By Noor Menhel and Hannah Menhel
Burlington is the perfect city in Ontario for enjoying the summer weather with family and friends. With the ideal mix of lively and peaceful, Burlington is truly a jewel in Ontario.
After a bit of research and asking around, we have come up with a list of some of Burlington’s most engaging places that families can partake in.
Downtown Burlington
One of the most iconic parts of Burlington is the downtown area.
Located conveniently by the lakeside, downtown Burlington has a lot of refreshing green space and an unbeatable view of the lake. This entertaining areafeatures many unique and local restaurants that will give you a taste of many cultures (pun intended). These restaurants showcase foods from all over the world including Middle Eastern, Italian, and Persian foods. In addition to the various restaurants, downtown Burlington has many book and clothing stores, and, of course, the iconic dessert shops (including gelato, donut, and Belgian ice cream shops).
Spencer Smith Park
Spencer Smith Park is another one of the major attractions found in Burlington. This park is recognized across the Greater Toronto Area as a family-friendly and entertaining location. Located on the lakefront in Burlington’s downtown area, Spencer Smith offers a wide promenade featuring magnificent views of the lake, beach, and Skyway Bridge. The promenade is perfect for walking, cycling, rollerblading, and other similar activities!
Spencer Smith also has a large playground, waterjet park, and a pond (used for ice skating in the winter and model boat sailing in the summer months).
Another feature of the park is the large lawn, which is the perfect setting for many of Burlington’s memorable events and festivals. This summer, Movies By The Lake has made a long-awaited return to Spencer Smith Park for a new season of outdoor movies, including Indiana Jones, Clueless, and many other summer classics.
For more information on Movies By The Lake and other downtown events click here.
Windows-to-the-lake
The summer weather in Burlington is perfect for heading out to the lake with family and enjoying the lovely weather on sea-doos, kayaks, paddleboards, and other portable watercraft! An excellent way to access calmer water is through the windows-to-the-lakes in Burlington.
These windows are little parks scattered throughout the city, connecting residents directly to Lake Ontario. They’re perfect for having family picnics, listening to the waves, and bringing out person-powered boats and water equipment.
Swimming
As the weather continues to get hotter, swimming is an essential part of staying cool and enjoying your summer!
Luckily, Burlington offers numerous drop-in opportunities for people of all ages to come out and enjoy the summer weather while splashing in the water. For a couple of dollars, you can have access to interactive splash pads, pools with diving boards, climbing walls and much more! The best part? This summer, Access Storage Canada is providing FREE swimming at various pool locations during select times here in Burlington!! Check the City of Burlington website for the schedule information or simply click here!
Bowling
Looking for fun indoor activities to escape the heat? No worries, we’ve got you covered!
Splitsville Burlington offers full-day entertainment for people of all ages. Enjoy a fun time with friends or family where you can eat, go bowling, and engage in some arcade games!! Open at least twelve hours a day all week, the fun is never-ending.
Climbing
Yet another fun activity to beat the heat is climbing. From bouldering to top-roping and lead climbing, Climber’s Rock has got it all! Open to all ages and abilities, Climber’s Rock is a great way to explore your physical and mental abilities. Who knows, maybe you will find yourself a new hobby!
The Royal Botanical Gardens
Featuring over 1,500 plant types, the Royal Botanical Gardens is the largest botanical garden in Canada! They never fail to impress. If you are an outdoors lover, we definitely recommend giving these gardens a visit and reconnecting with nature and the environment around it! For a list of what is blooming this month, click here.
There is never a moment in time where Burlington fails to impress. With a little bit of searching, you can find almost anything and everything here!
