Hamilton Ontario
11 Great Reasons to Visit

Reasons to Visit Hamilton Ontario

1. Royal Botanical Gardens Ontario. Canada’s largest botanical garden features both outdoor and indoor (greenhouse) plantings, so it’s all-season. The grounds are so big you can’t see it all in a day. In the summer, there’s even a free shuttle to take you from one garden to the next. Favourite feature: Tea House at the Rock Garden (fashioned out of an old quarry). See temporary art shows and music concerts in the summer. We have many other great parks as well. For more information visit the site of the Hamilton Conservation Authority.

2. Hamilton is the Waterfalls Capital of the World. We have more than 100 waterfalls in our backyard. Learn more about them at http://www.cityofwaterfalls.ca.

3. A revitalized waterfront. All the big cities are doing it these days: “reclaiming” their waterfront. The nice thing about Hamilton Ontario is our waterfront hasn't gone too commercial or residential -- yet. No cluttering up the view with high-rise condos. From the foot of James Street all the way out west to McMaster University, it’s a stroller’s and bird lover’s paradise. In the summer you can take a trolley around the water’s edge to get an overview. Take a boat tour of the harbour. Visit the Parks Canada Discovery Centre (a marine museum). Browse for local art at Sabawoon, the outdoor summer art market. Tour the World War II ship, the HMSC Haida. Have an ice cream at the booth or enjoy a meal and decadent dessert at Timothy’s Coffee Pub (indoor and outdoor seating). Hike the trails (and burn off those calories) at Cootes Paradise which offers wooded walking paths skirting a marsh favoured by great blue heron and other waterfowl.

4. The blossoming arts scene. At the Art Gallery of Hamilton, see fabulous Canadian and international works, take in an independent film or attend a lecture or roundtable discussion on some controversial topic. For art exhibits with political bite, see The Workers Art and Heritage Centre. During the summer, attend outdoor Makers Markets downtown to buy handcrafted items from local creators. Year-round, see the Textures art and craft co-op on Locke Street. Visit small, independent galleries. Attend the annual GritLit reading festival or one of the frequent big-name author readings sponsored by Bryan Prince Books. For events listings, see the free local entertainment weekly View Magazine at http://www.viewmag.com.

Workers Art and Heritage Centre

5. Hamilton Museums: Dundurn Castle, Whitehern House and Garden, Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum, Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton Military Museum, Parks Canada Discovery Centre.

6. Hamilton Entertainment. Enjoy live professional theatre in Hamilton Ontario at Aquarius Theatre, and charming and bargain-priced Broadway-style musicals at Hamilton Theatre Inc (sometimes I think the amateurs are better than the pros!). Catch top-notch opera and symphony for a lower cost than Toronto’s. Major headliners (rock shows, ice capades, etc) at Copps Coliseum. Take a walk on the scary side with Haunted Hamilton Ghost Walks. Attend free live concerts at several annual festivals. For club scene and other events, see the free local entertainment weekly View http://www.viewmag.com at for dates. Or pick up a copy of the free monthly H Magazine. You can also buy a copy of the glossy Hamilton Magazine at local magazine shops; it offers a calendar and runs feature articles and reviews about what's coming up for the season. You can also search its calendar online at http://www.hamiltonmagazine.com

7. Shopping: Locke Street. A boutique shopping street. A fun Saturday or Sunday afternoon stroll. My favourite spot: an artists’ co-op called Textures that sells handcrafted pieces from Hamilton’s growing creative community: stained glass, cat earrings made from dough, candles, unique cards, bowls, silk hangings, etc. There are also gift stores, designer clothing shops, a couple of antique shops, hairdressers, a couple of decor stores, a bookstore, a funky florist, a natural food market, a small contemporary art gallery, a Starbucks and a few eateries. This used to be Hamilton's "antique district" but most of the antique shops are on Ottawa Street now (see next entry).

8. More shopping: Ottawa Street - for textiles & antiques. If you’re into sewing, this is THE spot to shop. People drive here to the Textile District from Toronto and other cities for bargain-priced material and notions. In the last few years it has also become known as Hamilton's new antique district.

9. Tim Horton’s Shrine. Okay, it’s not quite a shrine, but it is the first Tim Horton’s that ever opened (1964), and it’s right on Ottawa Street (see photos of it on my Ottawa Street page. Handy place to stop while resting your feet from all that shopping. Bet you didn't know that Hamilton Ontario is the birthplace of one of this great Canadian icon? Practice gratitude by saying “thank you, Hamilton” the next time you’re on a cross-country trip and spot that Timmy’s coming up on the long-awaited roadside stop.

Outdoor eating at Black Forest Inn during the annual Mustard Festival

11. Hamilton Accommodation. You’ll find a variety of hotels in Hamilton, some of them very affordable especially when you compare them with Toronto prices. Staybridges Suites, The Sheraton, Admiral Inn, Crowne Plaza, Marriott Courtyard Hamilton, Visitors Inn. Several Bed and Breakfast places. During the summer, McMaster University rents out a limited number of its dorm room for guests looking for budget accommodation ($25-$55).

Hamilton Museums
Royal Botanical Gardens

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