6 Unique Date Ideas to Break Away from Dinner and Movies

Taking a few hours to sip your way along a section of Hamilton Halton Brant’s  True Brew Path is a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon. Take advantage of tour and tasting experiences offered at craft breweries like Collective Arts Brewery in Hamilton, Furnace Room Brewery in Georgetown or Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. in Dundas to get an inside look at what creative brew masters are creating. Discover the hidden gems of Hamilton Halton Brant’s thriving craft beer scene with our insider guides to the region’s best microbreweries.

Work up your appetite for your delicious dinner out with a leisurely walk in one of our region’s verdant greenspaces. Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, is the largest botanical garden in the country, making it a perfect place to stretch out your date on a summer day. Check out the Rock Garden, originally built in the 1930s, that now boasts a dramatic waterfall. The International Sculpture Garden should also be on your must-see list while you’re there. Oakville’s Gairloch Gardens at the Oakville Gallery is another beautiful option for an afternoon stroll with stunning Lake Ontario views. After your walk, head inside to check out the Oakville Gallery’s contemporary art exhibits. When you’re finished at the gallery, spend some time exploring the unique shops of downtown Oakville.

Taking in beautiful pieces at a gallery or admiring some outdoor art is a relaxing way to connect as a couple. The Art Gallery of Hamilton is the oldest and largest public art gallery in southwestern Ontario. It has one of the finest collections of art in Canada, featuring over 10,000 works of art, including historical European, historical Canadian and contemporary art. Take advantage of the Gallery’s Tour Days to get the most out of your visit. If you’d rather enjoy art with a side of summer sunshine, this article offers four fun ways to get an outdoor art fix in Hamilton Halton Brant.

For a mini-escape with some old-world flair, spend a few hours exploring the streets of Paris. Take in the view from Cobblestone Common, a charming little downtown park on Grand River Street North that overlooks the forks of the majestic Grand and Nith Rivers. Explore the shops of downtown Paris, like EL Thrift and Wordkind, and then enjoy a meal on the patio at 2 Rivers Restaurant. The restaurant features a rotating selection of local microbrews, so be sure to ask your server what’s on tap.

Adventure seekers looking for a pre-dinner rush have plenty of options to climb to new heights in Hamilton Halton Brant. An introductory rock climbing lesson with Zen Climb or One Axe Pursuits is a great way to experience the beauty of the Niagara Escarpment in an entirely new way. For those who prefer their heights off the rocks, Conservation Halton offers both an Escarpment Walk aerial ropes course and a 45-foot climbing tower called The Vultures View.

Treat your honey to an insider experience at Burlington’s Backed By Bees. Beekeeper For A Day is a two-hour experience that pulls back the curtains on the world of beekeeping. Those who want the ultimate buzz can opt for the Bee Beard Experience and discover the thrill of having 20,000 honey bees serve as a five o’clock shadow!