December 4, 2020

Happy Weekend! Here’s your outdoor inspiration to get out and stay out!

Outdoor Christmas Events
Storytime Magic with Santa at Mountsberg CA
. Take a hike through the woods out to Christmas Town with all the usual Mountsberg magic (Santa’s Cabin, toy central, flight academy, outdoor bonfires, cookies, crafts, zoom visit with Santa), if you go during the day you can also visit the resident raptors, farm animals and play on the new natural playground. If you go at night they have new and improved christmas lighting throughout Christmas Town. You do have to make reservations and it’s booking up fast.

Light Up The Hills, Halton Hills
Take a walk through three parks in Halton Hills that have been decorated with light displays.

Lakeside Festival of Lights, Spencer Smith Park
Walk the Burlington waterfront to see over 60 festive light installations

Winter Wonders, Royal Botanical Gardens has transformed Hendrie Park into a winter wonderland, focused on ‘nature and light’ the displays tell the stories of unique winter wonders. Wednesdays to Sundays until December 23, the RBG Express is also running, get your tickets at the door or pre-order here

Hiking
Valens Lake Conservation Area
This hike is perfect for families, there’s a boardwalk through the marsh, trails through the forest, a boardwalk all the way across the lake and a lookout platform for some great views. If you’re really adventurous you can camp there through the winter. Hwy 8 in Flamborough


Bronte Creek
I’ve mentioned the trails in Bronte before but they’re just so great for kids, especially if you’re new to hiking. The trails are relatively flat and there’s lots to see to keep your kids occupied if they aren’t the hiking type. The gnome trail, the farm animals, the playgrounds and the picnic areas are great ways to break up a hike.

Mount Nemo
This is a personal favourite, the views are amazing, you get a taste of all different kinds of trails (through the forest, through a field, along the escarpment, there’s small caves and the ruins from the old quarry). Great for families with older kids. It does go along the escarpment and it’s very high up, so I wouldn’t take small kids unless they’re in a carrier, lots of crevasses and places to trip if you’re not careful, but if your kids are older it’s definitely worth it.


If you’re looking to stay in town, in Burlington you can find trails at Paletta Mansion (Lakeshore & Shoreacres), Mountainside Park (Mt Forest Dr) and Tansley Woods Park Loop (Tansley Rec Centre). In Hamilton some options are the Waterdown North Wetlands Trail (Hamilton St & Parkside), Gage Park (Lawrence Rd), and Sam Lawrence Park Nature Trail (Concession St)

And finally, after you take a nighttime walk, take a drive using Active Parents giant GPS-friendly map of all the best decorated houses in the Hamilton-Burlington Area, click here for the map