Credit: Nadine Shaabana via Unsplash
If you're looking for somewhere to take a day trip, Hamilton is somewhere where you can easily fill your day with fun activities and then still be able to get home to sleep in your bed.
With its drool-worthy culinary scene and stunning nature, there's a lot to love about Hamilton, but you don't have to take anyone’s word for it. Hamilton is not far from the Toronto city center, making it the perfect day destination for exploring.
Consider all the things you can do in a day in Hamilton. Who knows, this may just be somewhere that you can see yourself living in the long term!
Check Out the New Homes for Sale
Hamilton is home to countless new houses for sale at prices far more affordable than Toronto's core. Even if you are not ready to move yet, take a stroll throughout a couple of Hamilton neighbourhoods and appreciate the architecture and the impressive homes for sale. Who knows, you may even end up wanting to come back for an open house!
Consider working with experienced real estate agents in Hamilton who have an in-depth understanding of the area and help you weigh your options and understand where and how the city can fit with your lifestyle.
Go Chasing Waterfalls
What's the best waterfall in Hamilton? With more than 100 in the area, that's a tough one to answer, but some have tried.
Some might say it's the 41 metre high Tews Falls, the tallest ribbon waterfall in Hamilton, found at the beginning of a hike towards the Dundas Peak, famed for its beautiful valley views. Others say it's Webster's Falls. It's a 22 metre plunge waterfall and 30 metres wide. It's well-known but never disappoints.
And then there's the Devil's Punchbowl. The Upper Punch Bowl Falls is the huge draw, as the 34 metre stunning ribbon waterfall plunges into a pool at the base of the Niagara Escarpment.
Visit Dundurn Castle
Built in the 1830s on Burlington Heights, the 40 room Italianate-style villa was the former site of a fortified military encampment established by the British in 1813.
As a rare complete surviving example of a 19th-century picturesque estate in Canada, it was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1984.
Get Some Grub
Hamburgers, pho, shawarma, donuts — Hamilton's food scene is as delicious as it is diverse.
Grab breakfast at St. James Espresso Bar. Want something healthy and fresh? Give Pokeh a try. Craving comfort food? Saltlick Smokehouse is the place for you.
You could spend the day eating your way through the best of the city's grub and not even make a dent in what Hamilton has to offer.
Check Out One of Many Hiking Trails
The biggest problem with hiking in and around Hamilton is deciding which trails to explore. If you don't know where to start, there's the Dundas Valley Trail, a 9 kilometre loop featuring waterfalls, viewpoints, and plenty of wildlife. It's a beautiful spot to check out fall's changing colours, but you can't go wrong visiting any time of year.
Alternatively, you can hike a section of the Bruce Trail, an epic 900 kilometre hiking trail spanning from Niagara to Tobermory. Part of it makes its way through Hamilton, with a stunning section between Tiffany Falls and Sherman Falls.
If you're up for a challenge, take the Chedoke Stairs — one of a few stairways connecting the lower city to the ridge of the Niagara Escarpment. You'll have to climb 289 stairs, but as locals know, the view at the top makes every step worth it.
Heritage Sites and Museums
One of the most interesting historical destinations in Ontario lies in Hamilton, the Westfield Heritage Museum. It's a stunning collection of over 35 carefully restored historical buildings staffed with costumed interpreters.
There's also the HMCS Haida, a Tribal class destroyer that served in the Second World War, the Korean Conflict, and the Cold War. The Royal Canadian Navy's most famous ship is now a tribute to Canada's history of wartime naval service.
No matter what you choose to do, a day in Hamilton provides plenty of great food, beautiful scenery, and fantastic culture. There are plenty of ways to spend a day, or several days, in Hamilton.
