From days spent hitting the greens to seeking new thrills at adventure parks and festivals, summer is synonymous with fun. To help you and your family make the most of the season, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite local activities to enjoy all summer long.
1. Swing Into the Season at a Golf Course
One of the earliest summer activities we’re able to enjoy is a return to golf, and luckily, all our communities are located a short distance from some of the best courses that Southern Ontario has to offer. Relish the scenic vistas and partake in the exciting courses of Pike Lake Golf Centre just 20 minutes from Cachet Arthur; Whistle Bear Golf Course close to Westwood Village and Generations; Willow Valley near Mount Hope; and Erin Heights Golf Course just 5 minutes from Erin Glen.
2. Visit a Water Park or Amusement Park
Summer is the season to be adventurous outdoors, and both FunSplash Sports Park and Treetop Trekking near Hamilton promise hours of fun for kids and adults alike. The ultimate outdoor water playground, FunSplash is where the whole family can splash, climb, jump, swing, bounce and slide while keeping cool on a hot summer day. Nearby Treetop Trekking offers an exciting new way to connect to nature with aerial courses, ziplines, a treehouse village and more.
3. Stop and Smell the Flowers at a Lavender Farm
If you can’t get enough of all the season’s fresh blooms, then you’ll want to plan a visit to The Lavender Farm in Ayr, just 10 minutes from Generations. Home to over 600 lavender plants, this sweet-smelling venue opens for the summer in June and makes for a one-of-a-kind experience you’re sure to remember for years to come.
4. Attend a Local Fair or Festival
One of the best things about small-town living is the local pride that shines through the many long-standing fairs and festivals that run throughout the summer. Listen to live tunes every Wednesday night at Summer Nights Live in Cambridge, and at Ever After Music Festival in August; raise your spirits at the Great Ontario Beer Festival in Kitchener this June; and experience the thrill of the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games in August.
5. Experience Your Local Conservation Areas in a New Way
Mount Hope residents are a stone’s throw from the Binbrook Conservation Area, which is perfect for spotting late-night diamonds in the sky. The conservation area is far enough from city lights so visitors can stargaze, with a clear view of the southern horizon over Lake Erie. And depending on when you’re there, you may even spot the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Club, which conducts their gatherings for the Perseid meteor shower on the grounds annually.
6. Make the Most of Patio Season
Summer is the season for outdoor dining, and so many of our communities are home to excellent local restaurants with equally great patios. Visit Chuck’s for delicious pub food or Erni’s Place for quality pizza in Arthur; pay a visit to The Tipsy Fox or The Busholme in Erin for pub fare; spend a night out at Abe Erb in Ayr, where you’ll find great drinks, food and fun thanks to their pool lounge; and dive into tasty seafood fare at Port Credit favourite Snug Harbour Seafood & Bar.
7. Hit Up a Ribfest
Barbecue is summer’s staple food, and we’re lucky to have quite a few options when it comes to rib festivals. Close to Generations, Mount Hope and Westwood Village, the Brantford Kinsmen Annual Ribfest welcomes more than 24,000 people annually in August and is brimming with mouth-watering meats. Cachet Arthur and Erin Glen families can bite into Orangeville’s Rotary Ribfest this July.
Planning to try one of these summer activities? We’d love to see! Snap a photo and tag @cachetcommunities on Instagram for the chance to be featured in our stories.