”.  Free concerts are held at 7:30 p.m. (with some additional 2:00 pm dates) and feature various musical artists.  For a complete listing of performers and locations, visit the website.

Celebrate our Nations birthday on July 1at Spencer Smith Park with the City of Burlington’s Canada Day Festival from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m..  The morning kicks off with the Canada Day 5k walk/run  and free yoga in the park .  Be part of citizenship court welcoming new Canadians followed by Queen’s medal presentations.  At 1:00 p.m. the opening ceremonies signal the start of a day of entertainment on the Canada and Waterfront stages.  You can also enjoy children's activities throughout the day, the Aldershot Lion's Club Beer and Wine Garden, Water Ski Shows, plus the Scholars in Collars dog training show.  Cap the night off with a performance by the always entertaining and sometimes outrageous Cape Breton fiddling icon Ashley MacIsaac and a fireworks display presented by Lockwood Chrysler Fiat.  For a complete schedule of events visit the website.

On July 1^st right across the street from Spencer Smith Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can enjoy the Strawberry Social by the Lake at the Joseph Brant Museum.  Head over to sample everyone's favourite treat - fresh strawberries and delicious vanilla ice cream.  Other treats are in store for visitors including perusing the trifles & treasures market, participating in games, festive crafts, activities, museum tours and so much more. Plus there will be special performances and live entertainment all day long.  A great addition to your Canada Day plans and it’s all FREE!

Starting July 12^th, the City of Burlington hosts “Movies Under the Stars” Thursdays at 9 p.m.  Come with your blanket and chairs to enjoy a free movie on a giant outdoor screen at a neighbourhood park.  For a complete list of movies and locations visit their website.

Yee-haw!  Put on your cowboy boots and Stetson and boot scoot boogie down to Spencer Smith Park for the 2^nd annual Burlington Country & Blues BBQ from July 13th-15^th.  This newcomer to the festival scene is sure to please with a combinations of country and blues performances, the “Longest Line on the Boardwalk” country line dance, hillbilly games, a marketplace and of course succulent BBQ.  Friday kicks off with a whole lotta blues including a Steve Ray Tribute, Canadian blues group the Lincolns and The Das Blooze Brothers Tribute. Saturday “Get your drink on” with the Steel Country Band as they combine old and new country with a splash of Southern rock.  Join in the celebration to Gordie Tapp (who turns 90 this year – can you believe it?) then be prepared for a real treat. With Roy Clark having to cancel all his performances due to a back operation and not being able to perform for at least 3-4 months, get ready for his replacement Steel Magnolia to hit the stage and perform for the first time in Canada. This new country group won CMT's Can You Duet? and has not looked back since.  You do not want to miss this performance!  Sunday will definitely have a nostalgic feel with several tribute bands performing including Jay Zanier’s Elvis Tribute. The day wraps up with an all stars blues project featuring a great line up of artists including Nashville native Johnny Keys. The festival runs Friday and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. For a complete schedule and artist listing, visit their website.

On Sunday July 15 the City of Burlington will be hosting the second of two Car Free Sunday events.  This free event will be held in Downtown Burlington from 2 pm to 7pm and is a great accompaniment to the festival down at Spencer Smith park that weekend.

For those that enjoy the best that Burlington has to offer in dining will want to make plans to attend these three great culinary events.  On July 8^th Downtown Dining ($) gives you the opportunity to enjoy a walking tour of 5 restaurants in downtown Burlington. The proceeds from this year’s Downtown Dining will be donated to the Young Artists Fund, through the Halton Learning Foundation.  Advance tickets are required and tours sell out quickly so be sure to get yours early.  From July 22-August 6 enjoy a new culinary experience with a Taste of Burlington ($).  Join Burlington’s finest restaurants for this prix fixe dining event, offering a three course menu (appetizer, entrée, dessert) at a great value.  For a listing of menus and restaurants visit the website (summer updates coming June 1).  The final culinary event of the season is Lakeside a la Carte ($) on August 12 at Spencer Smith Park. This event brings together the area's superb chefs and vintners with their very best tastes to support the Rotary Club of Burlington. Guests stroll from tent to tent, sampling wines and tasting delicious dishes...throw in a silent auction, the chance to win Air Canada or Via Rail tickets, and you have the makings of Burlington's Ultimate Summer Party. Advance tickets required, see the website for participating vendors and ticket information.

On August 6^th plan to visit LaSalle Park for the Joseph (John) Brant Day Festival.  This year to tie into the commemoration of the War of 1812 and Burlington’s role in this the Museums of Burlington will be celebrating John Brant and the important role he played in this war.  The day will include various re-enactments, a military skirmish, encampments and other historically interpreted activities.  There will also be the annual favourites including, a summer BBQ, splash park for kids, fair-style games, crafts and hands-on activities, a treasure hunt adventure, and so much more.  For a more information on this event please visit their website.

The weekend of August 18 & 19 pack up the kids and head to the waterfront as Burlington holds its 21^st annual free Children’s Day Festival Weekend.  On Saturday, the Sandcastle competition is held at beautiful Burlington beach.  Try your hand at creating a masterpiece in the sand or watch the master sculptors at work creating amazing pieces.   But it’s not all about sandcastles, you can also enjoy live music, entertainment, activities, games, food and marketplace on while catching some sun on Burlington beach.  On Sunday, embrace your inner Tarzan or Jane and head to Spencer Smith Park for some jungle fun!  The children’s festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and has so much to do including themed entertainment, playzones, character meet & greets, shows, a marketplace and more. In case you’ve never attended the festival before you should know that there is a parade along the promenade with all the children attending the festival.  This year be sure to come as your favourite jungle character and join in the promenade parade at 12:30 p.m.  I bring my girls to this every year and they always have a great time.  For a complete listing of events and times visit the website. If you are planning an overnight visit be sure to check out Burlington Hotel Deals.

Grab some napkins and a bib and head on down to Spencer Smith Park for Canada’s Largest Ribfest from August 31-September 3.  This ribfest organized by the Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore brings together 18 ribbers and draws over 100,000 hungry visitors to the park to taste the mouth-watering fare.  Once your tummy is full you can enjoy a fantastic line up of live bands, daily kids’ activities, and a crafters’ Artisan Fair.  This is a festival with great green initiatives that has an 88% waste diversion rate.  For more information on ribbers, entertainment and vendors visit their website.

Tourism Burlington is proud to support our events and festivals and you will find us on site at many of the events to assist with Burlington information inquiries.  Of course, you can always visit us at our information centre located at 414 Locust St. just off the Lakeshore.  We are open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to mid-June and then 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. to Labour day. 

Have a wonderful summer exploring all that Burlington has to offer including these fabulous festivals!

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!

Top ten things we are thankful for

It’s that wonderful time of year again where we look back fondly on the past 12 months and plan for our future as the new year approaches.  The staff and volunteers at Tourism Burlington are lucky indeed as we have had the pleasure of meeting, helping and working with visitors and residents of Burlington.  As we all gathered together for a holiday luncheon to celebrate the season, share some laughs and thank each other for a job well done the theme was apparent, we love our jobs, our co-workers and our city - Burlington!

This weeks’ blog is dedicated to the top ten things we are thankful for (in no particular order), we hope you enjoy them and be sure to pop in to our Visitor Centre at 414 Locust St. and say hello next time you are in Downtown Burlington.

Family Day at The Centre

1.  Burlington Performing Arts Centre.  This fall we were thrilled to see the doors of The Centre open to the public.  This facility built to LEED principles is poised to become the only freestanding green performing arts centre in Canada.  The Centre is a boon for arts and culture in Burlington and will provide great new Tourism opportunities.

2.    Being named 3^rd best city in Canada for 2 years in a row!Burlington is not only a great place to live but also to visit. Enough said

Burlington Teen Tour Band

     3.  Burlington Teen Tour Band, our unofficial ambassadors have made us proud again this year with their inspired performances both locally and abroad; including a visit to Hawaii for the 70^th anniversary of Pearl Harbour.

     4. We are thankful for Famous Burlingtonians.  Ryan Gosling, named Time magazines coolest person of 2011 attended Lester B. Pearson High School and we are happy to claim him as our own.  Wouldn’t you ladies?

5.    Our dedicated tourism partners and volunteers that work with us to help promote our beautiful city.

6.    Our team of local photographers who continue to donate their best shots of Burlington so that we can share them with you.

Photo Courtesy of Vince Magro

7.    Burlington Hotel Association.  Six member hotels that offer great deals on overnight stays to visitors, work with us to supply group accommodations, provide incentives to attract new meetings, conferences and events to our city and funding to encourage and support event hosting. 

8.    Our culinary “scene”.  Burlington is lucky to have a wide variety of restaurants featuring almost any cuisine you desire, and many now feature local Ontario foods on their menus.  We have great culinary events, lots of agri-tourism, wonderful farms and markets, cooking classes and in 2012 we will be home to the Burlington Chocolate Trail!



Sound of Music Festival



     9.  Our Waterfront.  No matter what the season the waterfront showcases our city and draws people to the shores of Lake Ontario.  It is a great place to walk, run or cycle the waterfront trail, play in the park or partake in one of the many festivals and events that are held annually. 

     10. You!  Thank you for taking the time to engage with us, share your stories, photos and thoughts. 

Happy Holidays from Tourism Burlington

Team Building in Burlington

We are very fortunate here in Burlington to have a number of unique venues for staff /organization team building activities.  We discovered this first hand when our small Tourism Burlington team went offsite for a planning session.  Within walking distance from our office on 492 Locust St. is ThinkSpot located in a heritage home in the heart of the downtown.  It has nine unique and funky rooms that can accommodate from 2- 17 people and their tagline is Moving Ideas Forward. 

Our "Thinkspot"

We knew as soon as we arrived that our day was going to be different from any other planning meeting.  Thinkspot owner Debra greeted us warmly at the door and immediately showed us the entire facility.  There were no other bookings so we had our choice of rooms and we settled on the largest one at the front of the house with the big comfy chairs and gas fireplace.  This was a great choice as the day was cool and rainy but we were oblivious to the weather.  We were encouraged to help ourselves to coffee, fresh fruit and home-made scones however, it took us awhile to settle down to business as there was so much to look at. 

Who will be victorious?

First of all there is a big board room table that doubles as a ping-pong court which we tested out shortly after arriving.  There is a tickle truck of dress up items and we soon were decked out in hats, scarves and tutus to set the tone for the day.  There is also a box of lego, chess sets, and Zen gardens to help you relax and release your creative juices.  In fact ThinkSpot offers facilitation of Strategic Play using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™ methodology
 plus provides other facilitated programs.  The large table in our room had all kinds of sweet treats to keep us sugared up and motivated throughout the day.  To top this off the entire place was decked out for the holidays which gave it a really cozy and at home feel.

Debra and her team have thought of everything, with state of the art a.v. equipment including a smart board, huge white boards, she even had reading glasses as one of our staff forgot theirs! 

We found the calming atmosphere, the fun tools and the great food was the perfect mix for a successful day.  We not only accomplished all the things on our agenda but got to a few other items plus enjoyed a leisurely lunch catered by Grinning Gourmand.



Wearing "the hat"



We also learned about “the hat” which is worn by anyone that dismisses an idea, puts a negative spin on something or is generally “shutting down” the creative process.  At some points we could have used more hats but the lighthearted nature of “the hat” had us all laughing and focusing on the positive.

Are you looking for a place to have a special corporate retreat or meeting in a unique or intimate setting?  In addition to ThinkSpot there are numerous other great locations in the city including Paletta Lakefront Park and Mansion, (my Grandmas’ china and Grandpas’ books are on display there) Geraldo’s at LaSalle Park, Burlington Art Centre, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington Golf & Country Club, Burlington Convention Centre, Ron Joyce Centre- DeGroote School of Business, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, St. Lukes’s Hall plus numerous spaces at our Burlington Hotel Association hotels.  Tourism Burlington can refer you to facilities that meet your groups needs plus assist you with delegate activities and accommodation. 

tourburlgirl