Things to do in Hamilton
 

A couple weeks ago I was trying make a list of things to do in Hamilton, then I thought, "hey! the best way to get a complete list would be to ask here."

So list things to do in Hamilton.

Tons of waterfalls to explore

Bird Watching

Great hiking trails around

Great bike trails

Botanical Gardens is nice for the gardens and trails.

Mum Show

Dragon Boat Races

Seriously every tuesday, the day before rubbish pickup I spend between a half hour to hour with pickup tongs - picking up litter in the area. I am on my second set of tongs with 2 more as backups and made a gift of one to a neighbour. Minimum volume is a no fills bag every week for the same turf, sometimes 1/2 a garbage bag, and I will be extending the area - time permitting.

mic 67

See some great live music

Museums

Whitehern

Dundurn

Erland Lee

Battlefield Park

Steam and Technology

Art Gallery

Children's Museum

Haida Destroyer Ship

Entertainment

Hamilton Place

Copps Colluseum

Festival of Friends

Mustard Festival

Locke St. Festival

Wing Fest

Theatre Aquarius

Hess St. and Augusta St. for the pub going crowd.

Winter time is seriously rough for entertainment in this town. Although that's true just about anywhere in Canada.

If you can't find something to occupy yourself during the spring summer and fall then chances are you're actualy a corpse.

Princess Point and Bayfront Trails
Confederation Park
Rail Trail
about 100 waterfalls and lookouts
Hamilton Conservation Authority Parks
Wild Waterworks
Couple of Go Kart Tracks (Hamilton Indoor Go-Karts)
Hamilton Harbour boat tour
Hamilton Ultimate Frisbee League (HUC)
Hamilton Bulldogs Game
Tiger Cats game


These are mostly Summer activities, like I said, the winter is brutal.

I wished I was a bear and could hibernate.

Winter is a great time for live music in Hamilton. Many bands on their way to or from Toronto stop here. Same show but more intimate and less costly..
http://stillepost.ca/boards/index.php?board=8.0

there is always a great variety of live music going on in hamilton

http://www.steelcitymusic.ca/
http://stillepost.ca/boards/index.php?topic=112103.0

The Warplane Heritage Museum is supposed to be good, but I've never been.

I've been a few times, it's great if you're into that sort of thing.

high school / university sports

Great affordable entertainment.

The depth of high school sports is amazing, particularly in basketball. The girls basketball teams in Hamilton are always tops in the province. (Westdale, St Mary's, St Thomas More & Bishop Tonas)

Attending a sporting event at MAC is great. Football, basketball, swimming.

skiing
ice skating
tobagganing
golfing

I spend a lot of time on the trails, Chedoke radial trail mostly, for jogging. I've had fox, deers, falcons, rabbits all go across me on the Chedoke trail.

And Mac's brand new stadium makes it that much more enjoyable..

When I used to go to RBG trails I saw most of those too. :)

Plus I saw a muskrat and a weasel on RBG trails.

I feed the outdoor birds and in winters I get red tailed hawks and the occasional owl in my yard looking for dinner at the feeders.

one word: dodgeball

Hamilton has an amazing DB league that started only about 3 years ago with 8 teams. Now the league includes 60 teams complete with referees, playoffs, charity tournaments, and sponsorship from the pheasant plucker.

Lots of retiree clubs.

http://www.inform.hamilton.ca/result...=53&PBID=&NUM=

Pubs and music... so much to choose from.

Don't forget tobogganing at Highland Gardens Park (top of Mountain Ave. at Hillcrest in Kirkendall Neighbourhood) once we get some decent snow.

I thought I'd resurrect this thread.

My Mother and Step-Father are going to visit Hamilton for the first two weeks of my move. April 5th - April 18th.

My Mum is pretty much sold on the city (that said you could put both of her children and her grandchild on Neptune and she'd be happy living there), however we've discovered that my Step-Father has begun to have second thoughts.

We think it's because he doesn't have a sense for the city or what he can do there. Mum's been three times already, but he's only visited once before, that was for a week in April of last year.

Can anyone recommend things that he should do or see that would help sell the city to him (a 57 year old)? He's pretty sociable, so we're hoping that if he actually meets people this time round and gets to have a feeling for the city and community, he'll be more confident about making the move. I plan to take him around the different neighbourhoods so he can see how diverse the city is and help him get his bearings. He likes to wander about, so we plan to let him just go off and do his own thing. He seems to have a "thing" for junk shops, collectibles, books, etc.

I'm definitely planning to take them to Westdale again (which they both loved during their first visit) and Locke Street (Mum loved it there when I went with her last time, but my Step-Father hasn't been) and the Bay Front area (just because I want to see it). Any other recommendations?

Are there any events going on during those two weeks that he/they could go to?

Also, this will be Mum's first Easter with her grandchild, are there any child related activities that are planned for that weekend, or in general during those two weeks, that she could do with him (a four year old)? Any child activity centres?

Well if you're out Westdale way, you can do lunch with yours truly.:D That'll kill some time! Seriously, get in touch.

For kid-related stuff, don't miss Backyard Monsters at the RBG.

http://www.rbg.ca/pages/monsters.html

The local library should be a good source for kids' activities too.

I have a book of architectural walking tours I'd be happy to lend your stepdad if he likes to wander. Too bad they're missing the Artcrawl! Do you think he'd be interested in the Hamilton Industrial Trail? http://www.tourismhamilton.com/pagedetail.cfm?id=12 Check out the Worker's Arts and Heritage Museum and the Museum of Steam and Technology (also great for the kids, as is the Marine Museum).

I'll see if I can find any Easter activities and get back to you.

Check out RBC for spring flowers.

I looked at the RBG calendar. It's too early for much in the way of spring flowers. But if you're going for the Backyard Monster exhibit, you might as well wander around a bit while you're there. I'm sure you'll see something. And of course there's the wonderful Mediterranean Garden.

Awesomeness!

Barton Street has lots of junk type and antique stores, including the Flea Market on Saturday and Sundays, Barton & Rosslyn (in front of the Polish Hall). And there's the mother of all places (can't think of the name right now) on Belview, south of Barton (Gage Street area). I could lose my father-in-law in that place for weeks, not that I'd want to or anything.

If they are arriving on the 5th they'll just miss out on Spring Tide at the Gage Park greenhouses, but I'd go there anyways. http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/...TropicalHouse/. Also at Gage Park, http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/...ildrensMuseum/

Also, there is the Aviary in Westdale, http://www.friendsoftheaviary.ca/ and The Art Gallery of Hamilton is also a good choice, http://www.artgalleryofhamilton.on.c...?date=20090401

Great ideas too :-)

Mr. Used

Is that the big two floor warehouse that is full of crap... *ahem*... second hand stuff, that's smells of damp?

[QUOTE=FairHamilton;4138237]Also, there is the Aviary in Westdale, http://www.friendsoftheaviary.ca/

Only open Sunday afternoons 1-4.

Probably not open Easter Sunday.

Dundurn Castle, Whitehern, Westfield Heritage Village...if they are into history.

The Farmer's Market and Central Library downtown, to get a feel for the city and its' inhabitants, then a stroll up James North.

Ottawa Street is great, especially if your Mum (or Dad, for that matter) is into decorating or sewing.

Yep, that sounds like the place.

Don't know if I'd ever buy anything there, but it's fun to scrounge around in there. Isn't that half (most of) the fun anyways.

Cool, I know where that is. I've definitely been there, was during my first visit. Not sure if my step-father went that day or not. I don't remember if he just wasn't there of if I was zoning him out.

Have lunch at the Green Deli on James St S and dessert at Simply Divine Cakes next door.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&sourc...,0.021265&z=16

A list I made a while back:


Here are some of the things you could do if you visit hamilton

-tour the Royal Botanical Gardens
-visit National Historic Sites : Battlefield House (site of a pivotal battle in the War of 1812), Dundurn Castle , Griffin House (part of the Underground Railroad), HMCS Haida (last of the tribal class destroyers used in WW2), Canadian Museum of Steam and Technology, and Whitehern Museum and Gardens.
-Lots of museums : Art Gallery of Hamilton (one of the finest art collections in Canada), Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Erland Lee Museum (world's first Women's Institute), The Aviary, Parks Canada Marine Discovery Centre, Hamilton Military Museum, Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Fieldcote Park and Museum, Westfield Heritage Village, Hamilton Children's Museum, Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, Dundas Museum, McMaster Museum of Art
-check out the thriving arts scen on James North by going to a monthly Art Crawl
-shop on Locke Street South
-shop in Westdale Village
-shop in Canada's largest fabric and textile district, or in one of Hamilton's other 12 BIAs.
-Go on a wine tour, the Niagara Wine Region is immediately east of Hamilton.
-hang out in Gore Park, one of Canada's finest urban squares.
-Hike on hundreds of kms of trails within the city, many along the Niagara Escarpment (which is a World Biosphere Reserve). Although you are only steps away from one of Canada's densest and most urban cities, you will feel like you're up north.
-while you're hiking, check out some of Hamilton's over 100 waterfalls.
-go to a festival at Gage Park
-go to a Tiger Cats game at historic Ivor Wynne Stadium, built for the first Commonwealth Games.
-go to a concert at Copps Coliseum
-soak up the atmosphere and walk around in a supremely walkable and urban city among some of the best residential architecture in the country. Every style of housing from neighbourhoods of working class rowhouses to the largest collection of Victorian mansions in Canada to magnificent stone buildings can be seen in Hamilton.
-go to the beach
-visit Dundas, one of Ontario's prettiest towns, with a nice shopping district to boot.
-buy some art at one of the many Studio Tours throughout the year.
-visit the African Lion Safari
-picnic at Bayfront Park
-go sailing or for a sunset dinner cruise on the harbour
-enjoy a panorama of Hamilton and the GTA off the mountain brow
-for the urban enthusiast, revel in the shadow of one of Canada's first and best Gothic Skyscrapers (the Pigott Building) or admire the Cathedral of Christ the King or one of dozens of other historic churches and cathedrals.
-enjoy a night out in Hess Village, or if that's not your style, drink some craft beer and have some interesting conversations at some of the most authentic pubs you'll ever encounter on Augusta St. in Corktown.
-pick some fresh fruit in the fruitlands
-enjoy some theatre at Hamilton Place or Theatre Aquarius.
-visit one of Hamilton's many conservation areas, which include spectacular sights, unique ecosystems and geological formations at Christie Lake, Dundas Valley, Eramosa Karst, Fifty Point and Spencer Gorge.
-gamble at Flamboro Downs Racetrack and Casino
-Have some fun at Confederation Park and cool off at Wild Waterworks
-probably a bunch of other stuff I'm forgetting...

Great list

Not just the first in Canada, but first in the Commonwealth. Take that, UK!

Go to Haunted Hamilton's Victorian Parlour Theatre. It plays 2 or 3 times a month on Sunday nights at the Pheasant Plucker on Augusta St. in corktown.

Dates and details are listed here: http://www.hauntedhamilton.com/parlo...urtheatre.html

I can see this kind of thing really taking off and expanding!

:haha:

:previous:

Just a quick resurrection of this thread, incase someone can think of or has seen anything of interest to do between the 6th and 17th of April.

Some great suggestions already.

My stepfather likes to collect anything related to motorsports, mainly Formula 1. In the UK he's addicted to going to collectors/toy fairs and picking up another thing for his collection. I've googled and annoyingly there are two such fairs in the Toronto area, the day before they fly in and the day they fly out. Does anyone know of anything like this in the Hamilton area? Doesn't have to be while they are visiting, I just want some proof to show him that if he were to move, he could still engage in his hobbies.

Nuit Blanche @ RBG.....

http://www.dailywebtv.com/Hamilton/v.../Nuit-Blanche-

DragonBoats!
 

This Saturday (Jul 9, 2011) is the Dragonboat Races at Bayfront Park! Bring the Fam and get an ice cream at Hutches (they serve Stoney Creek Dairy, FYI)

http://tourismhamilton.com/viewEvent...ID=80303&date=

Includes Music, Food and of course the races!