Maybe the vacation you had envisioned isn’t in the cards for this summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy some delightful changes of scenery. One easy way to work in a few setting swaps is by switching up your go-to sport. Try these alternatives to shake up your sports routine this summer.
Swap Your Driver For A Disc
A disc golf course is very similar to a traditional golf course, but the goal is to land flying discs into baskets located throughout the fields and forests instead of hitting a golf ball into a hole. Consider giving these courses a try:
Christie Lake Conservation Area in Dundas
Bronte Creek Disc Golf Course in Oakville
Cedarvale Park Disc Golf Course in Georgetown
Dwayne Bereziuk Memorial Disc Golf Course in Paris
Hamilton Park Disc Golf Course in Hamilton
Mohawk Park Disc Golf Course in Brantford
Tiffany Creek Disc Golf Course in Ancaster
Don’t forget to hydrate! Check out our summer sipping suggestions for a post-workout pint!
Swap Your Wheels For Rollerblades
Hamilton Halton Brant’s many paved cycling paths are a perfect place to spin the wheels of a pair of rollerblades, or roller skates, too. The Hamilton Beach Recreation Trail is an 8-km route from Burlington to Stoney Creek that features interpretative panels describing the history of Hamilton’s waterfront. It is primarily an off-road, 6m-wide, paved asphalt trail with a smooth, wide surface that’s perfect for budding bladers.
Swap Indoor Courts For Sandy Summer Fun
Skip the gymnasium and head to the beach for an afternoon of outdoor volleyball. Sandbox Sports rents its Hamilton Beach beach volleyball courts individually by the hour. Outdoor pickleball is another excellent outdoor workout option. Burlington offers a great selection of outdoor courts.
Stretch out your weekend workout by adding another activity to your afternoon itinerary from our Sunday Funday suggestions.
Swap Pool Time For A Paddle
Swimming lengths may be great exercise, but the view can get a little boring. This summer, work your arms, shoulders and core during a few paddling workouts instead. Whether it’s a stand-up paddleboard taking in a Lake Ontario sunset, a kayak down the Grand River or a canoe across one of the region’s inland lakes, we guarantee you won’t miss the chlorine or the crowds! Find suggestions for scenic summer paddling adventures here.
Swap Gym Machines For Fresh Air Flexing
Who wants to be stuck inside on a sunny summer day? Try these fun outdoor alternatives to your favourite gym machines:
- Love the stair climber? Hit Hamilton’s amazing outdoor stairs and climb the Niagara Escarpment instead.
- Love spin class? Bike the 32-kilometre Brantford to Hamilton Rail Trail instead and enjoy scenic views of rolling farmland and the Dundas Valley.
- Love lifting weights? Add some extra water bottles to your backpack and get in a walking workout as you hike up and around the Niagara Escarpment.
- Love yoga? Watch for outdoor yoga classes provided in the summer months through Modo Yoga in Hamilton, Oakville’s Yoga Outreach Project and Conservation Halton.
Do you have other suggestions for summer sport swaps? Share your ideas with us by tagging your pictures on social media with #stayandplayinhhb.
