For the last several days, I’ve been away at the Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium (NERR) which – at least for the time I’ve known it – has always been held in Cooperstown, New York. I previously attended NERR in 2012, and this time I was pleased to see both old and new sights in the…
Category: Hiking Thoughts
Birding by the Confluence of the Grand and Speed Rivers
This past weekend, the temperatures edged a little above freezing and the sun was in full evidence in the sky. Hope blossomed in everyone’s hearts that spring might actually be approaching. Birds were more active and calling eagerly to each other, which prompted my partner and I to grab the binoculars and head out for…
Winter in Niagara-on-the-Lake
After touring through Burlington and the Royal Botanical Gardens, stopping by Niagara Falls, and traveling up along the Niagara River, my mother and I completed our first day of our March Break travels at Niagara-on-the-Lake. There are an incredible number of hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, wineries, and historic sites in Niagara-on-the-Lake (see the TripAdvisor overview…
Winter at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
During my March Break wanderings with my mother as my traveling companion, I had the chance to see Niagara Falls in a state of semi-solidity. The term “Niagara Falls” refers to the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; the tourism industry in and around Niagara Falls; and the three waterfalls which are the namesake and…
Winter at the Royal Botanical Gardens
Although the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG), located on Plains Road West in Burlington Ontario, is better seen in the summer, their winter programming also promises much in the way of nature-based educational entertainment. While visiting the RBG Centre this past March Break, I had the chance to see their exhibit on Savage Gardens/Nature’s Ninjas. All…
Glen Bernard Summer Camp – Sundridge, Ontario
Though Glen Bernard Summer Camp isn’t meant for hikers only, it was a part of Ontario which afforded me many beautiful pictures and fond memories. Anyone interested in outdoor pursuits should visit the general area encompassing Glen Bernard Summer Camp – known to tourists and residents alike as the Almaguin Highlands Region – at least…
Rockwood Conservation Area – Rockwood, Ontario
A short distance away from several major metropolitan areas in southwestern Ontario lies the jewel that is Rockwood Conservation Area. This conservation area features “towering limestone cliffs, caves and glacial potholes”, making the location a source of natural wonders and inspiration for both hikers and canoeists (Conservation Ontario, 2012). Canoes can be rented at the…
Bruce Peninsula National Park – Tobermory, Ontario
I was a little divided about what to title this post – although my review is technically of the Bruce Peninsula National Park, my experience is really with camping at Cypress Lake. Luckily for me, most people regard the two locations as synonymous and when they think of ‘Bruce Peninsula National Park’ they also think…
Spooky Hollow Nature Sanctuary – Norfolk County
As many of my regular readers will have guessed, Norfolk County is one of my favorite places to hike – land of the declining tobacco industry, quaint port towns, and nature sanctuaries preserving rare or endangered species (Norfolk County, 2014). Though I love all of Ontario’s Southwest, Norfolk has a special place in my heart…
Backus Woods – Norfolk County
Although it’s literally – 25 degrees outside right now in Southern Ontario, fantasies of warm, balmy days out on the hiking trails are dancing through my head this evening. I have been particularly moved to a summery nostalgia while looking through pictures taken in Backus Woods – a significant natural ecosystem as well as a…
Eugenia Falls – Grey County, Ontario
Although I’ve hiked at Eugenia Falls Conservation Area several times, researching the location for this post yielded some new information for me. I learned that the impressive waterfall was the site of an early “Fools Gold” rush when it was first discovered in 1852 (Grey Sauble Conservation, 2014). Later, the site became dotted with mills…
Bechtel Park – Waterloo, Ontario
If you go to the City of Waterloo home page and navigate to the link describing Bechtel Park, you will see an cheerful, summery image of a soccer field and Gator (see the link here). However, hidden behind the fields and the Manulife Financial Soccer and Sports Complex is a gem of a hiking spot….
Maria Legault 