Go Outdoors on Father's Day Weekend

Father’s Day is fast approaching and the nice weather has arrived. I have many great memories of getting outdoors with my Dad for a hike. I have compiled several locations close to Toronto that would be great to get the family out for a few hours or for the day.  

My Dad and I at Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area 2009

Bronte Creek Provincial Park

Bronte Creek has so much to offer, from hiking and biking trails and much more. The park is 684 hectares (1690 acres) in size. The park is divided by the Bronte Creek. The valley was carved by the water of melting glaciers approximately 14, 000 years ago. Water rushed towards Lake Ontario and cut through the shale of what is now the park, leaving the large valley and creek. There are 10 kilometers of trails, a nature centre, children’s barn, 1.8 acre pool, turn-of-the-century farmhouse and 144 campsites.

http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/bron.html

http://www.brontecreek.org/



Spruce Lane Farm



Fields in Bronte Creek

Crawford Lake Conservation Area

I have been visiting Crawford Lake since I was 16 years old and have explored most of the property. With over 16 kilometers of hiking trails, great place to get outside. Don’t forget to check out the 15-century Iroquoian village that has been reconstructed and the lookouts on the Nassagaweya Canyon.

http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?subCatID=1083





Crawford Lake



Long House at Crawford Lake Conservation Area



Stockade around the Village

Lookout on the Stockade

Mountsberg Conservation Area

This is a great place to hike and check out the Raptor Centre. With 16 kilometers of hiking trails, visitors centre and Mountsberg Reservoir there is something to do for everyone. The Raptor Centre is home to many species of raptor such as bald eagle, owl, turkey vulture and hawks.

www.hrca.on.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?subCatID=1088

www.conservationhalton.on.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?subCatID=1455




Mountsberg Conservation Area - Raptor Centre



Bald Eagle at the Raptor Centre - Mountsberg

Owl at the Raptor Centre

Great trails to walk at Mountsberg Conservation Area

Mountsberg Reservoir

Waterfalls in Hamilton Ontario

In the Hamilton-Burlington area there are over 100 waterfalls that plunge over the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. I have visited many of the waterfalls and they are worth the visit.

www.waterfalls.hamilton.ca/

www.cityofwaterfalls.ca/




Albion Falls, Hamilton Ontario



Albion Falls, Hamilton Ontario

Bronte Creek Provincial Park, Burlington, Ontario

Bronte Creek Provincial Park can only be described as an island in the sea of suburbia. Situated in the Golden Horseshoe, the 1690 acres park was designated a provincial park in 1972 by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. With a mix of farm pasture, orchards and forest it is truly an dynamic spot to explore. An amazing feature of this park space is the kilometers of walking, hiking and biking trails. Also, the access to the majestic Bronte Creek Valley.

Looking West toward the Niagara Escarpment

As a young child, my parents would take my sister and I to the park on outings. There are so many things that you can do and see at Bronte. From the turn-of-the-century history museum, called Spruce Lane Farm, to the children's play barn, a nature center, a 1.8 acre pool and an Olympic size skating rink.

Grand Bend Adventure Road Trip

I remember in my early twenties waiting for the first long weekend to come. Anticipating the first camping trip of the year, it could never come quick enough. When we couldn’t get a camp site anywhere, we usually just went for a drive. A road trip was a great way to spend time with family and friends.  It was spontaneous and you were able to explore trails, tracks and towns.

This weekends’ exploration focused on checking out the Pinery Provincial Park and slowly wending our way along Highway 21 north.  Highway 21 runs from Highway 402 in the south running up the east shore of Lake Huron ending in Owen Sound in the north.  Along the way, going through towns such as Forest, Grand Bend, Goderich, Point Clark, Kincardine, Tiverton (Bruce Nuclear Generating Station), Port Elgin, and Southampton, Ontario.  The highway is often referred to as the Bluewater Highway.  The highway is an easy drive, mostly flat and straight, running past farms, cottages and larger homes.

Some of my favorite places to camp were the Pinery, Port Burwell, Sauble Beach or Sandbanks. I think some of the best camping sites in Ontario are at Provincial Parks. These sites allow the car camper to reserve a camping site or even group camping sites in spectacular locations all across the province of Ontario.



Pinery Provincial Park Dunes