Things To See
Suggested Day Trips:
Art and Horticulture Enthusiasts
- Experience and explore Canada’s largest botanical garden, the Royal Botanical Gardens offering year round tours in the indoor Mediterranean garden. Explore acres of nature areas, spectacular seasonal shows of lilacs, tulips, iris, roses, and fall colours.
- Lunch at one of Burlington’s many area restaurants.
- Continue your day by spending the afternoon at The Burlington Art Centre, which boasts Canada’s foremost collection of contemporary Canadian ceramics, art exhibits, the expanded Art Etcetera Shop, an indoor conservatory, as well as the recent addition of a unique café.
Lights, Camera, Action!
- The Crossroads Centre boasts one of the finest television production centres in the world. Tour state of the art broadcasting facilities and beautiful chapels.
- Aldershot Players, Burlington Theatre and Drury Lane Theatre host wonderful local productions throughout the year.
- The Best of Broadway in Burlington is a musical theatre luncheon package featuring Maria D'Amelio held at Paradiso Restaurant in beautiful Village Square.
- Enjoy free Music in the Park featuring local musicians such as Burlington’s own Teen Tour Band at one of the beautiful outdoor locations during the summer months.
The Great Outdoors
- Spend a day visiting many of our area parks and conservation areas; LaSalle Park, Spencer Smith Park, Paletta Mansion and Lakefront Park, Bronte Creek Provincial Park, Kelso, Glen Eden, Mountsberg, Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls, Rattlesnake Point and Mount Nemo Conservation areas. Explore some of the most scenic landscapes found anywhere. Walk, jog or cycle through their scenic trails. Visit waterfalls, lakes and streams, swim and fish.
- Travel north towards Dundas Street and encounter the Bruce Trail, and hike along one of Canada's most spectatular world biospheres the Niagara Escarpment.
- In winter see trumpeter swans once thought to be extinct and only recently reintroduced to this area. The swans chose the Burlington Lakeshore and the LaSalle Park area for their winter home and each year have migrated from their nesting area in Northern Ontario to Burlington.
History Buffs
- Start your day with a visit to Joseph Brant Museum to discover the replica of the home of Captain Joseph Brant, which houses Burlington history, Canadian costume and accessory displays.
- Stroll the historical streets of the downtown area to discover some of the first homes built in Burlington, dating back to the late 1800’s. Click on the link here for a copy of A Walking Tour of Burlington Downtown or this brochure is available from the Tourism Burlington Office, our office hours are listed on the first page of this guide.
- Then continue with a drive to the Ireland House at Oakridge Farm, a living history museum that has been restored to reflect the four generations of the Ireland Family who lived on the farm.
- Travel north to see the Streetcar & Electric Railway Museum.
Unique Shopping
- Visit Burlington Downtown and discover the beautiful waterfront shopping district featuring one of Canada’s best-known bookshops, A Different Drummer Books, as well as Joelle’s, specializing in women’s clothing, accessories and gifts, and the Romance Collection Gallery featuring the art of Trisha Romance.
- Then take time out to dine at one of many unique restaurants located along the downtown streets or in Village Square with cobblestone streets and old English architecture.
- Burlington shopping includes familiar names such as, IKEA, Best Buy and Costco (locations included on the centre map) and 2 large shopping malls.
- A short drive away is Rock Chapel Antiques to view their collection of furniture and collectibles.
Golfers Paradise
Points of Interest
Here are just a few of the points of interest that you can enjoy while visiting Burlington.
- Burlington Art Centre – exhibitions of Canadian art, crafts including collection of contemporary ceramic art. Art Etc. gift shop. Free admission.
- The Waterfront at Downtown Burlington - Experience the energy of a 7 foot tornado, explore weather changes and evening skies at the observatory. Enjoy the Dofasco Waterjet plaza. Sail your model sailboat at the Rotary Centennial Pond. Discover It!
- Bronte Provincial Park – features skating, skiing and tobogganing in winter, Spruce Lane Farm, play barn, hiking trails, camping, swimming in spring/summer.
- Central Park – Cultural hub of Burlington with a Labyrinth, Music & Drama Centre, Arena, Library, Tennis Club, Bowling Greens, Curling Rink, Seniors' Centre, play fields and Family Y.
- Ireland House at Oakridge Farm – living history museum restored to reflect farm life over four generations. Tours, educational programs and events.
- Joseph Brant Museum – replica of Brant Homestead offering tours, educational programs and events.
- Kerncliff Park– former quarry property with walking trails, majestic views of city, bird nesting area.
- LaSalle Park Marina and Walking trails – beautiful views of the Hamilton skyline and Burlington Skyway bridge. From mid December until early March see one of few locations in Ontario where trumpeter swans visit each winter.
- Lowville Park – Bronte Creek meanders through this picturesque rural park which features many picnic areas, trails, and an old school house.
- Magnetic Hill – one of the only naturally occurring magnetic hills in Canada. Located in rural section of King Rd.
- Mount Nemo – pristine cliffs with old growth forests, ancient cedars and spectacular views of Lake Ontario and Toronto. 5 km of hiking trails.
- Paletta Lakefront Park – self guided walking tour through estate property. Restored mansion in wonderful waterfront setting, art and environmental centre, dollhouse, discovery trail.
- Royal Botanical Gardens – world- renowned attraction featuring 2700 acres of breathtaking gardens and spectacular nature sanctuaries.Double decker bus takes visitors throughout gardens. Garden Café and gift shop.
- Walking Tour Burlington Downtown – starting at City Hall take a step back in time visiting historic homes, churches and businesses on this self-guided tour
- Waterfront Trail – 23 km trail along Burlington’s beautiful waterfront. On road trails along tree-lined streets with upscale residential properties. Off road trails through waterfront parks with wonderful lake views.
Scenic Drives
Slow down and enjoy a more leisurely drive along the waterfront or through the Burlington countryside. Here are a few suggestions for scenic drives. Contact the visitor centre for more detailed directions and other driving tours.
- East Lakeshore - from Visitor Centre head east on Lakeshore Road – stopping at waterfront parks en route – Sioux Lookout, Paletta Lakefront and Burloak Parks. Continue on to Oakville to watch the boats come in at Bronte & Oakville Harbours.
- Beach Drive - from Visitor Centre go west on Lakeshore and turn left at Discovery Landing to uncover the secrets of the waterfront in the observatory. Turn left at the Hospital and stop at The Beachway for ice cream at the snack bar, take a walk across the boardwalk at the dune crossing. Turn left on Eastport Drive where you can stop at the Lift bridge to see large freighters and pleasure boats pass by. Walk the waterfront trail to Confederation Park and have a cool drink overlooking the water.
- Northshore - from the Visitor Centre head west on Lakeshore, which turns into Northshore Blvd. The tree-lined streets with up-scale residential homes show glimpses of the waterfront along this route. Stop at LaSalle Park and Marina to walk the trails and gaze at sailboats in the bay. Continue on LaSalle Park Blvd to Plains Rd. and head west for a stop at Royal Botanical Gardens and then along York Blvd to Dundurn Castle in Hamilton.
- Rural Burlington - from Visitor Centre head north on Brant St. until it becomes Cedar Springs Rd. Travel through farmland intermixed with golf courses until you reach Brittania Rd. Go east on Brittania to Guelph Line and go north to Lowville where you can enjoy a picnic lunch at Lowville Park.
- Great Drives - Beautiful Burlington
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