Located in Ontario, just an hour to drive from Toronto, Hamilton makes a good stop over for a couple of hours or even for a day. It can’t be said though that it is a highly touristy city as there are few those who come here for the city itself. But coming here is never a bad idea as there are plenty of attractions that can keep you busy for the day and make your stay peasant. It offers natural and man-made diversions for those who decide to visit it.
Most attractive of all is the surrounding area, especially the bay which serves as an international port. In summer the port is a beautiful sight full of power and sail craft while Bayfront Park and Pier 4 are areas busy with outdoor lovers who come here to run, hike, play golf, walk or play in the well equipped park. In winter among the favourite outdoor activity is cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. Visiting the communities will offer you the pleasure to see the heritage sites and other specific things.
On different times of the year there are country fairs that liven up the community even more and you will be caught up in some of the fun activities like pumpkin carving. If you want to see how the famous maple syrup is made you must come in spring and head to Westfield Heritage Village.Hamilton is a destination for outdoor activities rather than for indoor ones. You may start enjoying the great outdoors by driving half-hour northwest of the city to African Lion Safari. It is the perfect place to come with the kids as there are several play areas for them. You will be able to see the animals like cheetahs, lions, zebras, tigers running free while you watch them from the tour bus. If you prefer other means of transport like trains, a train ride is also offered. Watching spider monkeys, crested macaques, and ring-tailed lemurs can be just as pleasant if you board the African Queen.
Another beautiful place to walk around and a real sight for sore eyes is the famous Royal Botanical Gardens located north of the city. Here you can see the world’s largest lilac collection, Tulip and Iris Show displays. There is something for every time of the year. Spring offers sights of lilac, in summer you can see irises, peonies, roses and lilies while autumn brings the chrysanthemums.
Everything being so beautiful all around the sight has been chosen to host many flower related festivals like the Japanese Flower Society Show, the Tulip Festival, the Rose Society Show or the Ontario Garden Show. They are all really worth coming in the city.In case of bad weather indoor attractions are a good choice.
Among the best is the Art Gallery of Hamilton, a fully renovated place exhibiting some of the finest collections of Canadian art in the country. There are also the Joey and Toby Tannnenbaum Collection and some American works.
Another indoor attraction is the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, a heaven for aircraft buffs. It is a very entertaining place to visit due to the interactive presentation of exhibits dating beginning of World War II on. Almost everything is allowed, you can test your flying skills and you can get into some old planes to imagine how it was like to fly such a plane. Another museum is the Hamilton Museum of Science and Technology housed in a beautiful 19th-century Romanesque building. It celebrates the industrial roots of the city and among the exhibits there is a steam engine that first pumped clean water to Hamilton. There are plenty of hands on exhibits, too.Following the list of important attractions is the Dundurn Castle that should not be left out. It is a grand manor house from the mid-19th century that depicts life in that period.
Whether you're interested in architecture, museums, interesting outdoor activities, the City of Hamilton has it all.
