So this was actually a morning adventure for us, but to keep things nice and tidy on the blog I'm going to call it an afternoon adventure. Last weekend we wanted to keep things low key and my husband suggested we check out Hamilton's waterfront since we haven't really done so other than Bayfront Park in the three years we've lived in Hamilton. I thought this was a great idea since toddler is now old enough to walk around and explore without the stroller and he's big into nature right now.
I quickly Googled Hamilton waterfront park and landed on Confederation Beach Park. I was immediately reminded of the commercials I remembered from my childhood and "Confederation Parrrrrrrk.... do the works!" rang through my head as we traveled to the lake. We ended up parking in a lot right next to the Lakeland Pool at 180 Van Wagners Beach Rd, Hamilton. There appears to be lots of free parking all along the waterfront which is really great considering you pay an arm and a leg for the same thing in other cities around Lake Ontario. We went around 9am on a Sunday morning so there was a lot of parking available, but I could see how it would get busier as the day went on.
Having never been to Confederation Park or Van Wagner's Beach we decided to just use the Waterfront Trail to walk and see what we could see. As I mentioned, we parked right next to the Lakeland Pool which looked refreshing and fun. It is only 4 feet deep which is great for kids. There is also the Lakeland Splashpad in the same area which is great for younger kids-- and in my opinion, a great option for washing off a sandy kid after they've played on the beach!
We ended up walking about 1/2km east on the Waterfront Trail and used the beach area in front of Hutch's on the Beach restaurant. Our toddler and pup were super excited to explore a new area and the toddler quickly came to the realization that we were at the lake where there are big ships and boats. He enjoyed taking handfuls of rocks and throwing them into the water, experimenting and enjoying the sounds they made. He also enjoyed playing fetch with our tiny dachshund, throwing sticks into the water for her to get.
Even though it was really hot outside and the end of July, the Lake Ontario water was still freezing cold. After quickly Googling to ensure the water quality was safe for swimming (The Swim Guide is a handy resource for checking water quality before you head out) we let our toddler wade in the water. He didn't last more than a few seconds before he got upset because his feet were freezing cold. But, he would take a little break and then wade in the water some more because he was having so much fun.
After we'd sat on the beach for about 2 hours we did a quick stop at Hutch's on the Beach to grab toddler an ice cream. He discovered ice cream trucks at the Concession Street Festival earlier this year and has been obsessed with the idea ever since. So occasionally when we are out we let him have a special treat. It's especially easy when he's already in his swimming clothes-- we just thrown him in the pool when he gets home and he cleans up nicely! A huge ice cream fan myself, I was stoked to find that they have a lengthy list of flavours to choose from and next time I'll probably grab some for myself too!
During my quick stop at Hutch's I noticed that they have a pretty extensive menu of all the food you'd want to enjoy on the beach-- fish and chips, burgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings and a lot more. The restaurant brings back some of the nostalgia of days gone by, having been a fixture on the beach since 1946. Next time we will plan to have lunch or dinner at Hutch's because it sure smelled delicious!
I look forward to returning to Confederation Beach Park because I'm pretty sure there is still a lot more to see and do-- but when moving at the pace of a toddler, these things take time! Maybe that's a good thing and we can plan at least a couple more visits to see the whole area.
If you haven't already been down to Confederation Beach Park and Van Wagner's Beach to explore, here are some tips to make your visit a success:
Wear shoes or water shoes. The beach is mostly smooth rocks and pebbles. I had my toddler in his Merrell Bare Steps H2O sneakers and my husband had running shoes on. Neither of them complained about having a tough time walking on the beach. I had flip flops on and all of the rocks were getting stuck between my flip flops and feet, making for a painful trek!
Bring some sand toys-- we didn't bring any because we didn't know what to expect in terms of beach and water quality but our toddler would have had a blast with a bucket to fill with water or rocks.
If you're going early, bring snacks and water. Hutch's didn't open until 11am!As I mentioned, check The Swim Guide before you head out to check the water quality and whether you'll be able to swim.
Don't forget sunscreen and/or an umbrella for shade! The beach didn't have any shady areas to hide from the sun, so I was glad to have had adult and toddler sunscreen in my diaper backpack.
Since this trip to the beach with our toddler was such a success we definitely want to do it again. What other beaches in the Hamilton area do you recommend?
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