There’s no need to pack up and head to Florida to have fun over March Break. In and around the GTA, there are countless museums, camps, and activities the whole family will love. We’ve pulled together a list within an hour’s drive – pack some car snacks and hit the road!

iFly Toronto (Oakville)

Iflytoronto.com
Ready for lift-off. Come defy the law of gravity at iFLY Toronto. Enjoy indoor skydiving in a safe environment. Fly solo, with a group, or with your family and friends.
Visit iFly Toronto’s Oakville location at 2007 Winston Park Drive, Oakville

Fallsview Indoor Waterpark (Niagara Falls)

Fallsviewwaterpark.com
Three acres of fun-filled water activities located in the heart of Niagara Falls! Fallsview Indoor Waterpark has 16 waterslides, a wave pool, and the Beach House Rain Fortress with a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket. While perfect for the kids, there are adult-friendly activities, including adult-only jacuzzi tubs and indoor connections to hotels and casinos.
Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is located at 5685 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls

Royal Ontario Museum  (Toronto)

Rom.on.ca
Go back to a time when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and learn about historic artifacts at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). In the museum’s permanent galleries, take photos with dinosaur sculptures, enjoy the beauty of precious metals and gems, and look through historic artifacts from around the world. During this March Break, the ROM will also be hosting Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic, which will feature original artifacts from the creation of Winnie-the-Pooh.
Visit the Royal Ontario Museum at 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto

Oakville Museum  (Oakville)

Oakville.ca/museum
Explore, discover, and create at the Oakville Museum this Mark Break! Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate is offering a March Break camp from March 16-20 for ages 6 to 10. Take inspiration from the historical collection at the Oakville Museum as we explore wild watercolours, thrilling 3-D crafts, awesome abstract art and more. Challenge yourself to create a masterpiece! Register online to secure your spot.
The Oakville museum is located at 8 Navy Street, Oakville

Joseph Brant Museum  (Burlington)

Museumsofburlington.ca › joseph-brant Museum
Re-opening after renovations in September 2019, Joseph Brant Museum offers more exhibitions and family fun. During March Break, the museum is offering a “sense”ational camp for kids to explore their five senses through a variety of activities, alongside a special exhibit running from February 1 to May 10, “Giants, Dragons & Unicorns: The World of Mythic Creatures”.
Joseph Brant Museum is located at 1240 North Shore Blvd East, Burlington

Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory

Cambridgebutterfly.com 
Be in the centre of hundreds of butterflies as they fly around you at Cambridge’s Butterfly Conservatory. The Conservatory has more than 1,000 different species of butterflies from all over the world and more than 100 varieties of tropical plants, waterfalls, Chinese painted quails, red-eared slider turtles, and more. The Conservatory also has the Chrysalis Café, perfect for a lunch stop without leaving the beauty of the facility.
The Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory is located at 2500 Kossuth Road,  Cambridge

by Allie Murray

Fishing has been a love of mine for as long as I can remember. My first experience was at a local pond in Sheffield with my grandfather, where we spent the day fishing with some string and bread-dough bait. Without a single nibble, I was hooked nonetheless. Over the years, I’ve fished a wide variety of methods but come to appreciate the nature of fly-fishing best. With the perfect cast, you can almost sense a strike before it happens. 

Historically both Sixteen Mile and Bronte Creek were important fishing and hunting grounds for the Mississaugas and their predecessors. When Europeans settled the area, they continued to fish the creeks for both sustenance and sport. At the Oakville Museum, there are records, photographs, and accounts of fishing parties on the Sixteen. The Museum even holds a photograph of Oakville’s Dr. George Brock Chisholm, (the first Director-General of the World Health Organization), holding what appears to be a fly rod and Sunfish. The odd time I’m able to wander to the creek, fly rod in hand, I feel I’m participating in a long tradition. 

If you’re new to fly fishing, the jargon may seem daunting – but the main difference between fly fishing and other kinds of fishing is the weight of the line used to cast the lure. To start, you’ll need a decent light rod, a small reel, fly line, and leader, as well as a basic selection of flies.

The flies themselves have some pretty unique and catchy names, including Royal Wulff, Adams, Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail Nymph, and Woolly Bugger. The Woolly Bugger is my go-to and personal favourite. 

When it’s time to hit the water, learning to cast a fly line is the biggest hurdle for most beginners. Grindstone Angling in Waterdown has a full-service fly shop, fishing guide services, fly fishing school, and fly-tying classes. For beginners or even those who want to learn more about fishing in the area, Grindstone is a great place to start. 

Surprising to some, Oakville, Burlington and surrounding areas are great fishing destinations. Many nearby lakes have good populations of Sunfish (along with Pumpkin Seed, Rock Bass, Perch) and you can find them through the summer in the deeper pools of the local creeks. Lions Valley Park and other public access points along Sixteen Mile Creek in Oakville are good places to go prospecting. Conservation Halton allows fishing in Kelso, Mountsberg, and Hilton Falls. You can also try the upper reaches of Bronte Creek for pitching dry flies to Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout.

Casting, hooking, retrieving and landing fish all become more natural with practice and the skills built catching smaller fish like the Sunfish can be transferred to fishing bigger quarry later. 

When you are ready for larger game, consider the spring Steelhead run and fall Salmon run. Head to either Sixteen Mile Creek or Bronte Creek during October and November, when a few days of rain have caused the rivers to rise. Luckily, techniques, gear, and flies for Steelhead and Salmon are similar. However, you will need to upgrade to at least an eight-weight rod, reel, and line. You should also invest in a comfortable set of chest waders and a landing net.

Fly fishing has a reputation for being exclusive and mysterious, but it’s often the best way to catch fish and a way that allows a closer connection to the water. Let’s dispel the mystery. 

by Julian Kingston

Our thanks to Julian Kingston, who is the Museum Supervisor at the Oakville Museum, and a passionate fly fisherman.

Local Links

Grindstone Angling
grindstoneangling.com

Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club
iwffc.ca

Tourism Burlington
tourismburlington.com

Oakville Museum
oakville.ca/museum

Conservation Halton
conservationhalton.ca

The hot, hot summer sun has finally arrived, and there’s no better way to beat the heat than to plunge into one of our community pools. While indoor pools serve us all year long, outdoor pools are a special treat we can only enjoy for a few months out of the year – and there’s one in particular creating some hype this summer.

First open in 1963, Nelson Pool, located on New Street between Appleby Line and Walkers Line has been a family favourite for decades. However in 2015, after endless dives and cannonballs, the pool was deemed unsafe by a structural engineer and closed for public use.

With tremendous support from the community, City Council approved a plan to complete an extensive two-year renovation on the pool and surrounding area. The finished product reopened for the 2017 summer season, impressing crowds and welcoming all skill levels and abilities. 

The new pool – which cost $4.9 million – is a 50-metre heated outdoor pool with eight lanes and a beach-entry leisure pool. But that’s not all.

If you think you have what it takes, you can brave the climbing wall feature in the deep-end, or jump in off one of the two 1-metre diving boards. For those who prefer a leisurely swim, there’s a large shallow end to enjoy playtime with family and friends. The pool itself is perfect for all ages from infant to adult and unlike many pools, is completely accessible with a ramp, beach entry, or ladders to enter the pool.

Then there’s the new splash pad. Take a run through the small animal spray features or get soaked while standing under the giant tipping bucket. The park was designed to engage children of all ages and is the perfect summer day getaway if you’re in need of a little staycation.

This treasured community gathering place provides a great opportunity for residents to get outdoors, play, and stay cool all summer long. With a dry children’s park, community change room, deck chairs, and picnic tables, you can pack a lunch and expect to spend a full day splashing around and having fun.

Drop-in recreation swim costs $4.40 for youth to 60+, but if you plan on swimming all summer long, it might be worth purchasing a summer swim pass for $32.40 – granting you access to all of the City’s pools.

Visit www.burlington.ca/en/live-and-play/Swimming.asp for swim times and more information.

Come on in, the water’s great! 

by  Anneliese Lawton