Is your diaper bag a backpack? Would your kids rather watch actual birds than play Angry Birds? Is your favourite family meal cooked on a camp fire?
If you answered yes to any (or all) of these questions, we think your crew qualifies as a fresh air family. Here are some experiences in Hamilton Halton Brant that we think you’ll love.
Don’t let winter stop your sense of adventure. Embrace the flake with awesome activities like skiing and snowboarding at Kelso’s Glen Eden.
Winter wanderers will love snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at Pinehurst Lake, Crawford Lake, Mountsberg, Hilton Falls, Christie Lake, Valens Lake and Dundas Valley conservation areas.
Crawford Lake also offers sunset snowshoe hikes for families and moonlight snowshoe hikes for adults every Saturday during the winter season.
Get off the beaten path on a Grand Valley winter hike with Grand Experiences. This guided hike takes you through conservation lands where you’ll see wildlife in their natural habitat, search for animal tracks and spot bald eagle nests. You may even catch a glimpse of the amazing eagle returning from a hunting trip. An advanced version of this trip teaches you winter survival skills in the forest plus a campfire cookout.
Grand River Rafting’s turbo tubes are perfect for families looking to explore the Grand River at a leisurely pace. The 8-km trip takes you through serene landscape boasting lush forest and wildlife. You can drift freely or tie your tubes together for a family float. Kids 3 and up are permitted to tube.
Local outfitter Grand Experiences has the equipment you need, including kayaks, rafts and canoes, for a paddle down the Cayuga Run. This self-guided trip flows with the river’s current, so little paddlers won’t get too tired out on this ride.
On Grand Experiences’ Turtle Island Aboriginal Adventure you’ll journey along the Grand River in a 12-person Voyageur Canoe to Turtle Island to meet a Native storyteller around a campfire. Along the way you’ll learn about the surrounding Carolinian forest and maybe even see some wildlife!
Try a family kayaking experience on the Grand River. Grand River Rafting offers 2-person inflatable non-tip yaks, which are similar to kayaks and are great for little ones learning to paddle. They also offer a great family rafting experience. The 13 km self-guided Cayuga route is perfect for families with children 2 and up. You’ll get a map before you leave to guide you along the way and show you the best spots to jump out for a swim. The route also boasts scenic views and a picnic area complete with facilities.
Close-by camping option: Families looking for fresh-air fun will have a blast camping at Brant Park Conservation Area. With its close proximity to the Grand River, you can enjoy the activities of the park as well as nearby paddling outfitters.
Hamilton is a hiker’s paradise, boasting a vast trail network and over 100 waterfalls that are easily accessible from the city’s core.
Head over to Royal Botanical Gardens for a guided, half-day hike. Expert guides are happy to answer questions along the way, as well as teach hikers about the unique, natural setting around them. Hendrie Valley is great for families looking to hike. The 100-hectre grindstone creek valley stretches to the end of Carroll’s Bay and contains the finest collection of floodplain wetlands in western Lake Ontario.
Eight waterfront parks, a beautiful beach area and a vibrant renewed downtown waterfront, pier and promenade make the Burlington Waterfront the perfect place for family fun.
Bring your bikes or rent some from local outfitters and spend the day cycling along scenic Lake Ontario shoreline, then take to the water for a family stand up paddleboarding excursion. While you’re in the neighbourhood, enjoy a paddling experience at Royal Botanical Gardens’ Cootes Paradise. Learn about the wetland plants and discover the unique wildlife that surrounds the natural marshland.
Valens Lake Conservation Area offers endless fun for families looking to camp for a few days. The park’s 10 km of trails are great for hiking and cycling, and the sandy beach and natural lake area is the perfect place to relax and swim. Families looking to paddle can rent kayaks, canoes and rowboats at the park.
Families looking for fresh-air fun will have a blast camping at Brant Park. With its close proximity to the Grand River, you can enjoy the activities of the park as well as nearby paddling outfitters. Take some time to explore Brant Park’s nature trails by foot or by bike. Kids will also love swimming in the park’s 1.25-acre pool.
Pinehurst Lake is another great camping option that’s close to the Grand River.
Escape to the great outdoors for a weekend campout at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Families will love the park’s leisurely trails, family-friendly attractions, 1.8-acre swimming pool, as well as its close proximity to the region’s outdoor gems.
Kelso Conservation Area in Milton offers amazing Niagara Escarpment views and easy access to some of the region’s best mountain bike trails. The 22 km of trails are well marked and rated by skill level for convenience. Kelso’s new Mountain Bike Skills Zone, which features wooden bridges, rollers, rocks and logs, is a great place for riders of all ages to check out before heading out on the trails. Plan to camp for the night at Kelso so you can ride a little longer.
If you’re looking for a leisurely ride, you’ll love Halton’s Escarpment View route. Breathtaking views of rich agricultural land and the Niagara Escarpment are everywhere on this 31 km trip. Park and start at Milton’s Velodrome Centre then head over to Bell School Line and down into beautiful rural Burlington. Cycle under the impressive rock face of the escarpment on Walker’s Line. You’ll eventually wind your way back up to the Village of Kilbride.
Looking for two-wheel fun but lacking the four wheels needed to get there? GO Transit offers bike trains every day of the week (except during rush hour), making it easy for car-less families to explore new trails close to home.
Ride the GO and get off at Burlington Station. Head towards the Waterfront Trail. This seamlessly smooth trail connecting Burlington to Hamilton is perfect for parents with trailers and kid seats, as well as little ones learning to pedal on their own.
Enjoy scenic Lake Ontario shorelines, playgrounds, beaches, attractions and restaurants as you make your way along the 10 km trail. Stop at Confederation Park for an afternoon of fun. Kids will love the waterpark and the activities and attractions of Adventure Village. Just be sure to save a little bit of energy for the ride back.
If you’re looking for a longer ride that offers overnight stops, the 50 km Hambur Loop that winds through Hamilton and Burlington offers recreational cyclists a great touring option for taking in some of the area’s most stunning waterfronts and scenic lookouts. Start the ride at Aldershot GO Station or get off at Burlington GO Station and pick up the trail at the waterfront.
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Just a short drive from Toronto, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Niagara and Buffalo, all roads lead to Hamilton Halton Brant…
