Summer staycations: 5 surprising family adventures in Hamilton
Avoid traffic and spending money on gas by staying close to home, all while supporting local. These are tried and trusted destinations, but we’ve scoped out some new offerings at each that you might not know about.
Where can you take the family this month in Hamilton? There are plenty of family fun activities in Ontario, and fortunately for readers of HAMILTON CITY Magazine, many are located within an easy drive of home. And that’s good news for locals. Warm weather brings slower highways, and shorter patience. Being trapped in traffic is difficult enough, but with the kids, it’s next level.
Long time Hamiltonians are familiar with the waterparks, gardens, and zoo adventures that have stood the test of time. But what’s new or surprising at these legacy locations? I decided to find out, while revisiting a few favourite summer holiday haunts.
1. African Lion Safari (established in 1969)
The “Go, Wild’ advertisements have danced in the ears of Hamiltonians for years. That’s because African Lion Safari has been entertaining and educating visitors since 1969, updating with social changes. But the core experience remains: African Lion Safari is a drive-through replica wild-game reserve (no hunting, of course) to experience lions, giraffes, and yes, still elephants, in as close to their natural habitats as enclosures can offer.
Here, people are in the containers looking out – you can drive through in your own car (monkeys will likely jump on your roof) or take the African Lion Safari bus, if you’re worried about damaging your own vehicle. After the drive, you can take a boat around Monkey Island, or watch the elephants parade to the water for bath time.
Surprise experience: Wake Up the Wild is an investment in memories. On select days from June to September (pre-booking required), participants arrive before the park opens, board an open-air truck and head into the park to watch rhino, ostrich, and giraffe metres away consume their morning meals. This $119 to $159 per person experience includes all-day admission to the park, an expert game warden guide, seeing lions at their most active, and hand feeding giraffe large leaves. Photo options are priceless.
Time and place: African Lion Safari is open May to September annually and is located at 1386 Cooper Rd., Cambridge (on the edge of Hamilton).
2. Wild Waterworks Hamilton (established in 1983)
Wild Waterworks in Hamilton is a big outdoor waterpark – one of Canada’s largest, in fact. It’s exactly what you might think it is: 93 hectares of ways to get wet and beat the summer heat. Located in Confederation Park, it features a massive wave pool replicating an ocean beach experience, thrilling water slides – four with tubes and two body slides – and an “easy river” for those who just want to float around. The Little Squirt Works splash pad is designed for the safety and enjoyment of the youngest family members.
Bring your own towels. Food and drink coolers are permitted, but glass is not. Note the park is closed on Mondays, except for holidays.
Wild Waterworks is owned by the City of Hamilton and operated by the Hamilton Conservation Authority. While the City has been regularly maintaining the park, significant cosmetic updates are still being debated (due to cost). Consider this a vintage experience where kids can enjoy the park as their parents did.
Surprise experience: For those in the Hamilton area, Wild Waterworks’ season passes for a family of four is the best deal if you plan to return throughout the summer. Season family passes range from $370 to $470 (depending on when purchased) and offer limitless admission to the park throughout the summer. Additionally, one-day admissions are discounted if you buy online, and cheaper if you arrive after 4 p.m. (The park is open until 7 p.m.).
Time and place: Wild Waterworks is open mid-June to Labour Day and located at 680 Van Wagners Beach Rd., Hamilton.
3. Adventure Village in Hamilton
Adventure Village in Hamilton Is close to Wild Waterworks but is a separate amusement park where you can easily spend a day, without getting wet. Activities abound here, so there’s something for all ages. Start with the Rocky Mountain 25-foot realistic climbing wall. Then clamour into Krazy Kars bumper cars ,offering retro fun with an updated twist: cars spin in a full circle. End the day at the 18-hole miniature golf course, popular with small groups.
All that can easily fill a day (with lunch), but there’s more: outdoor laser tag, batting cages, and gemstone mining at Big Al’s Mining Camp. Purchase activities separately or buy a fun pack of two to five activities. The all-day-play option might be the best value at $40 for adults and $36 per kid.
Surprise experience: A new addition at Adventure Village is the bungee trampoline, allowing you to jump four storeys straight up and add a forward or backward flip or two, while secured with a harness and bungee cords. Also new this season: pre-book your tee time for miniature golf on the website and skip the lines.
Time and place: Adventure Village is open May until the end of September and is located at Skyway Park, 580 Van Wagners Beach Rd., Hamilton.
4. Royal Botanical Gardens (established 1932)
The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is a gem in the Hamilton and Burlington area, and I challenge you to find a local who hasn’t been to any part. Most people think of the RBG Centre and Arboretum when considering a visit – and it’s a good place to start or escape to if the weather gets bad – otherwise, the RBG is all about the outdoors.
It’s difficult to see the entire 2,000 acres in one day – visitors usually select a favourite spot: Hendrie Park and rose gardens; Laking Gardens of irises; or the Rock Garden built on a former gravel pit. Those who love hiking prefer any of the 27 km of nature trails including the Cootes Paradise wetlands; Hendrie Valley with boardwalks; or the Rock Chapel connecting to the Bruce Trail.
Surprise experience: Special events happen throughout the year, including fairy nights in the gardens and pumpkin trails during Halloween. However, in the summer, the natural playground at the RGB Centre is included with admission and purports to provide multi-sensory experiential learning. Most kids, though, just have fun.
Time and place: The Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton is open all year and the main centre arboretum is located at 16 Old Guelph Rd., Hamilton. Note that parking there is $25 for non-members (in addition to admission).
5. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton
Some kids love planes, as much as some love trains. And some of those are big kids, too. A family day at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum brings you under, around and sometimes in restored war planes representing different time periods of Canadian history, particularly World War II.
A fully restored (and functional) Lancaster bomber is a diamond in the collection. Kids can engage with interactive exhibitions and even climb into the cockpit of a fighter jet. Kids over 12 can even fly in one of the museum’s historic planes.
Surprise experience: The Fly Zone (FZ), added in 2017, is a virtual reality experience and the museum’s nod to the 21st century. Book 30 or 60 minutes for $30 or $50, and kids over 12 can enter the VR motion simulator and experience. Take part in a mission by taking off, flying and landing either a World War II P-51 Mustang or a modern F-18 Hornet during the VR experience.
Time and place: The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is open all year, Wednesday to Sunday and is located at 9280 Airport Rd., Mount Hope (Hamilton).
