Summer vacation rituals are great, but occasionally it’s fun to shake things up with a few days away that are completely unexpected. This summer, Hamilton Halton Brant’s huge crop of family-friendly fun makes it the perfect destination for a vacation switch-up. The following three itineraries will help you narrow down your options by having your family choose between activities based on the themes of water, land, or air.

Family Fun Theme: Water

Start your day off with breakfast on the beach. Some of our favourite morning sand and snack pairings include:

Black Forest Pastry Shop

For the afternoon, shake off all the sand by spending a few hours in Wild Waterworks’ huge heated wave pool, six crazy waterslides and relaxing Eazy River. Smaller children will have a blast in the wading pool with slides, mists, spray and fountains. Consider renting a Cabana for the ultimate experience. FunSplash Hamilton at Binbrook Conservation Area is another fantastic outdoor waterpark option. The family will have a blast competing on 25 different inflatable obstacles set on the Lake Niapenco reservoir.

Wild Waterworks

A hotel with a pool is a prerequisite for any family holiday that’s all about water-based play and there are lots to choose from in Hamilton Halton Brant,

For your second day, enjoy some time out on the water instead of in it! Want to hit the Grand River for a few hours of care-free floating? The Five Oaks to Brant Park is Grand Experiences’ shortest Turbo Tubing trip at about two hours of paddling. The trip is perfect for families with young children and people wishing to see what tubing is like before doing a longer float.

Other options for day two include climbing aboard the Hamiltonian for a sightseeing tour of one of North America’s most noteworthy harbours or loading everyone into a canoe to explore Kelso Reservoir, but there are dozens of more ways to explore the region’s shorelines.

Family Fun Theme: Land

If your family prefers finding fun that allows everyone to stay dry, this itinerary is for you. Begin your land-based adventure with a stroll that will allow everyone to stretch their legs after your drive. Excellent family-friendly options include:

Bronte Village

After a few hours of outdoor exploring, spend your afternoon stepping back in time. Fun ways to play within a different time period include:

For your second day, do some land-based cruising by bike:

  • The Hamilton section of The Waterfront Trail splits into two sections: The Hamilton Waterfront Trail and the Hamilton Recreation Beach Trail. Both trails are mainly off-road, 6m wide, paved asphalt, and offer a smooth, wide surface that’s perfect for newer bikers and rollerbladers. If you don’t feel like bringing your own bikes, tap into the network of rental bikes from Hamilton Bike Share.
  • If your family prefers terrain that’s a little more rugged, mountain biking trails at Hilton Falls, Kelso and Mountberg Conservation areas won’t disappoint. Take advantage of the on-site mountain biking school at Kelso Conservation Area to help boost the confidence of new riders.
  • Brantford’s Rotary Bike Park is a must-try biking experience for riders who like to try a few tricks. The Cycling in Ontario Guide referred to the Brantford Rotary Bike Park as one of the best outdoor bike parks in Ontario.
Kelso/Glen Eden Conservation Area

Family Fun Theme: Air

Look up, way up, and set your sights on the sky for this two-day adventure.

On your first morning, trade the busy amusement park scene for some more nature-based ways to play that will get your adrenaline pumping just as effectively as any roller coaster! Fresh air families will love:

For the afternoon, give your crew a taste of the excitement of skydiving at iFly Toronto’s convenient Oakville location. The vertical wind tunnels offer a safe, seamless skydiving experience that gives you the feeling of freefall as you float on a smooth cushion of air.

For your second day, celebrate the magic of flight. Airplane enthusiasts will adore exploring the incredible collection at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, which has almost 50 different aircraft on site.

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

For families who would prefer to send things sailing through the air, take a few hours to introduce your crew to the fun of disc golf. 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

Wrap up the final day of your air adventure by stepping into one of these four very cool open-air art experiences offered in Hamilton Halton Brant or having a nose-to-beak experience with the winged wonders living at the Mountsberg Conservation Area’s Raptor Centre.

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Now thru April 6

Edward Burtynsky: Chai

Art Gallery of Hamilton

123 King Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8P 4S8

Now thru June 1

FREE Downtown Hamilton Walking Tour

Tour Guys

36 Hunter St. E., Hamilton, ON L8N 3W8

Now thru December 31

Hamilton Civic Museums Virtual Tours

28 James St N, Hamilton, ON L8R 1A1

Now thru March 31

RBC Artist In Residence: Nathan Eugene Carson

Art Gallery of Hamilton

123 King Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8P 4S8

Now thru March 26, 2023

Treewalk Village in Winter

Treetop Trekking

5050 Harrison Rd, Binbrook, ON L0R 1C0

May 28

Learn how to wet-felt a wool “painting” tapestry workshop

Monika Schaefer Pottery & Fibre Art Studio

2 Palomino Drive, Carlisle, ON L0R 1H3

Sunday May 28, 2-5pm, in Monika Schaefer Art Studio in Carlisle, ON, no experience needed!

Now thru November 1

Bee Beard Experience

Backed By Bees

6214 Appleby Line, Burlington, Ontario L7M 0P7

$199.99

Now thru December 7

Oakville Museum Guided Tour

Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate

8 Navy Street, Oakville, ON, L6J 2Y5

Tuesday to Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. General admission by donation (Suggested $7 per...

Now thru March 29

Virtual Chair Yoga with Ageless Arts

Royal Botanical Gardens

680 Plains Road West, Burlington, ON, L7T 4H4

Now thru May 28

Radical Stitch

Art Gallery of Hamilton

123 King Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8P 4S8

Now thru December 31

A Day of Play Experience

Six Nations Tourism

2498 Chiefswood Road, Ohsweken, ON N0A 1M0

Price: $70.00/person for a group of less than 20; $60.00/person for a group of 20...

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