Absolutely one of the best 18 hole miniature golf course I’ve ever played. It was one of those hot and humid days where you just didn’t want to leave the refreshing cool air inside the car to venture out, however our visit to Adventure Village was put off the last two times we planned a visit, due to poor weather conditions and nothing was going to stop us having a great time today. I just wished I had on shorts instead of the jeans I was wearing. Our girls were a bit smarter and dressed cool and with a good dose of sunscreen on, we were off to challenge the 18 hole mini putt golf course, climb the 24 foot rock wall, hit some balls at the batting cages, toss and twirl on the bungee trampoline and finish off with a crash derby on the Krazy Kars bumper cars.

It was around noon when we arrived and the miniature golf area was just starting to get a bit busy, so we opted to start off our day at the batting cages. With the long winters we have, this heat wasn’t going to keep people from enjoying the summer. I had never played baseball nor have I ever hit balls in a batting cage before, so Andrew was going to be our guinea pig. I was allowed behind the machine that delivered the balls, so you can see a few action shots in the picture gallery below. Basically you grab a bat and helmet and go into the designated enclosed area to start hitting the balls. The system is fully automated and delivery of the ball makes for an excellent opportunity to really pound away at the balls. Great for fine tuning your technique and hitting power, but controlled enough that anyone can safely hit some balls.

* There are 4 slow softball, 1 medium softball, 1 fast softball, 1 medium baseball, 1 fast baseball, 1 very fast baseball batting cages. Safe for everyone over 4 years old and a great way to get that extra practice.

We then headed over to the Bungee Trampoline which seems to be fairly new as I don’t recall this being here when we visited a couple years back. Tehya being a former provincial level gymnast and current competitive cheerleader, she was eager to give this a try. After being weighed in (yes you have to get on a scale – there may be weight and height restrictions) you’re securely harnessed in and then elevated a bit via the bungee cords and off you go. With the help of the assistant (he adds extra weight as you bounce to really propel you up) , you really start going high and you’re free to do tricks you’re comfortable with. If I were to guess I’d say Tehya reached heights over 25 ft in the air and from the pics you can see all the flips etc she was doing. As we looked on, we could tell that it was fun and something you must try when you visit Adventure Village.

With the heat and humidity (felt like 44 C) we had to take a break to get hydrated a bit, after which we headed over to the rock climbing area. Both Andrew and Kieana got strapped in and after a quick “how to” by the attendant, they began their climb. The route starts off easy and the more you move around the wall in a clockwise direction the hard the route got. Again, a fun event with just as much excitement for us on the ground as onlookers. You could see them struggle as they tried to navigate their way up and as the beads of sweat trickled down their faces, you could see the true determination to reach the top. This attraction is safe for all ages, as you’re secured via ropes and a harness system and the attendant is there with you every step of the way. On coming back down you could tell that Kieana was tired as her legs jiggled under her and she landed up on the ground on her bum. Laughter broke out from us in the peanut gallery and it was all in good fun.

Break two not only included cool drinks, but this time we were attracted by the scent of grilling and deep frying from Big Al’s Cookhouse , so we took a longer break than the last and enjoyed some burgers and poutine. There’s a fairly good menu to choose from and the food to my amazement was much better than I expected. There”s a a huge outdoor seating area where you can kick back and relax while enjoying any of the meals they have on sale. The food is reasonably priced and quite tasty as I mentioned. (good buy are the combos and monthly specials)

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It was now time for the real challenge. 18 holes to prove who’s the best mini putt golfer in the family and we all had our game faces on. We can be very competitive family, but by the time we hit hole 13 the heat had taken it’s toll on us. If you’re looking for a course that attractive, well maintained and challenging, but well suited for any age  or skill level, this one is for you. Without a doubt, this course is the best I’ve played in Southern Ontario.

“An elaborate multi-level 18 hole miniature golf course built over two acres of rapids, waterfalls, shipwrecks, and a train trestle. Every hole provides you with a little history of Southern Ontario and a different challenge.”

The winner this day will remain anonymous as the heat forced us to call it a draw! We’ll be back for another round next week to finally prove who’s the champ!

Our day ended at the Krazy Kars bumper cars area where the cars can actually go 360 degrees and there are no poles attached, so you can really enforce a good pounding on others. With all the harnesses etc we’ve seen in use at Adventure Village we could clearly see that personal safety is one of their main concerns and they work very hard to maintain a safe and enjoyable park for visitors. That said… you’re once again harnessed (strapped) into the cars, then when it’s safe you’re given the green light to start using levers to control your direction and speed. As with everything at adventure Village, the Krazy Kars can be maneuvered by just about anyone. So kids (and big kids) can have the same amount of fun and not worry about anything being complicated to use.

Overall we had an excellent time and if not for the blistering heat we would have tried the out door laser tag and the arcade room as both areas also seemed like tons of fun. For the younger kids, there’s Big Al’s Mining Camp, where kids can experience the excitement of panning for semi-precious gemstones in a sluiceway of rushing waters similar to the Alaska gold rush days.

Adventure Village
580 Van Wagners Beach Road
Hamilton, Ontario L8E 3L8

Toll Free: 1.800.387.8727
Telephone: 905.549.9444

What a great place to come with all your friends and family. Adventure Village is a great place to go for a great school trip, church picnic, camp outing, or let the whole office unwind at the end of a busy day! they cater to:

* Company Outings
* Camp Day Trips
* Team Parties
* School Trips
* Church Picnics
* Senior Outings

For up to date info on pricing and time of operation, check out the links below:

Hours: http://www.adventure-village.com/hours.html
Price List: http://www.adventure-village.com/price_list.html

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NOTE: Special thanks to Denise Ralph and her team at Adventure Village for extending this invitation and for making us feel so welcome.

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When most of us think about Battlefield House we immediately vision the re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek which takes place on it’s grounds every Spring (something you should not miss) or being in a wedding party and going there after the ceremony to take pictures. But did you know that there’s much more to this very historic site? Like doing a tour of the house that the Gage family built back in 1796 and being transformed back in time, or walking up the hill and climbing the stairs to the top of the 100 ft Battlefield Monument where you get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area. Not to be outdone, the grounds of Battlefield house is lush, well manicured and tempting to sit under a tree with your favourite book and take things easy.

I was fortunate to get a personal guide tour of the historic house, the gardens and the monument when I visited a couple weeks back as part of our dedication to highlighting things that can be done in Ontario. Our tour started through the rustic looking front door which was probably hand carved by a skilled trades person (well, it seemed that way) which was adorned on both sides by lovely iron lanterns. The type you’d expect a coachman to have. On entering you’re immediately hit by the scent of “old”. Not musty as was the scent at Dundurn Castle, but more of a smell of an empty house that wasn’t lived in. The painted wooden floors squeaked and gave a sort of hollow noise as you moved though the hallway and glanced at the rooms on the main floor. Straight ahead was a staircase leading to the second floor, which I learned wasn’t part of the original home but added later on. On the left side was the kitchen which was still functional, with a fireplace that took me back to my days watching Little House On the Prairie. I’m sure some delicious meals were prepared here and I could almost hear the chatter you’d get in a kitchen as meals were being prepared and enjoyed on the huge wooden kitchen table.

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One couldn’t miss the lovely wallpaper which was revealed on part of the wall just off the entrance, which would have been the way the walls were dressed back when the Gage family occupied the home. It’s a restoration work in progress and I can’t wait to go back, even just to see the finished project. On the right side of the entrance was the grand room and the main floor was complete with a bedroom at the very back, just off the kitchen. With great use of windows, the house is brightly lit and allowed for wonderful views of the grounds. The walls were decorated with many paintings and pieces that gave the visitor the feeling of stepping back in time and being absorbed into history. I could clearly see how daily life would have been in this home so many years ago. But remember I had the personal guide tour, by a very knowledgeable tour guide (wish I could remember her name).

We then made our way up the staircase to the second floor where one could view the master’s bedroom as well as the other bedrooms and just off the bedroom to the front of the house, there’s a room dedicated to a Military Museum (see pics above for a couple pieces of the artifacts). The paintings on the wall in the hallway gave me a sort of creepy feeling… blame that on all the older horror movies I’ve watched over the years. The highlight of the top floor is the balcony that stretches across the front of the house. I could see myself sitting here on a summer’s evening as the sun sets in the background with a panoramic view of the property and hills as a backdrop.
A tour of Battlefield house is not complete until you make your way down the stairs into the root cellar, where on the right side of the staircase you can see the exposed brick that were used in construction, sill in pristine condition. The area in the basement is now used mainly during school tours where the kids can participate in crafts and other tour activities.

You’ll notice that I didn’t spend much time on the actual history of the house or the lives of the people who lived here, as I feel this is something you should really experience for yourself. The guided tours are simply amazing and very educational without the feeling of being in a classroom setting.

With the tour of the house complete, we made our way through the garden and up the stairs leading to the Battlefield Monument. If you’re lucky you may see a rabbit or two hopping around as you make your way up the concrete stairs. Certainly a local landmark, the Battlefield Monument has been part of the local landscape since 1913 and was built to commemorate a century of peace between the British and the Americans. Through the massive doors that reminded you of the entrance to a castle, you can climb the internal stairs up to the lookout deck. Here the view is absolutely stunning so bring your camera. With a majestic view of the grounds of the property, you’ll get a good idea of the work that’s being done to preserve this historic site and on a clear day you can also see as far as Toronto across the lake.

Battlefield House Museum & Park
77 King St. West
Stoney Creek, Ontario
L8G 5E5

Phone:  905-662-8458
Fax:  905-546-4141

Website:  www.hamilton.ca/museums
Email:  battlefield@hamilton.ca
Admission Rates

Adults (18-59)    $6.50
Senior (60+)    $5.50
Student * (13-17)    $5.50
Child (6-12)    $4.50
Infant (5 and under)   Free
Family **     $16.50

* Student = 13-17 or with valid student ID
** Family = two adults and dependent children under 18

Hours of Operation

July 1 to Labour Day: Tuesday to Sunday: 11 am – 4 pm

Labour Day to June 30: Tuesday to Sunday: 1 – 4 pm

(Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day)

Depending on availability, they will gladly open outside of regular hours for pre-booked groups.

So what about the re-enactment of the Battle Of Stoney creek? Personally I’ve not been to it yet, but I’ve marked of my calendar to be there bright and early next spring, so I can see for myself how the war was won! Do check out the website at http://www.battlefieldhouse.ca for more details about the re-enactment.

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I’d like to thank Susan Ramsay and the wonderful staff at Battlefield house for accommodating us with an insightful tour of Battlefield House and The Monument. I’d also like to invite you to join us on Facebook and keep connected with all that there is to do in the fascinating Province of Ontario. Simply click on the Facebook image below to connect.