Short Hills Provincial Park is located on the southern extremity of St. Catharines. This is an excellent place to hike, go horseback riding, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Two of my favourite destinations in the park are Terrace Creek Falls and Swayze Falls. There are trails leading to them or you can (adventurous …
We brought our “wide-eyed wonder” girl back to Algonquin Provincial Park at 5 months of age. The water was a lot warmer after a full summer of solar gain. The nights were a little cooler and more comfortable than mid July, especially for snuggling with my wife and daughter. Most of the weekend was spent …
When does a boy become a man? After a few canoe trips? When society says he is old enough to drive or old enough to drink? I’ve heard many answers to this questions, but the most common one is “I’m not sure!” The summer canoe trip is an annual event in our family. With great …
I have always exposed my kids to the great outdoors since… well, since the chord was cut. We played in the streams that flowed over the Niagara Escarpment, swam in the frigid waters of western Georgian Bay and the warmer waters of Lake Huron, canoed in the local town river (pictured below), snowshoed in the …
There is nothing quite like the experience of wilderness camping. To fully enjoy this kind of adventure you must: leave behind all that is not essential, enjoy your own company, abandon looking perfect, cooperate with your fellow travellers and have a healthy appreciation for God’s creation. In wilderness, you will discover who you are – …
As the sun sets and the cool night air creeps in, the camp fire is first on our priority list. It immediately becomes the social ‘hot spot’ where everyone gathers to keep warm, cook food and wind down from the activities of the day. Around the fire is where stories are told, dreams are shared …
While biking in Algonquin this past September, we came across the ruins of a former sawmill close to Whitefish Lake. These old cooling fins had seen better days, but with the process of abuse and neglect, they are far more interesting (visually) than when they were brand new. I enjoy witnessing the effect that the …
Camping in late September is always a bit of a gamble. The weather can be warm and sunny or cold and dreary. The changing of the seasons in Algonquin is nothing short of spectacular. The vivid colours and cooler temperatures drastically change the look and mood of the park from those warm summer days. Even …
Here are a few more pictures to inspire you to get out in the canoe and take off!
I had read about this lake (seen a few pictures as well) during our pre-trip planning. We had anticipated hiking up into the mountains and jumping off the cliffs, for months before we arrived. We pretty much had the lake to ourselves for most of the day, except for a few casual jumpers. All that …