If you’re a bird and waterfowl fan, you’ll love exploring and hiking at Cootes Paradise in Hamilton, Ontario. It’s one of our local hiking destinations, just at about the border of Hamilton and Burlington. You can see Cootes Paradise – a wide expanse of water surrounded by wooded shorelines – as you drive into Hamilton from Burlington on the Thomas B. McQuesten High Level Bridge…
Since I was the age of 13, I’ve hiked and enjoyed Conservation Halton Parks. They offer many outdoor activities such as, boating, cross-country skiing, fishing, hiking and so much more. The best part is they are located just a short distance from major population centers. Conservation Halton owns and operates six main conservation areas. Crawford Lake Conservation Area Crawford Lake Conservation Area has a special…
Whenever I visit Inglis Falls near Owen Sound, I appreciate the beauty of the cedars and limestone. It is one of the most beautiful and interesting waterfalls in Ontario. Visiting Inglis Falls at any time of the year is always an awesome experience. The waterfall is located south-west of the City of Owen Sound, where the Sydenham River meets the edge of the Niagara Escarpment.…
I had driven by an area east of Highway 10 many times on my travels around Ontario, but never really stopped to check it out. Heading out on a day trip we went exploring Mono Ontario. Located just north of Caledon and northeast of Orangeville, Ontario it is nestled in mostly rolling and tree-covered hills. It’s a part of the Hills and Headwaters area of…
Kids either dread or love this phrase – Labour Day Weekend. For some, it’s summer’s last hurrah and for others it’s a sign they’ll soon reunite with friends at school.For adults it’s much the same. Labour Day weekend marks the end of summer and indulgent days lounging by the pool, at the beach or on a patio. Back to work! To finish off the summer…
Blue Mountain is know in Ontario as a great place to go skiing, mountain biking or simply as a getaway. It is also known for the Collingwood Scenic Caves & Nature Preserve. Blue Mountain is technically not a mountain, it is part of the Niagara Escarpment, which runs from Niagara Falls to Tobermory Ontario. Rising more than 300 metres in elevation above Georgian Bay, it…
One of the most beautiful places just north of Mississauga is the Hills and Headwaters area, which includes Belfountain Conservation Area and the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. We’ve gone hiking at Belfountain Conservation Area several times, and I have blogged about our drive through the town of Belfountain that inspired a summer visit. Our first visit was on a wintery day, with frozen…
Spring is finally here in Southern Ontario after what was a brutal winter. So I’m sharing a hike that Margaret and I took last year in May on the Starkey Hill Trail near Guelph Ontario. This trail at Starkey Hill is about 4 kilometers and has so many different types of terrain. From pine forest to swampy low areas, this trail delivers. A video from…
The Belwood Lake Conservation Area is a reservoir in Dufferin County located northeast of Guelph, Ontario. In 1942 the Grand River waters were slowed by the erection of the Shand Dam for flood control and the generation of hydroelectricity. Belwood Lake Conservation Area, operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority offers a fantastic number of recreation opportunities. Hiking, biking, boating or just getting away to…
One of the best places to get up close to wildlife is about an hour away from Toronto. You can see deer in Dundas Valley Conservation Area. As is often the case, the most incredible and unexpected brushes with nature will present themselves at times that are less than perfect. Mother Nature presented herself while Margaret and I were taking a drive through the Dundas…